Faith in the Fauna

[kyto7878]

Moona blushed after Zelda licked the top of his head but you couldnt really notice his blushing since his black. Moona had only been licked on the top of his head before when he was getting abath or his mom just wanted to comfort him. Moona smiles and his black little tail flicked back and forth over and over again. Then Moona looked over to Akua and he was still talking to Maybelle. Moona thought its getting dark i better tell Maybelle thank you "Thank you Maybelle for letting me say with you today." moona began to pad away because he thought Maybelle was only watching him for that day and then he would have to go look for his family again.

[Miradi]

"Of course it doesn't smell like mine. As I said I WANT to claim it, I've been inspecting it the past few days. Of course nobody listens to old Miradi huh?" He sighed in exasperation "Whatever, none of you seem to be willing to tell me how long you plan on staying so I guess I'll move on, find a new home where an exiled prince can sleep hmmm?" The dusty tan lion turned and began to slink away. "Sorry for my rudeness."

[Deleted]

(OOC: Have a bit of writers block so thats why it's so short lol)

"NO, listen, come with us we aren't a pride we are nothing but wanderers, If you come with me I'm sure everything will get sorted out." Akua said looking at Miradi. Before waiting for an answer he turned and padded back to the watering hole showing that Miradi could follow. As Akua got closer he flicked his black fringe out of his eyes. He had a clear view of all that was going on now, he looked around for Zelda and Moona to see what they were up to since Maybelle was busy, there they were side by side, talking. He smiled then walked to the water.

Zelda giggled at Moona's shocked look before lying down next to him. "I don't care if you are a hybrid or don't look like a lion, looks don't matter in friendship and our friendship is strong." She said softly, she began to close her eyes when she heard someone's footsteps, looking up she saw Ma-akua returning from his talk with the stranger. She giggled as he blew his fringe out the way, yawning she began to fall asleep

[kyto7878]

OOC: Can you guys leave my character asleep till i come back from camp?)

Moona saw zelda giggle even more and said more deep words. Where was she coming up with this stuff moona thought are cubs supposed to know this? Moona closed his eyes and let his dreams take way soon enought his was asleep all curled up next to Zelda with Akua standing over them.

OOC:sorry its so short

[Zorayda]

Taro watched as the others conversed, absorbing the words and the sun and staying quiet as he usually did. After a few moments of chatter, however, he became distracted and gazed in the direction of Sarumba, now and again glancing nervously towards the great rhino near him.

Then Taro saw Ma-Akua walk up to Sarumba, the pretty white lioness, and get close to her ear and whisper something. A surge of something entered his heart suddenly--it felt hot, intense, and a moment later, Taro was shocked to discover that he had gotten to his feet and was growling softly.

He stopped himself immediately as Ma-Akua walked away. What was that? He asked himself. His brow furrowed and he shook his mane. wandering over to the beautiful Sarumba.

"Jeez, a whole lot of lions now, huh?" he asked her quietly. "It almost kinda makes me...nervous," he said. As all lions knew, the more strange lions that got together, the more likely a fight could break out. So far, it hadn't happened, but...so many personalities were bound to clash at some point.

Sure enough, a clash of personalities had happened, and Taro stood by and watched the argument to make sure that it didn't escalate to something big. However, the argument didn't last long and wasn't too intense.

Taro was starting to feel like this place was quickly becoming familiar, becoming a place that was safe, comfortable--someplace like...

"Home..." Taro murmured, his eyes shining.

[Deleted]

Ma-akua turned away from Zelda and Moona and decided to patrol the land everyone was gathered on for maybe some unwelcome guests. Akua turned in time to see Taro pad to Sarmba, smirking he looked away. "My thoughts proved right." He muttered in a rather cocky fashion. He continued patrolling and froze at any unusual sound, not a snake or wildebeest groop in sight. After padding around Ma-akua lay under a tree just a little distance away from the rest. Resting his head on his paws he looked around watching everyone talk and play, here he was again, the rogue of the friends. He let out a sigh before turning away and look out into the distance.

Zelda sat and watched Moona sleep for a bit before turning and padding into the water. Agilely she swam to her mother and jumped on her head. Zelda sat there silently watching the rhino nervously. "Mum, I'm bored and hungry." Zelda said looking down at her. Her white fur now stained with mud. Zelda yawned and lay down on her mothers head and began to doze in what she thought was the setting sun.

