Ushirikiano Pride Prompts

[Jantzi01]

Level 1 to Level 2

A5

50 Exp

The Ushirikiano Pride's name comes from the Swahili word for constellation. Shimo was always very interested in the stars as a cub, and it appears to have carried over. His favorite constellation is Leo Minor, but he decided to use the word constellation in general, because some lions may not have the same opinion as he does.

57/50

A8

50 Exp

The pride's symbol would be the Milky Way galaxy. It encompasses a large part of what the name is based on, and it, like the pride, is held together through a mysterious force. Shimo found an old picture of the galaxy on the edge of his territory one day, and decided that it would be the symbol of his pride.

59/50

A30

100 Exp

Romantic relationships are a lot like those of humans today. Many do end up staying together, and in some cases, like the leader, are pressured to stay together. Others don't work and get broken off. And some are only quick flings. As for mates, it's quite similar. Of those that stay together, the pride remembers them as one most of the time, unless talking about the achievements of one lion in particular. Flings aren't really publicized, unless it's gossip between one of the lions in the fling and a close friend of theirs. Cheating is looked down upon highly, and if a lion does cheat on their significant other, the other lion will most likely cut them off, and the cheater will be shunned by most of the other's friends for a few years, but will still be allowed to stay in the pride. The leader and their partner are sometimes pressured to stay together, but the pride usually understands that a relationship didn't work out.

166/150

B12

200 Exp

Shimo's relationship with his parents was pretty good when he was still a member of his old pride. They were very proud of him, because he was a good hunter. However, now he doesn't talk to them, or any members of his old pride. He has been shunned, and is no longer allowed to have any sort of communication with them. He doesn't mind that for most of them, a lot of those lions were jerks to him. But he does miss his parents. They were the only lions in that pride that actually liked him, and were the only ones who were sad to see their son be cast out. His mother, Mzuri, was very kind to everyone, and comforted him after a difficult day. His father, Mlinzi, defended him when he was really young and was being harassed on a daily basis. Now, Mzuri hardly remembers anything, and Mlinzi was killed in battle soon after Shimo left. Mzuri has a type of mental illness that makes her unable to remember anything, and with her mate dead, she has an anxiety disorder too. Shimo often finds himself daydreaming about what might have happened if he didn't challenge the leader, or if he had won. Would the other lions still be as mean? Would his parents still be around to help him? He has no idea what is going on with his old pride, but he doesn't really want to. He is much happier where he is now. And he hopes to one day create the pride he wished he lived in when he was a cub. He doesn't want the new cubs to be in the same position he was in all those years ago. Mlinzi is looking down on his family from the afterlife, and is very proud of what his son has become, and he wishes that he could have more to protect him. He is also very concerned about Mzuri, and wishes that she joins him soon, if only to ease her pain.

337/300

C3

100 Exp

The first member to join the Ushirikiano Pride was Kipepeo, a butterfly themed lioness. She decided to leave her pride, after her parents died. She stumbled across Shimo's territory by chance, and chose to stick around for a while. She had nowhere else to go, and this lion seemed okay, if a little sad. Eventually, she began feeling some sort of loyalty to Shimo. She wasn't sure what to do, and so she confronted him about it a few days after she realized it. Shimo isn't the best lion to ask for advice, so he just said to stay a while and it might go away. Kipepeo chose to stay, because she had no where to go. She was an estranged lioness, who would never be allowed back to her own pride, and Shimo actually wasn't that bad. The territory was pretty nice too, so that was a plus. She spent most of her early days in the Ushirikiano Pride hanging out in the birch forest, and mostly hunted small deer or rabbits. She's happier than she's ever been in this pride, and has no intention of leaving.

188/150

Exp: 500

[Jantzi01]

Level 2 to Level 3

A1

100 Exp

Here

A6

100 Exp

The Pride's religion is somewhat akin to Greek or Roman mythology, in the fact that they have multiple gods and goddesses with a sort of hierarchy. Mwezi, the goddess of the moon and medicine, and Jua, god of the sun and music, are considered to be the two 'rulers' of the land of the gods, Miungu. Kifo is the goddess of death and sickness. Kuwinda and Mawindo are joint gods of the hunt. Kuwinda is a master of stealth, and Mawindo is the best at charging and attacks relying on stamina. Maji is the god of the water and witchcraft. Vita is the goddess of conflict and war. Dhoruba is the goddess of storms. Nyota is the second in command and is the goddess of the stars and constellations. Hekima is the god of wisdom. Amekufa is the ruler of Ardhi ya Wafu, or the Land of the Dead. Mwezi and Jua are lovers who have been cursed to never see each other after they upset Maji. Nyota is Mwezi's sister. Kifo is the daughter of Amekufa and Dhoruba. Kuwinda and Mawindo are twins, and the children of Hekima and Nyota.

191/150

A13

100 Exp

They believe that the dead are watched over in Ardhi ya Wafu by Amekufa. Their treatment is directly related to how they behaved while they were alive. When they arrive, their soul is weighed. The weight of a soul is increased with the number of bad deeds a lion has done. If they were a horrible lion, they would be banished to live in their own personalized hell until the weight of their sins has been lightened. If they were just an average lion, who didn't really do much, they were placed in the Pwani ya Abyssal, or the Abyssal Plain. It's a huge prairie that has a bunch of activities for the deceased, including painting, hunting, and a karaoke bar. If they were exceptionally good, they go to Mbingu. It's basically a personalized heaven. It usually looks like the lion's favorite place. There they are free to do whatever they want with minimal supervision. If the lion has been in contact with human things, they can be seen and used in Mbingu, and they can share their knowledge with others. The structure is very flexible, with spirits often moving within the levels.

193/150

C14

100 Exp

Amoka is usually considered to be the most skittish member of the pride. Due to their very violent history, they're often worried about hurting the others. As a result, they're hardly seen when fighting, and they refuse to do anything that requires them to unsheathe their claws. This is why they've taken up healing, to prove to themselves that they're not as dangerous as they, and the voice inside their head, seem to believe. Bahari has slowly been able to draw them out of their shell, and is currently the only one in the pride that Amoka trusts enough to be left alone with. They also don't like to participate in the mandatory sparring classes that occur occasionally throughout the year to ensure that everyone is able to defend themselves in case of a surprise attack. They usually either sit on the sidelines with the fighters, or end up sparring with Bahari, and being very conscious to never unsheathe their claws. They do still have several mental issues, but they're working on not letting them control their life.

178/150

C24

100 Exp

Typically it depends on the lion, but most of them are musically talented. Shimo is a beast on the drums. Kipepeo is a fan of the harp. Bahari really loves to play flute-like instruments they call filimbi. Amoka has a really good voice, though they won't admit it. Occasionally they have small concerts to relieve stress and help strengthen the bonds between them. These concerts are considered to be one of the prides' most well-loved traditions. Amoka is also a really good dancer, and can usually be found swaying to the beat of one of their favorite songs in the Olden Church. They're also each specialized in a different genre. Shimo likes rock music. Kipepeo likes more modern pop music. Bahari loves the old tribal songs. Amoka likes the more classical stuff that doesn't have lyrics. Sometimes they write music too. Amoka has a stash of old music that they like in the Olden Church.

