VOK Halloween Event - Prompts

[wildly-unaware]

Username: -wild-
Link to pride or group: Rosetinted Pride (link in sig)
Prompt level completion: lvl 2
Prompt:

Th extraterrestrial being fought hard, and well. It always seemed to bounce back harder no matter how hard Bigwig's pride fought. Even Islwyn, the littler, friendlier alien was getting tired. If it wasn't for more little aliens like Islwyn leading other lions to the cave, Bigwig isn't sure they would have made it...

But the fight was still tough. The creature and it's many tentacles were able to fight multiple lions with ease, but as more and more lions came, the less power it seemed to have. The lions fought and fought, almost until the point of exhaustion. But as each lion attacked, the creature seemed to get weaker, and smaller. It began to get easier to attack, it's once armoured body lost it's strength. It's tall composure got smaller and smaller. Until finally, it retracted to a small blob of fur on the ground.

The lions all stood around it, many panting, trying to catch their breath again. "No!" the tiny fur blob declares, "No! You will not stop me! I have already rooted myself here!" Bigwig and his pride glared towards the roots, exhausted already at the thought of having to do even more. The fur alien wasn't entirely wrong... "Ha! It is too late! You cannot remove them." it squeaked out with a menacing laugh.

Harlequin snorted, "Yeah right. It couldn't be that hard to pull out the roots. Look at how many of us there is." The fur blob bounced slightly, "I will get strong again and create a form even MORE powerful! Just you wait!" Harley laughed and flicked the blob with her fur, "Oh yeah? When?" The blob of fur squeaked and shouted profanities towards the lioness. "Harley! Careful! It might still be dangerous..." Lander warned, looking at the squeaking blob cautiously.

"No. Roots! We pick. We pull now!" Islwyn squawked. Ossi nodded, "He's right, I think we should just at least try and up root them. It might be our only hope." Fearne and Kodah nodded in agreement. "What about... that?" Lander asked, motioning towards the fur blob that Harley was still aggravating. "Oh don't worry about this. I've got it." Harley chuckled, batting the blob of fur. Bigwig laughed, "They are right, come everyone! Let's get started on these roots. They seem to be the root of the problem." There were a number of groans and face palms at Bigwig's horrible pun, but the lions all got to work anyways, Harley calling out silly things during it like, "Anyone want to play ball?" or "Got a new wig for one lucky lion!" It was clearly annoying the small critter quite a bit, and she seemed to be loving it. But still, the lions worked away, hoping the roots would be uprooted.

[Tiger♥Bear]

The fight is a rough one, and the alien visitor to your lion's world does a number on a few of its attackers before it finally seems defeated, falling to the floor its 'lion' body slowly falls apart around it, leaving behind a small blot of fur on the ground. "No!" it declares, in an attempt to be menacing in its squeaky little voice it waves little tendrils in the air "No! You will not stop me! I have already rooted myself here!" as if for emphasis the blue roots around the cave pulses with energy, and your lions feel suddenly tired "It is too late! You cannot remove them." Well...your lions can certainly try, can't they? "I will get strong again and create a form even MORE powerful! Just you wait! The menacing smile on its face suggests its up to something....

What do your lions do with the for-now-(apparently) harmless "eater of planets"? How do they trap it while they deal with its corruption in their territory? How do they approach trying to remove the roots draining life from the world around it?

Username: Tiger♥Bear
Link to their pride or group: Pekee Pamoja
Prompt level completion: 5 (1,027 Words)
Prompt:

SPACENuru and Lishan stood side by side panting heavily as they faced Uuk'oks. She took notice that he too was wearing down. "This won't end well for you. Any of you. How do you know you're even fighting for the right side here?"

SPACEThe words fluttered around in Nuru's mind. There was really no way to tell which side was the right side. Both had only presented itself with words or brief action. Lishan spoke of a creature that was dangerous and would bring destruction, cause harm. So far, that was true. Uuk'oks was dangerous and everything present in the cave appeared to be negatively impacting the world around them. The earth was sick and this cavern was the infection that needed to be cured. No, looking at what was presented before her she knew she was on the right side of the fight. "You've done nothing but prove Lishan correct putting you on the wrong side of this fight" The seer gave a small smirk. "I believe this won't end well for you."

