ALPHA POSITIONS

[»LUNAR✮ØASIS«]

I trust and know you well 13th, plus Jericho looks great! accepted ;D

[»LUNAR✮ØASIS«]

Because we're trying to get all main leaders sorted out and there is a -contest- between Shenzi & Sinful. I'll have to ask Shenzi to hurry considering it has been more than 3 days since it was decided.

[SHENZi.]

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[atrb=background,http://i52.tinypic.com/bimrme.png] "What's your problem?" She spat in his face. The hyena smirked, and shook the saliva off. He advanced on her, his teeth showing. She held her ground, despite the fact that he was much older than she was and, though the clan was matriarchal, it was universally allowed for anyone to beat on her. "You, Shenzi. You are my problem. You and your homosexual ways.

[/b]" He snarled in disgust. "You are an abomination." The female still held her ground, though she offered to act of hostility in return. She had learned much from these beatings, and was confident that he wouldn't hurt her as much as he hoped. But he caught her off guard with his next statement. "The others think you can change, that you can be taught that your way is wrong. But I don't." He snickered. "No. The only way to fix your problem is to kill you." Her eyes opened wide in horror as he made three swift movements and the ground beneath her rumbled.[/i]

---

Shenzi nearly bit through her tongue trying to suppress the memory. "Ouch." She muttered, shaking her head. She blinked, returning to reality for the first time in ten minutes. She lay out on her side in the shade beneath one of the few trees that had managed to take root on the plateau, dozing in the heat of the midday sun. Unfortunately, her shade had slithered away as the sun moved across the sky, leaving her legs and stomach exposed to the hot rays. With a sigh she rolled to her feet, standing and shaking the dirt from her coat. Her memories had always plagued her, usually in her sleep as nightmares, but recently had started to grow in frequency as well as intensity. Without a sound she picked up a smooth trot, heading across the flat expanse of the place. Perhaps it had something to do with her new role as Matriarch of the Hyena clan. Or maybe her mind was finally unraveling. She grunted.

The spotted hyena approached, after a good while of travel, another tree, similar in looks to the one she had previously been laying under. The only difference was that this one had little to no grass around its base, and the dirt was packed down hard from multitudes of paws treading upon it. It was the gathering place for the clan. Yet, it was always bare. Even when the clan came to a meeting, there was nothing but the tree and the paw-prints in the dirt. Shenzi lifted her forepaw, holding it at a precise angle, and dipped her head. Stamping her paw down, she threw her head back and the rock before her rumbled for a brief moment before erupting into a large tunnel that led under the earth. She moved into it and descended a few feet before stomping a back foot to close the entrance.

Hyenas have excellent night vision, which enables them to see rather well even in complete darkness such as this, so maneuvering further down the tunnel was no problem. After several hundred feet the tunnel opened into a wide chamber with a high ceiling. Here the scent of the clan was the strongest. Two clan members lay side by side, muttering quietly. They looked up when Shenzi entered, and offered a dip of their heads in respect. The matriarch shook her head in disapproval, and padded up to them. "Just because I am your matriarch, doesn't mean I am not your equal. I deserve only the respect I give, and nothing more." They nodded, each bearing a smile.

"Would you care to join us?" One asked, using his head to motion for her to sit down. She nodded. "We were just speculating the reason behind your reign as matriarch. Care to enlighten us as to the specifics?" He grinned good-naturedly, and Shenzi returned the favor.

"I hope to give my clan the freedom that was denied me my entire life." She explained calmly. "The freedom to exist as you see fit, and without the opinions of others forced upon you." She bobbed her head, blinking away the beginning of another memory. "As long as that existence does not threaten the clan." Such cryptic words from a usually straightforward creature. She wasn't sure why she felt she had to choose her words carefully. For a moment, she believed that they wouldn't understand what she truly meant. Her gaze searched their faces, but she saw understanding in their expressions.

"It isn't that you wish to limit how one wishes to live but, rather, that you set certain parameters for the safety of the individual as well as the clan." The first member stated, as though he had been given a cue to do so. The second piped up after a moment. "One deemed too great a threat to themselves or the clan will be put down. But only if beyond hope." Shenzi was amazed at her clan's understanding of her confusing logic. She was proud, nonetheless, and couldn't help but smile broadly at the two of them. It was then that another hyena entered the main chamber. One that carried with it an air of defiance. The three turned their gaze to the newcomer, and Shenzi's eyes narrowed in suspicion. She rose to her feet.

