One or another

[~Sam(I)Am~]

Kizuri glanced up at Samora, his golden eyes seem to pierce her trance as she faded back to focus. She slowly climbed down from the rock and padded closer to the two lions without a sound. As she approached them she couldn't help but wonder. She doesn't look like she wants to fight... but we cant afford to let our guard down. If she got this close to the den without notice, who knows what ambush could be awaiting us if we make a false move. Samora then shook some dried mud from her pelt and sat beside but further behind the King. She glanced down and saw the word in the dirt, mute?... She looks back at the lioness who stood in front of them. Her hazy gray eyes were calm as they met lionesses, reading the message. She could tell the female was slightly older than her but they were so similar to one another. She wondered if the lioness even knew why she came here. For the first time a new weird feeling filled Samora.... for the first time in her life she wasn't the alone and confused outcast, For once, she thought ...I'm not the only one...

[B L A Z E]

He hasn't, I was not sent here. Zira happened to just be wandering. She didn't know why she wandered into Jema lands. Maybe she had finally got fed up with Katili. She glanced at the female, who had her eyes on Zira. Not many could read her messages, but they had. Not even Katili could understand her. That was all she wanted, someone to understand her. My name is Zira, her eyes now read. Though she didn't even know if Kizuri would let her stay, it was still polite that he knows her name. Good thing it wasn't a rainy day, or she might have been in real trouble, unable to control her anger. But if there was one cat she would never attack, it would be Kizuri. But why, when he wasn't even her leader?

[PoLyMoRpHiC]

The large male sat silent for a few moments, his ears twitched but his tail remained perfectly still, "King Kizuri" he finally answered her, he knew her name only fair that she knew his, but this was one female that would never know him as just Kizuri, only certain members of his pride were aloud to call him by only his name, he got to his feet, and knowing that Samora had her eyes on Zira, he paced baack and forth, thinking things over in his mind, was this female telling the truth, or had his brother thought of something cruel and mean to try and over throw him, he paced a bit more, then he slowly padded up to Zira, soft golden eyes looking right into hers, "so why are you here then? Baya's dont normally just 'wander' into Jema territory" he spoke, his voice deep and calm, and this statement was true, Baya lions never just happened to be 'wandering' into his territory, and if his brother hadnt sent her then why was she here?

[~Sam(I)Am~]

Samora also wandered about the question Kizuri had asked of Zira. She's never smelled let alone seen a Baya lion in his territory before. Samora glanced at Kizuri for a moment while he was pacing back and forth, then looked back to Zira, her mind racing
...truly a tough disposition we were in and an even harder decision the King has to make. If he trust this Zira enough to let her stay, and she turns out to be a trap sprung from the inside, the Kings pride will fall to Katili, and our land will be ruled in everlasting darkness... But on the other hand another lioness in this pride, a Baya at that, is actually one step closer to defeating Katili. Though she is an enemy now, she really could help us. She would know the weaknesses of the Baya pride and maybe even Katili himself. In this war, we need all the help we can get...
Samora stared into Zira's eyes once more before looking at Kizuri with the most serious look she ever gave.... "I, trust her" she whispered the words for speaking out of place, but without a hint of doubt in her voice... "and if I am wrong" she paused for a moment glancing back at Zira. She then sighed, and her light-gray eyes narrowed as she looked back to Kizuri... "if I am wrong, you can kill me yourself Kizuri, along with zira" She fell silent again and waited...

[B L A Z E]

Zira's eyes widened and she stared at Samora. She was... trusted? And this lioness would give her life if Zira was really lying? That... that was the closest thing to friendship Zira had ever felt. She bowed her head to the lioness, her eyes saying, Thank you... No one had ever offered to risk their lives for her like that... Zira looked back at Kizuri, No King Kizuri, and waited. Her eyes with filled with strong determination. Would he ever believe her? Even though Samora had stood up for her?