SPACEUuk'oks let out a growl and lunged at Nuru. Lishan stepped in, snarling back. "Don't hurt. My friend." Nuru was touched but this only made the attacker angrier. Procyon and Sirius fought against their restraints. After a struggle and a bit of luck, the pair were able to get out of the grip. They kept their distance though. Being restrained had left them a bit out of sorts. Sadaltager was still taking a brutal assault from the whips. The large guard was somewhat kneeling but still putting up a fight. Even with some of the members holding back, the team of five had become somewhat successful. Uuk'oks fell to the ground before them and the facade of the Creation God was falling away.

SPACE"No!" As the form faded, it left behind the smallest bit of fur. "No! You will not stop me!" His voice was rising in pitch to an amusing squeak. "I have already rooted myself here!" The roots around them pulsed increasing the blue hue in the cavern. With the pulse, Nuru and Lishan both trembled as if the fight had left them more exhausted than they realized. But this was something more. This wasn't just the fights doing...was it? "It is too late! You cannot remove them! I will get strong again and create a form even more powerful! Just you wait!" It was a bit difficult to take the squeaking threats seriously when they sounded so adorably ridiculous. The sinister grin on it's face, however, did not go unnoticed.

SPACE"Quick! We must find a way to remove the roots influence here." Nuru looked to the others but then turned to Lishan. "We need to find a way to contain Uuk'oks. I don't want him slipping away."

SPACESirius helped Procyon up and over to inspect the roots at points where they sprouted from the ground. Sadaltager instead went to points where the roots were pulsing the brightest. Lishan produced some sort of glowing orb similar to that of the one that led them here in the first place and placed it on Uuk'oks. By some magical ability, when the rock touched him it sprouted strange tendrils of energy to encase him within. When he moved, it crackled and sparked causing him to cry out. Nuru wasn't about to question what it was or what it was doing when it was keeping one part of the threat contained. She shook her head and tried to focus on the roots. There must be a way to remove them. Surely it wouldn't be that hard, would it? She watched the guards as they each took turned attempting to remove them. Sadaltager pulled with his teeth without a budge. Sirius sliced at the roots with claws as though they were dull. Procyon attempted to dig out the base of the root only to find it practically never-ending. Come on. Give me a sign. A clue. Something to take care of this problem before us. I cannot leave this wound to fester for it might be the end of us. The impact of the roots was effecting them as well. Their actions were sluggish and slow, half-hearted. The cavern started to dull from her vision but grew brighter with the natural glow of her own eyes. Lishan turned to look at her in a mix of concern and fascination.

SPACEShe saw it. The vision. weird moments in time. She was seeing Uuk'oks come here almost in a way like Lishan did. Crashed into the earth in a small glowing rock. A small creature slipped out from within just as she had witnessed before. Except this time there wasn't a band of lions investigating. No, without interruption he was free to get started on his work. Nature and time took its course eventually closing up some over the initial impact. Roots were sprouting from within it and taking hold in the ground around it. Uuk'oks looked on with a sneer. It was just the beginning. The vision changed to show that summer when the portal had opened up to them. The creation god could be seen guarding it and, undetected by anyone because of its small size and being absorbed by the attention the portal was causing, Uuk'oks went unnoticed in the background taking in the deity. The next time he was seen in the vision, he was wearing the disguise of Akbar. But altered in a way. Instead of green eyes, glowing red. A terrible menacing smile with its pointed teeth. With one last shift she saw in her vision now when the cavern was overgrown with these roots. She knew what they had to do. With that the glow in her eyes receded to their normal glowing capacity and she took a gulp of air. "The roots. The start. We must find the beginning. Find where they start and destroy the source from which they came." The three without a moment to waste joined Nuru in a particular location of the cavern and began to dig. Hopefully this was the right thing because they didn't have a lot of time to be wrong.

[Runnersback]

Username: Runnersback
Link to pride or group: Realms of L’Oasis Lo
Prompt level completion:Level 5
Prompt: [1003/1000]

As the small beast still entangled in its vines was about to be dealt with, Ubbe protectively placed his signet necklace around Skarde’s small neck. He gently nuzzled her as he watched Ragnar right himself with the rest of expedition team to deal with the monster especially with his roots all gone. A floating orb had appeared and swiftly started cooling it’s self around the tiny lioness with gentle whispers of olden spirits. Within moments Ubbe was nuzzling the purple lioness who had her broken voice back and her proper body. As the two gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes, Skarde got distracted by the hideous planet eater in front of her.