155/150

Exp: 500

Extra: 0

[Jantzi01]

Level 3 to Level 4

A31

200 Exp

Magic is a very important part of the Ushirikiano Pride. The Mages are some of the most revered members, and often have the most important jobs, depending on what they specialize in. The different types of magic usually revolve around the elements, such as Water, or Light. A lion who is adept in Storm Magic, for example, is responsible for providing the pride with enough rainfall through the year. Healing Magic, however, is the most valued, since it helps keep the pride alive. Magic is something that is usually genetic, for example, a Nature Mage and a Dark mage would most likely have a Nature child. The more common Magics, Nature, Fire, Earth, Water, Air, Storm, and Ice, are dominant genes, and the rarer Magics, Light, Dark, Healing, Star, Metamorphic, Time, and Death, are recessive. Nature Mages use plants and animals in their Magic, and have small seed pouches, or animals. Fire Mages, conjure fire to use, they're often seen with Light Mages, and have small jars of embers. Earth Mages can use the ground around them to attack, and often have small crystal growths on their bodies. Water Mages like to stay near the ocean, and get dehydrated very easily. Air Mages like high, windy areas like mountains, and keep clouds in small jars around their necks. Storm Mages are very mysterious, and can summon lightning, which they often have in a lightning jar. Ice Mages summon ice, and usually stay far away from Fire Mages, their fur is often frosted over, and they have small icicles form on their bodies. Light Mages have the ability to harness whatever light source is nearby and use it for protection, and often have small objects that emit light, such as a jar of fireflies, or a candle. Dark Mages can do the same with shadows, and are usually seen wearing large, dark clothing so they have a larger shadow to work with. Healing Mages heal, and have extensive knowledge on how to treat different wounds. Star Mages are very ethereal, and have small constellations dotting their fur; they read the stars and planets to predict the future. Metamorphic Mages can transform into anything they want. Time Mages have the ability to stop, slow down, or travel through time, and usually have a stopwatch around their neck. Death Mages can resurrect the dead to fight for them, and are covered in bones and teeth. These types of Magic can be taught, but it is very difficult. There are other, not as powerful magics, such as incantations, or alchemy, which aren't genetic and is something that anyone can do. The Mages that practice these Magics aren't as valued, but are still considered to be important. If one parent has common Magic, but the other doesn't, there's a 25% chance of the Magic passing on to one of their cubs. If two parents have common Magic, there's a 50/50 chance of the Magics present in the cubs. If one parent has a rare Magic, and the other doesn't have Magic at all, there's a 10% chance of the Magic passing on. If one parent has a rare Magic and the other one has a common Magic, there's a 25% chance of the rare Magic passing. If both parents have rare Magic, then it's a 50/50 chance.

453/300

B9

100 Exp

If Shimo had to choose, his worst fear would have to be heights. Just the thought of being somewhere high up with little or no boundaries to stop him from accidentally falling off of the edge is enough to have him cowering in fear. Luckily, because the pride's rarely ever up high, it doesn't really affect his ability to lead them. However, if they do happen to be in that unfortunate situation, he can usually deal with it. If he can't, then it's up to either the advisor, or one of the mages to be in charge. His fear most likely stems from this one incident back in his old pride, when he and a couple of the other lion cubs were playing a little too roughly by the edge of a cliff. One of Shimo's closest friends ended up falling off. He died a few days later due to internal bleeding.

152/150

C4

100 Exp

The Healer is one of the Ushirikiano Pride's most valued members. They are usually either Healing Mages, or have been trained by a former Healer. The Apprentice Healers are in charge of gathering and sorting the herbs that the Gardener has planted, and occasionally also help out the more experienced Healers with some of the less serious injuries. After they have proven their healing abilities, they can be promoted to Healers, and start learning about how to treat the more deadly wounds and illnesses. The Healers are in charge of keeping the other members alive and healthy. There are usually multiple, so as to not overwhelm them. The Healers often have little pouches of healing items, such as herbs and cobwebs, with them so that they're always prepared for an emergency if they're not by their den. They have a small burrow to store ice to help numb the pain, but most of the time Amoka ends up accidentally making some unmeltable ice because they're stressed. The herbs that they use are written in a large book that is stored on a stone pillar. These healing items include, but are not limited to, chamomile for stress, cobwebs for bleeding, elder leaves for sprains, honey for throat issues, lavender for fever, oak leaves to prevent infection, and yarrow to remove poison.

220/200

C5

150 Exp

Leader- Leads the pride, makes around 90% of all of the pride's most important decisions. Not usually a hunter, but can be if there aren't enough hunters, or if there's a scarcity of food.

Advisor- Second in command, assists the leader with decisions. Is more community related than the leader, and often recommends lions for certain roles, such as Healer, Advisor, or Chief Hunter.

Chief Hunter- The best Hunter in the pride. Decides on hunting partners and patrols.

Hunters- They gather food for the pride. They have to go out on hunting patrols.

Chief Guard- In charge of all of the Guard lions. Decides on territory patrols and who is stationed where on their territory boundary.

Guards- Large, strong lions who are in charge of making sure that any invaders can't get to the camp.

Fighters- The defenders of the camp. Fight off invaders and protect the Queens and Elders.

Lead Scout- During a war, they will decide on which lions attempt to sneak into the enemy's territory to learn more about it.

Scouts- They sneak into enemy territory to gather information about the land, when patrols go out, and where a good place for an ambush would be.

Healers- In charge of preventing illness and treating wounds. A very important role in the pride.

Apprentice Healers- These guys gather and store the herbs grown by the Gardeners. They occasionally help out the more experienced Healers with the less life threatening injuries and illnesses to help them learn.

Mages- Lions with magical powers. Their duties depend on what type of Magic they happen to possess.

Apprentice Mages- Lions with magical powers that haven't been specialized yet. They often help the older Mages with little things.

Gardener- In charge of growing the herbs that the Healers use. Often Nature Mages, and usually also end up just growing pretty flowers in addition to their herbs.

Queens- Lionesses who are pregnant/nursing cubs. They stay in the camp, resting and preparing for/taking care of their cubs.

Cubs- Any lion who is younger than 3 weeks old.

Elders- Any lion who has been retired from their previous duties due to old age or an injury that they couldn't recover from.

367/200

Exp: 550

Extra: 50

[Jantzi01]

Level 4 to Level 5

50 Overflow

A28

150 Exp

Every month or so, everyone in the pride gets together to either have a music night, or put on a theatre production. It's a great way for everyone to unwind and get closer to each other. These activities were introduced after Bahari came into the pride to reassure Amoka that they have others around them that they can trust. The pride also tends to really like playing a sort of game in which they try to keep a feather in the air the longest. They often try new games, a lot of which don't end up working out. The Healers also often play a game similar to chess, which they call sataranji. It's a great way to clear their minds, and develop their strategy. Shimo tends to enjoy more athletic games, such as the feather game, or a game of chase. Kipepeo likes to play hiding and games that require sneaking around. Amoka really loves strategy games and activities that help them to relax, like sataranji, and the music or theatre nights. Bahari enjoys almost all types of games, but her favorite is sataranji. They all really love stargazing too. It's one of the most beautiful natural things that exists, according to them. They stay up late and all hang out on a rocky outcropping and stare at the stars, cuddling up to one another, fireflies surrounding them. When there's an aurora, they watch that too.

236/200

A34

75 Exp

Since they live in a deciduous forest, there's obviously the usuals. Poison ivy, stinging nettle, stuff like that. However, there's also a couple plants that aren't as well known. Giant hogweed, for example, can leave a lion blind and permanently scarred after only touching it. It's extremely dangerous and difficult to move, so they generally just tend to avoid areas where it grows, or make sure that there's something in between them and the plant if they attempt to move it. If they do happen to accidentally brush up against it, they have to wash it as soon as possible, stay away from sunlight for around 2 days, and just be extra careful when outside and stay in shaded areas for a couple years. If the sap gets into their eyes, they have to wash them, and stay in the dark for a while. Their eyes will continue to be extremely sensitive to light for a few years. There's a type of flower, jimonsweed, that can cause hallucinations when ingested. The only cure is to wait them out and never touch it again. Poisonous berries/fruits include bittersweet nightshade, yew, white baneberry, and holly berries. For these, the poisoned lion has should eat some yarrow to make them throw up the poison. Other poisonous ingestibles that can be cured with yarrow are foxglove seeds, meadow saffron, deadly nightshade, and water hemlock.

231/100

A35

75 Exp

The moon is represented by the goddess of the moon, Mwezi. Mwezi is one of the two joint rulers of Miungu. She is known to be kind, patient, just, calm, and open to change. She is perceived as a white lioness with glowing eyes, and pale grey spots all over her body. She is always wearing a pendant with a moon on it that changes to match the moon cycle. She's very graceful, and she has a small bracelet with a star on it on her right front paw. She rules over the land at night, while her lover rules over it during the daytime. They rule together during eclipses, share the same amount of ruling time on equinoxes, and each have their own day of worship on the solstices.

130/100

A36

The sun is represented by the god of the sun, Jua. Jua is one of the two joint rulers of Miungu. He is known to be bombastic, eccentric, spontaneous, bold, and passionate. He is shown as a bright yellow lion with glowing orange eyes small dark spots on his mane. He has a sun pendant that glows and heats up when there's a solar flare occurring, and a bracelet with a star on it on his front left paw. He's extremely clumsy, and stumbles over everything. He rules over their kingdom of gods during the day, and his lover rules over the land at night.

