[ORP] Cultural Exchange [Open]

[Syrius Lionwing]

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2 rolled

uncrippling injury / large wounds

Rabia bint nesf followed her family proudly. She had fought hard against the hyenas hoping to garner respect from her mother and siblings. She wasn't a particularly large lioness, her strength lay in her speed rather than in pure muscle power. She had however managed to pull down a young adolescent hyena and she now carried its pelt, legs dangling down her shoulders. She was determined to dry the pelt properly but for the moment she was trying to look brave and triumphant even though her face hurt like hell.

The now dead hyena had managed to get in a good bite and had taken a chunk of her face with his powerful jaws. Her eye was fine, which she felt pretty proud of but she would be scarred for life with a perminant scowl. It was fine it would be a perminant reminder of their triumph their arrival and welcome to the pride her mother had insisted they come to.

The words of welcome made her smile for a brief moment before she realised the smile hurt her face so she let the muscles relax and limped quietly out of the way to watch the scene unfold. She really wanted a nice cool place to relax and pretend not to lick her wounds. She had to be a strong stoic warrior like her mother after all.  

[Mogami]

The red males didn't seem concerned by the new additions and Baie allowed herself to relax minutely. Not that they had any right to oppose the joining of the new lionesses. She would call Bangizwe a liar to his face if he dared, Andhaka hadn't said anything against them two days before and Tawa... well, Tawa was the newest Inselelo so his opinion didn't matter that much anyway.

But now that the most exciting period had passed, it was time to think of the future. A few of the lionesses wouldn't able to hunt soon and others might not be exprienced enough. A few were injured as well and that had to be addressed. They were part of the pride, now.

"A large group should go to the water's edge." She nodded to Yithemba and stared briefly at Sabit's leg. There was risk of infection there, surely. "We need to watch out for the crocodiles while they clean their wounds."

She sighed, quietly, all the tension leaving her body even as her stomach growled, hungrily. These lionesses were fighters, unused to their customs. Hopefully, they would - how had Andhaka put it? - integrate well.

---------

"Definitely." Thuli said with wide grin full of sharp teeth as she eyed the injury with an odd sense of pride. Then she looked around, searching for a Umama. "Khazine isn't a Busisa, though... is she? She's not new blood... she's an Umzingeli."

Clearly, Thuli was unsure of it herself considering how the adolescent was related to so many in the pride.  

[oo Ded]

As Sabit spoke, Yithemba looked back to her leg again. Doesn't quite move right, she repeated in her head. The dark lioness didn't seem troubled by this, though. Yi met her eyes and shook her head. "I'm not, but-" her voice trailed off as Baie spoke. She acknowledged the orange lioness' words with a nod.

Orange eyes turned back to Sabit as Yithemba continued to speak, her mouth sporting a warm smile. "I'm not," she said again, "but Baie is right. Cleaning it would be a good idea, and I can accompany you to the water." Her eyes ran over the group before they came to a pause on an adolescent with a face wound. Her breath stopped in her throat. What must these lionesses been like in their home if they took adolescents to battle and treated wounds so cavalierly?

"Would you like to join us? I'd be happy to help you with your wounds, even if I'm not a healer" she called to Rabia before her gaze flicked as well to Baysan, as if to extend the offer. For the first real time the numbers of this new group seemed to hit her. Twelve. Twelve battle-ready lionesses. Lionesses to fight and hunt with. Bodies to attend to. Twelve new mouths to feed. Yi's mouth pressed tight, though she managed to keep the welcoming smile on her face.  

[Kimaria]

The hubbub was dying down now, the decisions made and the females welcomed. Su knew enough about droughts to know that they would eventually end and that the strong would survive. All these lionesses who had come to join them were strong enough to see it through. Now all the Bonelands lionesses had to do was match their strength.

And, looking around, she did not doubt that they would succeed.

"I will aid in keeping watch," she declared to no one in particular, stepping forwards towards their dwindling water source.  