While the expedition team deliberate the fate of this alien creature, it just grins in some unreadable alien emotion. Eventually...they make their way outside the crumbled cave ruins they had stacked up as a barrier wall. The earth felt safe again under their paws....but theres a quake as the creature they're holding captive goes berserk, biting at the paws of the Bokmal expedition team and scrambling to free itself from its confinement. They let it slip through their paws and Uuk'oks is gone. Launching into the sky the little unimposing ball of fur turns into a meteor- flying off into nonexistence beyond your lion's reach. Seemingly, this was a common way of travel for these creatures, and the shell that their own alien had come to them in was the result of such a landing. "No!" Skarde cries alongside the lions, scrambling over to try and catch the flying rock, but it is far too late to make a difference. Skarde stands, staring at the sky. "Get! Uuk'oks!" She protested weakly. But she seemed keenly aware of her loss in the fight, sitting on the ground she stared at the dirt. "Gone." she decided, defeated. She was so close! so close to destroying this terrible creature, and yet he was gone. He took her home from her, and nearly took the Bokmals home too. But at least she has done something- it's saved someone. She looked to the sky with a new determination "Uuk'oks come back. Hold grudge. Bad." Skarde decided firmly. And she would stay to put up a fight when it did.

Ragnar had heard the whispers of the lions who stared at Skarde who had simply moved form the spot she held her outbursts into the comfort of Ubbe’s warm mane.“I believe we will handle this situation now as this young lioness had proved her worth today due to the assistance from Ubbe, now Skarde, isn’t it?” He said looking the lioness in the eyes while she nodded to her new name.“Stay with us,Ubbe will teach you our ways and our language. We could use a wonderful Seer like you. You are truly a gift from Woden.” He said as Skarde had the biggest smile on her face before she quickly nuzzled the King and Ubbe out of pure excitement. Ubbe’s face heated up as he dipped his head in thanks to the king before saying the same to Ivar as well as his apologies.“I believe that is a yes from her and may we finally move out from this horrid place?” He suggested as he took a few paw steps forward.

The king managed to let out hearty rumbles of laughter,“Yes, let us go and rest. Well feast then rest after we explain everything to our fellow pride mates who decided it was more suitable to protect home then to venture far and wide with us. And as for the creatures and this mess we shall handle that as well later. I’m proud of you Ubbe and Ivar you have both proved yourself to the pride once again of your courage and tenacity.” He said as Ivar’s eyes widened before they trotted off hastily. It was a long journey at that and maybe they could find a way to seal off that world from the rest of there’s and maybe they couldn’t but once they got a chance to deliberate with the pride they most definitely could reap new ideas to sow over their old problems. Ubbe simply knocked Ivar playfully as they walked on. But he slowed down to carry the tired Skarde home.

As days went by the team had finally returned to the safety of the pride members. The meeting hall was built and massive hole was filled in with hoards of treasure from the previous raid before layers and layers of dirt covered it like a soil blanket. Joyous roars had lit the air like the glistening northern lights. But it soon all fell to a cold shouldered silence as they all caught wind of the purple lioness in their midsts. Many pelts bristled at her scruffy head and four eyes, as well as unnatural colors. But once hours of explanation went up, Skarde was officially welcome.

When the partying ended the cleaning up and rehabilitation began after the token meetings completed themselves. Everyone agreed to help even the smallest cubs. Yet it was all too much despite them squaring away the rubbles of the cave. The ground wasn’t healing but the earth had healed. Many lions grumbled as each team switched out. But everyone knew quietly in there hearts that the effort to save this uninhabited territory was too much for one pride to handle.

- - -

It had been months now since the fateful battle. Ivar had found himself going on more and more raids. Ragnar was enjoying new hall as well as teaching his last litter of cubs on the origin story of Skarde and well how the efforts of destroying the mutated creatures and charred land had went. Ubbe was no longer viewed as evil and just a misunderstood lion who easily followed the views of other animals. And well sweet sweet Skarde, she could speak properly now, became a expert fighter, the prides Seer who fully understands the gods, a mate to Ubbe, and a future mother...

