Adolescent Ages

[Deleted]

Remba lay there between Seleters nice warm paws and snuggled in further. Turning her head slightly, she watched Kikome and Charlie arguing back and forth, then her eyes moved onto Sukari.
I thought she was my friend and we were sort of like sisters, why didn't she make him come back for me, why did she go away too and leave me.

Remba moved her eyes away again, it was just getting all too much too think about, why couldn't she have a mother and father that came and found her and told her she was loved and wanted. Sighing she placed her head down on her paws and was about to close her eyes when she overheard a few words that Charlie spoke.

"special moment of feeling your cub kicking, maybe next time when it happens Remba might like to feel, just so she knows she will be a big sister soon."
The cub felt a small tremor go down her back making the purple highlights on her fur stand up of their own accord. Bringing up her head and nearly banging into Seleters who was now leaning against the black lions, Remba looked around quickly.

"Have you found another cub for me to play with so I can have another sister...where is she, where ?"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Again Nala pasued from moving on. Sighing she faced the cub yet again .
"Why do you have to ask so many questions all the time, can't you just be quiet and wait till you're spoken to ?".

Looking at Fire wishing he would get a move on, Nala watched him through half closed eyes, wondering what it was that kept her by his side. Shaking her head at silly thoughts, she looked at the cub again and thought she would answer his question briefly.
" I have lost a few I loved dearly, no one you would know anyway, so no need to worry yourself."

Seeing the cub and Fire close together again talking, she really did wonder why they looked so similiar.
"Fire you want to grab the cub, and get going, you know 'move it or loose it"

[growl1]

Ranger looked at Fire as well.
"Yeah, I'm with Nala. The sooner we get moving, the sooner we can get away from my idiot father and stepmother. Not that I wouldn't love to go back there and knock some sense into them," Ranger said, smiling gleefully. Then he thought a moment and said,
"So, Fire, are you two just going to stand there and talk all day or are we going to get moving?", Ranger said, staring at Fire, waiting for him to answer.

[kyto7878]

Kyto looked at Nala and after she yelled at him and Tears filled up Kyto's eyes. His ears drooped and Kyto began to cry and ran into the bushes. Kyto yelled "I just want my mom or dad!" Kyto Jumped into the bushes and layed there crying his eyes out. Kyto getting scratched by thorns as he layed there still as could be in the bushes.

Kyto was lost and no one cared about him he thought he would never find anyone who cared about him or a friend. Kyto's fur was filled with sections of blood from the thorns.

[Dakota]

The black lion, still had his eyes closed and was about to let forth with a purr he couldn't hold back any longer, as he felt seleter replying with pressure on his cheek from her own. He hadn't been this close to a female before, if you discounted Remba and Sukari who he had given a few hugs, but this was ...totally different, something in fact he could well get used to.
He heard Seleter pausingly say a few words, and Charlie tilted his head slightly so he could absorb what she was saying.
"Charlie...I don't want you to go... I...I would like you to stay. No, I'd love if you stayed...I... really like you, Charlie..."

With shock his eyes flew open and his head pulled away quickly when her words impacted on him. Startled he wasn't sure what to do, then in case he had hurt her feelings he placed his face against hers again feeling the heat, he was in doubt whether it was coming from him or her, maybe he hadn't heard her right.
Again Charlie, pulled his face away and looked at her.
"You don't want me to go..well thats good, you need extra protection now", then not knowing what else to say he leant back against her,rubbing unconsciously while his mind raced and her next words flew into his mind. good lord she actually, likes me.. and you know all that other stuff.
Before she could answer, the lion pulled away from her grinning, staring down into her small face." Sooooo.. you like me then, I mean really, really like me ?"
Unable to hold himself back any longer he pounced and wrapped his paws around her pulling her close while his tongue came out and licked across her muzzle and up over her cheek, twice in fact just in case he had missed a spot the first time.

Charlie realised what he had just done on impulse and moved back blushing furiously, giving a small cough. "Umm..sorry Seleter..didn't mean to , well you know" and then fell quiet, not knowing what to do next.
Seeing a movement from the corner of his eye, he turned watching as Kikome stood to his paws and sniffed the breeze, now on alert. While Charle had been occupied , Kikome had sensed danger is seemed.

[Kirsui]

Seleter held her breath when Charlie suddenly pulled away from her. For a moment she panicked, thinking that maybe she shouldn't have let out how she felt. She pondered this even when Charlie placed his head back where it had been, and so she was completely unprepared for what he did next.

"Sooooo.. you like me then, I mean really, really like me ?"

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the grin on the dark lion's face. And suddenly she found herself pounced and hugged, and she was literally shocked to silence when he licked her. Charlie released her, and apologised, and she.. She really had no idea what to say or do, so dumb struck she was.

"Have you found another cub for me to play with so I can have another sister...where is she, where ?"

Remba's words snapped her back to reality, and truth was she was glad of the distraction so that she wouldn't have to try figuring out what to do with Charlie. She pulled the cub closer to her, her eyes sparkling with slight pride.
"You could say so", the golden cheetah answered.
"I'm sure she'll love to have such a sweet big sister as you... But she hasn't come to this world yet, it will take a bit more time before she does."

Maybe it was instinct that warned her, but her ears flattened all of a sudden and she lifted her head, noticing that Kikome had sensed something. She didn't know what it was, but she felt uncomfortable. Someone was nearby, and she knew the said someone wasn't friendly.

Slowly the cheetah got up to her feet, gazing at the trees while settling to stand over Remba so that she could pick the cub up and spring off fast if need be.
"What is it...?"
She asked this calmly, but the feeling of being watched was nerve wrecking.

[This Land]

Kikome's Nose didn't stop working, he continuously breathed in through it. Making sure he didnt loose the scent. The surrounding area had slight hills and patches of bushes so the danger could pop out of anywhere.

As another breeze brushed past his face, the scent strengthened, Her scent then locked on......it was her for sure,

Kikome turned his head towards where the breeze came from, then he looked down to Sukari.
"Sukari....promise me one thing, now i know we promised each other to stick together, but i don't want this promise to cost you your life...or even mine"
Kikome took a gentle sigh
"I know you have been through allot and are most likely used to situations such as this...."
Kikome lowered his head
"She does have reasons....and power to take you away....I do not fight unless I have a very good reason to....but if it happens, promise me you will run to safety...."
Kikome shifted his head so it was just touching hers
"Promise me...." Kikome said pleadingly and rubbed his head against Sukari's
"She has reasons.....and power"
Reasons? Sukari questioned to herself
Sukari got confused at this bit which made her reaction slow, she snapped out of it and gave Kikome a little lick
"I promise daddy" Sukari whispered and nodded once
Kikome smiled briefly and nodded his head once
"Good girl" He said pleased
Sukari knew what Kikome was going to do, so without him telling her to, she jumped on top of his head, and walked down the back of his neck as Kikome raised his head and started to walk where the breeze was coming from, which was a slight hill.
Kikome started to ascend up the hill

[Kirsui]

((OOC: I have like... no idea of the current time of day in the RP, so I'll make it... umm... late night, almost morning? Last thing I remember from when time of day was mentioned it was night, so...

