Faith in the Fauna

[Sarah]

Although being unconscious, Hiko’s over sensitive nose smelled water and he awoke realizing that he was carried over to a place very near some water. Hiko tried to wet his mouth with his tongue, but his mouth with still dry and he didn’t have the strength to stand up and get some water. Hiko looked at the group of lions and……a RHINO?!! Hiko smiled, mind seeming to not have awaken yet. “Am I dreaming?! I see a Rhino….” He said to himself and laughed.

“Where am I?” He asked in a whisper and tried to get up, but was still too tired to stand. “It seems to me like I need to thank you for the kindness, I’ll intrude no longer…” He said politely and tried to get up again, collapsing one more time. “As soon as I’m able to get up, I’ll be on my way.” He said looking at the ground, giving up for the moment. “Well, as long as I’m here! I might as well introduce myself, my name is Hiko and I’m…..heading nowhere; figured that I should explore a bit and gain some knowledge of what known as my own backyard….” He and laughed a little.

[kyto7878]

Moona looked back at Ma-akua and said "Swimming? Whats swimming?" Moona had a puzzled look on his face in the jungle no one ever swam they would climb trees,drink,eat and sleep in the trees that was it. Moona paddled only a littles ways away with his claws exracted and went to the water hole. He looked into the reflection and didnt know what he was. Was he a stealthy panther? Or was he a strong lion? He didnt have a tuft on his head like most male cubs do. But he had the body figure of a male lion cub. Moona was puzzled. Moona looked at Ma-Akua again this time with solem eyes and asked "How do you know if your a lion?" Moona didnt ask how to know a panther cause she isnt a panther; she is a lion.

[Zorayda]

Taro looked at where the rhino had pointed with his horn and started. Another lion?! He'd never seen so many lions converge together solely upon chance before.

The young lion leapt over to where the other was, noting that the creature was dehydrated and pitifully exhausted.

"Here...I'll help you," Taro said, and, using his young, strong muscles, he managed to get under the other lion's chest and started dragging him towards the watering hole. "Just hang in there..."

[magiccat]

Maybelle smiled slightly and slipped herself under the lions head as Taro started dragging him toward the water hole. She worked with him to get the lion to water. "Exploring huh? Lucky you to not be tied down" She said with a grin. "Although I suppose you don't feel very lucky right now"

The lioness smiled warmly but glanced about worriedly. She had indeed mellowed out when it came to her cub but she was still slightly scared. Especially with the Rhino around. For now she concentrated on the lion she was helping.

Her worries and her crazy mothering obsession could wait.

[Sarah]

Hiko smiled, "A little, but it is always nice to explore....." he said and looked at the lioness, "Thank you for the help again and your names are....." he said and hoping that the rhino and lioness would fill in the blanks for him. With their help, he managed to get to the water and he gulped down the water as if his life was depended on it.

Hiko looked up, once he had enough water; he wanted to rest a little before traveling again. He relaxed, waiting on the rhino or the lioness to strike up a conversation; Hiko wasn't very good at starting any kind of conversation. He was enjoying the company though, it was quite a while back since he had so many new faces to see. He smiled at the thought of having company again, sort of amusing himself with the thoughts; soft spoken is his nature, but that doesn't mean he likes to be alone.

[Zorayda]

Taro smiled.

"I'm glad you're okay now. I'm Taro, and this is Maybelle," Taro said, introducing his acquaintance as politeness had always taught him.

"So...what was the purpose of your explorations? Are you looking to start a pride? Looking for resources?"

Taro tilted his head and sat on his haunches, waiting for the reply.

[Lorien]

Sarumba was about to answer the new white lion, but both he and Taro, along with Maybelle, went off in order to help the newcomer. Lions keep popping up all over the place... she thought to herself. While she and Bagymo lived on these lands, they hadn't met too many in their small wanderings. Perhaps it was the lush of the wet season that was flocking everyone here. It surely was beautiful.

She and Bagymo watched as the rescue effort ensued. Bagymo sat down next to his rhino friend while Sarumba went back to drinking at the water hole a ways away, out of earshot of the two elder companions.

"I see you noticed the way the young Taro eyed Sarumba..." Bagymo chuckled. He knew what was on the young male's mind, having once been young himself. "He seems an all right fellow, but we have only met after all."