•La Fine or The End•

[Firedancer77]

Username: Firedancer77
Link to pride or group: Isle of Roses
Prompt level completion: Level 5
Prompt: Day 9.1

[Raptocidic]

Username: RupturedRaptor
Link to pride or group: The Fire Empire
Prompt level completion: level 5
Prompt: (1000 words)

It had taken Uhalmor and her team an entire day (and half of the night) to clear up the roots. It was dark and the pride were relying on torchlight to see. Holding up a flaming torch towards the now dead roots, Uhalmor examined the damage they had achieved. She smiled as she browsed the area.

It had proven a much larger task than any of the lions anticipated, finding that for half the day they were still experimenting, trying to find out if the roots were weak to something. Eventually their visitor friend had suggested a bunch of seemingly random materials, telling the pride to put them in a stone pot over a fire. Mixing the strange mix with water, the lions found themselves making a sort of goopy paste, quite unlike anything they had made or seen before. The visitor friend clearly knew more than they had originally expected it to, the lions feeling slightly frustrated that it hadn’t told them sooner.

Having made the paste the lions let it cool and applied it to the damaged root to test it. The paste fizzed and crackled as it seemingly eroded away the thick outer layer of the roots, bubbling slightly as it slowly disappeared. From there the root felt soft, weakened by its outer layers being stripped away. Ozmore was able to slice right through the root using his pocket knife, this time the task being surprisingly easy. The lions used the paste mix on most of the roots, finding the thin and medium ones to be breakable using that method. They did encounter some issues with the larger main roots in the middle, finding that they couldn’t mix enough of the paste mixture to properly erode through it. Natu, Uhalmor and a few other lions went searching for the missing materials, whilst the other lions were left trying to break the roots through other means.

Iluc and Mirra had by then dug fairly deep down, finding the roots to be seemingly endless. Growing tired, the two decided to help in attempting to break the roots, although they tried attacking the previously buried parts instead. Mirra found that a dagger could cut the surface of the root at first, but after exposure to the open air for a while the root seemed to harden. That certainly explained why the roots were much harder above ground, at least.

Natu and Uhalmor eventually returned, although it was nearing night time by then. The lions made their second batch of mix, this time making a lot more than before. Having spread the paste mix over as much root as possible, the pride cut the roots into tiny pieces, just to make sure they were safe.

Having successfully destroyed the roots, the area felt a lot calmer, like it was before all of the recent events had happened. The ground under their paws felt normal, as though peace had been restored to it. The lands did still have many strange creatures and mutated plants, but the lions didn’t really seem to care, having forgotten that those weren’t even there before.

The lions hadn’t noticed the meteor in the distance flying up- up off towards the sky and the dark nothingness. Hearing a sound as the rock left the atmosphere, the lions turned their attention to find Uuk'oks gone, and their visitor friend seemingly upset about their disappearance. It seemed annoyed that Uuk'oks had escaped, repeating “No!” and "Get! Uuk'oks!" before settling with a somewhat empty sounding “Gone...” as it stared at the ground. After a while it looked back up towards the sky. "Uuk'oks come back. Hold grudge. Bad." It said. It seemed as though their visitor friend would be ready to fight it if it ever did come back.

With the decision to stay, the lions decided it was time to give their visitor friend an official name. Apparently not having one themself, the lion-like creature looked at them with confusion.

Ozmore tried his best to explain. “You should have a name”. He confirmed. “You’re not visiting anymore, you’re staying. We can’t call you our visitor friend forever.”

The creature looked at them and tilted its head. It had grown quite fond of the name the pride had been calling it all this time, not understanding why it couldn’t keep being called the same name.

“Name, Visitor”. It seemed to try to convince the lions to keep its name. “Visitor-friend”. It confirmed.

Eventually, after spending sometimes going in loops of conversations the lions understood that the creature had decided that ‘Visitor-friend” was in fact its name. Not really able to argue the case (they had been calling the creature that the entire time, in all fairness), the lions decided to settle on that name too.

Ozmore sat on his newly restored throne, handing Visitor-friend a parchment. The creature didn’t really see what the whole strange ritual was for, but played along with it, happy to be accepted by the lions. “Then from here on out you’re officially known as Visitor-friend. Visitor for short, yes?”