Do correct me if I'm wrong of the time. XDD))



Seleter stood perfectly still. She watched the spot where Kikome and Sukari had been and from where they had disappeared.

She had a bad feeling about the whole situation, but she didn't know why. Yes, she was still confused of what to think of how Kikome had left Remba and now returned with an apology, and the... "event" with Charlie only a brief moment ago added its own mix to that confusion.

However, she did know she wanted to stay away from what ever it was causing this uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps it was instinct, she had her own unborn cub as well as Remba to keep safe. She didn't know why Kikome had taken Sukari with him, but she did trust him enough to keep her safe... He was her father, after all.

The golden cheetah flattened her ears, her tail flicking behind her nervously. She couldn't smell anything odd or anything signalling of danger, but still...

"What we gonna do, Charlie?" she asked, her worried gaze still glued to the tree line.
"I don't want to follow Kikome, something tells me something isn't right..."

---

An amused chuckle came from the top of the hill which Kikome was climbing up.
"Long time no see..."
A dark figure sat upon the hill top under a tree. The its red eyes were the only visible thing from the shadows, and they were locked on Kikome as he climbed higher the hill.

Then, the owner of the eyes stood up, and walked away from the tree. The light hit the figure, revealing a light brown body, a dark brown head stripe, and a torn ear.

Zira grinned slightly as she gazed down at the lion.
"Hello, Kikome..."

[This Land]

As Kikome walked up the hill, his whole body suddenly went on full alert as soon as he heard a familiar voice up ahead; he let his eyes focus in the dark and locked onto the red pair in front of him.

Kikome let out a deep growl as Zira stepped out into the light. Kikome fully bared his claws and let out another deep growl and took a fighting stance.
"Hello, Kikome"
Zira's grin just made Kikome get even angrier.....his eyes filled with hate, His head went almost into a Spasm because he just kept holding in the anger.....he didn’t know why he was getting this angry maybe just the way she spoke to him upon first glance.

For a moment he forgot Sukari was on his back....he leapt out and roared and swung his paw back, ready to attack. In mid air he heard Sukari scream, which in a flash, reminded him, that she was still here.

Instead, Kikome reacted fast and instead of whacking Zira across the face, he used his paws to push onto her head and launched over her, the pure power that he leapt at her and his paws pushing on her head caused him to flip and bashed into the ground and rolled. His ears heard in pain as he heard Sukari scream and hit the floor.

Kikome stood up as quick as he could, his vision blurred, he swore he could hear is own heartbeat pounding. He took a few steps to where Sukari had landed. Sukari looked up to Kikome with tears in her eyes
"I didn’t have time Daddy...didn’t have time to keep to our promise" she whimpered
"It's all my fault" He thought to himself

Kikome's Vision started to clear but then when blurred by a tear; he quickly wiped it away not to show weakness.
"Sukari you need to run....go back, I knew this was too dangerous" Kikome whispered worried
"I....cant, my legs....they hurt...I won’t make it” Sukari whimpered

Kikome had no choice, he grabbed her by the nape of the neck and faced Zira, he was defenceless with Sukari so he had put her back down on the ground, he stood over her and went into an attack position. Kikome could have run back to the group, but he didn’t want to...he didn’t want to look weak in front of Zira.
Kikome breathed deeply to contain his anger and glared at Zira
"It's a good thing Zira" Kikome then paused to try to think of an excuse
"....That I missed you” he growled
"I would be finally rid of my sister...who sent my life into hell" Kikome growled deeply

Kikome felt as Sukari managed to shuffle along the ground and wrapped her paws around his left front leg, he heard as Sukari let out a few growls, he looked down to see that she was also glaring, growling and breathing heavily directly at Zira as well. After all she had her reasons as well

Sukari was showing she wasn’t afraid of Zira.....Like father, like daughter.

[Kirsui]

((OOC: lol sorry guys, I tried to resist replying, but I can't! XDD))



Zira had no time to dodge as Kikome suddenly leapt at her. What was unexpected was the scream that she heard, which could only mean the lion was not alone at all. But she could not spy upon what ever it was Kikome carried with him, for the sheer force the lion used when he used her head as a pouncing support pushed her down to the ground. She felt her chin hit the ground, and a small yelp of pain was heard when the air escaped her lungs.

However, the stripe headed recovered soon enough and slowly pushed herself off the ground. She could taste blood in her mouth. It seemed she had just lost one of her teeth, and so as she turned around she spat the loose tooth and the blood out of her mouth.

"It's a good thing Zira....That I missed you. I would be finally rid of my sister...who sent my life into hell."

Zira chuckled with a smirk at the growling Kikome.
"What a way to greet a sister, dear Kikome..."
Then as she heard another, smaller growl, she finally saw the other creature who had arrived with Kikome.

Her eyes flew wide open in pure surprise. Sukari... It was Sukari. The same annoying little brat who had scarred her permanently by tearing a bit off from her ear.

Realization struck her then. She knew now why Sukari had looked so familiar when she first had seen her. It wasn't because she looked almost as an exact copy of Simba. No... Now that she saw her with Kikome, she couldn't help but notice the similarity between the two.

She laughed, a high-pitched laugh that would hurt the ears if continued too long.
"She", she said to Kikome, motioning with her paw at Sukari.
"She's your daughter!"
She laughed again, and when she finally stopped a wide smirk was on her face.
"I would have never thought that the little devil was related to me..."
Her eyes flashed with cruelty.
"But then again", she chuckled. "Considering said little devil bit off part of my ear, I'm not all too surprised. Cruelty runs in the family..."
She smirked at Kikome.
"Would you not agree, brother...?"

[magiccat]

Getting no response from Scar, Afya felt uncomfortable. Like a steak in the middle of a salad. She began to back up again.

"So...can I...go?" She said it slowly and with her head bent low in submission. Why would he need to keep me here? I didn't do anything and he obviously doesn't care that much about me. What possible reason could I have given him to keep me here?

She needed to get far away from this place. Where could she go though? To wherever Kyto had run off to? Scratch that, he'll either be dead by now or just lead me into more trouble.

To the jungle? No, stupid. Why would they want you? You're a weird little adolescent lioness that can't control her emotions. And on top of that you caused Remba to hurt herself. Afya almost sighed as she thought to herself.

Then again, since when has anybody actually wanted me It's nothing new. I need to just suck it up and move on. Stop being so unsteady...I think I'll start by going to apologize to Remba, or maybe go and find Kyto. Whatever I do, it'd better be quick.

"Scar? Are you going to glare at me all day? Or can I go?" She asked, defiant and eager to go.

