Set a few days after Ashe turned the Pride over to Mirza.
(+40p Host Pride Event
+20 Join in a discussion to establish pride or family relations
+5 Host an event for the pride)

Winter had descended on the Oasis, bringing with it a new year, and much change. Though it didn't get very cold in their home, there was a notable shift in the air, and it had been some time since they had seen any participation. However, these were not the changes that weighed heavy on Mirza's mind as she made her way to a central area of the Pride lands, near Ashe's notably empty den. Her paws felt bigger today, and she absentmindedly glanced down at them to see if they had grown somehow. No. It was just the sensation of "filling large shoes" so to speak. She lifted her head with pride, a grin of deep-seated satisfaction spreading across her face. She couldn't wait to see everyone's faces when she gave them the news.

Putting on her most regal posture, she sat chest out, head high, and called out to the members for an urgent meeting. She thrust as much authority as she could into her call, leaving no room to question that this meeting was in fact mandatory. While she waited for everyone to arrive, she tended to her face, paws, and chest, doing a little primping while she thought over the perfect way to give the news. She couldn't exactly just throw her sister under the bus, less her loyal subjects rebel in her defense. No, she had to use tact, let her sister keep her good name, and go from there. Besides, Ashe could very well come back and anything said other than the truth would come back too, and bite her in the ass. No, for once in her life, she didn't need to scheme to get what she wanted. This role was HERS, fair and square, as it should have been all along. And she had plans for this little group, oh boy did she ever.

She was going to grow this pride into something worthy of the Azar name. Even if that didn't necessarily mean the same thing her father would have wanted it to. She was going to befriend as many of the surrounding pride as she could, bring in new members, and give existing members ranks that fit their skills. Instead of holding people back because of their bloodlines. Everyone would pull their own weight in her pride, have a purpose. No longer would there be "little" people brunting the weight of carrying the "better" people up the hill. No, they were all going to work together... to bring the hill to its knees.

Now we're in the ring, and we're coming for blood

There's a hummin' in the restless summer air And we're slippin' off the course that we prepared But in all chaos there is calculation Droppin' glasses just to hear them break You've been drinkin' like the world was gonna end (it didn't) Took a shiner from the fist of your best friend (go figure) It's clear that someone's gotta go

code by corvus

Ashelia had told him about her trip back to the homeland, but Ebrahim - most likely down to the shock of it all - had not anticipated what would come next. Between the increasingly noticeable absence of Esther and the brewing unrest within the archipelago, he'd barely thought of who would take over control of the Oasis until it actually happened. He could not help but judge his cousin a little; not only for the timing but also for the fact that she was leaving @Mirza in charge. Ebrahim would not likely be a brilliant King, but Mirza?

Ugh.

Alas, it was done now, and all he could do was suck it up. For all her faults, at least she had voted to keep his little family around. So. He would heed her call with a quiet sigh and reluctant rise from his quarters, chuffing for @Parisa and @Beriah as he went - and @Esther too, just in case, because there was always a chance she'd slipped back in without him noticing - before moving to sit off-centre and to the right of the new Queen. Cousin, he purred in acknowledgement, saying nothing else for now.

^{_{CODE & ART BY D}}

The slim girl was growing like weeds. She mused that her birthday was soon approaching and she would be a year old. Gone were the days that she was helpless and tiny. Beriah knew she had a ways to go before she could even come close to being as tough as her mother, though just thinking of her mother brought restlessness and stress. She had been missing for an alarmingly long time now, never before in Beriah's life had Esther been absent for such a time.

These thoughts had left a dark cloud permanently situated upon her brow. Washed out eyes glittered hauntingly from dark sockets as the girl dully responded to the call from her father. She had grown to begrudgingly appreciate him for what he was, though to say she fully trusted him...she couldn't. Not just yet.

Beriah entered a quiet clearing, where she saw a somewhat unfamiliar female who she had seen around a bit, and Ebrahim. They sat side by side nearly, expectantly, and she was a bit unsure of where to put herself. She settled a healthy distance away from @Ebrahim, towards the outer edge.

""

Iofiel adhered to the call even if he didn't recognize the voice. The voice didn't matter as the tone rang of authority. Iofiel knew well to answer anyone of authority. He had been well trained in the ways that leadership worked as a cub. The large male knew his place. He knew he was a nothing and a nobody.

So he wasn't the first to make it to the area from which the call had rung out but there also weren't many present either. Just a lioness, a lion, and an older cub. Iofiel knew there were more in the pride than that. He had seen them at the hunts even if he had no names to add to the faces. And then there was Ashelia missing as well.