“Yes”. Visitor-friend replied, grinning.

“You’re welcome to visit the empire whenever you like, visitor-friend.” Ozmore replied with a slight smile, although a drop of sadness could be seen hiding behind his face. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you’d like”. He suggested.

“Must travel” Visitor replied. “Clean, mess. Left by Uuk'oks.” It managed to get out, hoping the lions understood.

Ozmore nodded, although sad to see Visitor leave he understood. He was hopeful that after it had completed whatever exactly it wanted to do it would come back. After all, he didn’t want Visitor-friend to leave. He knew Visitor wanted to stay on the planet, but it seemed unfortunate that it wanted to travel around the planet. The planet was large, and the lions weren’t sure if they would get to see them again.

“Visit us sometime, yeah?” He asked as he watched Visitor-friend leave.

“Will do” He heard it echo from along the corridor.

[Meekins12345]

[center][color=#800040]Username: Meekins12345
Link to pride or group: The Pride of Wikimak
Prompt level completion: 5
Prompt:

Chayton did all he could, and somehow managed to find the strength amidst the roots he scratched to continue scratching and clawing at them. It was as if defeating a root gave him more energy to go for the next, as if the roots wanted him to stop this menacing little ball of darkness. And so he continued. He scratched and clawed and bit and scraped until every root was injured, if not completely torn in half. It was surprising how easy it had gotten over time. He had found himself, at some points, just swiping a paw over a large root and it appeared to just fall apart. Part of him wondered if it was his own strength or if the roots were just getting weaker from their lack of numbers. Regardless, he had managed to take every root down, and the remains of them laid strewn about on the ground below.

"Nooo!" The small alien, known as Uuk'oks, screeched upon seeing all the work it had done become ruined and destroyed. It was apparent that it had worked hard on the roots it had planted, but it's motives were selfish and so it needed to be stopped. And stopped they were.

By the time all was said and done, Chayton had his energy back and his wounds were healed, and soon he just padded over to the lump of black and tendrils that was the Uuk'oks and picked the little thing up by the scruff... or, at least, where Chayton would assume a scruff would be located, and proceeded to bring the thing outside, the little unnamed guest following right behind him.

"Where are you taking me?" The Uuk'oks asked.

"To the native man," Chayton replied, bloody red eyes looking down toward the creature that dangled in his maw.

"Native man?"

"Yes. They will poke you and prod you with sticks, then they will throw you into the water and let you swim before smearing you upon their dens and their faces, using you dark colors to for their own devices."

It seemed that was enough for the Uuk'oks to growl weakly. "I will not be treated in such a way! You cannot make me!"

"Oh yeah?"

Chayton thought that the punishment was fitting, and he knew that the native man wouldn't really do that, he was just bluffing. If anything, the native man would probably try to see what this creature really was and try to tame it, if anything. If it lashed out at anyone though, especially the man's cubs, then that'd be an entirely different story, one he didn't wish to go in depth about.

But the dark male was quite happy with his catch, and his ideas of getting this creature to fess up and turn from it's wicked ways. Although what happened next was something that not even Chayton was counting on. For the Uuk'oks wiggled and wreathed in his maw, enough for it to wiggle out of Chayton's grasp and down onto the ground. Chayton stopped in his tracks, soon about to put a heavy paw upon the thing before it had the gall to bite him. A soft yip escaped him, more from surprise than pain, really, before he glared down at the creature... only to watch it bounce into the air like a butterfly taking off for flight and flying into the sky, back where it had come from. It appeared to almost become what had crash landed before, and it flew farther into the sky, becoming smaller and smaller until there was nothing but a small shine left in it's wake.

It caused Chayton's eye to twitch in agitation but he ultimately sighed... only to glance down to the little guest as it growled and stopped and threw, basically, a small tantrum at the Uuk'oks retreat. Of course, Chayton could understand it's want for revenge and to avoid having other worlds have the same fate as it's own... such a thought only sobered the dark male and he frowned at the fact that the Uuk'oks did, in fact, get away.

But by what the little guest said, it'd be back again... and next time, he and his pride would be ready.

But for now, Chayton had other things to worry about.

