Guardian crossing (Shadowcat)

[Trick]

Sheff stepped away from the water, still uncertain of the new arrival. Would he truly be good enough for a clan that has lasted for centuries? Sheff was honestly split in half. On one hand, the tiger looked strong and capable enough to lead, and on the other hand looks weren't everything and he could turn out to be a serious problem for the guardians. Outsiders were welcomed to come live, but immediately become a leader? They didn't even know what his character was. Sheff's ears twitched at Zeal's words. He indeed heard the tiger and he was trying not to judge him right off. If he were to do that, it would ironically be in the tiger's favor, not against him.

What he needed was a good talk with an old friend. He could always count on his advice. He knew he was already aware of the little situation, all the guardians knew, but what his friend's thoughts were Sheff did not know. Perhaps he was for the tiger, or perhaps he was weary as well, or maybe even against it. The deer knew that they at the least had to give the tiger a chance to lead and it was good with Dark Flame there. The foster tiger had done well with raising the cub and she had turned out to be a trustworthy friend. Now she was someone the guardians could trust, the tiger however...they didn't know at the moment.

Sheff bowed his head with respect before thinking about his friend. Calling out was so...so...mortal like. Thinking of the friend and them coming was the best way to do it. "My good friend, it is good to see you." Sheff said even before he saw Zarif slither in, if he even did come, but Sheff knew he would. "I have a few...thoughts I would like to share with you...if you've got the time." Sheff said with a smile. The little joke wasn't much, but at least it was something. Guardians had limitless amount of time. After all, all they did was watch out for the animals, protect the land, bring some animals together, and at rare times appear before some of them when the situation called for it. These things didn't take much time at all really, not much at all.

[Shadowcat]

Zarif had been lying on a particularly warm rock, basking in the sun. It was something that, even now as a spirit, he enjoyed. The heat rising through his scales helped him to relax and clear his mind. He was at ease, and he could just listen to the various sounds of other spirit-animals around him. It also helped him to think of all the things going on in Amanija, the land he was to protect. He thought about some of the new herd leaders and all the new animals that were coming to the land. It seemed there was always new comers, but, and perhaps it was just his imagination, it seemed as if there had been an increase. For the most part, that was a good thing. However, the snake wondered if any of these new comers would turn out to be future Vile spirits. It wasn't their future that he was concerned with, though. He did not want them to wreck havoc on the land for as long as they lived.

Zarif was gently aroused from his thoughts as he felt a nudging at his consciousness. He recognized it as his friend, and fellow Guardian, Sheff. Giving a flick of his forked tongue, he allowed his surroundings to give a sudden change so that he was now at the Mirror of Life, just beside the deer.

The cobra slithered his way over to the other side of the Mirror to better see and talk to Sheff. He "stood" up, as the only way snakes really could by lifting their head and throat, and looked up at his friend. "As it is good to see you, my brother in all but blood," he replied kindly with a snakish-smile. It was only around close friends that he used this kind of formality.

At Guardian Sheff's joke, the corner of Zarif's mouth twitched in a hint of a smile, more from politeness than amusement. The joke was only mildly funny to him, as he was not a creature that could be entertained easily.

"Of course," he said as a signal for the red deer to go on with what he wanted to say. "If I have time to lie around in the sun all day, I would like to think I have time to talk to a close friend."

[Trick]

"Very well then my friend. I have a few conflicting thoughts about the tiger. It is good that Zilanthin has finally found a leader again, but is it the right one? This cat, Zeal, I am not so sure he is right for it. I know we welcome newcomers with open hooves but one that immediately takes position as a leader? He has just only arrived and only knows Dark Flame." Sheff shook his head. This little situation could go ether way.

"I'm not saying that we shouldn't give him a chance, but he's fresh out of the outside world. We don't even know his character and yet he's leading one of our clans. On one side, he looks strong and holds himself like a leader, but on the other side looks aren't everything and he could be an issue in the future. The clan needs a good leader now, but is he the right one? I stand neutral and weary of this tiger. What are your thoughts my good friend? What do you think of this new leader?" Sheff asked as his eyes settled on the pool of water. He'd have to watch Zeal closely.

