LK: Blaze in the Night

[Moonlight]

Kitasa grumbled something under his breath as he felt someone poking at him, before jerking awake as the other cub nosed his ear. His own pale amber eyes widening in surprise upon seeing Kina was awake, both ears immediately perking forward. He could hear her breath was ragged, but he was elated at the turn of events. Carefully stepping out of Zorayda's protective circle around them, before scampering over the rest of the den floor.

The lioness started as she noticed him, before something akin to a faint smile touched her muzzle. Gently nuzzling her charge, licking the top of his head. "Kitasa ... Are you all right?" Kina queried softly, voice hoarse.

He nodded gratefully, pushing against her uninjured side. Stiffening as she winced, before realizing while it hadn't been bloodied like her other one, she was still sore. Kitasa's ears drooped in apology, tail curling around his haunches. Even in the darkness, though, he could see she was exhausted.

[Zorayda]

((Super short post...not a whole lot to go on till everyone's awake XP))

Yora watched the two lions' reunion, one young, one not as much so, and felt happiness for her new friend. Although she was just a tiny bit jealous that Kina had taken Kitasa's attention for now, the brown cub lioness knew that family was simply irreplacable. After a moment of deliberation, Yora decided to go back to sleep with her mother. She stood up and turned in a half-circle before lying down again, her back to her mother's warm belly.

[Moonlight]

By dawn's light, it was apparent that Kina had recovered marginally when she awakened again. Exhaustive still, but more awake than she had been in the night. Aware of a familiar nuzzle against the top of her head, as well as remarkably tiny paws touching one of her own. Lifting her head wearily, pale blue eyes slowly blinking open.

Aware of a sudden start, an ear twitching towards the commotion. Able to discern surprise, as well as concern. Still waking fully, though.

[Zorayda]

Yora was the first one to wake.

Being a young cub, her body didn't need as much rest as the adults, and she felt lively and energetic as soon as the sun warmed her body. She shifted restlessly against Zorayda's fur, wriggling into a standing position and stretching.

"Mama, Mama, the sun's up!" She said in the large brown lioness's ear, putting her paws against her mother's face and pushing. "Mama...c'mon!"

"Ugh..." Zorayda swatted a few times in irritation, not being one to like mornings. Yora continuously pestered her, pushing and wiggling and yelling. "All right, all right, I'm up already..." The somewhat chubby lioness came to an upright resting position with all of her feet under her, blinking tiredly. Yora had already gone off to do something, expecting Zorayda to follow...

"Oh!" As the stocky lioness stood to follow her hyper cub, a movement caught her eye. "The new lioness! Hello, dear, how are you feeling?" Zorayda asked, now padding towards Kina.

At her exclamation, Taro flicked an ear, as well as Seca and Eeve. The former looked around and untangled himself from his mate to go check on the newcomer. He passed by Amri on the way by and poked him gently to wake him.

[Moonlight]

The dusky lioness's eyes had opened to find both Kitasa and an unfamiliar yet tiny cream cub against her. The even younger cub was well awake, its paws resting against one of her own while daintily sniffing her. Starting when realizing the lioness was awake, only to have a raspy purr become audible. Kina's nicked ear twitched upon hearing the other lioness' question, before nodding slowly. "I'm ... all right," she said softly, her voice hoarse. Sore.

Noticing two lions with amazing likeness, as well as a third almost white one that was larger than both of the golden and onyx ones. Stiffening slightly as the two golden males moved closer, ears flattening against her head in a defensive gesture. She knew she had killed their prey, invaded their territory. It was a wonder she was still alive.

[Zorayda]

Zorayda winced at how raw the new lioness's voice sounded, but giggled girlishly at the little cream cub's attentions.

"Awww, she likes you!" Zorayda cooed, finding the cuteness unbearable. She then turned when the two kings approached, noting Kina's sudden fearful expression. Instead of saying anything, though, she gave the injured brown lioness a reassuring nod before backing away, allowing Taro and Amri through.

"It's nice to see that our new guest is finally awake," Taro said, also noticing the lioness's fear. "I hope you are feeling better than you looked. May I ask you a few questions?" The golden lion stood a small distance away, trying to remain unintimidating but still dominant. "How did you end up here? What's your story?" He glanced at Amri, allowing room for the other king to speak as well.

Now all of the River Pride lionesses were awake, save for Shyla, who seemed to sleep heavily lately. Aquila, Eeve, and Kitama remained where they were, leaving Kina uncrowded but listening all the same, while Seca unabashedly came close to listen to every word.