He was quick to scramble back over to where the cubs were sleeping, the majority of the pride now there and around them, picking them up and going to bring them back home. They had, apparently, seen some of what had happened, but didn't dare question Chayton until they got back to the pride, the little guest in tow. The story Chayton told astonished the pride, and they could only take in the small little guest with open arms. And all went back to normal, and Chayton became a hero.

The end

-----

"What? That's a weird ending!" Exclaimed Molimo, a pouty lip now gracing his maw.

Zitkala only rolled her eyes, her tail lashing out behind her.

"What do you expect? It's just a made-up story."

"I know, but it's still a weird ending. You'd think the cubs would be more involved."

"But they were tired."

"Yeah? So?"

Haiwee just giggled. "Well, that's how I heard it. Of course, my sources were unsure of it's truth or not, to be honest. It might be made up, but it might be real, too. You'd have to ask them," she stated with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Oh? Then who's your source?" Begged Zitkala.

Haiwee only grinned and shook her head. "Sorry, that's confidential information."

"...What's confidential mean?" Chepi asked with a frown.

"It means she's not telling, you frog-brain."

"Hey, that's not nice!" Pelipa interjected.

"It's not nice but it's true!"

"Is not!"

"Is, too!"

A soft, yet deep, sound of someone clearing their throat was heard, and the small group of cubs looked up to see Chayton standing there with a risen brow, he soon just shaking his head.

The cubs looked to each other a moment before Molimo dared to ask the question.

"Chayton! Is the story true?"

Chayton only tilted his head a bit at that, only to chuckle in response.

"Maybe." (1,026 wc)

[MySpoons]

Username: MySpoons
Link to pride or group: The New Guard
Prompt level completion: Level 5
Prompt:

Laura comforts the alien as their foe jumps away to another planet.

[QueenOfWyrms]

[quote="QueenOfWyrms"]Username: QueenOfWyrms
Link to pride or group: PoB
Prompt level completion: Level 5
Prompt:

[AwkwardAnxiety]