[magiccat]

Maybelle smiled brightly as Zelda spoke to her. "I'm sorry sir, excuse me. Young cubs need sleep" She said with a smile as she turned and padded off softly with Zelda. She made sure to walk slowly so her cub could rest. She'd get Zelda food after she had napped. It was then she saw Akua, perhaps he was resting to?

She smiled slightly and walked closer to him. Eventually she came close enough and motioned toward Zelda before lying down next to him. Truth be told she was sleepy too. Today had been a big day. She wasn't sure if it was the setting sun or just a strange mid morning. In fact, she had no idea what time of day it was. She lay down with her head on her paws and spoke to Akua.

"Zelda fell asleep on me. So I thought I'd come see you" She said with a smile. The royal lioness rarely had time to rest. She nearly always had to he up to watch over Zelda. Who knew when something would attack? Or when would some of the lions from her old pride find her? Were they still looking? If it wasn't that she had to hunt for her cub. The thought of cubs made her sigh slightly and look over at Moona. She had started this day with one cub and now she had two. Not to mention a large group of new friends.

She resisted the urge to shake her head and instead spoke to Akua. "If she looks really upset please tell me. I think she might be having dreams or nightmares about her father, the night he...well...she says it's the night he joined Solet." She said, looking down at her paws. It was as if the sadness was a weight, forcing her head down.

[Miradi]

They arn't a pride?....well I suppose I can tolerate them. Miradi felt the tension in his limbs slide away, retracting his claws he set off after the other lion. His paws padding lightly over the ground, water hole coming into view where he could see the rest of the lions. He spotted the cheetah and her maneless companion. Sighing he walked over to them.

He hung his head, silvery mane falling over his violet eyes. "Excuse me, but I must apologize for my behavior earlier. I acted very rudely....my name, is Miradi"

[Deleted]

Zelda felt her mother move but slept sound, as her mum stopped she began to toss and turn.
Zelda was walking along a beautiful meadow her mother and father side by side. She was the happiest cub in the world, she saw a black cub dart towards her and she grinned to see Moona, before she knew it a loud sound had startled her and all that was left was her, her mother and Moona, the sky darted bby and she was soon a slender and extremely beautiful adolescent. Beofre anything more Zelda awoke in shock. "Dad!" SHe cried out, she looked around bewildered a single pair of green eyes gazed at her, Akua. Zelda jumped from her mothers back and cowered in her paws, too terrified to move.


Ma-akua looked to his right, "Maybelle, hi." He said, "Zelda fell asleep on me. So I thought I'd come see you" Akua looked up at Zelda, "Cute." He murmured. Before he could say anymore Zelda was tossing and turning, "May." Akua hissed looking up at Zelda. Before he could calm Zelda she was cowering in her mothers paws. "I'd best...uh leave you two alone." Akua stretched and stood up before padding to the water. He glanced back at Maybelle and Zelda before sitting down and looking at his reflection, his black fringe looked savage so he dipped his head in the water, raised it and shook his fringe back into place.

[kyto7878]

Moona woke up as soon as he heard zelda scream. Moona jumped up in a fright and landed back on his feet. He began to rub his eyes and then ran towards Zelda "Whats wrong zelda." Moona looked at zelda with his little cub face. Moona was so confused but yet he understood everything. Moona had then realized what had happened she had seen her dad but where could he be? moona climbed to the tallest tree he could find and began yelling out repeatedly "Zelda's dad!Zelda's dad! Where are you zelda's dad!?"

[Sarah]

Hiko fell asleep from the lack of activity and was very relaxed, until a scream from a little cub had woken him up with alertness. Hiko quickly looked around while saying, "What?!! WHAT!! What happened?!" he asked with panic.

Hiko didn't know exactly what to do, apparently, nothing was really the matter. One of the little ones was probably having a bad dream or startled by something...... He thought and sighed, he stretched himself out and yawned.

Low activity rate, what shall I do? If I go now, I'm bound to pass out later on and cause some other group of lions the same trouble........on the other hand, nothing seems to be going on here.....or I could have just simply slept through it all..... he thought to himself, wondering what to do.