"Spreading more of your hippie bullshit, Shenzi?" The female spat. She tittered at her matriarch as though she was a newborn being taught right from wrong. "You should know better. You don't want to allow your clan freedom. You want to make sure that they conform to your standards." A wicked grin spread across her muzzle as she awaited Shenzi's response.

"And you are entitled to think that way." The matriarch replied calmly. "You are allowed to think however you wish until it brings harm upon the clan." Shenzi watched with satisfaction as she saw the foiled expression on the antagonist's face. The hyena hesitated, looking caught between surprise and embarrassment, then turned to leave, grumbling to herself. The matriarch turned and said a polite farewell to the two clan members she had conversed with, and padded down one of the many forking tunnels toward her private quarters. "Until it brings harm upon the clan..." She muttered under her breath.
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[Sinful †]

N U R U . O M A R I

Of course. Why would there be a single cloud in the sky? That would be far to easy on the inhabitants of the plateau, where shady trees were scarce and large boulders even more so. The sun, which hung bloated and large directly above head, was blinding in its intensity. Balmy was a far cry away on such a scorcher of a day, and it was obvious those animals that were capable of such had gone to ground so to say. Those that were unable to do so were visible beneath whatever sparse shade was available. It was obvious on days like this that the sun was just far to much. Irritability ran high amongst all animals, and the lone figure wandering across the vast plateau was no exception.

From a distance the creature, which was easily identifiable as a hyena, was impossible to distinguish whether male or female by key identifying points alone. The one thing that marked the sauntering creatures gender was the sheer size of the beast. As far as spotted hyenas went this specimen was massive. By that alone it was be easy enough to guess the creature was female. The head of the bitch was lowered as she sauntered across the savannah-like biome that stretched as far as one could see. Thick, pink tongue lolled from the side of her gaping muzzle. Dark jowls were dripping stringy saliva as the hyena panted heavily. Thick, rounded ears were perked and pushed slightly forward as the slavering female stalked across the sun-baked plain.

It was obvious why the bitch was over-heating. The mane, which normally was thinned and less predominant on most spotted hyenas was flared thickly across her nape, a vivid orange mixing with gray to create almost highlighted fur. It was an inconvenience that was certain, and as she trotted to where ever it was she was headed she wished with all her might that she could tear it out. However the rest of her body, while not as bad, was still covered in rather thick fur considering the time of year and climate. Spots were clearly visible across her mottled body despite her age. The spots became somewhat thicker towards her prominently sloped rump, and half way down her shorter hind legs transformed into a solid dark brown. The tail, nestled comfortably over her pseudo male genitalia, gradually went from gray to black as it flared into a large, almost oval shape. Her rather pronounced stomach was a soft creamy white, though often was caked with mud. Aside from the females massive size and thicker fur she was a completely typical example of what a hyena should be.

The bitch, who answered to Nuru Omari, was at this time freshening her scent markers. It was what had her wandering in such an infernal heat when all other animals had fled to shade or to the cool comfort of underground dens. The bitch sauntered about with the gait that only a hyena could ever pull off, brushing through the tall grasses with obvious concentration. Thick, worn claws gripped at the earth as Nuru planted her paws firmly against the hot, dry soil, dragging first one paw, and then the next. She studied the feel of the dry soil sifting between her digits with only a slight interest before she would wander off a couple hundred feet and the process was repeated. Rub against grass, plant paws, drag, waddle and repeat. It was monotonous at best and it was obvious that whatever fine humour the female may previously have sported was long gone, leaving an irritable, massive predator with one hell of a grumpy attitude.

Though the female was not always the most pleasant to be around grumpy was not the attitude she often sported. She was a mischievous and fiery bitch. That much could often been seen in her eyes alone. The dark brown, which was visible in the bright light of the day, was often mistaken for black. However if one were to look close enough they would see the passion in those eyes. That burning excitement and manic energy that made her such the ideal Matriarch. Her zeal was obvious, from the jerking rapid pawing to the very way she walked. It was obvious that there was pride deep in her soul and a mighty attitude beneath the surface of the somewhat calm exterior. Nuru was not as calm as she could be at this point however. The very idea that she was now the dominant hyena in these lands sent thrums of excitement and pleasure coursing through her veins. This was made visible to an onlooker by an occasional twitch of her massive body. A flick of her head or a flapping of her large ears seemed to broadcast the adrenaline that was pulsing through her body, and which had been since she had taken the mantle of leadership. Oh, Nuru Omari had big plans for all of them, and she simply could not wait to put them into play.