(OOC: Me thinks that Afya thinks too much )

[Deleted]

Remba stood there between Seleters front paws, nervously looking from her to Charlie and back again.
"whats wrong, why did he take Sukari with him, whys he going back up the hill, aren't they staying with us anymore?"

The cub moved her paws a little bumping into the cheetah standing guard, her nose twitching the scents on the air coming towards them.
"Charlie I'm scared, somethings wrong, something bad is going to happen."

Dropping to the ground Remba bought her paws up and held them on top of her head, her little body starting to shake.

[This Land]

Cruelty runs in the family..."...."Would you not agree, brother...?"
Kikome's eyes widened
Sukari Gazed up at Kikome shocked
"......She.......this thing...is your SISTER!?" Sukari yelled
Kikome Looked down at Sukari with a sorrowed face, he then slowly lifted his head up with his expression suddenly turned angered again
"Unfortunately” He said disgusted
"How can I call you Sister Zira.....the only time I was honoured to be your brother was when we were young.....then later you had your mind fixed on power....you wanted to do anything to get it......even if it meant being the opposite of who you were, and now you cannot live without it" He again said disgusted
"If it wasn't for you, my mate would have not been murdered by hyenas......"
Kikome looked back down at Sukari and brushed his paw down Sukari's back then looked up
"My darling here got lucky" he then grinned at Zira
"You never were the one to do things yourself, was you Zira...always got your Hyena's"
"If it wasn't for the shear amount of them, I wouldn't have given into Scar's demands of me never to return to these lands, like a second exile. I bet even he knew that if he done that alone, he wouldn't have stood a chance"

Kikome in a flash had his claws fully bared and underneath Zira's Throat, just a hair-width away from touching her.
"You have no idea Zira...every night since I was a cub... I taught myself self defence, speed and battle techniques for one purpose. But when my sister that I was so close to, starts to drift away from me, starts to get mean...violent and power hungry through my adolescent years I Then became angry.....upset, and for some reason the only way to sooth this pain was to teach myself more and more, it was a way to block all my emotions and feelings."

Kikome took a breath
"I took my first exile from you....my own sister, then seasons passed, I found a mate and we shared a beautiful daughter. Then one night I come back from hunting to find my Mate Dead and Sukari Gone.....I assumed she tried to run and got killed later on. And I done what I always did to hide my pain......I Trained, while hopelessly looking for Sukari, My Life has been hell"
Kikome Lightly Touched Zira's neck with his claw and slowly moved his claw to her chin. He moved his head towards her's, his eyes glaring into her's with hate
"It’s a good thing my daughter is here with us Zira" his Thundered
Kikome grabbed Zira's Chin tightly, His head started shaking again with anger and his eyes locked onto her's and he let out a massive roar
"Cruelty can run in the family.....but not through me......I’m no way like you Zira, You want to know what my initial purpose of my training was......"
Kikome lifted her head slightly
"It was to protect you....." he yelled and threw her head away from him
By the time Kikome had done this, Sukari wasn't underneath Kikome's legs anymore; she had run off, but with a bad limp to towards the group. Kikome took deep breaths to try and steam his anger, keeping his eyes fixed on Zira.
“My cruelty comes only as part as my instincts", and the same with Sukari”
Kikome Looked at Zira’s Torn ear along with some blood she spat out beside her and a tooth. Kikome Chuckled smugly
“Like Self defence” He smirked


Meanwhile Sukari was halfway making it to the group, she started to think what Zira had said. Sukari started to believe that she could end up like Zira, being mean and nasty, after all Zira did start turning nasty when she was just going out of the cub phase, Sukari still has time to go. Zira is Sukari's Auntie. In the eyes of a cub, its very possible that she could turn Cruel, she did bite off a ear after all.

During her thinking, a sharp pain bolted down both rear legs, she fell flat on her belly and skidded to a halt, She tried to let out a roar as large as her throat could let her, but still only came out as a Loud growl. She dragged her body along the ground with both her front legs, she could vaguely see some sort of the group in sight through the darkness, she let out another growl.
"Seleter!" She shouted as a tear came down her eye
"Anyone!...." Sukari stopped dragging herself forward and slumped her head on the floor, taking deep breaths to recover her breath, her eyes also tight shut because of the pain.

[Dakota]

"What we gonna do, Charlie? ,I don't want to follow Kikome, something tells me something isn't right..."
Charlie tilted his head towards seleter as she spoke her concerns, but his eyes watched as Kikome with Sukari on his back dispeared over the top of the hill out of sight. Morning would soon be upon them, making them again.. vulnerable to unwelcome eyes.

The black lion, knew something was amiss, just in the way Kikome was behaving, it seemed he would be needing backup whether he wanted it or not, and it was upto him, if only to protect the cub.
"Seleter, you need to stay here, wait till I am half way up the hill, then move back with Remba under cover, stay there and only come out if you think its safe.. and don't take any chances, you and your unborn come first."

Moving past the cheetah, Charlie slowly followed in Kikome's tracks, listening intently, trying to hear if any words or noise from fighting would come to him, giving him some clue about what he would find. Looking back over his shoulder, he found Seleter and Remba still in the same position watching him, giving a nod with his black mane, he turned away and focused in front once more.

Nearing the crest of the hill, his eyes widened when Sukari came into view. Dear god she's limping badly, and shes hurt that its caused her to collapse
Surging forward he broke into a run. reaching her side instantly.
"Sukari, its Charlie, I'm going to pick you up and take you to Seleter and then I'm coming back to help your father. Shhh now don't cry."

Gently Charlie picked her up by the scruff of her neck, he wasn't game to place her on his back, he didn't think she had the strength to hang on at all, so this was the way he would carry her. Turning he moved as fast as he could back to Seleter, trying to not jiggle or hurt Sukari in any way more than she was already.
He could see Seleter and Remba watching and waiting as he got closer, finally he stopped and lowered the cub to the ground at their feet.
"Take care of her, she needs.. some love and reassurance, I'm going back for Kikome."

Once said, Charlie turned and ran as fast as his limbs would stretch and carry him till finally he graced the top of the hill, his eyes widening as he took in Kikome standing over Zira, his claws pressed into her body.
Slowly the black lion made his way down, but only partially, then stopped. It wasn't his fight, it seemed very personal what was happening between those two, so he stayed where he was, his head moving around keeping an eye out in case Zira had her hyenas waiting for an ambush. Then and only then would he make a move and help Sukari's father.

[Kirsui]

Seleter hugged Remba when the cub voiced out her fears. She watched with worry as Charlie walked off after Kikome. All she could do was to snuggle her cheek to Remba's fur and try push down her own growing feel of dread.

However, not long after Charlie had left, he returned. Seleter's ears perked up slightly when he did, and her eyes shot wide open as he got closer and she was able to see he was carrying something. Or more so, not something but someone.