105/100

D7 (Amoka)

75 Exp

Here

The World is Ugly- They've been beaten down by the world, and themselves, and just want Bahari to know that she's the only reason that they're somewhat sane now.

Soul Like Me- They honestly just want to find someone who's shared similar experiences with voices inside their head, and feel so lonely, and that they're just wandering throughout the world, with no purpose.

We Don't Have To Dance- Amoka struggles deeply with social anxiety, and this song is actually the embodiment of that. They're very much a wallflower.

Just One Yesterday- They would trade everything in the world, all of their tomorrows, just to live back in the time when the voice wasn't screaming at them.

I'll Follow You- They're so in love with Bahari, the one lion who wasn't afraid of them when they told her about the voice, that they would do anything, and go anywhere for her. Where she goes, they go too.

Waving Through a Window- They feel as though they're being isolated and that everyone is separated by an unbreakable piece of glass. They can see everyone, interacting with others normally, being happy, having friends, but can never go and join them.

Good For You- This is how their social anxiety and the voice sounds inside their head. They always hear their friends telling them about how they betrayed them, and now want nothing to do with them. They're having a breakdown, and the only thing that they can hear is the lions closest to them, and even themselves, that they're worthless, and how they're going to be alone.

special- Again, social anxiety. They know that they're not the only one who deals with stuff like this.

GET UP- They're finally standing up to the voice, and are trying to recover from their past. They're trying to motivate themselves, and focus on something else.

I'm Not Fine- This is what their anxiety first sounded like when it started to creep into their mind. Everyone was telling them that they'll be fine, and that they'll catch up eventually. But they're mind was screaming at them that no matter what, they'll always be behind, and nothing they do will ever be good enough. This made them more vulnerable to the murderous shouting in their head.

Granger Danger- This is how they felt when they realized they were falling in love with Bahari. They don't trust themselves to not hurt her, and think that being in love with her is dangerous, because the voice starts going after the lions that they care about the most.

To Have A Home- Ever since they started telling others about the voice in their head, the only place they've felt somewhat safe is the Ushirikiano Pride. The lions there aren't that mean to them, and accept them for who they are. They feel loved.

472/100

Exp: 500

Extra: 0

[Jantzi01]

Level 5 to Level 6

D7 (Shimo)

75 Exp

Here

Cold As Ice- Shimo is considered to be very cold towards others, likely due to when he was a cub, literally everyone he interacted with except for his parents hated him and treated him like he was the scum of the earth.

Spinning- He's secretly a very romantic lion, and this song perfectly represents how he feels when he has a crush on someone.

Teenagers- Because he was bullied so much as a cub, he doesn't really like them much. The fact that they can be so horrible to each other with little regard for consequences scares him.

Jemilla's Lament- When he was in his old pride, he was given a high ranking position by their leader, and a lot of the other lions wouldn't listen to him, and this is how he felt the entire time he was in that position.

Hey Look Ma, I Made It- He was able to prove to the others that he could be a good leader, and that he was worth something in the grand scheme of things.

Ashes of Eden- When he was in that role when he was younger, he would have to turn to the gods in order to receive the guidance he needed so he could try and keep everyone in line.

I'll Be Complete- This is how he felt all of those years he was being bullied, and he contemplated everything and if it was all actually worth it.

235/100

D7 (Kipepeo)

75 Exp

Here

Prove It- She's very competitive, and always wants to be number one. If she doesn't get something that she feels she has truly earned, she will do things that are absolutely insane in order to prove herself.

Archers- She's a scout, her specialty, much like archers, is sneak attacks. She's very aggressive, and will literally fight anyone.

Unleash The Power- Same principal. She will fight everyone and anyone, even herself.

Come Alive- She's often the one who gets the others passionate about things. She's everyone's source of energy.

Better- There's a reason she's compared to a phoenix. When she's knocked down, she will eventually get back up, and be stronger. This is how she feels when in that low place.

Born to Run- Pretty literal here. She's very fast, and loves racing others.

The Coolest Girl- This is how she feels all the time to be honest. She believes that she's the best, and will ignore anyone who disagrees.

Collide- Again, this is how she feels when she's down, but now she's starting to climb back up again.

Nevermore- This is when she's just gotten back up. She feels on top of the world, and as though nothing will ever stop her again. This eventually fades when she comes back to reality, but it's still a huge part of her personality.

213/100

D7 (Bahari)

75 Exp

Here

Long Hope Philia- This will be how she feels when she realizes that she's in love with Amoka. She was meant to save them, but they ended up saving her from something instead.

Could Never Be- Again, how she feels when she finally realizes her feelings for Amoka. She loves them, but she doesn't think that they can be in a relationship, largely due to her not wanting to overstep her boundaries and make them uncomfortable.

Our Kingsland Spring- This is a very hopeful and calm song, which reflects how she is like 80% of the time.

Waterdrops Come Spring- Again, very calming, very quiet, very slow. She's extremely patient with others, soft spoken, and she has a very calming presence.

My OCD- She doesn't actually have OCD, which can be a very serious disorder, there just literally weren't any other songs that I could think of that showed the orderly side of her personality. She wants her herbs in a very specific order, not even for satisfaction, but so that she can find them easier.

Blame- How she is with everyone who believes that someone else's injuries were their fault. In her mind, unless you were the one who directly inflicted damage upon someone, you are not responsible for the damage done to their body.

Show Yourself- How she currently feels about Amoka. However, instead of prying as much as she can, she understands that there are some things that they're not comfortable sharing. That being said, she still wants to know everything that they are comfortable telling her.

254/100

D8

100 Exp

Bahari and Amoka's relationship, as of right now, can be described as one-sided. Amoka is deeply in love with Bahari, but they don't think that they deserve her. After all, who would want a weirdo who hears voices in their head? Bahari thinks that Amoka is a very hard working apprentice, and she wants to get closer to them, and help them learn how to trust themselves. She doesn't realize it yet, but she's starting to develop a crush on them too. However, she doesn't think that they're quite ready for a romantic relationship just yet, and she backs off. She'll wait it out, and see if they seem to reciprocate her feelings. She can be patient. Amoka, meanwhile, is trying to shove their feelings down because they don't want to burden her with their feelings, on top of everything else that comes with being friends with them. However, it's very difficult for them to push down their feelings. Whenever she's around them, small pink ice fragments tend to appear around their neck and face. Whenever they're near her, she tends to become a bit more quiet, and she gets very blushy and embarrassed. They're both smitten with each other, but neither of them will admit it out of fear of the other's reaction.

214/150

D15

200 Exp

"I don't often get the chance to talk with someone like you," She said, looking at them curiously, "I mean, how on earth is it possible for you to do something like that?" She said.

"Umm I don't know? Just because I have magic doesn't mean that I know how it works, Kipepeo," They responded nervously, looking down at the ground.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just figured you might have some idea of how it works," she stated.

"Well, I hate to disappoint, but unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea how it manifests or anything like that," They said.

"Thanks anyway, Amoka. Do you have any clue as to who would know?" She questioned, getting up to leave and go off on another adventure.

"Sorry, no," They answer, "Bahari is probably your best bet."

"Bahari, huh? I'll be sure to talk to her," She called, walking over towards the Healer's den. Amoka stared after her, wondering how she can possibly be so confident and interested in the world around her. They shake their head and start following her, hoping to get some work done before the end of the day. It was time to sort through the herbs again, and they knew how Bahari got when her healing items weren't in order. They quickly strode past the lionesses and into the storage cave. They began organizing them by color, knowing that that's how she liked them. She liked a lot of things like that. And that's why she could never like them. At least, that's how they felt. Unbeknownst to them, she was also pushing down a small crush, telling herself that neither of them are ready for something like that just yet. They quickly frosted over the herbs that likely wouldn't be used until the winter, when everyone was more likely to get sick.

"Looks like you've got an admirer." They jumped up, startled, and accidentally froze all of the herbs that they were supposed to keep out just in case. They looked behind them and saw Kipepeo leaning in the cave entrance smugly.

Amoka sighed, "What are you talking about, Kipepeo?" They asked tiredly.

"I'm talking about Bahari. You know she likes you, right?" She said excitedly. They blushed, small pink ice shards forming on their neck.

"Please... don't lie to me," They said, disappointed.

She cocked her head to the side, before it dawned on her, "Why don't you think that she loves you, Amoka?" She questioned timidly, slowly walking towards them.