[PoLyMoRpHiC]

Kizuri's eyes flicked over to Samora as she spoke, "no one will die, especially from my pride" he turned his glance back to Zira "life is a gift, it should be treasured, even if you are from my brothers pride" he turned around and padded away, then stopped and looked back, he turned back around, "if you are decieving me Zira, i will not kill you, but you will no longer be seen on my lands, that clear?" it wasnt really a question, more of a statement, he trusted Samora, and if she trusted Zira then fine, Zira could stay for a while, but any sign of Baya work she was gone, he smiled at the females, he then walked back past them, the tip of his tail brushing lightly along Samora's side, he dissapeared behind the den rock, then a few moments later was lying back under the tree ontop of it

[~Sam(I)Am~]

Samora shivered slightly, not sure if it was from Kizuri's tail that had lightly brushed against her side, or the new warmth she had of not feeling so alone in the pride anymore. She looked down for a moment and smiled, then looked to Zira. She bowed back in respect to the newest member of the Jema Pride, then shook more mud from her pelt. Samora could understand Zira's eyes and body language very clearly but could Zira understand hers. She sat for a minute thinking of ways to communicate easily with her.
She started to wander how long Zira was out here wandering around for, and if she was hungry or thirsty even. Samora got to her feet and padded in the dens direction then stopped and looked back to Zira. She then cleverly made a waving gesture with her tail and her eyes read follow me. She then bounded up rocks effortlessly to the den and slowed to a walk as she entered. Samora could smell a hint of fresh blood. No one had eaten the antelope she had caught earlier. Good... she thought ...still here, and still fresh... She then sat by the kill inside the den and waited for Zira. Hopefully she could read her signs as well as Samora could hers, if not she had plenty of time to work on it, but for now she wished her new comrade full strength and a full stomach.

[B L A Z E]

Zira nodded to Kizuri and watched him walk away, his tail lightly brushing Samora's side. She looked at the lioness and read the message in her eyes. Again, she nodded and followed Samora into the den. She looked at the fresh kill and then at Samora. For me? was what her eyes now said. She was grateful Kizuri would not kill her. He was definantly nicer that Katili. Her stomach rumbled, and, though she was now part of this pride, she hesitated to eat. The female leaned her head to one side, looking into Samora's eyes. She had a... friend. For the first time in her life. It felt good to be... trusted.

[PoLyMoRpHiC]

Kizuri lay stretched out on the den roof, his golden pelt gleaming in the sun, his eyes were closed, but his ear kept twitching, listening to all the sounds, everynow and again he would flick his tail, as he lay there he could hear the two females in the den below him, well, he could hear Samora, he smiled to himself, he was beginning to like Samora, after what seemed like an age, which in reality was about ten minutes, Kizuri rose to his feet and stretched, he then shook his pelt out and silently jumped of the den rock, landing with no more than a soft thud, he walked around the rock and stood at the entrance, watching the two females eat, he smiled, and although he still didnt trust Zira fully he would at least try to believe her, he turned around and sat down, back facing the entrance of the cave, he sat tall and proud, his muscly forelegs straight and neat, his sharp golden eyes scanning once again over the Jema territory

[~Sam(I)Am~]

Samora looked down at the kill then back into Ziras eyes, seeing the lionesses slight hesitation to eat. She rose to her feet and took a few steps back, then sat down again. She nodded her head down once at the kill, then glanced back to Zira. For you.. her eyes said with spark in them, as she smiled softly. She didn't want to hover over Zira while she ate.. that's just rude.. She got back to her feet once more and slowly padded out of the den silently, she would wait for Zira out here. She looked down her legs seeing how the mud had fully dried now from being out in the sun. Samora looked up from watching her paws as she walked, and saw Kizuri standing outside the den, she smiled and leaned her head to one side as she let out a few second pur.
She walked out of the den and up to his left side, rubbing her head along his shoulder as a greeting, her tail lightly brushed his chest as she continued walking to the edge of the grounds. She would have her side too, but she was still quite muddy, dry or not.. Kizuri's pelt was too beautiful to be dirtied, at least not by her. Samora then laid down staring out at the savanna, huge paws hanging lazily over the edge, her tail flickering back and forth rhythmically as she waited for Zira to finish her meal. Samora doesn't mind getting muddy for a hunt or even just for play, not in the least, but doesn't like staying dirty for too long either. The mud feels uncomfortable as it dries and hardens on her brilliant white pelt. She decided she would then go back to The Watering Hole where she covered herself in mud earlier this morning, but this time, to wash away the earth from herself, and play in the cool water -she looked back past Kizuri and at the dens entrance- ...but not until she knows Zira is in good health first, then she will go. Her gaze turned to Kizuri and she smiled warmly at him, her light-gray eyes shimmered in the sunlight as she waited.