"Take care of her, she needs.. some love and reassurance, I'm going back for Kikome."

"Charlie, wait!"
But the golden cheetah's call went to deaf ears. The dark lion had already moved away, and Seleter had to turn her gaze back to Sukari. The poor cub looked.. horrible. Seeing her in the condition in which she was hurt her, and she had to fight tears that wanted to flow from her eyes.
"S-sukari?"
Seleter knew her voice trembled. But she couldn't help it. Her instincts were kicking in, and they were telling her she should have looked after Sukari so that this wouldn't have happened. She blamed herself, even though she partly knew Sukari had been under Kikome's care and so there was nothing the golden cheetah could have done...

Her eyes flashed then. Indeed, Sukari's safety had been Kikome's responsibility, and this had happened. The threatening tears dried that instant.
"Sukari, where does it hurt?"
Her voice didn't tremble any more, and she actually managed to smile to the cub comfortingly. She had to know where the cub was hurting so that she would know how to move her without causing further harm. And move away was what she and the two cubs had to do, something dangerous clearly was lurking around. She was sure that Charlie and Kikome would find her afterwards.

---

"-- you had your mind fixed on power -- and now you cannot live without it."

Zira chuckled faintly, but kept her mouth shut. She knew this wasn't all Kikome had to say, and so she waited patiently for him to continue. She didn't flinch when Kikome bared his claws and brought them to her throat. The gaze of her deep red eyes was fixed upon Kikome, and her lips were slightly curved to a faint smile, as if had been the weather they talked about.

"I took my first exile from you....my own sister -- My Life has been hell"

When she felt Kikome's claws touch her skin she, instead of moving away, leaned closer. Her eyes sparkled in slight amusement when Kikome glared at her with hatred, and with her gaze alone she was daring him to do something foolish. Not long after that Kikome took hold of her chin. His grip was tight, so tight in fact that it felt painful. But she didn't even try to move away. More so she looked comfortable, like the death grip was a soothing caress.

"Cruelty can run in the family.....but not through me......I’m no way like you Zira, You want to know what my initial purpose of my training was...... It was to protect you....."

Kikome's words caught her off guard, and so she was unprepared when he pushed her away. She stumbled slightly, her eyes wide in surprise, until she regained her footing and the faint smirk returned to her face. She chuckled when Kikome finished speaking.
"Kikome..."
She shook her head.
"I need no protection... Especially not from you."

The stripe headed lifted her head and faced Kikome again, her deep red eyes sparking with amusement that didn't fit at all with the smirk that spread to her muzzle.
"You are more like me than you say, brother", she said, her tail flicking behind her slightly.
"You feel hate, like I do. I can see it from your eyes, I could feel it when you held my head, and I can hear it from your words..."

She took a step closer to him, her gaze locked in his eyes. However, when she spoke again, she had jumped from subject to another.
"How little you know of me, brother..."
Another step closer.
"I pity you for that. You think you know me... Truth is, you have no idea."
She kept walking closer to Kikome as she spoke. Her approach was slow, and it was that on purpose.
"True, I wanted power... But not as strongly as you want to think. I lost my interest in it when I found out how easy it in fact was to get it..."
She stopped when she stood right in front of Kikome. She was so close her nose almost touched his.
"Do you want to know what made me go on? What truly made me to seek more power...?"

Zira chuckled, then pulled away from Kikome, walking past him and stopping only when she stood behind him. However, she didn't turn around. She kept her back at him, even when she was well aware he could attack her from behind when she wasn't looking.

However, she didn't care.

"It was love", she finally answered her own question.
"Like hate, love is another feeling we have in common, brother... You loved your mate, and you love your daughter now..."
The grin was gone, and her gaze was focused on the towering frame of Pride Rock in the distance.
"I loved Taka, from the first moment I saw him. But he did not see me, I was just another plain, air-headed girl to him. Mufasa had his Sarabi, and all the others who liked him... Taka had no one, especially so after the scar incident and when he became known as Scar. Each time someone approached him he thought it was either because his brother had told them to try keep him company, or because they thought to try talking with him when Mufasa was busy doing something else..."

The stripe headed turned her gaze away from the Pride Rock and looked at Kikome instead.
"Can you blame me?" she asked.
"I was in love, and the only way to make him see me was to get more power. Do you blame me for changing into what I am so that I would be loved...?"

Zira saw movement from her eye corner and turned to check what it was. To her amusement she could see Charlie, which only confirmed her suspicions. She had found the group, and though it was missing Seleter and the other, small cub, she knew they could not be far. She chuckled quietly. Kikome was wrong yet again of one thing... She didn't give all tasks for the hyenas to take care of. Finding the group was one of them, the flea-bitten beasts had limited hiding tactics, and so she had taken care of tracking down the group herself.

And she had succeeded.

[This Land]

Sorry everyone about these long posts, just that as you know, is a major part of the role-play, thank you for your time in reading all of this ^^
Sukari gazed up at Seleter, her body was shaking and her breathing was shallow.
“My back legs...they both hurt” Sukari said while sniffing in her upset state
She then lowerd her head back down to the floor
“And so does my heart...” she squeeked
Sukari then started to softly sob between her paws, trying to hide her face as far away as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kikome kept a stern eye on Zira, watching her every move, taking in every word she spoke.
"You are more like me than you say, brother"
Kikome slowly shook his head in disbelief, his claws dug into the ground
"You feel hate, like I do. I can see it from your eyes, I could feel it when you held my head, and I can hear it from your words..."
Kikome took in a deep breath, his teeth started to bare, he continued to listen, and as Zira started to walk around him, his every sense was on alert, ready for anything.
"It was love"
A long deep growl escaped from Kikome
"I was in love, and the only way to make him see me was to get more power.....
Kikome could not hold it any longer...he lifted one paw off the ground slightly, one more thing about love and..
Do you blame me for changing into what I am so that I would be loved...?
Kikome suddenly snapped, while Zira was looking out the corner of her eye to see charlie standing there, bascily advertising that the group was near, Kikome swung his paw around as far as his leg would let him to give his attack more speed. His paw aimed for the lower part of Zira's Leg's, At this stage he let out a massive roar. He twisted his body to make the swing more effective, and in a blink, his paws had knocked Zira's off the ground, sending her to the floor.

