A Rise of Evil (Open)

[Mama Binturong]

"What are we doing back here again..." Mama Binturong said with a sigh. Two porcupines accompanied her, scouting ahead and trading places every so often. "Huh? I thought you knew..." the closer one answered her, earning a glare from her. "Uhm. Oh, that.. wasn't a question..." he smiled nervously, "We'll find more Tuliza, and a better home... with more obedient followers. Or make them." he showed off his quills, and Mama Binturong nodded.

"I like the sound of that. Just be quiet, this may be his turf but... he didn't speak kindly of his neighbors." she looked around, "Let Mama do the talking, you just smile." The porcupine nodded, as they drew closer to the border to the Pridelands...

[Deleted]

The strong scents of grazing herds had Safara's mouth watering.

It had been quite some time since she had smelled so much potential prey, so many options of which to dig her claws into before they would be devoured. But then again, compared to the desert this side of the Savannah was incredibly more lush and full of life, even with the barren side of which still offered something such as vultures and the like. What Safara saw were options. No more scavenging and picking off meager prey that the desert had to offer. It was a miracle that she had managed to survive this long on her own and with prey so few and scarce, but she had and now she would soon be rewarded.

Licking her chops, the russet lioness quickened her pace along the open landscape, eager to find her first meal in a few days. Her stomach audibly growled as she did, anticipating a feast that day. Oh how she couldn't wait!

Though her excitement was soon put on hold as a few varying voices caught her attention. Immediately the lean lioness dropped to a hunter's crouch, flattening her ears against her skull and keeping her tail stiff except for the faintest of flicks on occasion as she crept forward. The last thing she wanted was to bring unwanted attention, keeping her paw steps slow and silent, eyes narrowed to peer through the tall grass as she went until she finally spotted three shapes, one bigger than the other two. It appeared to be two porcupines, each scouting ahead of a binturong deep in conversation about something. Though nothing of particular interest really. Safara could hardly even call them an appetizing start, not exactly eager to try and pick porcupine quills from her nose or trying to bite into something as large and muscular as the binturong either. 'But, maybe they might be of use to find my way around.' Safara thought to herself.

Was worth a try.

"Maybe you should have told them to be quiet far sooner than just now." Safara's voice carried through the grass, the russet lioness slowly pushing herself up to stand at her tallest in the grass. Her green eyes were narrowed slightly, regarding the three warily and keeping a healthy distance between them in case something went south. She didn't have a hostile air just yet, but one of caution as she regarded the smaller creatures. "But, I suppose it doesn't matter now, I actually could use a little help."

[Mama Binturong]

Mama stopped suddenly, and gestured with her paw, closing it; both porcupines lowered their heads slightly, and took a step back and away from the binturong. It would certainly be hard to place their intentions, given how porcupines attack. Still, at least as long as their little noses were in front...

"Yes, well..." Mama Binturong said with a gentle and dismissive tone; and she seemed pleased the lioness wasn't pressing her any. "Anyway..." she did her best to take in the lioness' demeanor and appearance, working things into how she would answer... her hefty paw found its way to her chin.

"A little help?" Mama smiled, "Out here all alone, and it doesn't look like its been easy for you." she shook her head, and her paw went back to the ground. "Don't be shy, or scared... My boys here are the sweetest things." she smiled a bit more, then returned to her friendly smile. "How may I help you?" she asked, expression softening further.

The porcupines wiggled their tushes, and sat; seeming to anticipate that this would be a while.

[Deleted]

Safara watched the porcupines carefully, seeing them looking ready to attack if necessary. She probably could take them easily enough, a few spines embedded in a paw or her nose would be less of a bother than saying she got run off by a couple of spiky runts. But, the binturong seemed to keep command of them well enough it didn't seem a concern, soon shifting her gaze back towards Mama.

