[Private] Initial Rivals

[SnowyCheetah]

Dixon, climbing off the raft and dragging it up onto the ground to ensure that it stayed there should it be needed again, suddenly heard a question posed to him. Up until right then he hadn't considered himself the group's leader; more like just someone who was tagging along and was offering information because he knew plenty about the jungle. Well... uhm... I'm not sure. I'm not in charge of any of you; you're all free to do as you wish. I may or may not go to the Pridelands... but if you all wish to go, then by all means do so. It's a wonderful place to live.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga stretched as Dixon offered his suggestions, thinking about it. These Pridelands sounded like a really interesting place, and Tanga was curious to find out more about this strange new land...but he was also hesitant, thanks to his time in his home pride. "I...I think I'd prefer it if we stayed here one more night, at least," he offered hesitantly.

Kopa nodded at Tanga's suggestion. "That actually sounds like a good idea...as long as everyone else is happy with it, that is." He looked at Kiburi and Snowy particularly with this one, wanting them to share their opinions as well.

[SnowyCheetah]

Kiburi smiled and stepped forward. I'm willing. she said. This sounded like it could be she and Tanga's new home, where neither of them would be exiled and the two could live happily for many years to come, without worrying about not being accepted. Not to mention that from what she had heard, the Pridelands sounded like a very beautiful and plentiful place.

Snowy felt similarly. After having his previous home and family destroyed, he was itching to belong somewhere once again, and he already had a group who had accepted him as a friend and ally. I'll go, as well. he said, standing next to Kiburi.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga smiled as their group all pledged to head to the Pridelands...at least after they had spent one mor night in this jungle. It was a nice place, after all, and since Dixon was still on the fence over the issue, he wanted to spend a little more time with the white lion, in case they were to seperate tomorrow. "Thanks guys," he said simply, looking at the way they all stood beside each other. He then turned to Dixon. "Dixon...if you don't want to come to the Pridelands, I understand, but we'll stay here one more night, at the very least, I think."

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Kopa smiled as they all agreed to head back to his birth pride. "Alrighty! Now...Dixon, is there anything about this place you'l like to share with us...anything we can do now we're all safely back off that island?"

[SnowyCheetah]

Dixon chuckled and shrugged. at Kopa's question. Thank you, Tanga. then he turned back to Kopa and said, There really isn't much to do, but I would assume you're all hungry. If that's the case you'll all find very satisfying prey in that direction. he pointed. As his stomach began to rumble, he chuckled and began to walk in the direction he pointed to catch some food. Anyone coming with me? he asked as he walked.

As Dixon padded through the jungle toward the area where prey lived, he thought about the Pridelands. It had been so long since he'd been there, he had so many friends, and it was the most desirable place he knew of for a lion to live. But all the memories, and perhaps there would be resentment for his sudden disappearance. Perhaps suspicion would arise that he was the killer of his beloved mate...

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga and Kopa both decided to take up Dixon's offer, Tanga looking back at Snowy and Kiburi, gesturing for them to join him if they wished. Letting them decide on their own, even if he did not want to seperate from Kiburi now, the two lions slowly followed after their white companion, who seemed lost in thought.

Both Tanga and Kopa, interestingly had train thoughts running in parallel with Dixon's...both of them thinking about the Pridelands. Tanga's thoughts were full of both hopes for what sounded like a fantastic land and accepting pride, and fears, thanks to his home pride's traditions and behaviours. Kopa, ont he other paw, was wondering what had happened to his homeland in the years he had spent away from it, and how things had changed in the meantime.

[SnowyCheetah]

Snowy and Kiburi, just as famished as the rest of the group, eagerly followed as they heard food, glorious food would be the reward. Their ribs were visible from hunger, and they felt weak after everything they'd been through without anything more than water to sustain them.

Dixon soon arrived at his destination; a small hunting ground where there was lotto more than grass on the ground. Plenty of delicious-looking prey was there, the same kind that had so intimidated Snowy before. But this time, all the snow cheetah let the others see was his tail and the soles of his hind feet as he ran and took down a meal, breathing heavily with a satisfied expression on his face.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga watched in awe as Snowy bolted almost the moment they reached hunting grounds, bringing down an antelope with a speed and ferocity he had never seen before. He just stood there in shock as the snow cheetah stood over his kill, unable to move, his jaw hanging loosely in speechless shock.

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Kopa was similarly impressed by Snowy's action, although he was less awe-inspired than Tanga was. Having lived on his own for most of his life, he had hunted by various methods, and while Snowy's actions were impressive, he himself had been forced to hunt that way before, and as such was not as surprised.

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In the shadows near where the group were, Kiara forced herself to supress a roar of frustration as the kill she had successfuly stalked, without screwing up once, was taken from her by a strange, grey-furred creature she had never seen coming. Her position in some thick bushes hid her from everyone else, and stopped from seeing them...as such, when she heard movement off to the side, she reacted instinctively, desperate for a successful kill.

Leaping through the bushes, she blasted out into the open, seeing only a dark-furred blur in front of her, which turned out to be Kiburi. Not noticing that her target was a fellow lioness, she sprang, claws exposed as she went in for the kill. But as the last second, a voice off to the side cried out, "Kiburi!" before something tackled her, sending her sprawling away as both her and Tanga tumbled to the ground, Kiara's slightly larger size allowing her to come out on top, pinning her quarry down, snarling menacingly at the golden-furred, black-maned that had dared attack the princess of the Pridelands.

[SnowyCheetah]

Instantly, Dixon reacted to the exciting series of events which had happened so fast right before his eyes. As Snowy turned to see what had just happened, Dixon leapt over the pinned lion and tackled Kiara, the two of them tumbling across the ground. This time Dixon, with his huge size, had the advantage and he came out on top, strategically pinning Kiara's paws to the ground to keep her from struggling enough to escape and cause more harm. Who are you?! he growled at the lioness who had just attacked his friend, his hind toes keeping Kiara's hind paws pinned as well to prevent surprise escape moves. Snowy, shocked at what had happened, went to Tanga and quietly asked if he was ok, also listening for a response from Kiara.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga rolled onto his belly as Dixon knocked the lioness off of him, looking up at Snowy. "I'm okay, thanks," he replied, shaking his head to clear his senses after to sudden moment, before turning to Kiburi. "Kiburi, are you okay?" he asked. "Did she get you?"

As he asked her, he looked back over at where Dixon had the lioness pinned down, wondering who she was, and what she could possibly be doing here. He noticed Kopa also watching the lioness, waiting for something to happen.

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Kiara struggled, but eventually gave up, knowing that this massive white lion had her very effectively pinned. "Kiara...not that it matters," she said, looking at the group of lions around her. "Well, what are you all waiting for?" she demanded, surprised that no-one had killed her yet, giving the white lion a hard stare to show she wasn't afraid, even as her tail twitched, as she waited for the jaws to snap at her throat and end her life.