Kikome quickly stood back up, a sharp pain shot through his paw that he used to attack with. He had torn a claw clean off, and his paw was spitting out blood, he still stood up straight, showing nothing of being affected.
"WHAT IF" he roared
"What if i Killed Scar Zira, and i was free to roam around, giving orders, and laughing at every single bad moment, enjoying every single loss"
"My Mate is dead because of you!" he yelled
"What if Scar was dead because of me?"
"How would you feel, how would you react, what would you do if you found the one who done it to you, and you had them at your paws".
Kikome lowered his head down to Zira
"You turned yourself into what you are now...because of love...pff, That isnt what love is about Zira, that is stupidity. Scar has never wanted a queen for love, he wanted a queen so that he could truly rule" Kikome whispered
Kikome backed his head off a bit, and changed the subject
"The only hate that runs through my blood is hate of you.....for being responsible for everything that has deteriorated my life, and cannot be re-gained, I could of killed you for good if i aimed for your chest......but i have Morals, which makes it ironic how when one of your followers tried to assassinate me while I slept" Kikome said deeply
He stood back
"I Know, you know the group is here Zira, Leave now and let us live on" He demanded.
"......Please, for your own health"
Kikome Glanced up at the sky, he had a sudden memory session of his loved one. The wind blown through his mane, briefly revealing a deep,red,raw scar in his neck. Kikome also felt his paw becoming soaked in blood. He looked down to see the damage, but his neck Suddenly cramped, all his neck muscles locked up and tightened...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at the group, Sukari's ears twitched as she heard a loud Roar, she looked back up at Seleter.
"It's Zira...she is here.."
Sukari's expression turned confused
"My Daddy's Sister, Just gets better dont it ?" Sukari took a slow breath in and exhaled
"That roar he used.....Daddy trained alot and he even created new things to improve himself. One day he taught me something, his own code, for private communication, Him and Mum used to use it alot."
Sukari took a breath
"That tone of roar, he has indicted to me that he 'Is Staying Until Safe', meaning he is going to stay exactly where he is.....until a threat has been taken care of or has gone, no matter what"
Sukari Looked up at Seleter, with a tear forming in her eye
"He must really have a special place in his heart for this group Seleter......because the last time i heard that type of roar....."
Sukari wiped the tear out of her eye
"Was from my Mum......when she was surrounded by them Hyena's...then you know what happened next"
Sukari Buried her face in her paws again
"Be Safe Daddy.....be safe..." she cried gently

[Kirsui]

“My back legs...they both hurt. And so does my heart...”

Seleter gently nuzzled the top of Sukari's head with her nose, trying to comfort the cub. The legs, those she could still understand... But a hurting heart...? What could have caused that?

"It's Zira...she is here.. My Daddy's Sister --"

It all became clear when Sukari spoke those words after a loud roar echoed. Well, not exactly completely clear... The golden cheetah had hard time believing what she had heard. Zira was... related to the sweet little cub?

She frowned, but only so briefly that neither of the cubs would get worried of what she was frowning at. Kikome had a few things to explain indeed when he would return...

Seleter nuzzled Sukari once more, before turning to Remba.
"We'll have to get deeper into the jungle", she told both the cubs as she gently lifted Remba to her back.
"Hold on tight, Remba..."
Then she picked Sukari by the scruff of her neck, lifting her as gently as she could. And so, with one cub on her back and the other on her mouth, the golden cheetah darted into the jungle, heading deeper so that they would be harder to find.

---

"What if i Killed Scar Zira, and i was free to roam around, giving orders, and laughing at every single bad moment, enjoying every single loss."

Zira didn't bother to pick herself up from the ground. What she did was roll over so that she laid on her belly, lifting her head and looking up at Kikome with a calm expression.

"You turned yourself into what you are now...because of love...pff, That isnt what love is about Zira, that is stupidity. Scar has never wanted a queen for love, he wanted a queen so that he could truly rule."

She remained still and silent. Only the slight flattening of her ears signalled she wasn't pleased to hear those words. But she would still not say a word, and instead she kept on listening.

"The only hate that runs through my blood is hate of you..... -- I could of killed you for good if i aimed for your chest......but i have Morals, which makes it ironic how when one of your followers tried to assassinate me while I slept. I Know, you know the group is here Zira, Leave now and let us live on ......Please, for your own health."

The stripe headed finally moved, rising to her feet slowly. Her feet ached slightly from where Kikome had hit her. When she took the first step closer to her brother, she could see the damage his swipe had caused to her left front leg. Wounds, nicely and cleanly cut. They were bleeding slightly, but she paid no attention to them for now.

Without a word she forced her aching feet to carry her to Kikome, and upon reaching him she stopped, examining him calmly. It wasn't the wound she was looking at, though she did give it a brief look to check how bad it was. No, instead what she did was lift her undamaged front paw, claws retracted instead of extended, and without hesitation she rubbed Kikome's neck with her paw, trying to relieve the tensed muscles.

"I did not send them", she said quietly.
"Whether you believe it or not is up to you... But the assassin was not sent by me. Scar, perhaps... Or the fool was working without orders and thought to rid of you for what ever reason they had..."
She then jerked her paw away and took a few steps backwards, as if only now realizing what she had been doing.

She shook her head slightly, then sighed and changed the subject.
"So you would choose to hate me then..."
It wasn't a question. She simply stated this as if she was thinking aloud.
"That is funny... Because I can't bring myself to hate you. I hate some of the pride members, I hate the hyenas, and I hate the small group which you indeed knew I know is near..."
She paused.
"But you, brother, are someone who I can not hate."

She chuckled faintly, but no hint of a smirk or amusement appeared to her face.
"You can call me a fool, and I wouldn't hate you. You could kill Scar, and I wouldn't hate you. You could even kill me, and still I wouldn't hate you."
She frowned.
"But would killing us both take away your hatred?" she questioned.
"Or would it change you, Kikome...? Like it changed me?"

She paused again, letting a brief silence fall. Before Kikome could say anything though, she continued.
"You have already changed, did you know...? You are already like me... You lost your mate, and the love you felt towards her changed you when she died..."

A pained look appeared to her eyes, but only briefly before it was gone again. She knew Scar didn't love her the way she had hoped when she had been young. But upon realizing this she had been too deep on the path she had chosen and she simply couldn't turn back, and so she had continued on. In a way the Taka she had fallen in love with was dead to her, but the Zira that she had become before this realization would simply shrug it off and keep going.

None of this she said aloud though, because she thought that Kikome would not listen.
"However, should you kill me, or Scar", she continued instead.
"You'd become like him. Can't you see the path you're walking, Kikome? Is your hate towards me so strong it blinds you...?"

[This Land]

Kikome Seen Zira's paw come towards him un-bared, which was strange, he tried to defend himself but the neck spasm was so bad that he didn't have time to think, he was defenceless and Zira knew this. When Zira's paw touched his neck, he thought that this would be bad, here comes a fatal attack. But is wasn't.
Kikome felt as Zira gently rubbed her paw up and down his neck, which soothed the muscle spasm.
Kikome breifly closed his eyes, when he opened them Zira was still there...but she was a cub, Kikome looked down at his paws, they were tiny, and undamaged. He look back up at Zira, her face looked so caring and thoughtfull, she continued to rub his neck better, Kikome had to hold back a purr, Both of them, body and soul had went back into cubs.
"I did not send them"
"Whether you believe it or not is up to you... But the assassin was not sent by me. Scar, perhaps... Or the fool was working without orders and thought to rid of you for what ever reason they had..."
Kikome blinked and shook his head, Zira looked old again. Kikome gasped a breath out of sudden shock, Zira Retracted her paw and she looked a little confused what she just done.
"What the...." Kikome couldn't finish, he was very confused himself what she just did, but it soon came clear.
Kikome listened to everything Zira said about her not bringing herself to hate him, which is why she still had the inner instinct to sooth his neck....she still had him in her heart as family.....then she continued to talk about him killing her.