[Annchen]

Sore ribs or not, when Baie announced that the band of females had made it Kokumo stood up to be able to greet the newcomers better. She slowly walked up to Baie, grimacing a bit with pain. When she reached her great aunt she merely observed. It wouldn't do to make faces at the newcomers, so she tried to stand still and not aggrevate her ribs by needless talking or moving around too much.

It was impressive to see the gory trophies and worrysome to see their injuries. Suddenly her bruises seemed trivial in comparison.

---

Buna opened her mouth to argue with Thuli about the proper rank of the young one, but then closed it again while sorting out her thoughts. The girl would definitely have been called lusizi had she been younger since her father wasn't technically one of the leading males. She had Bonelands blood, but through her father, not her mother. Much like the blue cubs Njalo took in actually. Only the girl Khazine wasn't a freak of nature.

"The blue ones are Busisa, and that was a similar situation," she said thoughtfully, "That was some Ukuzalva!"

No matter what rank they would hold, as far as she was concerned the young females had no need for a second Ukuzalwa after this hyena hunt.

Mogami

---

Marmar was pleasantly surprised they had all survived, and happy with her souvenir. She wore a dark grey hyena pelt over her head and shoulders. A welcome protection from the sun.

She was one of the limping ones and her pelt was stained red. Both hyena blood and her own, unfortunately. So she was thankful for the suggestion that the others should keep guard while they washed off. It would be dumb to survive the battle only to be picked off by a crocodile.

((Rolled a 3 for Marmar, haven't decided exactly what the lasting effects will be so kept the description of her injuries vague. Suggestions welcome!))  

[Meepfur]

With his role in the matter more or less concluded, Andhaka considered returning to rest beside his counterpart, but he supposed that if the Abazingeli were set on taking the new Busisa to the water to clean themselves while they watched for crocodiles, he should probably go along. Even with the thought that he would one day be leaving sitting heavy in the back of his mind, his concern for appearances remained intact and almost as strong as ever.

...as did his cleverness. The crimson male came forward again, not with authority but with helpfulness. "Did you have any particular plans for that intact one you brought with you?" He gestured with his head to indicate the corpse of the adolescent hyena that Sabit had carried. "Perhaps the crocodiles would appreciate such a morsel."

_____

Wodi hmmed at the suggestion that they brave the water anyway. Infection was a concern, but then, so were crocodiles. But maybe, if they had enough lookouts - or if they could successfully bribe the creatures - it would be a worthwhile venture. "I guess the excitement isn't over yet. Shall we?"

_____

They were off to the water now? Really? Crocodiles and everything? Uheshe's interest was further piqued, and she drifted over to where her mother sat to nudge at the flaxen-haired lioness. "Did you hear that? We should go along."

Ukuthula grunted and scowled, but agreed, the tips of her claws pressing into the dry ground. She was always up for a little excitement, and if crocodiles weren't exciting, well, then what was? "Might as well. Just try not to get eaten, girl."

Uheshe rolled her eyes. "As if."  

[Meepfur]

"We would appreciate that," Nesf said at the orange lioness' suggestion. "None of us is critical, but infection has a way of changing that." Her daughters and niece were all in decent condition, Rabia having sustained the worst injury of the youths. She was proud of them; they would have made fine muharip one day, if fate hadn't decreed otherwise, but a quiet part of her was glad that they would not be living a life of constant war. She even stood a chance at seeing her own grandcubs - great-grandcubs even - one day. What a terrifying thought, that she might actually grow old!

Assuming, of course, that things continued to go reasonably well in their new home. She wasn't much for assumptions, as more often than not they failed to pan out properly.

When the Umholi spoke again, she shrugged. "No, not really. Thought if anyone was hungry enough to not be squeamish, hyena is better than nothing, but there's obviously more where that came from. No harm in feeding the crocodiles, if you think that will work."

_____

"Does it make a difference?"Khazine asked in regards to what her title might be. "I mean, I know they mean different things, but does it make a difference-difference? I think I'd kinda like to be the same as my cousins, if that's okay." Eloquent, not so much, but as excited as she was to suddenly have even more family, the family she'd grown up with was still the most important to her. Her cousins were the closest she'd ever have to siblings, and her aunt the closest to a mother.