As the mighty bitch wandered about, marking the hyena land as her own dominion she was constantly wary of any possible threat. Being the Matriarch came with some obvious occupational hazards. The latest in the form of malcontent from those soft, idle clan members whose worlds had recently been turned upside down with her ascent to power. To long had the canines been allowed to lay back, becoming soft and pathetic with the weak, unstructured life they were living. For the longest time it had been like a large vacation, where respect and pride were out the window and uncouth behaviour and impertinence were the name of the game. Needless to say the new Matriarch placed the fear of god into those pathetic sluggards. Or at least the fear of Nuru Omari. The reigning bitch had made it clear that she would be tolerating nothing but the utmost respect and reverence of her position amongst them as well as their entire effort into helping the clan grow and prosper. And they had better do it energetically, respectfully and with a mother-fucking smile! This last thought caused something of a smirk to replace to look of utter contempt which had wrinkled across her blunt muzzle, and a loud whooping laugh roiled unbidden from her chest. If it was the last thing Nuru did it would be to make the hyenas properly respected across island. It was a desire that she felt burning at the very core of her being. She knew, she just knew, that if anyone was going to be capable of bringing hyenas to the mighty place of top dog, so to say, it would be her. The passion and confidence which drove her had never steered her wrong in the past. A devious smirk crossed her shining, slobber-flecked muzzle as she did someone of a shuffling dance of excitement in stiff, and oh so hyena like movements. Oh yes, Nuru Omari knew beyond being simply narcissistic that she was perfect for the daunting tasks at hand. And the bitch was certain that she would do it with style and pizzazz. Because pizzazz is what she did best after all, wasn’t it. Another smirk, another whooping laugh that seemed to echo in the hot atmosphere before she reined it in, forcing the impassive look back to her features.

A snort was forced from sable nostrils as the female finally was done with her rounds. It was obvious by observing many of the more pathetic hyenas under her new, strict rule that the beliefs hyenas use to believe with relish, with an almost maniacal frenzy were fading. And that a new live and let live idealism was creeping into the fold. And that simply wouldn’t do. Nuru Omari was one of the hyenas that was raised under the scornful tongues of those who believed that the only way to true prosperity was for the other races of canine to be eliminated or driven away. There were only so many apex predators that the island could accommodate. Despite the fact that the hyenas laid sole claim to the massive plateau that did not mean that isolation made them safe. And yet it had made many complacent, which the female would not tolerate. No, the Matriarch would bring back the ruthless ways of old rather than tolerate the weak and pathetic habit of laying back and letting the island become overrun. The Matriarch was by no way thinking of starting a war. However she was going to make sure each and every hyena under her paw would know that soon there would be to many canines for the island to handle and that the only way for them to truly flourish would be if the other species were no longer present. It was certainly no lie, and one would be a fool to believe they could continue to coexist indefinitely.

Nuru cocked her head to the side as she listened to the land around her. The heat of the day distorted vegetation not even fifty feet in front of her as the heat caused the air all around to shimmer. Large, rounded ears twitched at the odd yipping far in the distance, carried easily upon the air which seemed so alive on this heated day, despite the utter lack of wind. This caused a frown to mar her features briefly. Either the sounds were travelling particularly well today, which was most likely the cause or there were several painted ones near the plateau. Neither thought bothered the still female much for the journey up to the lands of the hyena was a perilous one, especially for those that did not know the routes. And not to mention that any lone, or small group, of painted ones to even attempt such a venture would then have to deal with her, or any other hyena they came across. And Nuru would almost pity any trespasser that dared to cross her or trespass upon what was now her lands. They would be dealt with swiftly and without mercy, that was certain. Shoulders shifted in a slight shrug as she stood for a moment longer. The large female raised her head high, the slope of her body much more defined in those brief moments as she towered above the grass. To others she would appear a shimmer apparition, wreathed in the shifting and dancing distortions of the super-heated air. Truly a fearsome creature. For no reason was she an apex predator. A killer, and a brutal one at that. Standing there, observing what was now her land she looked fully the fearsome ruler that she was meant to me. However the moment was broken when Nuru lowered her skull, thoughts no longer on the painted ones, or anything else but quenching the burning thirst that was vying for her attention.