As Ma-akua and the others walked back over to the water hole, asking of other's names, Sarumba looked up at him and the exhausted lion and smiled. It was so strange to see yet another white lion. Besides her parents....well, she hadn't seen a white lion since she was a young cub.

"My name is Sarumba. It's a pleasure to meet the both of you, Akua and Hiko." She bowed her head slightly before going back to her drink.

[Deleted]

Ma-akua smiled softly, "Nice to meet your acquaintance Sarumba." He said politely, Akua looked at her before turning to see two cubs running towards them. He smiled; he had always loved seeing cubs playing together. He looked into the water as the slightly older cub swam around the young black cub paddled around timidly. He chuckled then froze as he heard the black cub ask a question. He perked his ears up to listen to them, "What is swimming?" the black lion asked the white one. Ma-akua frowned, a cub who didn't know what swimming was? Before the white cub could answer Ma-akua cut in. “Young cub swimming is a type of sport we animals like to do, if you like I could teach you how to swim.” He said softly padding into the water beside him, flicking his fringe out the way he smiled again as the white cub splashed past them. “What’s your name little one?” He asked curiously. Zelda swam up to Akua. “Hi, I’m Zelda this is Moona!” She cried playfully.
“Nice to meet you Zelda and Moona.” Akua joked, Zelda giggled before jumping onto Ma-akua’s head. “Augh!” Akua cried as the cub dunked him.
“Sorry!” Zelda said giggling manically. Ma-akua raised his head out the water and shook his fringe, “Whoa!” Zelda cried digging her small claws into Akua.

Akua chuckled before looking back at the cub named Moona, “So, about learning to swim. You up for it?” He asked gently.

[kyto7878]

Moona listened to Akua and said "I would love to learn how to swim." Moona didnt come in at first though he watched Akua and Zelda swim for a while and then Moona put his tail in the water when he felt something rub against it and then bite it. It felt slimy against moona's fur. "Augh!!!!! whats this?!" Moona screamed.

Moona had also never seen a fish before so he freaked out as he began running in circles trying to get the slimy thing off his tail then finally it flew off and landed back into the water. Moona then changed his mind quickly about learning how to swim "Umm nevermind i think ill just stick to climbing trees." Moona had a scared look on his face.

[Sarah]

He smiled Sarumba and nodded at her once, "Please to meet you, Sarumba! Please excuse me for a moment please...", he turned his attention to the Taro, after hearing a question from him.

Hiko looked at Taro and shook his head, "Well, I'm not really looking for any resources in particular; however, finding some water once in a while can be quite nice....." he said jokingly, referring to his collapse due to dehydration and exhaustion.

"Maybe in time, I'll think about forming a new pride with another lioness; however, I'm just trying to get to know my own homeland a bit more and gain knowledge on just experience. Living your whole life safely in a pride, doesn't sound like much to me." he explained more detailed to Taro and looked up at him once he was finished, to see if Taro has fallen asleep from his boring speech.

[magiccat]

Maybelle nodded as Taro spoke her name then listened to Hiko as he spoke. Her eyes drifted to the other newcomer, they both unsettled her slightly. With the added strangeness of the Rhino she feared for the cubs. All it took was one quick movement and the cubs could be taken away. She wouldn't do anything for now, so long as they didn't go near the-

“So, about learning to swim. You up for it?”

cubs!

"It is most pleasing to meet you Hiko. If you'll excuse me, I should go and tell my daughter who all the new people are. She's bound to want to know more about you all" So the lioness trotted over to the lion and sat beside him.

"I'm Maybelle. That cub on your head would appear to be my daughter. It's nice to see she is making new friends." She said in a friendly tone, she didn't want to upset him. She smiled lightly and leaned her head in his direction.

"Do you want to climb aboard Zelda?" She asked. Maybelle would feel safer with her cub on her head.

[Shari]

Busara chuckled at his friend's remark, it was pretty obvious that the young lion, Taro it was, wanted to be more than just friends with the white lioness. Watching as love overcame young adolescents had always been one of his favourite pastimes, especially when the confused males came asking for his advice on the matter. To the puberal mind, females sure are mysterious creatures.

"Yes, something is definitely brewing between the two," he stated, still chuckling, "but if you'll excuse me, mon ami, I'm going to mingle myself with the others. The newest addition to our group intrigues me and I believe the mother lioness wanted some questions answered."