_____

"Crooked," Sinir answered her sister, glaring back at the offending appendage as though it had betrayed her by being bitten and broken. "How's your-" she started, before interrupting herself with a snicker and shoving at Kasirga with her paw. "Oh, that's right, you didn't get any good ones!"

"Not like Rabia, eh?" she called cheerfully to their more impressively-wounded sister. "You're even uglier than Yikma now!" A part of her was jealous, because Rabia was going to look badass once that healed up, while her own kinked tail would just be perpetually bent and nobbly. She could just as easily have broken it getting stepped on by something. Of course, it also looked distinctly painful, so there was that.

"Oh, are we going somewhere?" Sinir sighed and heaved herself to her feet. "And here I was just getting comfortable."

_____

Sabit was vaguely uncomfortable with being the focus of a near-stranger's attention, too used to being self-sufficient and, well, as tough as she looked. The last time she'd been in any real need of help had been when the Qyrhyeshti had first found her, heat-sick and on the verge of death, in the same way that most borclu were found - overconfident fools lost in the desert. By comparison, a leg wound didn't seem so bad, especially since they were no longer in the desert. If the lameness turned out to be permanent, as she was beginning to suspect it would, she would have had to leave, just as Nesf and Marmar's mother had. For the thousandth time, she wondered just where her friend had gone, and how she now fared. Unfortunately, she would never know.

The muscular lioness acquiesced with a dip of her head and stoof, grimacing at the stiff movement. "Thank you for the assistance. Ah...my name is Sabit."  

[Mogami]

Baie was not quite so desperate that she would eat hyena - even if the drought might change her priorities yet - and she had to agree with the Umholi's suggestion.

"Yes... we could use it as bait." She said, turning to look at Thuli with a frown. She spoke quietly to the younger Umzingeli though those close to her like Yithemba and Kokumo could probably hear her. "No. They are all Busisa. Even Khazine. Their mothers were not of the pride and they weren't born amongst us." Se seemed to hesitate, looking around for someone of higher authority. "All Busisa, I think."

Which was bound to raise issues in the future. Clearly, these lionesses were used to fighting and winning. Who knew how they'd react to the idea of being given an inferior position despite their skills. Busisa ate after the Abazingeli regardles of who had taken down the prey, after all. They already had two main factions in the pride and Baie wouldn't be surprised if they ended up creating a third.

"Any daughters they may have in the future will be Abazingeli, of course." She finished, diplomatically before changing the subject. "We should go while we have light."

--------------------

"Khazine..." Thuli started but closed her mouth at Baie's narrowed glare. Fine, this was not the place. She understood that a lioness that came from the outside shouldn't be given the same deference as one who had been born in teh pride but neither should someone of their blood be ranked the same as those who had none.

"Alright. We should go, then." She said after a few seconds of silent sulking.
 

[Tanakako]

Sizani's teasing hadn't really disturbed her rest, it had been the arrival of the new group of lionesses that finally woke her fully. Having sat up beside the red female she watched the goings on with interest. Turning to her friend she cocked an ear. "What do you think?"



Sizani hadn't been entirely sure about the entire situation. Bangizwe obviously wasn't in agreement on the acceptance of the newcommers and she half thought the two abaholi would go at each other right there and then. But when that didn't happen she turned her attention to the group themselves. They certainly looked intimidating enough, with their scars and new wounds and carrying their prizes. Sizani knew they needed to be respected for their battle skills, but she was less sure how well that translated into hunting skills. Hopefully co-operation between them had been high on their list of priorities. Ishaka's question pulled her wandering attention back to her friend and she glanced over at the brown female. "Of them?" She asked, motioning at the blood-stained group. At Ishaka's nod and shrugged. "I don't know yet, we will see I guess." Catching one of the youngsters in the group complaining about rank made Sizani roll her eyes. They would see indeed...
 