The pale lion hung back, taking a place on the fringes of the area. He took a spot that related to his position in the pride, in life. He was the lowest of the low and didn't deserve to sit anywhere close to those of some rank and some importance.

Not a word was spoken as Iofiel took his places. He kept his head bowed and gaze focused upon the ground beneath his paws.

The very moment that a meeting called that was not heeded by Ashelia was the same moment that Mithros decided he didn't like it. Immediately wandering towards the call with that notion in his mind that he hated it and everything about it was what would determine how this went. Now that he had shown himself to his family on the outside he was sure that they would come to him -- or worse, join him -- so he really did want to run. But he also didn't want to be a rogue anymore. He didn't want to be alone alone. So the male crept into the meeting as quietly as he could and settled on the outside. Close enough to be seen but quiet and inconspicuous to not be bothered too much.

_{© LARS}

She always anticipated that her mother would come slithering back into the den while she was asleep, that she would awaken buried in her fur, the familiar comfort easing her to sleep. Yet, it never happened -- Esther had yet to return to them.

Parisa rose from her slumber, stretching her limbs before heading for the mouth of the den. She heard her father -- whom barely felt like such, despite the moons that had passed since she had met him -- call for them with a huff and she followed him and Beriah to the clearing.

Parisa settled down next to her sister, the cold breeze making her shiver for a moment. Winter had come and she was not accustomed to it yet, the last time it had been this cold she had been too young to remember. The sisters were settled near the edge of the clearing, on the outskirts -- she felt it was where they belonged, especially in their mother's absence. How was she supposed to feel at home without Esther's calming aura keeping her grounded?

A sigh slipped past siamese maw and she looked around, watching as more members of the Oasis gathered. Parisa remained quiet, mismatched eyes glancing towards her sister on occasion.

The new Queen sat silently, watching as members trickled in to head her call. A nod is given to Ebriham as he addressed her. A warm smile is given to the two sisters who crept in and sat at the back. They were the future of this Pride, and Mirza was pleased to see them arrive, though they looked a bit unsure to her. The two males that entered next had the smile leaving her face, one more interested in his feet than in what she had to say, and the other clearly disappointed. A few moments of silence pass and the fact that these are the only ones attending this meeting settles on her shoulders like steel bricks.

Ashe had really let things go stagnant, hadn't she? Mirza glanced at her cousin, knowing that he was no more in her corner than the dark male sitting at the back. She hoped that he at least had the tiniest bit of hope, that he saw too that she had not been handed a Pride in the best of condition. She hoped he knew that despite her past bitterness and scheming... she really did want what was best for the Pride.

Clearing her throat, she squared her shoulders, head lifting as she tried to look more confident than she felt. "Good Morning Lions of Andal... if you do not know me, I am Mirza Azar." Damn right she was. "My sister, Ashelia has been called to quest, returning to our homelands. It is unclear when.." or if.... "she will return, so she has named me High Sovereign." A position she had trained her whole life for, one she was MORE than ready for, as she reminded herself. Her posture and voice grew more confident as she continued.

"It should be well known by this point that my sister loves this Pride, and would do anything to assure its survival. But one can not lead when their heart is torn between two worlds. So, to better serve you, her loyal Pride members, and family, she decided it was best to seek closure. She has entrusted me to step up in her absence. A move I assure you she would not make in a million years unless she thought me up to the challenge. I, like her, was raised for this, trained my whole life. At one point I would have sat here and told you that I had already EARNED it... but sitting here, looking at all of you... I realize that isn't the case. You don't know me, or my ruling style, and have nothing but my name to go on. So... I plan to disprove the doubters."

She made a point to look at each and every lion sat before her, making eye contact with everyone who was willing. Taking a moment to let her words sink in before continuing. Truth be told, she had a lot she needed to say... but didn't want to overwhelm them with words. Say too much... and people stop listening. So she gave them a moment to think over what they heard as she leaned in and whispered to her cousin for a second. "I'm sure Ashe made a point to speak to you before leaving? I am sure you are thrilled... I'm also sure you won't hesitate to give me your opinion where needed, away from curious ears of course." She would never outright ask him for his help, but she hoped he knew she valued his insight, as long as he took the hint and gave it in a way that didn't outright undermine her.