The burly female slowly made her way forward once more, this time intent on escaping this hellish heat. It was stifling, and Nuru Omari was becoming more and more anxious to find relief. Saliva hung in heavy cords from her muzzle as the bitch made her way to a slight indentation in the ground before her. Claws scraped at the soft soil beneath her feet as large head swung upwards, only intensifying the hyenas naturally ungainly physique as the long, muscular neck jutted from the muscular, sloping form. An idea had formed, and nothing but concentration was going through her mind as she stared intently at the dented land. With a sudden mighty flick the female jolted her head and neck downwards, the movement so fast and sudden it was startling as she once more took up a more stalking like posture. However had anyone been watching the hot, irritable Matriarch it would not have been her posture or movement that drew the eye but the sudden massive hole which spread before her.

It was not a tunnel, nor a den. It was, by all intent and purpose, a massive stretching water-hole. The earth had sunk with a great scraping and trembling, and where it once had been but a small dip now lay an almost crater-like impression. Minute amounts of water had begun seeping into the new space as the earth pushed downwards. One would think that the female called it a success, if the self-righteous smirk was anything to go by. Boy did she simply adore her power! And she definitely was not one to use it sparingly, or for the greater good. Nuru was not above using it for her own gains and her own pleasure or ends. After all, what was it for but to help serve them in every day life. With a loud grunt she trotted down to the edge, where her large skull dipped and large tongue lapped at the water with loud sloshes. The strings of saliva which had previously been swaying slid from her jowls as water washed over her parched tongue, landing with almost sickening splashes into the water or surrounding, water-logged dirt.

After a few minutes of this, thirst quenched, the bitch soon turned to another venture. It was a small risk, due to the inability to move or rise quickly but she was craving the cool relief it would offer. Another loud grunt was given, this time it was one of exertion as powerful front legs began digging at the now water-soaked edge of the new watering-hole. Thick muscles rolled and twitched across her large shoulders as she tore at the ground before her, making short work with strong limbs and somewhat soft ground. Tongue once more lolled as powerful limbs churned the soil, turning it quickly into the ideal mire. After giving it the once over a small nod was given. This would do.

A quick glance about showed there was no creatures that would interrupt her, and with something of a satisfied sigh the mighty hyena flopped ungracefully down into the mud. Large body shifted from side to side in a sort of wiggling motion as mud sloshed over her back, coating her vibrant fur in muck as she burrowed herself deeper. A grin appeared on her face as slobbery chops were laid in the mud, eyes hooding contentedly. The coolness of the mud did wonders for her temper as she rolled about, happy as a clam. Nuru Omari was not the easiest bitch to get along with, no. When wronged or slighted she would respond with vicious tenacity, and more often than not with physical punishment. She had a fine temper when she became irritated (which was an easy feat) and a fearful wrath when angered. She doled out punishments when seen fit for transgressions, and she was terribly cold at times. She was cunning and wicked, a clever strategist and a mighty warrior. Nuru didn‘t talk much, and played around even less. However she also had a softer side. One which cared deeply for her clan and the well-being of all members. One which wanted to hear the concerns of her charges. She would die to protect them, and give life and limb to see them prosper. She could be a joker, a friend, a lover and a confidant. Just so long as she was shown the respect entitled to her rank, and the complacency and unerring loyalty of her clan life would be easy and rewarding for all parties involved. So long as it was remembered that she was a leader first, well, Nuru Omari figured they would get along just fine.

Word count: 2589

[»LUNAR✮ØASIS«]

Can I say, for one both of those role play samples were very nice and well bloody good. This'll be my first time really doing a alpha audition and now the decision is on my shoulders.

Shenzi; Your post was fairly bold and to the point on how your hyena feels about the pack. It seemed more based around Shenzi's negative situations with dealing with her sexuality. I really do like the idea considering it causes conflict in different areas other than hatred toward other packs, but hyenas are notorious for their matriarchal ways, and lesbian hyenas, in this sense would more then likely be honored rather then abhorred. Though it would probably not the same case for a gay male hyena.. Yet there wasn't as much detail of how Shenzi acts, or is viewed like your competition.

Sinful; Your post was very detailed and related to an everyday type of situation. And you included how Nuru felt about the packs, and her views on how to run the pack.

I have a clear idea of how both females would help run the pack, and the situations concerning all packs within the island and conflicts. And the decision is really hard, but I believe Sinful with Nuru Omari has the upper hand & Nuru Omari is now the Matriarch. Nuru not only has a view of not co-exsisiting with the other packs but she is definatly very cold at times, yet loving toward her pack. The respect and domination factor is what we need among the hyena's. Their heavy powered and ruthless attitudes need to clash with the leader. While Shenzi is a great prospect for the position, I don't think we need the conflict among the pack quite yet considering the pack is going to be 'new/reborn'.