[magiccat]

As Akua called her May she looked up. The last person to call her that had been.

"Dad!"

Well that had been great timing. Maybelle drew her head back in surprise as Zelda cowered in her paws. She leaned down and made shushing sounds, trying to soothe her daughter. She carefully licked her little cub-head and moved a paw to curl around her. As Akua moved off she frowned, however worry replaced that as Moona began calling for Zelda's dad. She hissed and covered Zelda's ears.

"Unless you want Zelda to cry some more come down here!" She yelled, still covering her daughters ears. She hadn't yelled to be mean, but for Moona to hear her. She slowly removed her paws from Zelda's ears and began speaking to her.

"Zelda, did you have another bad dream about your dad? You can tell me about it" She said encouragingly, trying to get a response out of her. She knew that the more Zelda told her the more she would surely be able to help.

[kyto7878]

Moona heard zelda yell and a few tears fell from his face. "I was just trying to help." Moona sat in his tree with his head hanging low in shame. Moona didnt know why Maybelle yelled at him he thought he was doing the right thing. Moona began carving a picture of his family into the tree branch with his claws. He labled each of his family members names. Moona then remembered his father huge mane and moona didnt even have a little bit of a mane yet. Everyone mistakes him as a girl until he corrects them. then Moona began carving a small mane into his picture.

[Deleted]

Zelda heard to voices speak her name. She sighed happily as she saw Moona awake and then she watched as he ran up the branch and called her father, she looked up at him a half smile on her face. "Zelda you can tell me about it." Her mother said softly, as she managed to stop shaking she looked up at her mum.

"There was you me and dad in a very pretty meadow." She began, "Then Moona came into it and started playing with me, I was so happy, we then heard loud bangs around us, dad told us three to run which we did but once the bangs had stopped we ran to see him, there he was a mess. The sky ran past and when I blinked I was standing by a river, my reflection was different I was a teenage lioness and you dad and Moona came back then the water was disturbed and daddy faded away."

Zelda sighed and wriggled free from her mother, trembling slightly she clambered up the tree to Moona's side, first she saw he was crying, "Why are you crying Moona?" She asked then her eyes fell on the picture of his family, "Is that you mum, dad and you?" She asked softly." She nudged him gently, "Do you think you'll ever find them?" She asked curiously.

Ma-akua looked around and saw thats Hiko had woken up, he shot him an apologetic look before turning and listening carefully as Zelda told her story, when she finished she ran to meet Moona. Ma-akua glanced at Maybelle, "Are you ok?" He asked gently. He couldn't read her expression very well but he knew is expression was a mixture of shock and sadness. He looked up at Moona and heard Zelda speak to him, "Why are you crying?" She had asked. Ma-akua wanted to say something but thought it best to leave it for now.

Still thinking he looked around the watering hole again his green eyes bright and alert.

[Tamber]

Feja and her pupil moved quickly away from the obnoxious group of males. They'd soon be back at the water network and could both regroup. Feja needed a nice cool drink and a quick dip to calm her temper, and Tad could hardly wait to soak his swollen nose in the cool liquid. But for now, as they hurried to the crowded network, their bickering confronters behind them, Tad had a pressing question that he felt he could not wait to ask.

"F-f...Feja?" he began timidly, trying not to trip over his big, shuffling feet as he tripped over his words. "Th-that word you y-yelled out e-earlier..."

Feja was already impatient to escape view and earshot of the lions, frustration simmering inside her as stressors multiplied. She heaved an angered sigh and interrupted her friend before the question could escape his lips. "I told you Tad, it's only a word. I wasn't calling you any mean name. Could you just let it go, please?"

"I-i-I kn-know that!" Tad snapped at her. "I know you d-d-didn't mean to be m-mean. I...I jutht...what did that word?"

Feja hesitated to answer, seeing that the answering process had the potential to be complicated. "The word...you mean...Nekelto?"

Tad nodded, his curious gaze never leaving his teacher's eyes. "N-n...Nekelto..."

Before the conversation could continue, Feja found a large, tan, spotted lion directly in her path. He stood by a slightly smaller watering hole than the destination they had in mind, and he spoke to the two of them before Feja could turn and lead Tad in another direction.

"I hope everything is well back there? I saw the lion was giving you two troubles."