"Because how could she?!" They exclaimed, "I'm awful, Kipepeo. I'm annoying and clingy and I just want these voices in my head to stop! I want to believe that she loves me, I do, but my head is screaming at me, saying that I'm unlovable. That I'm a demon. And she's an angel. There's no way that she could ever love me." They said, "Now will you please let me get back to work? It's late and I have to unfreeze everything."

She looked at them, pity in her eyes, and nodded, before turning and walking out of the cave. They turn back to the frozen pile of leaves and slowly start to unfreeze them.

"Do you... do you really believe that, Amoka?" They freeze, before turning around and staring at Bahari.

"I- well. Umm. How much did you hear?" They stutter.

"Amoka, please. Talk to me," She pleads, looking at them lovingly.

"I-I'm I'm so sorry, Bahari. I didn't mean for you to over hear. It was just a dumb rant. I was feeling frustrated with myself and-" They started, cutting off when she suddenly nuzzled her face into their neck. Pink ice formed all over their face and the side of their neck that she wasn't nuzzling.

"Do you believe that I love you now?" She asked, snuggling closer.

They sighed, relieved, and nuzzled her back, "Yeah. Yeah I do."

630/300

Exp: 525

Extra: 25

[Jantzi01]

IC Breeding Prompts

Bahari x Amoka

Am I allowed to look at her like that?

Amoka stared at Bahari from across the campsite. They knew that they were supposed to be leaving to gather herbs from the garden, but she was really distracting. She glanced over at them, smiling, and they quickly looked away, small pink ice fragments forming on their neck.

Could it be wrong, when she's just so nice to look at?

They looked at her while she was teaching them something about how to prevent infection from settling into a wound. They way her voice flowed so easily through the air was so incredibly enchanting to them, and they only realized that they weren't actually paying attention to what she was saying when she asked them a question. They blinked sheepishly, the annoying pink ice once again appearing.

And she smells like lemongrass and sleep.

They woke up, slowly blinking in the pale light of the dawn. They had fallen asleep before her, and noticed that she was still sleeping. She looked so peaceful, and they wished that they could be lying there, next to her. But they also knew that it was dangerous for her. Because though their voice had calmed slightly, it was still there, and it would still tell them to attack the others. She awoke with a soft yawn, and smiled sleepily up at them. They smiled back uncertainly, feeling the ice crystals once again form on their body.

She tastes like apple juice and peach.

They looked down at her unsure. She had been cut on a sharp stone while showing them the best places to gather cobweb, and because they were still an apprentice healer, she figured that this would be an excellent opportunity for them to try treating something like this. She nodded, smiling up at them reassuringly. They steeled quickly themselves before bending down and licking the wound clean. They felt the ice form again, but this time they didn't seem to mind it as much.

Oh you would find her, in a Polaroid picture.

They looked down at her, feeling as though they were the luckiest lion in the world. She had just admitted that she loved them. She loved them. Despite all of their flaws that, to them, made them unlovable. They looked down at her, tears forming in their eyes. They nuzzled her back, and sighed in relief. The ice felt good as it formed around their neck and face. She looked up at them lovingly, and they touched noses. Amoka wanted to capture this moment forever, but they knew that was impossible. After all, nothing truly lasts forever.

And she, means everything to me.

They stared at her in shock. She was pregnant? With their cubs? They smiled so widely that they thought their face would rip in two. They pounced on her in excitement, rolling over before they landed, with them looking down at her. They felt tears start to fall down their face, and she reached up to lick them off. The two of them laughed together, tails intertwining as they thought about their future. Their face and neck were covered in ice, but at this point they didn't care. They only cared about her. She and their cubs were the only things that mattered.

501/500

[Jantzi01]

Store Prompts

January 1, 2020

S10

1 Point

Image

"Okay Amoka, that was good!" Bahari exclaimed, "But you need to work on making the ice smaller, and more intricate,"

Amoka nodded, before returning to the woven flower stems. They were working on improving their accuracy with their ice. They retracted the ice from their previous attempt, and began to try again. They breathed deeply while doing so, to help them stay in control of their emotions, which highly influenced how the ice would manifest. They concentrated on making it as small as possible, and wove it around the flower stems. This time, a couple of the holes were completely filled, but it was a significantly smaller amount than when they first started. They looked towards her for approval, and saw her nodding her head.

"That was much better!" She said, "I think you've earned a break."

"Thanks, love," They replied, walking towards the Healers' Den. They blushed slightly when they realized what they called her, but they quickly brushed it off. They curled up on their bed of leaves and fell asleep.

The next day they woke up early, and went outside to the Training Grounds. The flower stems were still there. They cleared their mind and started the ice again. The training continued for a couple of hours, before they needed a break. They made some ice to lean against and cool off. This system of practicing for a few hours and leaning on the ice continued for the rest of the day. When the sun was setting, Amoka proudly took the iced over flower stems back to the Healers' Den to show Bahari. They set it down at the opening of the den before going inside and flopping down on their bed.

281/250

S13

1 Point

Kipepeo usually tends to think that she works better alone, because other lions slow her down or make the both of them more likely to get caught. When she is forced to work with someone else, she's often the one in charge and giving the orders. She doesn't usually work well with anyone, but occasionally someone comes along that she manages to not hate. She works best with someone who is also ridiculously bossy, and the two of them usually come to some sort of agreement while coming up with a plan. However, best does not mean good. She just happens to hate these kinds of lions less than everyone else she has to work with. She hates working with lions who are cowardly, or refuses to get close to something for fear of alerting them of their locations. There's no reason for it, and in her mind, anyone who has those beliefs should not be a Scout. She also prefers to work with someone who is usually willing to listen to her ideas, but will call her out when they know her plan is trash. Her philosophy is that it's better to try something and fail miserably at it than to not even approach the situation. Luckily, for her and her pridemates, she is the only Scout currently present in the Ushirikiano Pride. Hopefully she will be for a while, but Shimo thinks that it would be good for her to learn how to work with all sorts of lions.

251/250

S14

1 Point

Bahari looked down upset at the broken butterfly display. She was trying to find Kipepeo so that she could have someone with her while she went into a dangerous area of the territory to get a new plant for the Garden, when her tail accidentally brushed against the display where Kipepeo kept all of her pinned butterflies, knocking it off the rock it sat on, and it fell to the floor, where it now lay, shattered. Bahari quickly tries to fix it, only for Kipepeo to walk in on her.

"Bahari..." She began, voice icy cold, "What happened to my butterflies?" She asked, slowly stalking towards her.

"I'm so sorry Kipepeo. It was an accident," Bahari said, backing up.

"Right. An accident," She responds looking back at the broken display.

"I'm serious, Kipepeo. I was looking for you and my tail accidentally brushed up against it," She said evenly, "If you want, I can help you replace it," She offers, cautiously walking towards her.

"How? It's taken me ages to collect all of them," She says sadly, tail drooping.

"Well, you still have all of your butterflies, right?" She asks. Kipepeo nods curiously. "Then we just need to find something to clip them to. I'm thinking bark? It's soft enough to have stuff pinned to it, but it's unlikely to get ripped in the process," She said, walking out of the cave. Kipepeo follows her excitedly into the forest. "Hey, Amoka? Can you take care of the Healer duties for a while? I have to help Kipepeo with something," She calls out to her apprentice. Amoka nodded before heading back into the den. Bahari and Kipepeo strode into the forest and got a piece of birch bark from a nearby tree. The two of them carried it back to Kipepeo's den, and started to pin the butterflies on it with rose thorns and pine needles. They continued to do this until, finally, all of the butterflies were attached. Kipepeo set the finished display on a ledge that was much less likely to get bumped against, and thanked Bahari for her help.