Slowly the rhino lifted his massive bulk off the ground and began walking towards the two lions in question, a gentle smile forming on his lips.

[Deleted]

Zelda shook her head as her mother asked her to ride on her. "I am happy on Ma-akua mum, thank you she." She said. She felt movement underneath her as Akua slipped her onto Maybelle's head. "Sorry to worry you Maybelle, I am Ma-akua, but you can call me Akua."
"But Akua..." Zelda started.
"No buts Zelda, your mum has good reason to want you back she doesn't know me." Ma-akua said, he heard Zelda grumble something but ignored it, smirking at the stubbornness of the cub he turned to leave but froze when he saw a large figure shuffling towards them, when the rhino reached them Ma-akua opened his mouth but no words left. Lowering his head he took a large gulp of water and wet his mouth. "um...hi." Ma-akua said, his voice breaking on the word hi. He watched the rhino waiting for a reply.

Zelda turned to see why Akua had frozen but had her question answered when the rhino came towards them, Zelda yelped then jumped off her mothers head and swam to the water's edge. As she clambered out she caught sight of Moona. Shaking her fur dry she looked out to the deeper water and saw Ma-akua frozen. She squinted trying to make out her mother's expression with very little success. Zelda turned away from the trio and padded to Moona, sitting down she sighed. "Mymum is to protective." She muttered. She looked at Moona, "Random I know but oh well." She said giggling.

Still giggling she rolled onto her back to bask in the warm sun.

[Tamber]

After several minutes, Tad had led Feja over the grounds surrounding the watering hole network and had reached its borders. Just beyond the masses surrounding them was a reasonably-sized herd of gazelle. Tad's mouth immediately watered at the thought of sinking his teeth into one of them. He hadn't eaten all day, and his thin stomach was beginning to rumble uncomfortably.

Before heading forward to attempt a kill, Tad looked back at Feja. He wanted so badly to make this his first success that he was almost afraid of trying, but Feja pointed at the herd with her eyes and gave Tad a confident grin. She knew her pupil could accomplish want he wanted if he kept stabbing at it. Tad often tried to remember what Feja had told him many a time, "The failure to try is far more toxic than failure itself."

Tad looked back ahead of him and braced himself for his next chance. Staying low in the grasses he began approaching the herd. On his way he focused greatly on remaining agile, balanced, and silent. Tad had a one-track mind, and he found it difficult to pick out a victim while preoccupied with these physical techniques, so he paused from time to time. At last he found a suitable victim and a hiding place at a comfortable distance from the gazelle and crouched slow, motionless.

The caramel lion waited until what he felt was the right moment, and with a nervous gulp, shot from his position. After a few strides he got his big feet in a rhythmic motion and darted straight after his choice. The herd had perked up their ears and tails and had begun to scatter and stot away from him. Tad found himself drawing nearer and nearer the small antelope, and surprised himself as he was right in its tracks. He made the instinctive decision and leaped for the gazelle's back, but as one of his lunging back legs pushed against the ground, it slipped at the last moment, sending Tad into an awkward leap. The gazelle looked back and took its best chance at self defense, rearing up mid-run and socking Tad right in the face with a rear hoof. Tad cried out in pain and fell onto the ground pitifully, rolling to a stop and cradling his nose in his large paws.

Feja winced as she watched her friend crumble at the last minute. Her impulsivity got the best of her and she dashed off after the gazelle, as well. She pushed herself and was at top speed within a few seconds, but she found that the creature had gained too much ground, and she had no stamina to continue.

"Nekelto!" she cursed angrily, loud enough for many to hear. Feja turned and jogged back to Tad, who was sobbing in the dirt.

"Come on, Tad, get up, now," she said honestly but with gentleness. "Let's see it. Is it swolen?" She tried to move his paw from his face to get a glimpse at his nose, but Tad didn't budge.

"W-w-what...d-did you c-call...m-m-me?" Tad's stuttering was even worse while he cried.
Feja was taken aback. "W...Well what do you mean what did I call you?"
"Y-y-..." Tad struggled to speak over his irregular breath. "You called me something...some k-kind of n-n-name."
Feja's face contorted confusedly as she tried to figure out what on earth her friend was talking about. "Tad, honey, how hard were you hit in the head?"
"Nek-n...elt-t-to?"
The teal cheetah now understood and nodded her head in comprehension. "Oh...oh, Tad I just cursed. I cursed at myself. It had nothing to do with you."
"W-well...what d-does that word mean?" Tad asked skeptically, not quite believing Feja's excuse.
"Oh it's just nonsense, Tad. It's just a name...a word...I mean...oh, I'm tellin' ya, Tad, I didn't direct it at you. Will you just sit up and show me your face so I can make sure you're ok? Please?"