Feja regretted letting herself become distracted enough to end up in conversation with another lion, but this one seemed much more serene and collected, unlike the young males she had just barely tolerated. Plus, she could use any outlet to vent her frustration at this point in time.

"The lion was our trouble, yes," she said with a quick glance back in the silver-maned lion's direction. "Thought it was my responsibility to satisfy the twenty-million questions he spat at me. Hopefully he'll find differently as he travels around and tries that method on more creatures, like me, who won't tolerate it."

Tad looked the large lion up and down. Normally such large, imposing creatures intimidated him greatly and sent him into nervous tremors, but this male seemed different. He was calm and welcoming, his voice deep and soothing, and Tad even took the giant leap to look into the lion's eyes, and found that they sent as peaceful a gaze as Tad had ever seen. The caramel lion's head was still held low and timidly, but for once, his gaze into the male's eyes did not falter.

"Sorry if we're imposing. We're just passing through, trying to get to that water network nearby. Tad hurt his nose while hunting..."

As if on cue, the duo rotated their keen ears to hear the newly-emerged subject of the conversation: a stampeding herd. They turned to see stotting gazelles, a herd about the same size as the one Tad had interrupted before obtaining his injury. They dashed by in the near distance. Tad could feel his mouth beginning to water at the sight of them. He could smell them from where he was, and still not having eaten anything all day, he resisted the urge to leap after them right then and there.

But the caramel lion's temptations were forgotten as he saw a cat shoot into the stampeding crowd...only...in the wrong direction. The cat, what seemed to be a lion from here, found a victim and took it down head first, killing it almost instantly. Tad was amazed, but soon he could feel anger searing through him. "If that was my herd.....errrg....he better not have taken my prey. NOT twice in one day!"

[Shari]

Fatigue. It had finally caught up with the old geezer. He didn't know how or when, but one moment he was about to answer a lioness's question, and the next he dropped to the floor snoring like a buzz saw. He really was getting old, and oh how he hated it. But that's something for later, as the sleep was truly liberating for his sore bulk. Perhaps he should do this more often...

No! He refused to give in to old age! Sleeping is what he would do for now, but as soon as he woke up it's back to the old way of doing things, six hours tops! And with this the last few sentient thoughts left his mind, and the rhino finally entered a higher state of thinking known as a 'dream'.

Busara was fond of dreams, as they were full of mysteries and often unpredictable. It happened more than once that he could foresee the future by paying close attention to his dreams, even though events mostly unfolded in a different way than said dream portrayed it, but the end result was the same nonetheless. Enough of that however, as this dream was quite different.

He was young again, as unbelievable as it was. The mighty savannah stretched out before him, scorched by the sun. No predators were in sight, they all most likely retreated to their dens, refusing to stay in the torturing rays of the sun. The birds had most likely followed their example, as they hid in the shadows of the scarce trees. The herds had gathered around the few watering holes that were left where they could do nothing else but bask and hope for better times.

The two rhinoes could do nothing else but tread on, there was no place for them anywhere. Yes, two. Busara was together again with the love of his life, the late Penda. He hated these dreams, they always sadistically tortured him by making the poor herbivore relive the last moments with his love before they were so brutally separated from each other.

He already knew how it happened. In a few minutes a pack of lions driven crazy by hunger would ambush the two. He would valiantly protect her, gorging his broken horn through the bellies of several of the crazed monsters. But as he went on with his berserking rage, three lions who were hidden all that time jumped up from the high grass and drove Penda away from her mate. Busara couldn't hear her pleas for help in his fury, until it was too late.

When he turned around to find the source of the screaming, Penda had already died from bloodloss, the cackling lions looming over her as they prepared to satisfy their hunger. For a few moments, Busara could do nothing else but blankly stare ahead of him. Either unable or unwilling to process what had just unfolded. But this confusion was soon replaced by sheer rage and bloodlust. The lions didn't realize what was going on until one of them was thrown multiple meters up in the air, landing in a broken heap. They didn't start to run until a second one was toppled over.

The runners were lucky, the one that couldn't, well, let's just say there wasn't much left of him by the time Busara was finished. The rhino stumbled back to Penda's limp body, tears now streaming down his bloodied face. As he collapsed from exhaustion and lay his head on top of hers, he let out piercing cry full of anger, pain, and sorrow.