346/250

S7

4 Points

Song: Good For You from Dear Evan Hansen
So you found a place where the grass is greener, and you jumped the fence to the other side.
This is what Amoka considers to be the voice of their mother parents. She and their father were both Guards in their pride, and had always wanted Amoka to be one too. Needless to say, the two of them didn't really react very well to the news that not only was their child not going to be a Guard, but was also non-binary. They hated them for it , and no longer considered them to be their child. They would use derogatory names, and refer to them as their old name, and pretty much refuse to acknowledge their existence when they had another litter of cubs. Their siblings grew up not knowing that Amoka was related to them, and that broke their heart. All of this happened before their voice started to first show itself, and this is the incident that sparked their anxiety.
Is it good? Are they giving you a world I could never provide?
Again, this is their parents. After they disowned Amoka, they would tauntingly ask them stuff about the lions they hung out with, often calling them derogatory names too. Everything they said from then on was rude or condescending. The questions being asked were 'Is it good?' 'What do the Hunters have that we don't?' 'What's wrong with you, Upweke (their dead name)?' They tried to ignore them, but their voices wormed their way into their head, and now they're stuck with them whenever they have panic attacks.
Well I hope you're proud of your 'big decision'. Yeah I hope that it's all that you want and more.
This is less their parents, and more the entire Guardline in general. They feel betrayed and disgusted that the child of the two best Guards in the pride ended up being a lowly Hunter. They were entirely shutting them out, except for when they needed a punching bag to practice on. Their parents also told everyone who was a part of the Guard to refer to them as 'Upweke', and to be rude to them at any chance they can. During the punching bag sessions, the Guard would often present that being a Hunter was the worst decision that they've ever made.
Now you're free, from the 'agonizing' life you were living before.
At this point, everyone in the pride, even the Hunters, stand with the Guards. They believe that Amoka was gifted at birth, and that they never should have given that up. No matter what. The only lions who didn't hate them were the elders and the cubs who hadn't been taught that they were evil.
Does it cross your mind to be slightly sorry? Do you even care that you might be wrong?
They had gotten a mate, surprisingly. However, it was an arranged marriage, and they felt absolutely nothing for her. Their parents had shoved them together in the hopes that they would have children who would be Guards. She kept trying to pressure them into having cubs, and when they refused, she would taunt them as well. In response, they said something akin to the lyrics above, but she didn't care. All she cared about was making her parents proud of her.
Well I hope you had a blast while you dragged me along.
The voice had started to make an appearance, and the first lion it suggested they kill was her. Amoka didn't have any objection, because she had been absolutely horrible to them. They lead her into the woods and murdered her there. Her last words were 'I actually thought you loved me, Upweke.' They buried her body there and washed off her blood in a nearby stream. When they returned to camp, they went straight to sleep
All I need is some time to think!
This is the first time they've truly tried with everything they had to fight the voice off. They'd already 'disposed' of everyone who they thought had intentionally wronged them. They tried to clear their mind and get rid of it by screaming that they need time to consider their options before they killed everyone in the pride.
But the boat is about to sink!
They understand that it's only a matter of time before the voice takes over and they're forced to kill everyone they've ever known. But they also know that there's no way to stop it. Eventually, it will win, and everyone will die. However, there's still time. They can, and will, do everything in their power to make sure that they don't kill everyone.
Can't erase what I wrote in ink! Tell me how can I change the story?!
Flashing forward to the present, they're having a breakdown over what happened all those years ago. They know that there's no possible way to change the past, but that doesn't stop them from wanting to. They want so badly to not be afraid that any little thing could cause the next genocide. They want their life to change, so that they don't have to deal with the pain of killing all of the lions in their old pride, day in day out, for the rest of their life.
All the words that I can't take back.
They wish that they hadn't been so rude to everyone, effectively pushing them away and making them the most disliked lion in the pride. They wished that they had maybe been a bit nicer to their old mate. And maybe, just maybe, an extremely small part of their mind believes that they shouldn't have told their parents anything. That they could have lived with being called the wrong name, doing the job that they hated so much, until they were old enough to leave the pride. They could have bared with it, but instead they had to screw it up. Just like everything else.
Like a train coming off the track.
Their mind is very quickly leaving all forms of sanity behind them. They're scared, and alone, and they just want someone to hug them and tell them it's alright. They missed that feeling. They missed feeling like they were worth something, like they were wanted. Everything around them is spiralling down into this gigantic mess that's impossible to clean up, and they just want to scream that everything's going wrong.
Just let me off! 'So you got what you always wanted...'
They're begging to be free of this voice that's caused them so much suffering and pain, but all they hear is the disappointed voices of their parents and all of their dead friends.They are incapable of understanding the world around them, because their world is filled with the ghosts of their old family, who are screaming at them for everything that they've ever done wrong in their life. Like telling their parents about their gender. Like telling their mate that at that moment, they'd rather die than have cubs with her. Like having a weird, dumb voice in their head that's telling them to kill people.

1025/1000

S10

1 Point

Image

Kipepeo was taking her usual morning walk through the forest to clear her mind. It helps her wake up, and get ready to think for the day. She was walking along her usual path, before deciding to branch off for a while. She knew the forests pretty well, and she was becoming bored of seeing the same thing every morning. As she strolled through a clearing, she noticed a small monarch butterfly who had landed on a pink, cone-like flower. She slowly padded closer, trying not to scare it. She watched it for a while, when it decided to flutter onto her nose. She twitched her tail in surprise, being extra careful not to scare it now. The butterfly opened and closed its' wings in the way butterflies usually do, and just sat there. Kipepeo decided that she would take it back to the Camp and it could stay in the Garden until it had to migrate. She walked back the way she came, taking a couple detours around some bushes to enjoy the scenery, and to not frighten the fluttering insect that was still on her face. She quickly wondered why it wasn't flying away. After all, it was literally just eating before flitting onto her nose. There's no reason for it to still be here. She wasn't complaining, though, and continued on her way home. She walked through the flower archway into the Garden, and sat down, waiting for the butterfly to fly onto a flower. But the butterfly wouldn't leave. Eventually, she just walked over to a lily and pushed her nose up against it so it would just walk off. When it finally stepped onto the flower, she left the Garden and continued on with her day.

291/200

Total Points: 8

March 25, 2020

S7

4 Points

Song: I See The Light from Tangled
All those years outside looking in
On her journeys with the wandering tribe of nomads that she calls her family, Kipepeo has always wondered what it would be like to settle down, and just have a steady home. Something that could provide some feel of constancy in her ever-changing life. She'd been subjected to several different cultures over the years, but she was looking for something much more stable than her current life could provide. She was very interested in this one pride, who had an extremely strict hierarchy system. The nomadic lions had some form of social classes, but they were very lax, and not really taken too seriously. The only one who really held some form of leadership or authoritative role was one of Kipepeo's mothers, Mfalme. Kipepeo has always been very curious about the world around her, and has always wanted to be apart of something else. She still loved the life she and her family led, she just felt that she would be more useful in a different setting.
Now I'm here blinking in the starlight.
After her parents were killed, she felt lost. She was forced to run away from everything she'd ever known, and had to completely give up her old life if she wanted to be safe. She was confused, and it seemed as though her world had turned upside down. Nothing was the same. Everything was changing. This lead to many nights of lost sleep, staring at the sky, wondering where she went wrong, if her parents were happy together in the afterlife, and how she couldn't see the red flags that seemed so obvious to her now. She spent her time wandering the valley, searching for some sort of purpose in life, or some way to help her heal this pain that she feels. She truly didn't care what happened to her, and she just wanted to be happy again. During this period in her life, she realized that the life she thought she wanted wasn't so great after all. At least, not on her own. She tried setting up a permanent shelter several times, but she always eventually ended up getting chased off or bored a couple days in.
Standing here it's all so clear. I'm where I'm meant to be.
She stared in shock at the large, intimidating gray lion in front of her. He had invited her to stay with him in his new pride. She hesitantly accepted the offer, not truly believing that this wasn't some sort of cruel trick to give her hope, only to tear it out from underneath her, leaving her to fall into her own oblivion. But she couldn't focus on that for now. She was guided to a small hollow of sorts, inside of a sprawling birch forest. It was a large clearing surrounded by seemingly ancient buildings. She assumed they were build when an old pride lived here. She was told to explore around a bit, and settle in a cave. The gray lion, Shimo, showed her where his cave was, and told her to give him a call if she needed anything. She picked a medium sized hole, and gathered some moss and leaves together for a small nest. She curled up on it, and fell asleep, feeling somewhat complete again.
And at last I see the light. And it's like the fog has lifted
Kipepeo realizes that her life is precious, and that she needs to appreciate those around her. She starts taking time for herself, trying to build back her mental health. She knows she can't run from the past anymore. Every morning, she checks on the garden right outside the camp entrance, and goes on a long, refreshing walk, often lying down for a short nap in a sunny clearing. When she's off duty, she makes herself some chamomile tea, and lies down at the edge of a small koi pond she found while on her morning walk. She's starting to figure out how to take control of her emotions, and not let them get too out of hand again. She meditates quite frequently, and is very enthusiastic about group nights, where everyone gets together to do an activity. She tends to vote for a nature walk (obviously) or something involving flower crowns. Her butterfly collection helps too. She looks at them whenever she feels down, and they tend to give her mood a boost to help her get through the day.
And it's warm and real and bright
Everything is becoming clear to her. She really only had time to find out what she liked when she was a cub, and the years on the run didn't really help that. In addition to making sure she's doing okay mentally, she's begun to take time out of her day to discover her interests, especially since her role wasn't technically vital to the pride's survival yet. Since her arrival, she's found that she likes nature, tea, rules, walking, and exercise. She greatly enjoys being left alone, and discovered that she has very violent tendencies. She has a pretty bad habit of threatening others if they have the gall to annoy her. She doesn't like laziness, buzzing bugs, water, and poison ivy. She also tends to prefer lions who have a similar personality to hers, because she understands how they work, they understand how she works, and they can work together in tandem. She's begun to have an appreciation for the world around her. Before now, Kipepeo has never really noticed how pretty the sun looks when it's disappearing from the earth, slowly slipping down over the horizon, lighting the sky on fire and having darkness gradually falling over everything.
And the world has somehow shifted. All at once everything looks different.
Kipepeo has taken on her role in her new pride with much enthusiasm. She gets along with most of them (save for Arctic, the lazy brat), and she's much more welcoming to new members than she used to be. She even went as far as to promise Kai that she'd teach him about flowers when he's older. That ended up biting her in the butt when he took off, but she tries not to beat herself up too much about it. She tries her best to help Arctic with his hunting, and is spending a lot of time showing Talako around. She truly hopes that she's not falling for him, but now she believes that she's in a much better place, and is actually ready for a relationship.