Tad waited a moment but eventually inched his paw away from his face. He looked up at Feja forlornly, trying to read her face for honesty or lies, and attempting to communicate his distrust. Feja reached out and gently pulled his paw down to the grass and out of the way. Tad's nose was red and a as swolen as could be, and a bit of a cut ran down between his eyes. The poor, gawky lion looked even more awkward than normal.

"Come on, buddy. Let's get you to some water."

[Miradi]

The rogue lion frowned as he saw the gazelles scatter. Something had caused them to scatter and he knew for certain it wasn't him. The wind blew gently causing the long silver piece of mane to move out of its accustomed spot in front of his right eye, revealing a piercing violet iris. His dark tan fur blending with the dust as he began his hunt for the reason that scared his prey. Paws brushing lightly against the ground he stalked forwards, 2 figures coming into his sight. Closer inspection revealed the shadows to be a lion and...a cheetah? Eyes narrowing he crept out of the long grasses that hid him and stood boldly before the two. "You scared my prey away felines." He growled.

He held no qualms for challenging these two, he knew this land had not been claimed and had been relishing its freedom for several days. He wanted this land, as his own. The silver maned lion was not one to share because that lead to monarchy and leadership, neither of which he had interest in. Sure if he ever came across the right female, or male.... maybe he would settle down. But until he was certain these beings were simply passing through, best to keep up his guard.

[kyto7878]

Moona looked at Zelda as Moona layed on his belly. "Zelda do I look like a lion?" Moona asked her quietly. Moona didnt have any expression on his face as he looked at Zelda. Moona's tail flicked back and forth waiting for the answer. How moona longed for a mane to start growing on his small black head. Moona began wisting his paws through the blades of grass in front of him.

He listened carefully to Zelda to here even the slightest remark or chuckle.

[magiccat]

Maybelle resisted the urge to lecture her cub in front of the male but fortunately, he himself got her onto Maybelle's head. She waited till the cub had joined Moona before speaking.

"It's nice to meet you Akua. I wouldn't worry so much, seeing as I would hunt you down if you took my cub away, I'm just jumpy because we had a...Shall we call it an encounter, with a snake" Maybell said, her ears flattening as she thought of the snake.

When the Rhino came over she almost chuckled at Akua. She too was slightly afraid of this creature, but her years as Queen had taught her many things. One of them, was never show fear. The animal could become agitated or angered. Or it may go away with bad things to say about you and how you judge books by their covers.

Instead she put on her most friendly smile and turned to the large animal. "Hello dear sir. Please don't think me demanding, but earlier I asked your name. With the confusion of the new lion, I don't believe you've had the time to answer. So, what is your name?" She said clearly, taking a large gulp of water when she finished. She waited patiently for the Rhino' reply.

[Tamber]

Feja helped Tad up and began leading him back to the crowded water network. "Let's get back to our pretty little utopia over there, Taddy. The water looks fresh and cool. It'll help your nose."

"You scared my prey away felines."

A peeved voice stopped the cheetah and the awkward lion in their transition. Feja turned nothing but her head to see the stranger behind them and looked at him distrustfully, while Tad simply slumped and refused to acknowledge it, focussing on the pain in his nose. A lion stood tall and stared them down, his silver mane hanging before his eyes. Feja stared at him for a few moments, not moving or replying, waiting for him to follow up on his comment, but he did the same for her.

Finally she chose to speak. "I'm sorry are you looking for an apology?" she said calmly with a look of contempt. "'Cause we're kinda busy. You saw which way the herd went. Feel free to follow 'em I don't care whatchu do."

With that Feja turned around coolly and started again toward the network, Tad close at her side as she supported him. She wasn't about to be bossed around by a lion, a lion who didn't own this land any more than she did.

[Miradi]

Miradi snarled. How rude, i never really liked cheetahs He picked up a quick trot and moved himself in their path. " Hey im not done with you yet. I have some questions to ask." His long tail swishing in annoyance, ears flat against his skull, teeth bared. Long dark claws clicked against the earth as he flexed them. "Whats a lion and a Cheetah doing together? Who are you? Are there more of you? How many? How long do you plan to stay? Are you planning on claiming this territory."