"PENDA!"

But he didn't realize he was already awake.

[Lorien]

Sarumba simply nodded at Taro's comment about the number of lions about. Her head continued to turn to the fight, but she soon turned her attention back to the black maned male beside her once the arguing had subsided. She heard him murmur something but couldn't quite make out what he had said. She gave it no mind, a smile coming to her face.

"I wonder what's going to happen now that there are so many..." She liked the idea of living with so many others. For so long it had mainly just been Bagymo and herself, and while she loved the elder lion, she yearned for the company of others more close to her age.

The white lioness lied down, a toothy yawn escaping her. She rolled over playfully, putting her forepaws in the air, gazing up at the sky. "It's such a beautiful day, wouldn't you say, Taro?" Her sapphire eyes went to the young male, a smile on her face. "What would you have done today had you not met up with us?"

However, Sarumba quickly got to her feet when she heard the rhino's emotional cry. Her eyes darted quickly to the elder beast, her mind racing on what or who a Penda was. Her happy expression soon turned to a sad one when she realized that it must have been a painful memory, the rhino looking still asleep and the hurt look on his face.
______________________________
Bagymo looked at the duo as the teal-colored cheetah spoke. His eyes stopped on the young male lion, and Bagymo smiled down kindly at him. He seemed a timid fellow, just by looking at him. He could see that his nose was wounded and looked again to the female.

"Of course you are not imposing. We are only wanderers gathered around the watering system." He smiled as he looked at all those who had gathered around the area. "It's a pleasure to welcome two more."

Suddenly the large lion's attention went from a stampeding herd to his rhino friend Busara. The "Penda!" that was shouted from the elder rhino pierced Bagymo's heart. He turned to the cheetah and lion, nodding his head to excuse him, and quickly padded over to his friend. He placed a large, gentle paw upon the rhino's shoulder, closing his eyes momentarily.

"It was only a dream, my friend," he spoke softly, "Only a dream."

[Zorayda]

Taro smiled at the lioness beside him, his emerald eyes glittering when she yawned and rolled over playfully.

"Hmm...well, I was pretty much just alone...trying to survive by myself." He looked at her. "To be honest...I was hoping to meet someone. I was getting a little lonely...I'm glad I happened across such wonderful company," he said cheerfully, then blushed as he realized what he'd just said. "W-well, I mean, uh..."

He was spared embarassment when The great rhino shouted something in his sleep, catching Sarumba's attention. Taro felt a small bit of sympathy for the rhino, and relief that Sarumba was occupied.

[Sarah]

Hiko was energized and ready to get something to eat, although he was sure it wasn't a good time for a meal. He was too hungry to care about the time, he went off looking for food making sure not to disturb anyone. His stomach roared in protest, he froze and looked around embarrassed; why hadn't I ate earlier?!! he thought to himself and felt very embarrassed. He walked silently away, one gentle step at a time; he made sure not to make anymore noise, not that it would make any difference. My angry stomach had probably already waken everyone.... he thought slightly annoyed.

[Deleted]

Ma-akua looked around as he heard a unaudible voice. He then looked at everyone to try and spot which one shouted, it was the rhino, Ma-akua the gazed at Sarumba to see if she was ok when he saw TAro nearby he growled under his breath. If he didn't strike up a conversation any chance of finding love was gone.

Zelda heard the cries of "Penda" as she sat by Moona's side. Agilely she jumped down and landed gracefully my Ma-akua. "Who was that Akua?" She asked. She saw Ma-akua shrug and continue looking at something or someone. Zelda follwed his gaze to Sarumba, smiling eviliy she trotted over to her. "Zelda!" Ma-akua cried as he saw where she was heading. Getting to his paws he darted after her. She jumped onto Sarumba's back and whispered in her ear and said a riddle type sentance. "My friend fancies you. After saying that she felt someone pick her up. She turned her head to the see the annoyed look of Ma-akua. Ma-akua carried her back to her mother and placed her down.

Ma-akua lowered his head to Zelda, "Please tell me what you told her." He begged.
"All I said was, "My friend fancies you." Although with your reaction she probably guessed." She said smugly.

Zelda giggled and ran to Moona leaving a furious Ma-akua with her mother.