He was rooting for the tiger on the inside but his head took the neutral side. He didn't know the tiger and therefore couldn't trust him, not yet at least. He knew time would tell and his actions will speak for themselves, but he didn't like to wait on things like this. He could become and issue and there chance to end it before it even started would have already passed. Sheff sighed, this situation needed time to play out before judgment could take place. He then looked over to his friend, curious as to what he had to say.

[Shadowcat]

Ah, yes, Zeal. The snake remembered watching that tiger before. Zarif listened closely to what Sheff had to say. He then turned his gaze skyward and gave a pause before replying.

"I'm afraid I don't have much more of an opinion than the one you have already given. My thoughts are conflicting. I can't so much as say I stand neutral on this action Zeal has taken. I am entirely against it for the reasons you have said; he does not know much about our land. At the same time, I am entirely for it, because he has yet to give us a reason to think otherwise." Zarif was stubborn and strict, yet he was just. "It would not be fair to think less of one simply because they are new. We were at one time new to Amanija as well. But, then again, we were the first to come here."

Zarif gave another long pause, something that was very rare for him to do. The cobra usually didn't like wasting time and liked to get to the point. This time, however, he really couldn't make up his mind. He spoke again after the pause.

"My feelings and logic say that he should not be granted leadership so quickly. But, I wonder, is that really fair of him? My loyalties lie in protecting Amanija, and being just at the same time. Again, that conflicts, it appears.

"Amanija was a land where many of us from different species came together. We wanted to form a place where we would live without fear of humans or those predators that happened to be our friends. A paradise. No place is perfect, my friend, but I believe we have achieved our goals and dreams. Amanija is the best land for animals of all species. In short, Amanija is just, and my loyalties lie in Amanija. By that standing, I think that I must remain loyal to justice." Zarif looked back at Sheff before giving his final opinion, now that he had explained.

"The tiger, Zeal, has not yet proven himself an enemy, nor incapable. I say he remains leader, as he is now, and we leave everything be. A close eye should be kept on him, and, if anything he does should lose our trust, we can take action."

[Trick]

Sheff listened closely to his friend's words. He was slightly surprised to hear him pause for a short time. Usually his conversations never had pauses and he found that something big enough to notice. It was interesting to hear his friend's thoughts. They were basically saying the same thing Sheff had said. This made Sheff feel strangely a little better, but he was still on the fence. Zarif had a few points he had yet to consider. He knew of them of course but he never really thought about it with dealing with the tiger. Amanija was a paradise that gave animals peace and a home, so why shouldn't the tiger call this place home and lead one of the clans? The conflicting thoughts came back as an answer.

"You have a few good points my friend, and I agree. I find it hard to wait to see the results of his leadership though. Makes me wish we could fast-forward time." Sheff replied with a smirk and then sighed. "I'll be keeping a close eye on him for sure and if anything happens I'll be telling you and we'll deal with it. Thank you my friend, I just needed to hear someone else's thoughts on the matter." Sheff bowed his head to Zarif. "What do you think of the new arrivals? There seems to be more coming in then ever. We're going to have an over packed Amanija in no time." Sheff said with a smile, he was happy that more animals were finding paradise that is Amanija.

((Ugh, I'm sorry it's this short ))

[Shadowcat]

"Any time, my friend," Zarif replied, dipping his head slightly in respect as well. He then turned his eyes down to the water. As he thought to what the tiger was doing at the moment, he allowed his thoughts to command the water to give him the answer. The crystal clear surface rippled slightly before producing an image of Zeal speaking to a wolf creature.

Guardian Zarif couldn't help but smile slightly as he listened to Zeal speak in third person. It was a wise move. "Quite impressive," Zarif spoke quietly to Sheff without looking up. "His method of introduction could provide better protection for his pride. The question is, how will he reveal himself as the leader to this canine, how will she react, and, more importantly, how will he respond to her reaction?" Zeal's choice to hold off on telling the wolf could anger her into attacking possibly, but, it had advantages too.

Looking back up at Guardian Sheff will allowing the water to continue showing what was happening with the tiger, Zarif addressed Sheff's other thoughts on Amanija.