1033/1000

S7

4 Points

Song: Ashes of Eden by Breaking Benjamin
Will I miss the final warning, from the lie that I have lived?
Shimo has always been terrified that he's living life too slow, and that the world around him will leave him behind and do nothing to help him catch up. He feels as though he always needs to be doing something, and he's always fidgeting with one thing or another. He's scared that he'll eventually be forgotten, as nothing more than a distant memory in the mind of those he loved. For a time in his life, nothing felt real. Like he was just wandering the plane of reality, and that life has no purpose. He was just a drop of paint on the big universal canvas. Nothing, and nobody had any true meaning. Just some really nihilistic stuff going on in there.
I can see the soul within
When his both his parents died and he was shunned from his old pride, Shimo thought it would be a good time to do some intense soul-searching. Discover things he never knew he liked, try some new and different things. He was wandering for a while, so this was a prime time to do it. Nothing out here holding him back, it was just him and Mother Nature. A lot of this time was spent napping and lazing about, and just dreaming of his life from before. Before all this happened, before he had to leave in order to maintain his own mental health. Soon, his days of doing nothing were over, and it was about time to start his descent back down into constant fear of being too slow, and missing out on what life has to offer.
I am not worthy of this
After traveling the valley, discontented with how his life had played out up to that point, he found a peaceful stone hollow amidst the sprawling birch forest he had walked for so long. It seemed to be disconnected from the rest of the world, a wrinkle in the fabric of time, where time stood still, and didn't have as much of an impact as it was used to. Shimo decided that this would be a nice area to rest and relax, let the worries that he'd held in his mind for so long get washed away into the void. It didn't take long for him to find a small cave nestled in one of the walls. He made his home there, and set to work on trying to loosen the grip that his fears and insecurities held on his mind. But try as he might, he felt as though he didn't deserve to be in such a promising area. Shimo was, at the time, a firm believer in karma. And since he hadn't done anything, that he could remember, that would warrant such a home.
Are you with me after all? Why can't I hear you?
A while after Kipepeo found him, and decided to call the hollow her home too, he quickly became very attached to her. Nothing romantic, it had just been a while since someone was willing to be nice and listen to him. But she did. This led to a very unhealthy, almost obsession like attachment. Of course, he did all he could to not let her know, he wouldn't want to scare away the first lion to take him seriously since his parents, after all. He tried to avoid her as much as possible, because he knew that this wasn't healthy for him, and he would end up pushing her away. However, this led to him pushing her away on accident. She didn't know that he was so lonely. He felt as though no matter what he did, everything went wrong. One night, she finally got curious enough to question him. And he broke down. He told her everything, and that he was aware of how toxic he was being, and how he wishes he could stop. She curled up next to him, and promised to help in the morning.
Stay with me, don't let me go
He woke up to the soft sunlight slowly spreading into his den. He drearily untangled himself from Kipepeo, and waited for her to awake. Luckily, she's a light sleeper and it didn't take long. She brought him into her cave and made him some tea to help him calm down. She gave him some examples of stuff she did when her head was in a similar place. He listened intently, and promised her that he would certainly try them. When other lions came to join them, Shimo no longer held the same feelings towards her. That being said, the two of them were certainly closer than the others. He soon realized that the feelings that remained were certainly more than platonic. Terrified by this revelation, he tried as hard as he could to shove his feelings down. And after Talako came, and he saw that they were getting along, he knew that she would never feel the same way towards him. However, knowing that doesn't do much to quell uncontrollable feelings.
Until the Ashes of Eden fall
He knows that she will never be his, but he doesn't care. He can still admire her from afar, until he either loses interest, or until he has left this plane of reality. And he's okay with that. At least Kipepeo has found someone who makes her happy, and he knew that he could never truly do that. He was more focused on how she could help him with his mental problems. And that could certainly be quite taxing, even though she told him it was no trouble. He hopes that someday, she will come around, and eventually fall in love with him, but that's unreasonable thinking. He wants her to love him, and to always be there for him. He believes that he would at least try to do the same for her, but he can't guarantee that it would happen. After all, he is known for being quite unpredictable. That being said, one thing that he most certainly wants to happen, is that when he dies, she will be there. That they will be curled up around each other, tails intertwined, as the sun sets, both in the real world, and on his short, insignificant life.

1001/1000

Total Points: 8

April 5, 2020

S7

4 Points

Song: Strangers Like Me from Tarzan
Whatever you do, I'll do it too
Kai was very confused about the world when he was a cub. As a result, he ended up mimicking his parents and pride members a LOT. More so than even his sister, who has always been very insecure and nervous about everything. He would follow their actions and directions to a t, and often annoyed them with how much he needed to be shown how to do something. He was a perfectionist, and has to be told exactly how a task should be performed, and given an in depth demonstration. This is very irritating for everyone in the pride, except for Kosa. She doesn't care too much.
But I just know there's something bigger out there.
He's always been very interested in the workings of the universe, and has always felt somewhat out of place in his pride. Sure, he has his sister and parents, but pretty much everyone aside from them seem to be constantly annoyed with him. They try to assure him that it's not his fault, but he's not dumb. He can see through their lies. He doesn't hold it against them though, he knows he can be pretty irritating. He irritates himself a lot of the time. He gets where they're coming from, he just wishes he could understand why they feel that way.
I want to know, can you show me?
After asking around, primarily inside his family, Kai came to the conclusion that there was nothing he could do to stop the other lions' feelings of annoyance and irritation towards him. So he left. To explore, and get a grasp on the bigger picture. On his travels, he met a lioness, Myra, who he somehow managed to charm into walking with him for a bit. He asked her why she stuck around, and how come she wasn't annoyed with him yet. The questions, understandably, shocked her a bit. She told him that she found his excitement and curiosity about the world quite endearing.
Why do I have this growing need to be beside her?
After that conversation, he found himself growing more and more attached to Myra as each day passed. He couldn't figure out why for the life of him, and he was very confused, even more so than usual. He took it in stride, and started to act more friendly and outspoken around her. She couldn't understand where this new side of him was coming from, but she enjoyed it very much. The two of them became very close, and before they knew it, they were traveling partners.
There are some emotions that I never knew
Kai still didn't understand what his feelings for Myra actually were. All he knew is that they were adapting to their new lifestyle. As you can imagine, he was very very startled and confused when he realized that being around her was making him nervous. It felt like the butterflies in his stomach were on steroids, and became a tornado. It was really bad. It actually ended up driving a small wedge in between them. After all, a relationship can't really work if one party constantly feels like they're gonna throw up around the other because of nervousness. These feelings made Kai's head feel pretty fuzzy. He'd never felt anything like this for anyone before.
I see before me a new horizon
Once he got his feelings worked out, and realized that he was actually in love with Myra, things sort of settled down for a while. They got back into their routine, and were once again functioning like a pair. Myra had no idea what caused the sudden rift in their relationship, but she's glad she has her old Kai back now. Kai's started looking forward to the future. After all, nothing can be that bad if he's got Myra by his side. He's already formed an oath in his mind that her life is more important than his.
Come with me now, to see my world
Once his journey ended, and as he stood just outside the ancient birch forest that he'd called home so many moons ago, he decided that it was time for him to return to their branches. He asked Myra if she wanted to come with him. Myra was surprised, but still grateful that he'd even asked her that. However, she had doubts. Her family was sure to be missing her as well, she couldn't just abandon them for some handsome blue runaway who lived in the forest that was apparently known for capturing souls inside their clutches and never letting them go.
Where there's beauty beyond your dreamsKai, starting to get a bit desperate now, started telling Myra of the wonders that he'd experienced while growing up. About how when the wind blows through the trees, it sounds like an ancient song. About all of the small hidden hollows he'd discovered and used as hiding places whenever Bahari or Amoka got too upset with him. About how there's this one area, his favorite, in fact, of forest where spiders have taken over, and in the morning, it looks like the silvery trees are covered in tiny, sparkling diamonds. But, unfortunately, none of that could persuade her.
Can you feel the things I feel right now with you?
After hearing that soul crushing sentence come out of her mouth, Kai pretty much threw all previous doubts and anxieties to the wind. He confessed his love for her, and told her of his past. How he always felt sort of lost, and out of place. How he stormed out of the camp, ignoring his crying sister. How he started to feel accepted when she agreed to travel with him. How he had no idea what the heck was going on in his head, and that he couldn't sort out his feelings for her until recently, and that was what drive that wedge in between them.
Take my hand
Myra now felt like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one paw, she knew she had some sort of loyalty to her family, and she couldn't just up and abandon them for the first charmer that came her way. On the other paw, she kind of had a crush on him too. She wouldn't admit it just yet, but she was definitely leaning towards joining him. Growing restless, Kai wrapped his tail around hers, gently grabbing her attention, and led her into the forest. He quickly explained that he would only be showing her around. If she didn't like it, she could leave. He took her to the Spider Forest, and together they watched the sun come up and dazzle the trees. She concluded that she'd need to inform her family before she'd return and stay. Happy with the compromise, Kai let her leave, and turned back into the forest. It was time to return home.