[Moonlight]

Something akin to a vague smile touched Kina's muzzle at the young cub's purr, though her gaze returned to the two golden males that had taken seat in front of her. The sheer vastness of the pride was somewhat intimidating to the weakened lioness, noting its large numbers. Swallowing painfully as she tried to find her voice to answer his questions, keeping a close watch on them. Lithe muscles coiled.

Nodding, though. "I'm a wanderer ... Kuukeni took me in as a cub, when ..." she fell silent after a moment, voice barely audible. Whether it was a memory or her voice failing was questionable, considering the severity of the wound at her throat. "We parted ways several moons ago ... I have traveled since, Kitasa joining me in the past one ... We encountered the hyenas after making it through the Barren Lands ... I woke here," Kina said softly, voice still painfully hoarse.

Amri listening with comment at first, regarding the injured lioness. Her fear was reasonable, considering the vastness of their joined prides. Waking in the midst would've been unsettling, even for him. This, he could not begrudge her. And to take the Barren Lands, with a cub, would take preservarence and bravery both. Pondering, watching her carefully.

[Zorayda]

The golden king nodded at regular intervals, watching as Amri did and hearing the hoarseness of Kina's voice.

"Very well. You are welcome to stay for as long as you need to," Taro offered, glancing at the other king. Amri seemed to be gauging the lioness's story and reaction to the large pride around her. Taro left out the part where he would invite her to stay forever, simply because he didn't know her well enough yet, and to say something like that would have been rash. He would have to see what kind of lioness she was before making that sort of offer, and Amri would also need to deliberate upon it as well.

Aquila, the stark black lioness, tugged at Seca. "Hey, give her some space," she muttered, chastising the younger lioness. Seca glared and didn't budge, making the purple-eyed lioness frown deeply.

"Hey," Zorayda's voice came gently, directed at Kina and Kitasa. "I was a rogue once, too, pregnant with Yora," she gestured at her own young cub, who was currently pawing at a fluttering moth. "I was accepted into Taro's (he's the bigger one with the brown muzzle, dear) pride pretty quickly, so there shouldn't be any worries there." Zorayda glanced up at the kings and quieted, allowing for Amri or Taro to speak. She respected the both of them very much.

[Moonlight]

As the younger King observed their new guest, silently taking in her wounded visage. It seemed that she was adapting quickly, smoothing over signs of unrest. Even injured as she was. Perhaps. Nodding after a moment to her. "My stance is one in the same with Taro's. You may stay, until you wish to leave or otherwise," Amri stated simply, his voice equally soft. Viridian green gaze meeting the lioness' for a moment, before it flicked to the River Pride lioness that seemed to be crowding the newcomer. Although Seca was indeed Taro's charge, the disrespect was irksome. Even the lowest rogue deserved acknowledgment of personal space.

Pausing briefly when Zorayda spoke, gleaning him a bit more of the other brown lioness's story. He had not pried into their lives, simply allowing them to inform as they grew comfortable. But the new lioness seemed mildly surprised by the elder lioness' words, although nodding in appreciation.

Slowly, in what must have been pain, pushing herself into a sitting position. Although many of the wounds had been stoppered with the burdock paste, some of them cracked open again at the motion. A trickle of crimson visible, as well as obvious to their scents as she bowed her head in their direction, murmuring thanks.

[Zorayda]

Taro had noted Seca's behavior as well as Amri had, but just as he opened his mouth to tell her off, Aquila intervened.

"Hey, c'mon, you're making her nervous," the black lioness urged, trying to remain quiet so as not to draw attention and embarass the pride. However, being willful and rebellious, Seca snorted at her and planted all four paws. Aquila made a short, irritated growling noise in her throat.

"Seca," Taro cut in sharply. The gray lioness jerked her eyes to her king's, holding his gaze, and for a moment, he thought she was going to continue her little fit of rebellion. He curled his lip at her and she finally cowed, shoving Aquila as she left the den. Surprise and disappointment flickered in Taro's emerald eyes for a second before switching his attention back to Kina.

"I apologize for her behavior. Now, since you're injured, I think it would be best if you didn't wander off too far without an escort. Also," he added, ducking his head in a slight apology, "We don't know you well yet, save for Kuukeni, so I'd like to keep a bit of a watch on you until I personally know that you're trustworthy. I'm sure you can understand."

"I can stay with her whenever Kuukeni's busy," Zorayda piped up, Yora now gnawing on her tail tuft. "I think we'd get along just fine." She winked in Kina's direction, grinning.

Outside, Seca seethed with anger. Even if her own behavior was unreasonable and rude, she did not see it that way. All she saw was Taro and Amri, being tyrannical and harsh. All she saw was a block to her own freedom. She stalked away to go hunt and release her pent-up anger.