"Indeed. New arrivals are a blessing, provided they don't start trouble. Over population may present as a problem, but, for now, it hasn't presented itself. Amanija is large and spacious. If the new comers join herds, it will help to keep space, since that means those animals will live together, rather than spread out.. Besides, no one lives forever. Those who pass into the afterlife will provide more space for the new comers." Although he had stayed neutral his whole life, Zarif strongly believed in many of the beliefs of Zilanthin about the afterlife. But, he also strongly believed in health of the living, as Deterahn did. All in all, he believed pretty much in all of the clans beliefs, only he believed those beliefs should balance one another.

[Trick]

Sheff's eyes trailed to the pool of water and watched Zeal's image come up again. He was talking to a wolf, another newcomer to the forest. He wrinkled his nose at Zeal's words. Sheff then got into Zeal's head and listened in on his thoughts. He snorted at them. Eat his own words? Sheff didn't think so. He was sticking to what he had said and it will only change with Zeal's actions. Sheff then left Zeal's head be and listened to his friends words. He had to hand it the tiger, he was quite the clever one wasn't he? It might go ether ways, one, it could go good and nothing happen, and two, the wolf could pick a fight.

"Yes, it is impressive isn't it? This shall show more of his character I believe. Very interesting." Sheff replied. His eyes were transfixed on the pool as he watched the conversation play out. "It seems he has revealed himself. Lets just see what the wolf will do and what he'll do after that." Sheff said and continued to watch the pool.

He heard his friend's words on the population growth. He had a good point. Amanija is a very large place, and it will take a long time to fill it up. If animals all joined herds, then there would be even more space. "I don't think Amanija will be overpopulated any time soon my good friend. We'll be around to solve it if it ever happens." Sheff said proudly. He knew that they could solve about any problem if they worked together on it. All the other guardians would be helping too, so the problem would be solved even quicker.

[Shadowcat]

Zarif gave a nod at Sheff's words. He understand exactly what the snake meant; they'd cross that bridge when and if they got there. Until there, then were other matters to worry about. There were no specific problems at the time, but, that was the point. It was there job to try and prevent problems in the first place.

The cobra glanced back at the water, still listening to the words being spoken, still wondering what would happen. He listened to Zeal invite the dog into his herd, but Zarif didn't have much to say about it, as it was still unsure how things would turn out.

"Now that we have expressed ourselves on that, while we wait for this drama to play out, be there anything else you wish to discuss?"

[Trick]

Sheff thought for a few moments. There wasn't anything else he could think of to bring up...other then the amount of cats that were now in the herd. He had gotten a lot to join in just the span of his first hour of being head of the herd. Sheff wasn't an easy one to impress however so he just simply tucked that bit of information away in his ghostly head.

"Hmmm...we do seem to have a...what are they called? Cheetahs? A very energetic Cheetah who has come into contact with the messenger. She should make a very interesting addition to Amanji...as long as she doesn't knock over any trees." Sheff smiled as he viewed her playing with the messenger and then flying right into a tree. She'd be one to watch alright.

"Other then that my friend, I don't have anything important more to bring up." Sheff admitted and blew out a steam of air. Not having anything more important to say was a good thing by far because usually important things were problems, but he always liked to talk about something to his fellow guardians and friends.

[Shadowcat]

Zarif watched as many animals came right up to Zeal to join the herd. Why were they coming to him anyway? Wasn't the leader supposed to be out looking for animals to recruit, rather than the other way around?

The cobra was a bit impressed by how many had already joined, but he was irritated by how easy it was for Zeal. His hood flared up for a moment, then relaxed as the image in the mirror changed to a picture of the cheetah and the Messenger. He stared in amazement as the cat flung herself right into a tree. What a childish mistake...

Guardian Zarif had almost forgotten Sheff was there. He turned to look at the deer and spoke what was on his mind. "Sorry for my distraction, but I was just thinking. It hardly seems fair that this tiger, Zeal, has gotten so many to join him, and they came to him, rather. Things usually work where the leader must look for more members. He's turn everything upside down," he said, turning his eyes back to the water. Perhaps this tiger would be trouble after all.