EG-Gloom, [Open to Njozi]

[Embyr_Somm]

Gray - that was the look and feel of this land. The ground and even the sky seemed to dull the closer anyone got to its center. Steam filled the air and ashlike residue floated from the geysers, leaving obvious hints of occupancy in the form of footprints. Luckily, they would be quickly covered in a matter of minutes.

Higher vantage points revealed a morbid ring of clouds above, specifically enclosing and swirling around the cemetery. The outside world sometimes came to resemble theirs, but would return to a gorgeous and plentiful existence once more.

It was life that they barely got to experience, unfair in proportion to their crimes. What had they done wrong? Sure, some of their blood had bad ends, but they didn't apply to everyone. Yet, here they were, for generation upon generation. By some cruel trick of nature a long time ago, it was decided that this should be their destiny. That they should be forced to sleep in squalor while the neighbors bathed in glory. Planning or plotting, acting or waiting, but the end always same. In this place - this cursed graveyard.

Such was the price for whoever was deemed an enemy to the Pride Rock lions. Most of the tribe was outside, gathered around the main entrance to the underground tunnels. It was cooler up here, with twilight approaching, but still comfortable. Some were sleeping, others talking. A few pups continued playing with and chasing each other, though it was almost their bedtime. The rest were probably trying to find some form of nutrition, either by scavenging further away or daring to cross into other territory.

A reddish female, on the edge of the largest group, was lying upright on her stomach. Armada's jaws and teeth were gnawing on chunks of bone from a recent hunt, scattered around her forepaws. Whatever it was, she wasn't paying attention to the conversation that was going on.

[Daimu]

The rules of nature were cruel indeed, but its chains were not easy to break, once they started to surround from every side, stripping ones of chances for well-being, and passing them over to the others. For generations filthy Pridelanders have had a nice benefit because of that. Were things ever to change? Was the circle ever to turn the other way?

Armada was not the only one to be left alone by other members of the pack. Neither conversations, nor scavenging didn't involve Ano's presence - he was alone in the warm embrace of the shadows, sitting on the top of the highest vantage point in the valley: the biggest of elephants' skulls. His red eyes were closed, as he listened to the wind, trying to soothe his weak body with its refreshing touch. Simple pleasures.

He didn't seem to care about the hyenas below his dead throne, even though the only female he has grown to truly respect was there, playing with the bones. Armada. It was nice to know her last hunt was successful. Despite it's been a while from that day. Ano guessed it would be a good moment to embrace the darkness of the slowly approaching night and sneak away to fetch something for their bellies.

Just as soon as he found his way down from the skull, trying to spare the bad paw of his - right back one - he walked up to her. He will need it this night, if Armada was up to a little hunt. He slowly approached the hyena to greet her with a typical grin of his. "Sharpen your teeth, Armada. Night awaits." He sat by the female, gazing at her with a glint of encouragement in his bloodred eyes. It was high time they had something more to eat. He may have been the worthless underdog, but he was not going to submit to the laws he never accepted. Neither did she, he hoped, at least in the shadow of the night.

[Embyr_Somm]

Her ears flicked about slowly; one swooped towards the sound of her brother's walk. She could tell it was him, for the injury he had gained had placed a noticeable pause in the stride.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" the hyenaess asked in return. There was a subtle snap of annoyance in her question, but that was her usual voice

She wasn't really hungry, but was ready for an excuse to leave or, at least, move around. Since there always needed to be a reason for her, this trip would provide a break from the others and the terrain. It would definitely help her mood too; not by much, but, as long as she felt somewhat better, that's all that mattered right then.

Spitting out another shard, she roughly swept the rest out of her way. There wasn't much use in cleaning, but Armada wasn't really tidy with the attempt anyways. There were still plenty of fragments laying about and, unless something else moved them, they would probably stay there a good long while.
"You have something special in mind," she continued, rising to her full, but short height, "or are we playing it by the senses?"

[Daimu]

Ano calmly watched as she was playing with her toy, waiting for the question she has always asked before slipping away in the night. And he didn't have to wait for long, as it seemed. "We will see." He never was the one for talking - Armada used way more words than he usually did, even though she wasn't exactly a talkative gossipmonger herself. Perhaps this night will satisfy both his and her needs - maybe there was something new to learn within the shadows?

His way of hunting differed sligtly from the one of the rest of the pack - he sank his teeth into the flesh of his victim only when he was starving. He never wanted to prove himself worthy. To be honest, he didn't know what he wanted himself. It was a mystery for him to solve. Perhaps some day he will learn the answer.

"I'd rather not pick a gazelle this time though." He added, smiling yet again. Their last hunt didn't go that well.

[Embyr_Somm]

"Figured as much," she added, giving his leg an obvious glance. Armada didn't find the event or Ano's comment amusing, showing a limited, but negative response to it on her facial features. In fact, she saw the whole thing as fairly sad, on the verge mildly tragic, but in a kinder than purely pathetic view.

Being scarred by a grass grazer so badly that it inhibited your ability to fend for yourself or contribute to the pack with ease bruised her ego for him. After releasing a small grunt of disapproval, her gray eyes focused back on the other tribe members, trying to forget that hunt.

She wasn't sure how he else was effected by it, nor did the hyenaess feel it was in her right to ask about or imply that there was a change in the male. If he wanted to push himself too hard and end up like their mother, that was on him. If he wanted to give up and fall into despair, that was on him as well. All she knew was she wouldn't go down like them, no matter how hard it would be to sit back and watch.

[Daimu]

Forgetting is the key.

He wasn't fiddling with any locks. They were broken already, and the road they have guarded began swinging ajar. He knew he would be the first one to follow it, leaving the footprints of blood. He will be ready.

Forgetting is the key.

"You know where." He stated, slightly colder towards her, than he usually did, letting a few moments pass. And then Ano took his leave, for he needed much more time to get to their secret hunting grounds, than Armada does. Hyena, still limping badly, disappeared shortly afterwards.

There was some sort of comfort in the wind he felt as he was leaving the Graveyard. The slight breeze was clean and pleasantly warm, almost encouraging. The same blow drove their mother towards her end once. He had no intent of listening to its whisper, even though he was almost basking in its delicate touch. The time will come once. It's getting closer. Many clouds are yet to fly by, but he will be ready.

Ano resumed his stroll, not even bothering to wait for Armada. She will find him either way. She will be angry, she will finish the prey he was to pick, they will have a romantic meal together, and then everyone will be happy. Always worked. Sort of. Having realised things would be completely different for him without her assistance, he gave a short sigh. And then a little smile followed.

Forgetting is the key.

[Embyr_Somm]

She nodded, showing him that she did know where...

Not immediately following, taking a minor scratch break before leaving, Armada wondered if she should walk with him instead of just meeting him there. However, that rather uncharacteristic reaction was floating further away into unlikelihood the more hesitation there was on her part and as he continued to walked on, unaware of her thoughts. Not that she couldn't catch up with him, but, the greater the gap grew between them, the stranger and more suspicious running up to him would be.

She left well enough alone. Instead, the female tried to remember what he was like before. Oddly, the only thing that came to her mind was how he was now. Shrugging, Armada got up and started to head for the meeting place, going the long way in case any nosy tagalongs tried to follow her.