Kikome took a deep breath, as he was also getting impatient about all this talk about hatred and death
"Look Zira lets just lay it plain on the rock. If i had any intention to kill you or Scar i would of done it already. Its just so easy. Scar's life is spared because he is the only form of leadership at the moment that will stop these lands from a total collapse. And i could of taken my revenge on you ages back. but i didnt, for the same reasons why you cannot hate me"
Kikome stepped forward and whispered in her ear
"If You never hated me, why did you send my life into exile.....why did you send my mate's life into the ground. And if you taken orders to do so....you would of refused, and if someone else was going to do it, you would of stopped them."
Kikome retracted his head.
"The hate you have felt flow through me is only because it has been fuelled by your presence.....i don't think i can ever forgive you for your deed's Zira, and not just that of ones that have affected me. i am talking about the ones that have affected the group and this entire land. You can carry on not hating me Zira which is one thing i can admire. But for me to not hate you, is near to impossible" Kikome said gently

"Now i am going to go back to the group, if you try to follow or stop me, or i see you anywhere near the group, i will have no choice but to temporarily disable you, and when you get better and if you try it again, i will do it again. I will do it over and over again until you are too old to move if i have to. But i do hope to bring a better future to my daughter, she has been through enough pain, i have made many mistakes with her in the past, so its time i patch them up. I want to start a fresh life"
Kikome concentrated his eyes on Zira
"Leave us alone" he said sternly

Kikome Turned his back to Zira and took a couple steps up the hill, he motioned Charlie with his head to walk on. Kikome turned his head and looked back around at Zira
"I Have underestimated you today Zira, you are more then what I assumed....so please underestimate me...." he said plainly

Kikome turned his head back facing forward and then slightly lowered it
"My Sister....."

[Dakota]

Charlie sat there, watching with interest the interplay between Kikome and Zira, it seemed ridiculous at first where his thoughts had strayed, but now it was obvious that these two had a relationship in the past or somehow their lives had intertwined along the line, they had even shown each other caring for a moment.

The black lion was still absorbing everything he had been watching, when his mind wandered off into an unbelieveable scenario. Gasping slightly, his head swung back towards them, the breeze roughing up his dark black fur on his mane making it look like it was standing on end..surely it couldn't be...no not Zira.. all kikome had said was his beloved, Sukaris mother had been killed..what if Zira was the cubs mother..that could explain a few things, especially the way they were behaving towards each other.
dear lord, what if Zira has come for the cub, and wants to take her back to Scar, what other possibility could there be.

Charlie raised himself to his four paws as he saw Kikome break away from Zira and start to climb back up the hill towards him. Stretching himself to his full height, he held himself at attention, while waiting for the other lion to reach him. noticing that he had stopped and spoke one last time to the scraggly lioness.
Standing there silently Charlie met Kikome eyes as he nooded at him to precede him. but the black lion didn't move and held his position, he was going to follow the lion whether he liked it or not, then he could also make sure no one followed and hopefully the blood that kikome was trailing in his wake, could maybe be covered up with all the dry loose dirt hovering everywhere.

[Fire]

(Wow... It's been a while... Well.. Might wanna read... a lot.. and figure out what's going on... Cause GUESS WHO'S BACK?! >:3 This might be a little )

The red-maned lion looked up ahead and then his eyes locked onto Nala's. "We do not have much time, I do not think... I now look at how much time we have spent in that cave and Seleter and Charlie and the rest must be missing us dearly. Let's break into a run and see if we can find them sooner..."

With that being said, he made sure that the cub that was on his back had himself tightly fastened in such a way that he wouldn't bounce off when he ran and started into a long-paced run through the jungle. He was lucky that there was little foliage in the way, this giving him more of an advantage of an easier run. However, his ears picked up some when he could hear activity in the near distance. He was lucky that he was born with a little bit of an average hearing.. Coming to a slow stop, he was hidden within the foliage so much that he couldn't be seen by the others. Waving a paw over to Nala, he crouched underneath a couple of shrubs and took a look with wide-eyes at what he saw, having missed the group and what they have been doing... along with newcomers.. "Nala.. Who.. Who's that lion that is near... Zira?!... What's she doing?.."

Fire now was catching glimpses of that new lion and Zira parting ways, very curious as to what was going on between them. Who was that lion? How did he get near Zira without losing an eyeball?... What's going on?...
_____________________________________________________

Scar chuckled as he shushed a paw at Afya, chuckling quietly to himself still as he just stared down to her and flickered his tail behind him in no particular pattern. "Little one, you could have run away even before I met you... or you could have run away even when I was talking to you.. But yet, you chose to stay, to hear my words.. And I can see something in your eyes.. Something tells me that you aren't satisfied with something.. So tell me... Is there anything you'd like to ask?.." He liked the fact that he could kind of play mind games with the lioness as he smirked down to her. "No one said you had to stay..."

[magiccat]

Afya gulped and remained silent. "No. I have no questions Scar...I'm going now" She didn't need to know anymore. So maybe Scar hadn't been behind her mothers death, she never thought he had thought of it. But he had changed her fathers attitude. That much was true. So she turned and bolted, jumping over jagged rocks and panting as her paws hit the ground faster than she ever had before. This time she wasn't running with pleasure in her head, she was running with fear. Finally as she heard something she tried to stop but skidded forward, her front paws got tangled in a bush and she lurched forward painfully.

"Ouch" She cursed and wriggled free. Checking all her limbs she groaned in annoyance as her front paws ached slightly. Leaning down to check them she glared as she noticed the cuts she had gained, they barely broke the skin but they did sting a bit. She scowled and pushed herself up onto her paws. A laughing sound behind her sent her into a dash again, fear taking over once more as she ran forward.

Just before she reached the jungle she slowed down and leaped into the safety of the trees she panted. Her heartbeat raced and the cuts on her paws were dirty. They had stopped stinging now so it wasn't a problem anymore...hopefully. She stopped before crashing into a tree and sighed, she flopped down and looked behind her. Her proximity to the edge of the jungle meant she could see some of the pridelands. Not a single prey animal in sight. Glaring she continued her walk to find the group. She spotted Seleter but then noticed she was running from something. She didn't dare follow her in-case Rembra still felt mad with her. Slinking forward she went in the opposite direction.