[Tamber]

"Hey, im not done with you yet."

Oh boy... Feja thought as she rolled her eyes and prepared for a temper tantrum from the stranger. Little did she expect him to rudely step in front of her and force her and Tad to stop moving. Typical lion.

"Whats a lion and a Cheetah doing together? Who are you? Are there more of you? How many? How long do you plan to stay? Are you planning on claiming this territory."

"MY GOD, calm down." she yelled in his face with annoyance and impatience. "If you can tell, most of that isn't really any-a your business, is it?" she snapped at him once more.

Feja hated most lions, particularly males. They had bullied her kind for years, so high and mighty with themselves simply because they're big and have manes. What work do they really do? The females do all of their work for them while they sit on their asses and fart. What kind of noble animal is that? Feja was not weak enough to ever let one of these buffoons push her around.

"Now will ya get outa the way? My friend's hurt, here, I'm trying to get him to some water," she barked in the same peeved tone.

[Miradi]

Miradi curled back his lips, baring his pearly canines, and roared. "It is my business!" He snarled, his fur bristling. "And i would be calm if you answered maybe even one of my questions." Though despite the growls emitting from his throat he stepped gracefully out of the cheetah and lions path so that they could leave.

He frowned upon the maneless lion, in the beginning he'd taken the cat to be female, though upon closer inspection had discover his previous assumption wrong. If his thoughts were right the spotted female had been training him to hunt. Miradi scoffed at the idea, he needed to be taught by one of his own kind, someone who had the same strength and speed abilities.

[Sarah]

Hiko was well rested already and he was interested in the group that seems to be fighting a few distances away, he couldn't hear what the three lions were arguing about. He got up and took a few steps towards the directions of the three lions, but he hesitated. It's none of my business.....but.......maybe I can.......what if the silver maned lion starts attacking.... Hiko thought to himself while looking down at the ground; he finally just give in to the temptation and went to see what was up.

From a far, he can already hear the arguing; "......most of that isn't really any-a your business....." the female cheetah had said with much bitterness. He caught only half of what the argument was about; from what he heard the silver maned lion was in the wrong here. Hiko didn't know what to do; both groups might get angry with him, the cheetah will probably think that she has everything under control and the silver maned lion will probably be annoyed by another lion gaining up on him.

"Maybe you should leave them alone." he said sounding as confident as he can and as serious as he can, but it didn't work that well; if the lion attacks, he won't be able defend himself. He stood there waiting for whatever reaction he was going to get from the silver maned lion. This is suicidal...... Hiko thought to himself; however, not entirely regretting his decision.

[Deleted]

Ma-akua looked up in time to see the newest lion, Hiko, heading towards something in the distance, squinting he saw a cheetah and two lions; sensing trouble he went and flanked Hiko, "What is going on..." He began before hearing the distant animals arguing, Akua thought best to step in, he was quite powerful and could also stop arguments by keeping calm, he approached them slowly, "Excuse me, but if there is a problem that cannot and will not be decided by a fight could you quit your shouting, there are cubs around." He said flicking his tail toward Zelda and Moona.

Zelda glared at the floor desperate to backanswer her mother if she came close to her. "Zelda do I look like a lion?" Zelda looked at Moona.
"Not...really Moona." She said gently. "But it isn't a bad thing we need different breeds, I have heard there is a breed called a liger, or tigon, that is a mix between a tiger and a lion, whatever a tiger is. My dad taught me that, before he well you know." She sighed but looked up, "Also look at me, I'm a white lion. How many white lions do you say around here?" She said, Zelda looked deeply into Moona's eyes, "There is nothing wron with you." She said finally.

Standing up she looked down at Moona and very gently licked his cheek. As she smiled at Moona, she looked up in time to see Akua run past. "What is going on!" She cried watching him dart off.

[Miradi]

"Ah there look at that the answer to one of my questions. There are more of you." He sat curling his tail over his creamy paws. "Perhaps i wouldn't be so wound up if people answered my questions and stopped wandering around on the land i wish to claim." Miradi whispered quietly, but coated the words with a hint of venom. "and how am I supposed to know theirs cubs around here?" Ears twitched in annoyance.