Mama Binturong seemed much more dismissive of her presence however which was a nice change. Most animals preferred to put up a fight or run immediately, which could complicate some matters especially in regards to why she even revealed her presence. Ordinarily, Safara would never and would have either gone in for a killing blow or left the strangers alone to continue on her path. But, she had never been to this side of the savannah. So, she had hoped this encounter would go much different than she had dealt with for the most part and so far it seemed to be. "The desert is a harsh place to live, it can be cruel to anyone." Safara spoke in response, shrugging her shoulders indifferently.

Where Mama's demeanor softened and become friendly, Safara's remained cautious and guarded. Her kindness did little to ease the rough edge the lioness gave off, regarding the female binturong with the same expression and demeanor she had greeted her with. "Shy? Far from it lady, sure you should be warning them to keep their distance." A low rumble of a growl sounded from the lioness' chest, giving the two porcupines a veiled threatening sound. "I hear the soft bits of a porcupine can be a tasty appetizer." She gave a brief, twisted smirk before focusing on what she came there to do. "But, yes, I do need a hand."

There was an almost reluctance in her tone. The russet lioness hated to admit when she needed the help, especially from creatures so much smaller than her for the most part. But, it would do her no good to wander aimlessly in lands she did not know. "I'm actually not from this area. Only recently arrived in fact." Safara explained, getting right to the point. "I could use some direction to navigate this side of the Savannah."

Tags: Mama Binturong

[Mama Binturong]

The porcupines held a certain demeanor, that would become apparent the more they were paid attention to. Too nervous to relax, but also too nervous to be hasty... practically the definition of unsure; Except one could easily guess, protecting the binturong between them.

The lady in question listened, showing no fear, and giving a 'calm' gesture to the porcupines as they were unnerved by the lioness' growl. Even her eyes only broke from sweetness to... a hard-to-place feeling in response to the threat, which she quickly restored. Obviously she was unhappy, but the nature of it... fear or worry, would be unknowable for now.

"Hrm..." the binturong took her time responding, bringing her paw to her chin in thought a moment, then back down. "I can tell you aren't from around here." she observed aloud, her tone showing some displeasure... "Neither am I, but I have friends here." she smiled.

That smile faded some, as she warned "They aren't exactly friendly to travelers here, I'd suggest you take the most direct route through, that you can." she brought her tail around, "Which I can help you find, if you tell me where you are looking to go."

Her tail whipped about, "If you intend to navigate this area here... you'll find only enemies. Powerful ones, as far as that mountain there." her tail pointed. "They are sure to not welcome you... anywhere between there and the desert." she looked back, tail returning to relaxed state, which did happen to be in that direction.

Tags: @safara

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Safara's mouth twitched faintly, showing a ghost of a smile. The binturong seemed displeased and angered but unafraid while the two porcupines occupying either side of her seemed unnerved and uneasy from her growl. She could honestly careless about the two smaller creatures, but she had to respect the female's unwavering calmness, even if a little anger showed in it. She masked it well, but there was no hiding the fact she had in fact threatened her companion whom she seemed protective of. Who was protecting who here exactly? Safara could bet five whole gazelles Mama Binturong would be a greater challenge than two half pint rodents.

Safara listened intently, ignoring the loss of Mama's smile and her obvious continued displeasure she expressed.

Her head turned in the direction of the more lush parts of the savannah, seeing the distinct rocky formation in the distance of Pride Rock. "As it so happens, I am heading in that exact direction." Safara confirmed before she turned her gaze back to three. "But enemies you say." She repeated, mostly to herself as she lifted her head to angle towards the sky for a moment. Closing her eyes, the russet lioness took a few deep breathes, once more taking in the scents around her and confirming that the closer she had gotten the more she could smell other competition, predators of the same food supply she needed. Crocodiles, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas...and lions. So, there were other lions out this way then. Yea, she would have to trek carefully from here.

"Powerful enemies indeed." She affirmed as she opened her eyes, "But nothing a little acting sometimes can't change if you know what to say." She said with a light shrug, a faint look of curiosity showing in her green eyes then. "You intended to head that same direction then? Or cause a little trouble yourselves?" She inquired.