"What the..." She whispered as she noticed Kyto on a male lions back. Was that his father? Well she didn't want to mess with a male about his cub so she followed the males eyes and gaped. Zira! With another lion...an unfamiliar one. Where was Charlie? He had a bad paw right? What if Zira had... Phew! She could see him, just about. But he was just watching the lion and lioness. She assumed the male had to be bad like Zira and Charlie was waiting to attack them. She looked around and saw a tree that she could just scramble up. Digging her claws in deep, her light weight not helping in this case, she pulled herself up onto the third branch up. Lying down on it and swishing her tail she watched the situation carefully.

[Deleted]

Remba had stood there wide eyed as Charlie came towards them carrying Sukari who was injured somehow. Her tears had dried and now all she could do was stare at her friend. She had been mean to her and not talked because of what her father had done, and now she was hurt too, she just wasn't sure how she had got hurt.
Watching while Seleter had talked to her and hugged her,Remba moved forward and was now beside the cub as well, leaning down she licked her cheek softly and tried to calm her down.
" It's me Sukari, Remba. I'm sorry your daddy is fighting, but he will come and be with you soon, but me and Seleter will look after you and fix you up, I promise."

Bringing her head back up, she heard her words as she was lifted onto the back of the cheetah. Crouching down on Seleter's back she held on tight with all four paws, and watched as Sukari was held in her mouth and they moved forward fast into the green jungle, watching from her position as it got darker from all the trees and plants and also cooler.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nala gave a small sigh, as it seemd Fire finally came to his senses and was now ready to move. He had the cub once again firmly placed on his back and she watched as he leapt forward, seperating the bushes and disapearing amongst them.
Raising her eyebrows and a smirk on her face she turned towards the other lion still standing there as well.
"Looks like hes taken the lead Ranger, if you're ready you go next and I'll follow, just want to make sure there's no one else who wants to join our group uninvited."

Moving along nala was satisfied they were alone, and broke into a run to catch up with Ranger and Fire. Coming around a bend she saw both the males had stopped and were hiding behind greenery, but watching with interest something that had caught their attention.
Slowly she came up beside Fire and gave the cub a sign to not make any noise, and then bought her face down slightly so it was inches away from the red maned lion and followed his look.
what on earth is Zira doing, and with someone she knows as well.

Nala moved her head towards the right and shut her muzzle quickly to stop a gasp escaping.
Charlie, whats he doing, hes just sitting there watching and waiting, I don't understand this at all.

Moving her head back, she nudged Fires a bit and showed him what had caught her attention as well.

[kyto7878]

Kyto suddenly was leapt up on Fire's back and was riding though the brush and trees. When Fire came to an urgent stop Kyto's eyes lit up as he saw another male lion."Maybe that my dad." Kyto thought to himself. Kyto saw nala give him a sign to be quiet but he didnt know why so he whispered in Nala's ear. "Why do I gotta be quiet?"

[Kirsui]

"Now i am going to go back to the group, if you try to follow or stop me, or i see you anywhere near the group, i will have no choice but to temporarily disable you, and when you get better and if you try it again, i will do it again. -- Leave us alone. -- My Sister....."

Zira chuckled quietly, watching the back of Kikome's head.
"Farewell, brother..."
She knew she couldn't leave the group alone. It was her job to track them down, and tracking was exactly what she would keep doing for as long at it would take... It didn't matter to her if Kikome would disable her or not, he wasn't the only one who had learned fighting skills after all... She would keep going most likely until she could no longer and would die.

However, the stripe headed stretched herself now, pushing her front feet as far forward as she could before leaning on them and stretching her hind legs. She'd give a head start for Kikome and the group...

Zira caught Charlie from her eye corner and turned her head at him.
A grin formed on her muzzle and she gave him a mocking bow before turning around and disappearing into the shadows and walking off.

A head start indeed it would be, but only because Kikome was her brother. After this it wouldn't matter any more.

---

Seleter had slowed down her frantic run into a fast paced trot through the jungle. Her ears were flicking, trying to detect any odd sounds from the area around in case something was following her. She was fairly sure no one was, she had ran as fast as she dared through the jungle with her cheetah speed, but even she couldn't run forever.

Again she slowed, this time from trot to fast paced walk. She was breathing heavier than normally, carrying Remba securely on her back and Sukari gently in her mouth. And then she stopped completely, standing alert and glancing at different directions before she placed Sukari down on as soft spot at the ground as she could find. Soon enough she also lifted down Remba from her back, and finally she returned to listening and watching the surroundings, sniffing the air every now and then for odd scents.

The golden cheetah didn't know how far she had ran from where Kikome and Charlie had been with Zira. She knew however that it would take them several minutes to find her... Not to mention they would have to track her and the cubs since she hadn't told them what direction she was taking. She wasn't sure whether she liked the cover the trees were giving, or hated them for not allowing her to see as far as she was used to. The jungle was quite a bit darker over here at these parts, and with all the trees around it was much more difficult to see around.

[robara]

Not much far away a lightbrown lion was sleeping on a stone, and smiling.

"mmm.. Nice blue sky. Free from any white clouds. The grass is.. Well, it is beautyfull, green.. A little wierd dream, theres no other lions to see." she thought.

She roll over to the other site and keep sleeping.

[This Land]

Kikome Stopped in his Tracks and turned to Charlie
He took a deep breath in and sighed.
"Charlie....us two haven't really got off to a good start, and I know I am to blame"
Kikome looked down to the ground
"I hoped that no one would ever know of my original Blood...."
Kikome closed his eyes
Kikome felt his throat tighten due to becoming emotional, he cleared it a bit
"When the two most important things in my life had vanished, and I still had a tiny bit of hope left for one of them still believed to be alive. I done nothing else but search....be it in the most brutal of weather conditions, i still searched. Then I actually found her , she then later was in Peril"
Kikome Paused, then continued
"Instincts can sometimes make you do things that you regret. Leaving Remba and taking Sukari is one of them. It was just gut instinct that I take my own and look after her and not both. I felt awful deep down and upset after I realised what I had done, but I didn't show it,"
Kikome returned his look back to Charlie
"Zira has done and still is doing wrong because she has motives, such as her love for scar. I today now admit that I can be similar, I just couldn't admit it to her"
Kikome took a breath in
"My wrong doings today where based upon the love and protection for Sukari, You can of course still judge me Charlie to what you see fit, but i'm hoping to start fresh".
Kikome turned around and stared into the distance
"Now I have Sukari, i feel the group assumes that I can just leave with her and never be seen again, But I cant let that happen, I don't want that to happen"
Kikome turned his head around to Charlie and smiled slightly
"I owe my daughters life to this group, so I will serve my life to it, Sukari is part of this group. On my life i will protect it"
Kikome's smile was short lived and it soon faded
"Besides, I know Zira too well....this isn't the end..." His voice lowered

[magiccat]

Cat scoffed as she looked around her.