Username: AwkwardAnxiety
Link to pride or group: Spirit's Dawning
Prompt level completion: Level 5
Prompt:
It seems that Ignis’ and Striga’s plan worked as the were finally able to gnaw through the roots at their weakest points. They made quick work of the remaining roots, watching the separated and severed roots shrivel up, dead.
The pair were just finishing up when the Umbra woke up, jumping to his feet with only a slight sway. He quickly took in his surroundings and began yapping at the father-daughter pair.
“Want hurt Uuk’oks! Make go away! Send far!” He paced unhappily, making his way towards Uuk’oks. He cried out again, “End! End!”
The presence of even the seemingly harmless Uuk’oks distressed the Umbra, that the enemy he was chasing after was still here.
At least, Striga thought he was distressed. It was a bit hard to tell when his ‘distressed’ noises were squeaks and he was smiling.
Striga took some of the shriveled roots and went over Uuk’oks to tie it up, only removing the rock barrier after she was done.
“What should we do with it?” She asked Ignis, ignoring Phönix’s oh-so-helpful suggestion of “End!”
Ignis stared at it in contemplation before turning to his daughter.
“It’s not really up to us. This is a decision for the whole pride to participate in.” Ignis told her.
The stare of the Uuk’oks was disturbingly matched by it’s unreadable grin.
Striga turned away from Uuk’oks and nodded at her father and leader’s decision.
She picked up the Uuk’oks by it’s scruff and it fell limp like a cub. “Let’s take it back to the others,” She managed only slightly muffled around the creature.
Phönix kept a close eye on Uuk’oks as the trio picked their way to the entrance of the cave. They all felt safer and more refreshed in the sunlight and open air.
They’d only been outside for a moment, basking in being out of the cave, when a quake shook the ground around them. A small crack opened under Striga, tripping her and causing her to let out a cry of surprise as she fell, releasing Uuk’oks.
Uuk’oks clawed wildly, nearly missing Striga’s eye, as it secured it’s escape. It slips away from the trio quickly and launches itself into the sky, becoming a meteorite flying off into the nothingness above them, out of reach.
The glimpse they got of the meteorite looked much like the stone that Phönix had come out of, but something was a little different. It appeared that Uuk’oks was also an Umbra.
“No!” Screamed Phönix, with similar exclamations from Ignis and Striga.
Phönix scrambled after it, jumping and launching itself, trying to catch or stop the fleeing Umbra, but it was far too late, it had escaped. He stared at where Uuk’oks had last been visible.
“Get! Uuk’oks!” He protested, desperation in his weak voice. He slumped down, sitting on the ground.
“Gone.” He realized in defeat. He’d been so close to defeating, to destroying Uuk’oks, and it’d gotten away. Slipped away, again.
It had destroyed the home of the Umbras, and nearly the home of the lion who’d befriended him.
Phönix sulked momentarily then realized something. It had only nearly destroyed the lion’s home. Phönix had saved them! He looked up with anew determination and turned to the pair.
“Uuk’oks come back. Hold grudge. Bad.” He warned them firmly.
“I stay.” He told them, looking Striga in the eyes. He’d stay and he’d protect them again.
Striga accepted his declarations and Ignis went along with it with a sigh.
They headed back to the pride and informed their worried friends and family of the event that had occurred over the last night. They also introduced Phönix with the announcement that he was staying, much to the dismay of the night’s rescue patrol.
Ignis sent out patrols to investigate the new animals and see how far the corruption went, while others were sent to clean up and seal off the cave the Uuk’oks had been in.
Striga and Phönix set up a new den for him, near the center of all the dens so the paranoid could keep an eye on him.
The hunters joked that at least now they wouldn’t get bored on hunts and gathered up to discuss new techniques they could apply to adapt to the new animals for as long as they lasted.
After Phönix’s den is set up, he, Striga, and Ignis had a discussion about the abilities of the Umbras and what to expect when Uuk’oks returns, somewhat hindered by Phönix’s still struggling grasp on their language. They made Phönix agree not to take anyone’s form without getting permission from Ignis, or whoever’s in charge in case of an emergency or change in power, and the lion he’s taking the form of.
Phönix in return requested that they make sure no one tries to attack or otherwise hurt him just for being different and not from their world.
Afterwards, they sent Phönix off to sleep and Striga was about to head to her own den, when Ignis called her back.
“About… what you saw and heard,” He started nervously, an abnormal state for her father. “In the cave.”
Striga could see that this was hard for her father and lied, “I didn’t really notice much.”
Being her father, that she’s been lying to since she was a cub, he saw right through it.
“Normally I’d take that offer to forget about it, but I don’t want to keep hiding this from you, especially since you’re likely to be the next leader.”
Striga didn’t like how serious this sounded and joked, “Can you imagine Apricus as First Lion? He’d go crazy!”
Ignis cracked a small smile and continued. “You need to know why I started this pride.”
“Because you wanted a place where everyone could feel accepted, I’ve heard the story a thousand times.” Striga finished for him.
Ignis shook his head. “The version you’ve heard, that most have heard, cuts out the beginning.” He stopped to take a deep breath and continued, “I was going to be King of my birth pride.
“I didn’t know it at the time, I only knew I didn’t want to leave like all the other males. No one bothered to explain what would happen to me, perhaps because they thought I knew, perhaps because they wanted Basileus gone. Nonetheless, I was completely unprepared for the fight coming.
“I thought I’d just scuffle with my dad a bit, show I was strong, and that was the end. I was wrong. I had him pinned, a grand show of strength. I thought I was done, I waited for him to call it over. He only stared me right in the eyes and said ‘Finish it’.” He stopped, looking sadly at his daughter.
“I couldn’t. I couldn’t kill my own father. So I ran.”
Ignis began crying and Striga cried with them, emotion and exhaustion running rampant. They fell asleep next to each other, Father and daughter comforting one another.

And so ended the alien invasion of their world. Secrets revealed and knowledge gained.
[1,172]

[/nyx.]

Username: bmkmb
Link to pride or group: The Pride
Prompt level completion: Level 5
Prompt: [1035/1000]

Dragon is emotionless as always as he watches the strange alien pace back and forth. The thing’s pathetic squealing is highly irritating, not only to him, but to the other two lions at work, he does not doubt. Although he makes no movement to share his discomfort, he leans slightly more of his weight onto the hostile being beneath his clawed paw. Most evil beings see concerning actions as fun, and this celestial being has proven to be no exception, nor has its otherworldly rival. It calls for the death of its enemy, yet it carries quite the creepy grin on its face. Should the creature not depart by the end of this disastrous night, then Dragon wishes not to be the one in charge of it.