[B L A Z E]

Zira nodded again, watching her back out while Kizuri guarded the entrance. She looked down at the kill, and ripped a chunk of meat from the carcass. She ate until she was content, and she carefully moved out of the den, past Kizuri. She sat down, grooming her paws. Zira couldn't help but notice the feelings between Samora and Kizuri. But mutes were best at noticing those things. She wondered if they loved each other. For the first time, she noticed she was staring at Kizuri and smiling. Instantly she turned her gaze to the ground, hoping he hadn't noticed. She sighed softly, the only sound she could make, being a mute. Zira wanted someone to love her. But what were the chances of that?

[PoLyMoRpHiC]

Kizuri didnt expect Samora to rub up against him, it made him tense for a slight moment, but he relaxed pretty much straight away, he watched her walk off and lie down not far off, she looked back and smiled at him, her grey eyes meeting his golden ones, he smiled warmly back to her, he was beginning to like Samora more and more, but could he risk having a mate when his brother was so close? would she even want to be his mate? for now the king brushed the thought aside as he watched Zira walk past him, he turned his gaze back out onto his territory, but from the corner of his eye he could see Zira staring at him and smiling, she then looked away so Kizuri pretended not to notice, he heard her sigh and turned his head to look at her, "are you ok Zira?" he asked softly, a slight smile on his face

[~Sam(I)Am~]

Samora thought highly of any lion older than her, it was just out of pure respect for the more experienced, but she secretly held the King deep within her heart more than any other. After he accepted her into the pride, she's made it her own to look after Kizuri, not that he needed looking after, not in the least, but she felt she needed to keep him safe, she wanted to make him smile and happy every chance she had. But she now felt more uneasy then ever before. She was very happy to have Zira in the pride now, she didn't feel like the out cast anymore with Zira around, and maybe if she got to know her more, they could even become best friends. Her smile to Kizuri soon faded as she turned her gaze back to the savanna. But what chance would she ever have to be with King Kizuri? Not so much her oddly-white pelt made her think so in such a way, but more her age. She was the youngest lioness out of cub-hood, just turning three not to long ago, and she hated it. To the other lionesses, who already dissed her because of her pelt, she was nothing but a mere cub still, which made her feel beyond inferior to everyone older than her. The King would never want someone like her as a mate, how could he?... she hung her head over the edge with her paws for a moment, digging her claws into the side of the rock, and holding back tears. She then took a deep breath as one slid down her cheek.

Samora then got to her feet shaking yet more mud from her pelt and the tear from her face. She looked back surprised at a question asked of Zira by the King. She was beginning to warm up to Zira, but like the others in the pride, she was much older than her. It was time to go. She didn't want to impose on anything, especially a deep conversation, though she couldn't talk, Zira could speak powerfully with her eyes. Samora looked past Kizuri, who thankfully had his head turned at Zira. Her eyes trying to say where she was going to head off to, but they might have been to glazed to read, but she hoped not. She held her tears back, they would not fall down, she couldn't afford letting them fall, not in front of Zira. She already felt inferior to her, the last thing she wanted was to feel weak. She smiled at Zira, and padded down a ramp-like rock before jumping off and lading with a large thud at the bottom of the den. She then walked through the tall grass silently heading in The Watering Hole's general direction, with one thing on her mind... nothing...

[B L A Z E]

Yes... fine. she answered him. Though she wasn't. It was obvious they both loved each other, but they were afraid to say it. And she wasn't about to interfear. The lioness watched Samora walk off. She seemed sad. Just how Zira felt. She was betraying Katili by being here. But Katili wouldn't love her either. No one could love a mute for just that reason, because she was mute. It made her lonely, but maybe she was just a lion meant to be alone. And maybe it wasn't as bad as she made it out to be.

OOC: sorry, rushed post and no muse...

[PoLyMoRpHiC]

Kizuri read her message, but he could see through her body language that she was not, he thought it was best not to get to involved with Zira, after all, he needed to be able to trust her as she was a Baya member.
His tail twitched slightly, he bowed his head to Zira in respect, showing her that although he didnt fully trust her, at least he cared enough about her. He then got up onto all fours, the sun was now high above them and beating down hard, it was rapidly heating up and Kizuri found himself feeling very hot and thirsty.
He gracefully leaped from the same rock Samora had jumped from a while before, he landed neatly with a soft thud in the sandy earth, he looked back to Zira with a look in his eye that said you can stay here or come along, he smiled softly and then turned, powerfully yet smoothly striding through the tall grass towards the Water Hole.