[PRP] Fallout

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Lailah had considered attending the challenge, but decided, in the end, that it was best to stay away. Perhaps if Meshach had intended to claim the throne upon victory...but he hadn't, so she'd stayed away. A small voice whispered to the white lioness that this was the coward's way out, but she quashed it with the weight of duty.

Of course she'd been informed of the unexpected outcome. And then the mess that had followed in the royal dens. So it was with some relief that she saw Liuhe approaching.

"Good evening, Your Majesty," she offered the younger lion. He looked nervous. Well, so was she. That was a good start.  

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The Shaman watched the young adult as he cringed away from her address. Well, that was somewhat encouraging. The last thing they needed was another cocky King who thought he knew everything and was willing to do whatever it took.

"You're right about that," Lailah agreed. "The pride will be in chaos if we don't sort things out quickly. Your father was very quick about taking up his power, back in the day." The last was thrown out there to see how the brown lion would react.  

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The white lioness leaned back, eyes wide. He was refusing the throne? Clearly Liuhe was not at all like his father - no bad thing. There was an old saying about those who least wanted power being the best ones to hold it...but she couldn't force a lion to be King. The Shaman knew her history, after all.

Unyezi had stepped down as soon as possible in order to be with his beloved Nerit, leaving Alcmene as Queen. Alcmene's reign had been tragically short for multiple reasons, not just because she was murdered, and was a clear lesson on reluctant monarchs.

"Well, I suppose if that's how you feel, you don't have to take the throne," she said at last. "But you do leave us a bit of a problem. There is now no clear ruler at this point." Lailah stopped there, curious to see what the boy would say.

Unfortunately, her mind was starting to race, and to panic. If there was no monarch yet, the weight of the pride would fall on her shoulders - and remain there, until she could ordain a new ruler.  

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None of this was the answer Lailah wanted to hear, but that was the joy of having power. There was no one who could make the tough calls for her, and they were all going to be tough calls until she could put half of the burden back on a monarch's shoulders.

"I appreciate your insights into your siblings," she replied. "And I'll certainly accept what aid you can give." None of that would make clear who should take the throne next, but it would help provide some semblance of stability.

Hopefully the pride would be willing to give her the time necessary to find the best possible ruler, and not rush her into a hasty and poorly-made decision.  

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Frankly, Lailah was not at all certain Parisa would be helpful in any way. The Queen had been raised by Firaga, after all, and had certainly supported Shangyue, up until the end, or so it seemed. She wasn't one of Tyfu's ilk, no, but the Shaman did not trust the younger lioness.

"We'll have to see what happens on that front," was all she ended up telling Liuhe. "Thank you for coming to see me. I can tell you that I've got a lot to consider now." And those light-sounding words didn't even begin to cover it. If she ignored Parisa's children, that still left Kamia's. Or she could look at lateral lines...

Ugh, it might be time to go speak to Unyezi and find out who was related how.