She knew she could make discissions that could help the Pride. She knew she could plan and create ideas. She didn't however, know that she could convince anyone really, to like her. Her abrasive personality had never been something she hadn't been aware of... she just never had any reason to care. Before. Now it seemed, she was in some sort of pagent, and she was coming into it a bit underdressed. It didn't help that she had failed to previously take any interest in anyone here... something that ended today.

"So... there is a bit more to my announcement and I will get to that in a minute but first if you all don't mind. I'd like to get to know you all. Between my duties, and my traveling, I haven't gotten to meet quite a few of you" Any of you... "So if you could... go ahead and tell me about yourselves real quick? It will make going forward as a unified Pride much easier for all of us, as I assume a few of you are a bit reclusive, as I have been myself. You may not know each other very well either... and that seems a little counterproductive to me." A warm laugh, interjected at the end of her words to show that she was being welcoming and inquisitive. She had no intention to walk in and rule with an iron paw as her instincts would tell her to. She was trying damnit.

Now we're in the ring, and we're coming for blood

There's a hummin' in the restless summer air And we're slippin' off the course that we prepared But in all chaos there is calculation Droppin' glasses just to hear them break You've been drinkin' like the world was gonna end (it didn't) Took a shiner from the fist of your best friend (go figure) It's clear that someone's gotta go

code by corvus

The dieudonne-talgrim was more uncertain now than he ever had been. Once upon a time he had determined that he wanted to live as closed off from others as he possibly could but starving himself out of stubbornness wasn't as good an option as he believed. He had joined the Oasis because he had seen Ashelia's challenge for it and knew that he needed a good meal. One that wasn't him scrapping for a piece of bird here and there, nor living off carcasses that were unfinished by their killers. Now, he was expected to fall into line behind Mirza. She was a little less soft around her edges like he saw in the previous High Sovereign. Certainly more rough and he wasn't all that sure he wanted that for himself.

So when prompted to tell more about himself, he hesitated. He hesitated for as long as he possibly could because he didn't know how to tell someone about himself. He didn't know the first thing about who he was or what he wanted; aside from the obvious keeping to himself. Mithros.. he mentioned as his eyes gravitated among the crowd and felt almost certain that something would come at him for speaking his name to a crowd. His father had almost found him here so what was to say someone else wouldn't either? Other than his name, he didn't know what to say. That he would enjoy it if someone came at him with their claws and teeth? That he enjoyed having information and using it against others? That he thrived in the pit of chaos despite his rather bleak resting bitch face? Nah, he was still getting to know that side.

The yearling had an idea that just saying his name wouldn't bode well for what was expected of him but how could he know what to say when he didn't even know who he was? Being a little over a year old, he hadn't exactly gotten to explore any side of himself that mattered. Still a moldable boy, lost in the recess of time.

_{© LARS}

Only one spoke up after the new leader had asked for an introduction from those present. Only a name was given and nothing else about them. The name was enough for Iofiel though. He wasn't one that typically shared much himself. But it had been requested of him and so he felt obligated to comply. He had simply hoped that others would speak up before he had to.

"Iofiel Nimri. I am..." And there he had to pause to think. What was there to say about himself? "I was born in the desert. I know how to survive here, what to watch out for, what plants are best for dehydration." He had told Ashelia as much when she had allowed him to join. The landscape was a familiar setting to him. He knew already the dangers that came from living in a place of extremes. He knew it took every member to survive in a place like this.

And what he didn't say was that he knew Mithros. If not this Mithros then a Mithros. He had been there after the boy had been born. He had tended to Ambrosine and provided her with after care. Of course he didn't expect Mithros to remember him as he was completely unremarkable himself and had this habit of hanging in the background without saying anything.

OOC: Closing this so Mirza can get her xp lol


They had gone around and said their piece, though not everyone spoke. She would make a note of who participated and who didn't. Just like she made a note of who didn't bother to show at all. Once everyone who was willing to introduce themselves had, she went into a speech about what she expected from everyone. How everyone would soon pull their own weight in Andal, and how she expected everyone present to hold ranks very soon, if they could prove themselves. She told them she had no time for those without ambition, and assured them that no one's name would get them anything handed to them in this Pride. This was not her Father's Pride... this was HERS, and she was going to run it better. They were not the Azar and the Others... they were ALL Andal.

When that was over with, she took a moment to tell every one of her plans to gain as many allies as possible. She would be leaving the very next day, and anyone who wanted to be somebody in this Pride was welcome to come. She then thanked them all for coming and excused herself to ready herself for her trip.

-exit-