[Zorayda]

Taro's ears perked up when the little girl cub, Zelda, jumped up onto Sarumba and whispered something in her ear, then was carted off by Ma-akua, the lion who had gotten a little too close to Sarumba earlier.

Taro's ears flattened to his head in annoyance, but that was the only outward sign of distress he made towards the other lion.

When the lion left, Taro looked to the white lioness and tried to judge her reaction. "What did Zelda say?" he asked curiously, noting the look of annoyance on Ma-akua's face.

[magiccat]

When Zelda had run off, Maybelle had placed her head on her paws and sighed. Another vision. She wondered why her mate was giving Zelda all the visions. No, that was wrong, Maybelle was not jealous. She was kind and caring to her cub and all cubs.

She was rather flustered when Akua placed Zelda down. As Zelda darted off Maybelle just had to laugh. She blushed slightly as she saw how angry Akya was. The ways of a Queen were kind and equal love. Not taunting.

"I apologise for my cub. She hasn't seen such a large group of lions in a long time. I don't think she knows the meaning on the word 'manners'." She stood up and gave Akua and friendly nod before running after her cub.

When she was beside Zelda she gave her cub a stern stare. "Zelda, it was rude to annoy Akua like that. Do I have to re-teach you everything your granfather taught you?" Her smile had faded now and she was close to glaring. The mention of either of her parents often made Maybelle sad or angry.

[kyto7878]

Moona just watched the whole thing puzzled on what was going on. Moona began to slide off the branch without noticing and then PLOP!!! He fell off the branch onto the ground. Moona yelped "Im ok!!! Just hurt my Paw!"Moona began to get up and every step he took he showed pain in his face. He was still denying that he was in pain though. Moona's ears went forward as he got closer and closer to the group. He began to grin and acted like everything was ok....

[Deleted]

"But muuum, I was only telling Sarumba something." She said angelically. "You don't have to reteach everyting grandad said to me." Zelda jumped on her mothers back and snuggled up to her. She turned to see Moon fall off the branch. "Are you ok Moona?" She called from her mother's back. Zelda frowned as she saw Ma-akua run to his side and pick him up. Zelda then jumped off Maybelle's back and ran towards her friends.

Ma-akua scowled as Maybelle laughed at him and pad to Zelda. Silently he watched as Moona fell, "It's ok, just hurt my paw!" Ma-akua watched him limp, "You're not ok Moona." He said gently, when Moona continued walking Ma-akua ran to him and picked him up. Silently he walked to Maybelle and Zelda. He glanced at Taro who had just said something to Sarumba. Ma-akua placed Moona down and sheepishly padded to Sarumba, "I apologise for Zelda she's just a bit over-excited according to May." He laughed nervously and padded back to Zelda.

"You are a little monkey Zelda!" He said ruffling her fur.
"I know." She replied grinning mischieviously.

[Lorien]

Sarumba was still looking toward the rhino when she felt a small weight jump onto her. She was about to turn her head to look when she heard a small whisper in her ear.

My friend fancies you...

Her ears perked up quizically for a second, her eyebrows furrowed a tad as she turned around to see who had said this to her. To her surprise, Ma-akua had padded over to take the young cub from her back, and she saw that it was Zelda who had given her the secret. The white lioness's eyebrows softened as she looked at the fellow white male. She was flattered, but was also puzzled at the same time.

She then looked over at Taro as he spoke, noting the appearance that he was in. "She said..." A glance back at the cub and Ma-akua, now at Maybelle's side. Sarumba then looked back at Taro, smiling sweetly. "Oh, she's just playing around." She did not want to start a fight. Especially not with so many other lions around. It could turn ugly really fast. "Don't you worry about it, Taro."

Her ears perked again as she heard footsteps come up from behind. She turned to see Ma-akua coming back over to speak to the duo. She smiled slightly, though beneath her white fur was a hint of red. "It's all right. I was a cub once myslef, after all. I know how they can be." As he padded off, Sarumba's face continued to blush as she turned back to Taro. She had never really met male lions anywhere around her age, especially not ones who were interested in her.

[Deleted]

Ma-akua stretched pleased Sarumba wasn't annoyed at him, he sighed contently and sat down. He closed his eyes and let his imagination take over. He opened his eyes as he caught an unusual scent. He sniffed again and began padding around curiously.