Tags: Mama Binturong

[Mama Binturong]

Mama Binturong shook her head at the russet lioness's intentions. Only a slight shaking, after all she wasn't expecting the lioness to heed her all that much, but one could still let their hopes get up. "There?" she looked to Pride Rock in confirmation. "A little acting worked where I came from... but Pridelanders..." she sneered. "I have my sources, and well..." she thwapped her tail with displeasure.

"Don't let rumors of friendliness deceive you. The way they treat their neighbors... as enemies. So my leopard friend told me. Lions who claim to be so high and mighty~" she gagged, "Maybe as a lion they might see you as 'their kind'..." she mused, "If not, you will be lucky to get a word in.

The binturong's tail relaxed. "I intend to find the honest among us. Sure, the less... savory, but we all have our flaws." she smiled sweetly, "I'm not sure yet what else... maybe show the true colors of these lions~ Or maybe just provide an alternative... upendi instead of hofu..." though she said she wasn't sure, but her tone hinted more toward a playful 'I haven't decided'...

---

Tags: @safara

[Deleted]

"So, like every other pride out in the Savannah and beyond." Safara spoke with a knowing tone. In fact, there seemed no surprise in her tone and expression. These Pridelanders sounded like nothing special, nothing that she hadn't already encountered before.

Safara was no stranger to being treated as an outsider, an outlier in same shape or other. Her own Pride had carried a superstition in fact, a one where her russet fur had been seen as a bad omen and she had been snuffed for it. It was why she had left, why she had never bothered to seek companionship of any kind. What was the point? Just about all prides she had met were the same in just differing ways. So, she merely shrugged her slender shoulders, "You're word of warning is welcome, but nothing I haven't encountered before. The Pridelands are a large territory, so the chances of being caught are still lower than most places."

When Mama explained her own intentions, or at least her hope, the russet lioness had to stifle a laugh at the notion. "You're really stuck on that upendi idea aren't you." It was more of a statement than a question, and Safara couldn't hide the amusement in her voice. "Upendi gets you no where Mama Binturong, "love" is a fool's illusion. Hofu is far more effective, so perhaps these lions aren't entirely wrong." Though, that was Safara speaking from own perspective, her own experiences. Fear had been what she lived by, what had gotten her through life. If she could make another scared and intimidated, it increased her own survival and was a good motivator for herself and others. "Love" was just a concept someone used to hide the darker, harsher realities of life. "But, if that is how you wish to live, be my guest. You will get no upendi nonsense from me."

Given that said, Safara felt like she had more than enough of what she needed. The rock formation was a good interest point to follow for navigational purposes, and the territory was rather large which could offer her some leeway to creep about. Maybe she just might stick around a while.

Tags: Mama Binturong

[Mama Binturong]

The binturong responded to the lioness' dismissive tone with her own displeasure, thinly veiled at best. Her head shook at her boldness, especially her claim less likely to find trouble here, than elsewhere? If she wasn't feeling put down upon she would laugh, but no... if she was to have this lioness give more weight to her words, it would take being a bit more firm.

"Ah, youthful ignorance..." she sighed, "I shall not fault you for ignorance - Still, I ought to teach you. I know hofu well. It is against it that upendi can be so powerful!" she chuckled some. "Really, you have to do things just right... Why am I trying to share my secrets with a stranger, anyway...?" her head turned to her sides, a rhetorical question turned a test of her boys?

"Mama? Hum. Is it that you are trying to sway her to our side? Mama gave the porcupine a glare. "Really? Oh no. I just want to save her the trouble... and making trouble for us." her attention returned to the lioness proper. "You'll learn the value Upendi one way or the other... and when you realize that, we'll be there, with open arms." she smiled sweetly. "So long as you don't cause trouble for us, and it will certainly help you, if you help us instead."