[Tamber]

"It is my business! And i would be calm if you answered maybe even one of my questions."

Feja knew lions were stupid and rude, but this one seemed to make a hightened exception. This toddler-tempered idiot seriously thought it was his business talking to them about god knows what? "Do you expect me to just stand here and shoot the breeze with you while you just demand that I answer your precious questions? Get out if my way and harass someone else." Feja's voice had lost it's cool, sarcastic tone and was beginning to show her impatience.

Tad gazed up at the stranger nervously, but as the larger lion glanced down at him, Tad could feel disdain in his glare, and he found it impossible to keep eye contact with him. The caramel lion felt awkward and uncomfortable. His nose hurt and he simply wanted out of this situation before someone would notice or might blame it all on him.

"Maybe you should leave them alone."

The strange duo then turned to see a new face on the scene. Feja was not surprised to see that it was yet another lion, but he seemed more friendly and well-meaning, albeit nervous. She gave him a courtesy glance and a nor before catching sight of the type of creature she had been expecting.

"Excuse me, but if there is a problem that cannot and will not be decided by a fight could you quit your shouting, there are cubs around."

This was all such a typical situation in Feja's mind. One lion tries to control the scene and they all come rushing in, their testosterone pumping enough to make them haughty but not enough to make them very useful.

"I'm not gonna ignore my own business and assist you in hiding your children from the real world. Thanks," she retorted at the cub-o-phile.

"Ah there look at that the answer to one of my questions. There are more of you," the original stranger continued in his rant. "Perhaps i wouldn't be so wound up if people answered my questions and stopped wandering around on the land i wish to claim."

Feja had had enough, and she knew Tad was not enjoying this anymore than she was. "As you seem to recognize," Feja directed at the silver-maned lion, "you do not own this land, so you have no business bitching at me, or them, for that matter. And you're wrong, I'm not with them. I'd love sit around and chat while you fight over me, boys, but my friend is hurt now and he needs water now. Bicker at each other all you like."

With that Feja stepped around the angry toddler and waited for Tad to follow close behind her. He walked more quickly, now, eager to get out of the spotlight. The lion hung his head low and hid his face, and seeing his discomfort, Feja only hoped more that they could make it back to the network without self-fulfilling lions pursuing them. Before heading off for good, the cheetah turned and nodded with a small grin at the scraggly brown lion who has tried to keep to peace. She then turned once more and the strange duo were on their way.

[Sarah]

"This isn't your land yet, so you may come and claim it or do whatever you wish; however, she is right......" he said a little more confidently as the silver maned lion didn't reacted to his previous comment.

Before he can say anything else, the cheetah and her friend were ready to leave. He let them passed and nodded back at the cheetah.

He then looked at the silver maned lion wondering what he's going to do next or who he's going to have a fight with next. He didn't want to fight for the least bit; after a few seconds of silence, he stood up and was ready to move on to wherever he was going to go next.

I'm well rested and no one seems to be in trouble anymore, I call this a good day and now it's time to go to a new place! He thought cheerfully, he had a wide grin on his face.

[Lorien]

Sarumba just simply watched as everything unfolded. Her ears perked up at the sound of roars in the not-so-far distance. She squinted her eyes to see a group of felines fighting. The argument looked pretty heated, making her want no part, but this fact did not stop Hiko and Ma-akua from making their way over to the quarreling group. Knowing it was none of her business, the white and brown lioness padded slowly away from the water hole and over toward Taro. She smiled at him as she approached, sitting down next to him.

"Lot's of lions around now. We almost seem like a small pride there are so many." She chuckled a moment before glancing over at the distant group. Her curiosity always defeated her ability to be coy and keep to her own business. "I wonder what all of the fuss is about..."

Bagymo too turned his head at the sound of the roars. At first, he was about to intrude and see what the fuss was about, but when he saw the duo walking toward them, he knew that any more presences might make the situation very tense. So, he watched the cubs play for a minute. They reminded him of Sarumba when he had raised her, and this brought a smile to his face.

Soon, however, he heard footsteps coming toward the waterhole. It was a cheetah and young male, maneless. He nodded at the two as they approached the water supply. "I hope everything is well back there? I saw the lion was giving you two troubles."