[Kimaria]

Crocodiles, thought Su with a wry smile. She wasn't certain that the creatures would so easily be bribed, but it would likely prove interesting. Would they make a bargain and stay true to their word or would they simply pretend and pull a lioness into the murky depths? She highly suspected the later but she would be much happier to be surprised.

"Bribery or not," she replied, "let's keep our eyes peeled. See anything that could be a croc and call out a warning."

A twig, a leaf, a stone breaking the surface, prints on the bank. She felt the situation pulse electricity through her and wondered if this was the feeling a warrior felt just before battle.

[likely my last post]  

[DavyJnah]

Monifa walked with her cub Ntombi. She had come somewhat late to the arrival of new people but she knew of what the drought was doing to the pride. She was at least lucky she could provide for her three cubs despite everything. She could see a few of the half siblings to her dear cub running around. Her tiny mini me cub kept her head up as they both passed together. Her other cubs were somewhere she didn't know. They were all quite sneaky.

Ntombi stuck close to her mother. Eyes darting towards the other lioness about. She had not seen her siblings, probably running off somewhere. She was the one who liked to stick to her mother like glue. The tiny mini me was pouncing on tiny bugs every so often but was quick to catch up with the female.

From what they could see was that tensions were high. Hunting was sparce and so was water. Anyone's tension would be high. There were more mouths to feed too now and that would make things harder. However the pair decided to head towards what Monifa knew to be familiar faces of the pride.




Thandiwe who had kept to herself mostly had decided to see what the hubble and bubble was about. She knew how tough times were as she knew int he Bonelands. Drought and sparce prey was to be noted. Especially where they were. She spotted two lioness, well a lioness and a cub coming in as she was to inspect. Might as well join and see the rest of the pride and anyone else who might wander about.

[[OOC: Gosh I am super late to this party.]]  

[Meepfur]

"Busisa's alright, since that's what we'll all be," Khazine decided with a nod. Even if she did have relatives aplenty here, and one day, her father would come...one day. He'd promised, and she believed that he would hold true to that promise without a shadow of a doubt.

Bumping into her cousins once more while they all rousted and readied themselves - eliciting another snarl and a semi-playful airsnap from Sinir, who followed it with a colorful insult - the dark adolescent set off to follow Thuli and the rest.

---

1. belloblossom
2. Mogami
3. Kimaria
4. Annchen
5. oo DeD
6. Mogami
7. Excited Apathy
8. Tanakako
9. Ecavi
10. Kimaria
11. Excited Apathy
12. Ecavi
13. belloblossom
14. belloblossom
15. SilverLutz
16. Mogami
17. oo DeD
18. ExcitedApathy
19. Kimaria
20. Ecavi
21. Excited Apathy
22. Syrius Lionwing
23. Mogami
24. oo DeD
25. Kimaria
26. Annchen
27. Ecavi
28. Mogami
29. Tanakako
30. Kimaria
31. DavyJnah  

[Meepfur]

And...  

[Meepfur]

First choice to Lutz, leftover is Kim's! biggrin

SilverLutz

Kimaria

Meepfur

Prizes

Isibindi (courage), Umzingeli.
Andhaka x Siantaidh
Colored by Safaia, previously owned by Meepfur, never RPed.


Andhaka x Ukulambile. Cub->Umzingeli.
Colored by Seaki

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Andhaka usually doesn't have a lot to do with his babies, he's fairly typical to the Bonelands style and keeps his distance. Ukulambile is pretty traditional in most of her views when it comes to things like color, manes, etc., although she's not actively hostile towards folks who are outside the norm; she just pretends they don't exist, for the most part. She's generally upbeat and VERY gossipy and nosy, and looooves food. There is nothing she likes more than eating. XD

She's not particularly deep or clever, so she'll give her cubs pretty simple/basic names in Zulu, after whatever personality traits, physical attributes, or habits they display in their first couple of weeks, right around the time they start toddling around. Ukulambile's name means 'hungry,' for instance, and the two girls with names so far are: Khononda - 'complain' and Umugqa - 'stripe.' This cub's twin brother is Inkosana - 'eldest' - because he's Andhaka's first son.