Ma-akua soon found himself far away from everyone else and on his own by an abandoned bit of area. He looked curiously at the remains of a campfire and sniffed. That wasn't the scent. He looked around again and something purple caught his eye. He padded over and looked at them. Ma-akua poked the funny object with his nose. This was the scent. Cautiously he bit one and instantly let out a disgusted sound. They tasted disgusting but smelt nice and looked stunning. He picked the remaining five up in his mouth and ran back to the watering hole.

He dropped them down and saw Zelda coming closer. "Here Zelda." He said pushing one forward. He then picked two up in his mouth and dropped one down by Maybelle. Nervously he carried the prettiest one to Sarumba. "Here, take this to show our friendship." He showed her the object. Silently he placed it behind her ear.

Zelda looked at the object and smiled. "Mum, can you put this in for me?" Zelda asked. She held the flower up to Maybelle looking at the small pile Ma-akua had left. She looked back at her mums flower and dropped hers. She picked Maybelle's up and placed it on her head. She smiled thinking it had been placed propally. She jumped back of her mothers back and picked her own up between her teeth. She sat down and held it up for Maybelle waiting for her mother to place it between her ears.

She glanced at Ma-akua again and grinned demonically. Should I interfere or shouldn't I? She thought to herself.

[kyto7878]

Moona got up and began padding towards Zelda and Ma- Auka. It was going to be dark soon so he dug a little hole by a big rock so when he wanted to go to sleep he could. “Ill sleep in this hole if you all want. I know your not my parents so I don’t wanna be a burden. Moona waved his ear back and forth as he talked. “Or I can go back and look for my parents in the jungle. I know its past that tree somewhere. Well at least I think.”

[Zorayda]

Taro was taken aback by Sarumba's response. She'd brushed it off, blushed quite profusely, then turned and walked away. First Taro wondered if he'd insulted her or done something wrong.

Then he realized that it must have been something that Zelda had told her, and it had something to do with Ma-akua, judging by his reaction.

Taro decided to leave Sarumba be. If it was as Taro suspected, Ma-akua had taken a liking to Sarumba and was competing for her attention, and Sarumba didn't seem like the kind of lioness to want that.

The young black-maned lion felt a little sad, but decided to let Sarumba be alone for awhile and just try to be her friend. Though Taro was interested in Sarumba, he'd lay off of trying to court her, at least until she felt comfortable with him again. Hopefully Ma-akua would take the hint, too, and leave the pretty and somewhat loveshy lioness alone.

Taro walked over to where Bagymo was and sat on his haunches, his ears and whiskers drooping a bit. The young golden lion let out a long and wistful sigh.

"Hey, uh, Bagymo?" He asked timidly. "Can I ask you something...? I asked if I could follow your teachings before...do your--well, mine now, too--gods listen to prayers?"

[Deleted]

(ooc: sorry its so short lol bit hurried)

"Don't go!" Zelda cried running to Moona's side. "You're not a burden." She continued. Ma-akua padded over to Zelda. "She is right, I'll look after you tonight and tomorrow we'll both go find your parents if you want. Ma-akua said smiling. He picked Moona up form his hole and placed him between his paws. Ma-akua lay down and kept an eye on others whilst keeping Moona warm. Ma-akua looked up as Taro left Sarumba's side, he frowned and put it to the back of his mind. He gazed up at the sky blankly.

Zelda glanced at Moona then padded away she wasn't sleepy yet. Zelda lay down alone and rolled on her back sighing.

[magiccat]

Maybelle sighed as Zelda ran off and set to work rearranging her own flower. "I swear that cub does nothing but run off!"She growled to herself, staring at the ground. She hated seeing Zelda so independant. Maybelle liked her to be her little baby but now she did everything herself. Maybelle was there for food and sleep. She was happy to provide both.

She decided to re-join the group. The Rhino especially had caught her eyes, as had the people she had not said hello to. She glanced back at the cubs, almost second nature for her to check up on them.

She sighed. This is me, the mother who cannot let go She thought to herself.

"Since we seem to have half the Savannah here, would anybody like me to fetch food for them? I'm going anyway so I want to know how much to get." She was asking the lions mainly, knowing the Rhino chose to eat other things.