[KanuTGL]

After several fruitless attempts at surprising a wildebeest herd, Gacoki felt like giving up. He was tired, too hot and too hungry to carry on. He slumped down on his behind and hung his head low, panting. His brother still seemed to have some energy left in him and was still pacing around, looking, listening and smelling, for anything that could mean food. Dajan's posture wasn't quite as tall and proud as it usually was either though. "Come on, Daj. Let's give it a rest..." Gacoki mumbled.

"I'm still hungry." was the younger brother's simple reply.

Gacoki groaned. "Fine." He got up again and started to look around again. Many herds of various animals were scattered over the lush plains, but there were few that the two brothers would manage to capture by surprise... In the far distance one could see the large, glittering waterhole, where no doubt the group of lions they had met before were still residing. From the two brothers' position it was impossible to discern any single figure, but the tiny dark patch by one of the shores might just be them... "We're come a long way..." Gacoki said and Dajan nodded, also looking looking over his shoulder back towards the waterhole.

"Should we go back and see if the others are still there? They might be able to help us..." Dajan thought aloud.

Gacoki shrugged. "Might as well... We don't seem to have much luck on our own."

They turned right round and started trotting back. Going downhill went much easier than uphill and they approached the waterhole quicker than they had first thought. Gacoki felt a little happier thinking about the fresh, cool drink he'd get once they returned and he went a little faster. Then a sudden rumble grabbed the brothers' attention and they stopped and turned around in unison. "You hear that?" asked Dajan, suddenly with a (pretty rare) worried expression on his face.

"Of course I do. And they're coming this way."

They looked at each other, then looked forward, then darted off in one direction each, trying by all means to avoid the approaching stampede. A herd of panicking gazelle dashed through the tall grasses, crushing anyone who would happen to stand in their way and the two lions only narrowly escaped. Then, as he ran, Dajan got an idea. He made a skidding 180 degrees turn to go towards the herd and started scanning the beasts for any weak individuals who were limping, ill or young. He quickly found one that was lagging behind. The young lion charged forward and with all his remaining strength he leapt from the ground, slamming into the other animal head on and both fell to the ground, merely because of the gazelle's shock. Seconds was all it took before Dajan had finished her off. Then when the dust had settled he stepped off his kill, shaking and panting from the effort but grinning widely. Gacoki soon joined him. "Dajan!"

"Hey, bro. Look what I got." The purple-maned lion was beaming with pride.

"You idiot! You could've gotten yourself killed! Again! Imagine what father would say if I came back without you!"

Dajan only chuckled at his brother's scoldings. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but now I'm not killed and we've got food, so everything's good, no?"'

Gacoki rolled his eyes and sighed, but he was happy that Dajan's insane 'hunt' had been successful. " You're gonna be the death of me. But I guess you're right..." he said. "Now let's eat, I'm absolutely starving."

[Deleted]

Ma-akua walked towards the silver maned male as the odd duo headed to the water, he sniffed the air, "This area doesn't smell like yours. I could quite easily claim it." He said, wit that he turned and headed to the watering hole again. "I wonder what all the fuss is about..." He heard Sarumba mutter. He turned to face the white and brown lioness, "It was some immature lion trying to claim a land that is not his." He rolled his eyes, sitting on the floor. He glanced up then looked around at the cubs, he smiled when he saw Zelda lick Moona. "Cute." He said, he looked around at Taro who seemed to be watching Sarumba. "Looks like you have yourself an admirer." Ma-akua said to Sarumba in a low voice, "I don't blame him either you are rather beautiful." He said, with saying that he stood up. He looked over at the silver-maned lion and a surge of guilt washed over him. He looked around everyone seemed rather busy so he thought no-one would notice if he walked over to the lone lion. Looking around once again he padded to the lion. "Hi, I'm Akua. I am sorry about snapping, I wouldn't really claim this land I am a wanderer maybe when I find a mate I will settle down and start a pride but until that time I am not going to stand in your way."

He nodded politely before looking around once again.

[Sarah]

Hiko was a few distance away already, he suddenly stopped as he felt rumbling on the ground; he looked around to see where it was coming from. He saw that the it came from a stampede and a lion almost got himself killed trying to get food, he in awe by how the lion used the stampede to his advantage to get some food. That's quite a catch! I really wished I could that, but no doubt I'll get trampled alive.....

He decided to stick with the group until they decide they were going to start moving again, he slowly walked back to the group of lions and looked around at everyone who was there.