1075/1000

[Jantzi01]

Level 6 to Level 7

25 Overflow

A21

150 Exp

Since the pride is located within a birch forest, there's not very many interesting or stunning plants. The flowers that can be found aren't usually the most brilliant looking either. Flowering plants include primrose, spanish bluebell, wood anemone nightcaps, eastern red columbine, marigold, carolina springbeauty, feverfew, dogwood, moccasin flower, Yellow Lady's-slipper Orchid, showy lady's slipper, dutchman's breeches, ragwort, rosemary, coltsfoot, adder's tongue, borage, geranium, liverleaf, twinflower, canada mayflower, gaywings, broom flowers, comfrey, dandelion, bright-eye, mayapple, bloodroot, meadow saffron, fire pink, foxglove, heartleaf foamflower, hawkweed, starflower, guelder rose, hydrangea, watermint, wild garlic, azalea, blazing star, bleeding heart, mallow, goldenrod, daisies, bindweed, spiderwort, tansy, tormentil, celandine, chamomile, chervil, lilypads, butterfly bushes, yarrow, lilac, chokecherry, flowering plum, pussywillow, tamarix, lavender, water hemlock, thistles, different types of lilies, white trillium, heather, sunflower, cylindrical snow plant, and poppies. Non-flowering plants include lady ferns, white birch trees, silver birch trees, moss, lichens, cattails, different types of ivy, brambles, nettles, sage, hazel, chives, burdock, burnet, catchweed, catmint, chickweed, dock, elder trees, fennel, goatweed, horsetail, beech trees, lamb's ear, laurel, lovage, briars, honeysuckle, ginger, lungwort, mint, parsley, rush, sorrel, sweet-sedge, thyme, willow trees, and ash trees. Plants that have berries include blueberries, raspberries, junipers, holly bushes, white baneberry, blackberries, strawberries, wintergreen, mistletoe, yew berries, nightshade berries, red baneberry, cranberries, alpine currant, barberry, buffaloberry, and arrowwood. Fungi include puffball, pigskin poison puffball, destroying angel, and tawny milkcap mushrooms.

229/200

B25

75 Exp

Shimo relies on his sense of smell the most. He's always been very good at tracking using only his nose, and is excellent at stalking. He's pretty sure he gets his amazing sense of smell from his father. Minzi was considered to be one of his pride's best hunters, because of his nose. Shimo thinks that if he suddenly went blind due to a sickness, or an attack or something, he would be able to get on fine using just his sense of smell. He actually used to try that when he was younger, by forcing his eyes to stay closed no matter what, and seeing if he could move around and figure out where he was using only his sense of smell.

123/100

C16

150 Exp

In the pride, there isn't usually a selected single member who is in charge of taking care of the cubs. The parent who gave birth to the cubs is usually the one who is in charge of taking care of their own. That being said, in certain situations, there is a lion who chooses to stay in the Nursery who likes taking care of cubs more than their originally assigned duties. In this case, they can usually end up taking care of the cubs who have either been orphaned, or their parent prefers to be outside of the Nursery. Occasionally, if the parent who gave birth dies, the other parent will take it upon themselves to become a 'Denmother' to take care of their cubs. The 'Denmothers' are in charge of watching over the cubs, and making sure they don't get into too much trouble with the rest of the pride. Bahari is currently the only lion who is in the Nursery, because she is taking care of her and Amoka's two cubs, Kai and Kosa. Shimo is thinking of finding a new lion to make a 'Denmother', because he believes that it would be good idea to have a designated lion in charge of the Nursery.

207/200

C26

100 Exp

The joining of two lions in a relationship is usually just a private thing that eventually they announce to those who ask about them. However, if the lions agree on a public event, the pride will work together to make sure that it's the best day of their lives. The couple will plan the ceremony, much like how couples in real life do. On the big day, the lions will each usually be wearing something that pertains to their personality. For example, a soft, shy lion will usually wear a type of flower crown, and a spunky, energetic lion will likely wear a feather chain. The two are joined in the Olden Church, where the pride decorates the arches with the two lions' favorite flowers. The ceremony consists of both of the lions walking into the church, and standing under the broken stained-glass window. The couple will stand across from each other, and either the Mage or the Healer will stand between them. They will join the couple by placing a flower that their partner enjoys in the lions' tails, that isn't being used in the decorations.

187/150

Exp: 500

Overflow: 0

[Jantzi01]

Level 7 to Level 8

D15

200 Exp

"Quick, hide behind the sofa!"

Kosa laughed quietly as her brother stared at their mother. He had just been caught rifling through Bahari's herbs, and had managed to gather them all into a huge pile. While Kai was getting yelled at by their mom, Kosa was planning something. Something that would hopefully get her brother out of trouble. She flicked her tail slightly to get Kai's attention, and nodded her head to tell him that he needed to stall for a while. He understood and nodded slightly back at her before, and started to make up some excuse about falling or something.

Kosa knew she didn't have much time, so she tried to think as quick as she could to come up with a scheme. Her head shot up as she realized what she should do. She looked at the arguing lions, before creating a thin coating of ice stretching from her paw to her mother.

Bahari, confused as to why there was suddenly ice under her paws, slipped and fell. Kai took this opportunity to run to where Kosa was hiding.

"Kai, quick, hide behind that rock!" She hissed, shoving her brother towards a jagged rock. He took off running to hide. Bahari was starting to figure out what happened, and got up angrily, before turning her head to glare at where Kosa was. She quickly slipped away and went to bother Amoka.

She was looking behind her while running, and accidentally bumped into something. She groaned slightly and looked up. Amoka stared down at her, confused. She chuckled quietly, looking up at them guiltily.

"Kosa? Are you alright?" They asked, leaning down to lick her on the head.

"I'm fine! Do you know any good places to hide?" She replied, scrunching up her nose when they licked her. Amoka froze, before straightening up and looking at her sternly.

"Kosa, what did you do this time?" They sighed.

"Weeeelllll... I might have froze the ground under Bahari's feet and made her fall," She admitted guiltily.