When he glances towards the other two felines, he frowns at the sight. It seems that Lion has managed to bring the air around him to a sweltering boil, and the fur on Wyvern’s back might simply leap off should it prickle any harder. “Lion,” the Paladin warns, although he puts less force into his tone that he might otherwise. Frankly, he has given up attempting to put much thought into how to address the Alpha.

With another burst of flame, the rest of the blue vines are destroyed. Dragon brings the rest of his attention to the current image of the cavern, and he manages to refrain from pulling his ears back in exasperation. The walls of the cave are scorched; the turquoise vines are burnt to a crisp. If not, their remains decorate the hard floor. At least, he notes wryly, they are no longer pulsing. The lack of lights coming from the possibly sentient flora replicas do nothing to ease his tiredness, however. They only make the cavern darker, which is thankfully appeased when Lion summons golden balls of light.

Dragon nods his thanks, then turns his gaze onto the corrupted being beneath his paw. Lion and Wyvern approach, both coming diagonally from their previous positions. The youngest of the trio makes a mental note of their wariness around the other, and he hopes that they will not be causing any issues in the future. The Paladin would rather not have to lead in the midst of an internal war, especially not so soon after the last, which incredibly, he realizes, would mark the third war in the last visible cycles, should it ever occur. He is not even sure on which side he would stand; another reason for him to wish against it. Both parties are of equal strength and with a large number of supporters; it would likely bring turbulence for seasons even after the issue is resolved.

Expected silence falls over the trio, only rudely punctuated by the cries of the hopefully passive alien. Paladins are trained to lack reaction; coming from the Ghost Province, Wyvern is attuned to quiet and darkness, so it comes of no surprise when Lion is the one to speak up first. “I’m keeping him as prisoner,” the supreme commander decides.

The declaration provokes a strained reply from Wyvern. “I didn’t know that the Capitol had a functioning trial system,” he grumbles.

Lion glares at the imposter victim, but before he has the chance to respond, Dragon hisses as a sharp pain nips at his paw. He looks down, only to see a black shape slither from between his legs. Wyvern brings his paw down in an attempt to stop the creature from leaving, but an inky black needle wastes no time in injecting itself into his pad. Even he cannot prevent his face from contorting in extreme discomfort, and no one would blame him for allowing the creature to escape. Dragon does not see where the alien goes after that, but he sees something that allows him to assume that the being escaped their planet.

The passive alien screeches and runs after it, leaving the three true lions alone for a few moments. When Dragon turns to his brother once more, the older feline is testing out his paw against the cavern floor, black spine mysteriously gone. The Paladin recalls that he saw a splotch of something following after the alien, so he can only assume that the needle left to catch up with its master.

Soon enough, the passive alien returns, crying out its loss. Dragon closes his eyes for a second, trusting his kin to cover for him should the thing attack as he reorders his frustrating thoughts. It is not long before he blinks them open, and he wastes no time declaring, “It comes with me.”

Lion says nothing. He cannot argue against a Paladin, and besides, after hearing the irksome screams of the creature, perhaps it would be best for him not to bring it back to the Capitol. Only guardians know what sort of havoc the celestial being can bring upon the populated settlement. Additionally, he trusts the Paladins to this sort of thing. As far as he is aware, they are quite accustomed to the procedures used when dealing with unnatural visitors.

“Allowed,” he agrees, although he knows that Dragon will bring the creature regardless of whether permission is granted or not. He questions how much power he really has over the organization. They were formed to prevent corruption, and so naturally, they have the strength needed to dethrone him.

“We’ll return it as soon as we can declare it innocuous,” Dragon continues. “And if not…”

If not, they would eliminate it. Lion knows all too well. He has nothing against the possibility of a harsh execution; for all the torture it seems to be, the Paladins are actually quite nice to their guests.

With nothing else to discuss, Dragon nods his head to Wyvern, then flicks his tail in farewell to Lion. “Come, alien,” he commands bluntly, not quite paying attention to whether it follows or not.

Wyvern is the next to go. He holds Lion’s gaze for a few moments before saying, “It would be best for me to return to my tribe. They were not very keen on allowing me to leave in the first place.”

He leaves without further ado, leaving Lion to walk home alone.