Amoka sighed again and shook their head, before guiding her away to the garden.

"You can hide here, just make sure to keep the ice under control. Bahari would not be happy if her herbs got frozen," They said, nudging her toward's the entrance, "I'll go see if I can stall. If I don't come back to get you, sneak into the den after everyone's gone to sleep, alright?" Kosa nodded, before dashing into the plants. She was immediately hit with a wave of smells. She couldn't even tell the difference between all of them. She rolled around a bit in order to hide her scent, before zig-zagging through the plants, before hiding under one with broad leaves. She remained like that for a couple hours before she heard rustling ahead of her. She shrank back under the leaves, muscles bunching with suspense. She heard a voice calling out her name, and she slowly crawled out from under the leaves. She looked up to see that Amoka was standing in a nearby clearing. She jumped up and ran over to them. The noise she made startled them, and they looked over at her in relief.

"Kosa! I was wondering where you were," They purred. The two embraced, before Kosa pulled away and asked them a question.

"Is... Is Bahari mad at me, Amoka?" She questioned hesitantly.

"She understands why you did it, but she doesn't want it to happen again," They sighed. Kosa looked at them happily, before they both returned to find Bahari and Kai asleep.

585/300

D15

200 Exp

Is there something you want to tell me, son?

Kai paced around the camp nervously. He was waiting for his parents to return from gathering herbs. Kosa looked at him reassuringly, before wrapping her tail around his. Kai nodded thankfully, before returning to his pacing. It was as though there was a war going on inside his head, and he can't remember ever feeling this anxious about something before.

Kosa watched her brother worriedly. He wouldn't tell her what was on his mind, but she knew it couldn't be anything good. She had never seen him like this before, he was starting to remind her of Amoka, with how much he was worrying over this. Kai was usually so carefree, and it ate at her to know that he doesn't feel comfortable sharing something that's so obviously taking a toll on him with her. After all, they were siblings. Nothing would ever separate them, right?

Oh, how wrong she was.

When Bahari and Amoka returned, they were quite perplexed to see Kai acting this way. The fact that Kosa seemed equally as confused worried them slightly. The two of them shared everything with each other, what was going on?

Kai looked at the camp entrance when his parents returned. His ears and tail shot up, but he quickly flattened them. He had spent days worrying about this, and he figured that it was time to tell them.

"Is there something you want to tell us, son?" Kai jumped, before steeling himself as he realized it was Bahari who was speaking.

"Umm, yeah. Kosa?" He called, getting her attention. She bounded over to the rest of her family, eager to know what was going on. "There's no easy way to say this, but," He began, looking at their worried faces guiltily, "I've... I've decided that I'm going to leave the pride for a bit," He said, closing his eyes.

"What?!" Kosa cried incredulously, "Kai what are you talking about? How can you do this?" She exclaimed, frantic. He opened his eyes, and immediately regretted it. He was met with the sight of his sister sobbing, her eyes begging him to stay.

"I'm sorry, Kosa," He said, looking around nervously. The other lions were starting to come out of their dens, curious to see what was going on. "I-I just feel like there's something more out there. I have to go," He said, pleading with her. He glanced at his parents, hoping to find some help. Bahari, much like Kosa, was shell-shocked, and crying. Amoka, on the other hand, looked... scared? Kai couldn't place a name to it, but it sure wasn't a good emotion. He couldn't bring himself to look at them any longer, and he ran out of the camp, ignoring the cries of his sister and former pridemates.

I can't ever go back. He thought. Not after this.

463/300

D16

Shimo

50 Exp

1. Shimo's favorite color is orange. It reminds him of his mother, and makes him feel safe. This is likely why he has a soft spot for honey, oranges, and tiger lilies

31/20

2. His favorite food, if he had to pick one, is flying squirrel. They aren't terribly common in his forests, but they certainly make his day better when he gets to have one.

32/20

3. If he was a Mage, he believes that he'd most likely be a Lightning Mage. Something about storms has always called out to him, and he feels energized after one has passed.

32/20

D16

Kipepeo

50 Exp

1. Contrary to popular belief, Kipepeo's favorite butterfly is not, in fact, the monarch, or even the viceroy, it's the red-spotted purple admiral butterfly. She finds the way it looks to be very enchanting, and has several in her butterfly collection.

40/20

2. Before she wanted to become a Scout, she was considering becoming the Gardener. She had always loved flowers, but she felt that her talents were more suited for a Scout. She took great joy in teaching Kai what she knew.

40/20

3. She wishes that she were a Mage, a Nature Mage to be precise. She would love to have the ability to make flowers wherever she went.

26/20

Exp: 500

Overflow: 0

[Jantzi01]

Level 8 to Level 9

P1

Shimo

100 Exp

Shimo is known to be fairly cold and rude towards those he's familiar with. It's how he shows his affection. The only reason he ended up in charge was because he was the first one who lived in the territory. Everyone else sort of wandered in, either ignorant or not caring of the whispers of danger that seemed to come from the forest. He is known for his immense amount of patience with new members and cubs, and will do his best to protect everyone. If he has a crush on someone, he will try his best to show off, and try to show them why he's so great. He tends to fall head over heels for someone fairly easily, and his crushes last for a long time. He enjoys splashing others with the water found in the numerous streams that run through the forest, and likes staring at the water, watching the fish swim by.

153/150

P1

Kipepeo

100 Exp

Kipepeo is very strict, and harsh. She's extremely loyal, and would literally give her life for anyone she even slightly cares about. She uses her tough exterior to guard her softer side, because she knows from first hand experience that being soft will get you killed. She would prefer to close herself off from the world, but her pride needs her. She is not the most patient lioness, but she's trying her best. Unfortunately, her best isn't very good. She has a very short temper, and tends to hold grudges for way too long. She enjoys to calm down by strolling through the garden and taking care of the flowers. If she wasn't a ke kahi'o, she would have chosen to be a mea hānai. She doesn't really get crushes easily, but when she does, she falls hard. And she shoves her feelings down to wither and die. She doesn't have time to be having a romantic interest. Luckily, she has yet to have one in the Ushirikiano Pride.

166/150

P1

Amoka

100 Exp

Amoka is very skittish and anxious. They greatly dislike social interactions. They have a voice inside their head that prompts them to kill others. Luckily, though, they've only let the voice take over once, and they don't plan on having it happen again. They're very easily scared, and startle at everything. They care deeply for their friends, but tends to push them away because they're scared of the voice taking over again. They tend to stick to themselves. They're very interested in learning how to heal. They believe that this skill will eventually overpower the voice, and they will no longer have those homicidal tendencies. They love to be around their family, and will defend them to the ends of the earth. When flustered, small pink ice shards form on their face and neck. They find them rather annoying. They're not one to show off very often, but occasionally they do. To calm down, they usually go out to the Olden Church, or to one of the several stone circles located in the forest. Singing and playing music is a very easy way to lower their anxiety. They also love dancing.

191/150

P1

Bahari

100 Exp

Bahari is known to be very gentle and kind. She's patient, wise, and helpful. She finds it very easy to empathize with others, which is probably why she chose to be a téitheoir. She's very knowledgeable of plant life found in several areas because of how much she's traveled. No one seems to know where she came from, but they can guess it was somewhere near the sea. Bahari loves the ocean, and tells the others stories about her previous life near it. She has a shell collection that she carried around. Most of it is now on display in her cave, and some shells are being used to store herbs in. She's incredibly motherly, and several members of the pride have accidentally called her mom before. She isn't particularly social, but she doesn't terribly mind social interactions. She has an intense interest in Magics, which led her to help coach Amoka with their powers. She loves singing.

158/150

P1

Kai

100 Exp

Kai is very eccentric and curious. He's easily excited, and finds himself getting into trouble often. He loves his family, and will do everything in his power to protect them. He really likes the water, and tries to throw it at his sister to see if she can freeze it in time. This usually ends up in a fight, and a grounding for the both of them. He's very non-confrontational, and hates arguments. That being said, he can pack a punch and will fling insults like the best of them. He likes learning new things, and loves flowers. He spends a lot of time around Kipepeo, bothering her about her flowers and butterflies. Following her example, he's begun to carry around dried flowers, butterfly wings, and feathers around in a small pouch on his neck. He's very childish and loves to try and annoy Kosa as much as possible. He loves sweet things, and can often be found trying to break into Bahari's honey supply.

165/150

Exp: 500

Overflow: 0