"Pathetic" She remarked, eyeing the lands. "Just pathetic" She said again. Where on earth had her wanderings taken her this time? She had been through many lands but none looked as bad as this. She scoffed once more then continued her trek through the lands.

"I'm getting out of here right now." She said with annoyance, this place did not look friendly. She froze and sniffed the air, she growled. Hyenas. The adolescent remembered a story she had made about a Hyena but tried to forget about it. She turned slowly on the spot, a jungle was in sight. She smiled happily.

"That's better" She remarked happily. She ran toward it, ignoring a light brown lioness that was being lazy on a rock. The jungle was her favourite place. As she reached the edge she climbed up the nearest tree and leaped across several branches. She noticed a male lion with a cub on his back. He was next to a female and she was pretty sure another male lion was there...she couldn't see all that well. Looking at the tree next to her she was surpised to see another adolescent. Nobody steals my trick!

She slid down out of the tree, the adolescent hadn't seen her. She aproached the group.

"I think you ought to know, there is an adolescent up in that tree syping on you" She grinned up at the lioness. "I'd go sort her out" She knew that they would go and sort out this lioness, which was now a distraction in her books, she had other things to look at. She spotted two males in a clearing so she trotted past the group to them.

"Hello" She said as she plonked down next to the one with black fur. "I'm Cat. No, I'm not moving from this spot and yes, I do have questions about these lands" She remarked, she had dealt with males before and she felt very safe in this situation. No reason she couldn't be an annoyance. After all, she didn't get a good feeling about these guys. So she wasn't going to be nice to them.

---

Afya cursed as an adolescent informed the male lion with Kyto that she was up there. She slid down and walked over, her head bent down.

"Don't hurt me. I know that cub." She whimpered out. Hoping it would protect her.

[Kirsui]

Seleter wasn't sure what it was, but she couldn't settle down with the cubs. She had this feeling of... being watched, and yet even though she could not detect any threats the feeling refused to disappear. And so she stood over the cubs, all senses alert and tail flicking behind her in a nervous manner. She wished she could see further, but those cursed trees were blocking her view.

After several minutes of standing still and listening the golden cheetah finally somewhat relaxed, even though she still felt being watched. She turned to look at the cubs, and finally she would be able to take a closer look at Sukari's injuries.
"Sukari?"
She nudged the top of the cub's head gently, then licked the very tiny tuft of hair she had.
"Everything will be all ri-"

Seleter paused in the middle of what she was saying, her eyes widening a fraction as her ears perked up. Perhaps it was instinct, but she felt like something was going to happen, and this feeling was what made her lift her head. The instant she had done so she saw a dark blur fly at her direction, and then she was tackled to the ground further away from the cubs. The sheer force of the tackle made the golden cheetah roll at the ground before she stopped and pounced on her feet. Her chest was hurting, that was where the tackle had been directed, and she knew had she not lifted her head the creature who tackled her would have successfully slashed open her throat.

Said creature stood now between Seleter and the two cubs, and with a pang of horror she realized the attacker was a hyena. That itself wasn't what made her horrified, it was the sheer size of the beast for he was much larger than the other hyenas the golden cheetah had ever seen. The hyena glared at her with malicious eyes, it's tongue hanging out of his mouth as a feral grin spread on its muzzle. Seleter glared back at him, but she didn't dare to make a move in case the hyena would choose to harm the cubs if she did.

Then the beast suddenly yelped sharply, it's laughter-like commands sounding around the area. And soon enough Seleter realized why it did this when similar yelps could be heard from around and several other hyenas appeared from between the trees. These beasts were smaller than the first one, but none the less their eyes shone with same malice as the largest one's.

The golden cheetah's blood turned cold in realization. She was trapped, she was separated from the cubs... And no one even knew they were in trouble, not to mention the horribly long distance she had fled with the cubs from where Kikome and Charlie had been with Zira. Terror flickered in her eyes though she otherwise managed to stay calm. If the hyenas would harm the cubs...

Seleter hissed in anger at the large hyena blocking her way to the cubs, the furs on her back standing up and her ears flattening to show the white spots behind her ears in a threatening manner. All she got from the large beast was loud laughter, right before it pounced towards her.

[Dakota]

"I hoped that no one would ever know of my original Blood...."

Charlie grudgingly gave some respect towards the lion standing in front of him, he was admitting his wrong doings towards Remba and now he wanted to atone for it. So be it, he would give him one chance, once chance only, but one wrong move, he wouldn't be around to see his daughter grow from a cub.

" You are what you are Kikome. no matter who you share your blood with. What you have to do is make sure you remember what it is you hate so dearly that belongs to Zira that might bind you together, and don't let her find your weaknesses, because if you do, you and sukari and probably the rest of us wont be living for much longer. Even from here where I sat and watched you two, you could see the hatred and slyness spread over her face, especially when your back was turned.. so don't think that when we meet her again she will give you second chances because you share a past, if anything she will want every bit of blood she can get her filthy paws on.. because, for once back there..she showed a weakness in letting you walk away from her, and we both know its not the end , it's just the beginning."

Still scuffing the dirt to cover Kikomes bleeding paw tracks, Charlie walked on faster.
"Come, we need to get back to Seleter and the cubs, something just doesn't feel right out here, Zira never travels without those scum that do her bidding, and right now seeing her by herself, doesn't fill me with contentment, its exactly the opposite and that Kikome fills me with dread."

Starting to break in a run, Charlie saw a light tan colour coming at him from the corner of his right eye and turned sharply, his claws extending ready to attack whatever was about to hit him. Snarling low in his throat he found himself having to stop as a light coloured lioness just ambled slowly towards himself and Kikome, and with a stupid.
"Hello ,I'm Cat. " she sat herself down.

Still growling Charlie couldn't believe what was actually roaming around the lands these days and didn't have the time nor inclination to just stop and chat as though he had nothing better to do with his time.
" Get out of my way little girl, or you'll find yourself missing some fur on that skinny body of yours, I have more important things to do... Kikome come we have to get to the others...now.. something is wrong, very wrong."

Pushing past the lioness he broke into a run once more, and was back at the grassy spot where he had left Seleter with Remba and Sukari. Looking at the ground he could see where the female cheetah had uprooted the soil in her haste to get away, there was no small pawprints, so he assumed she was carrying the cubs, making her getaway more slower.
Picking up her scent he moved on pushing his way into the jungle, he didn't bother turning around to see if kikome was with him, all his attention was on finding the three of them safe and alive, they had come this far in their search for Fire and Nala and now with Seleter carrying a cub, urgency was of utmost importance. please god ,don't let anything happen to them, look after them till I can get there..

[growl1]

Ranger ran alongside his friends, happy to be away from his father and stepmother. Suddenly, just ahead of him, he noticed that Fire had stopped and he came up beside him.
"Fire, what is it?," he whispered, then looked for himself. and thought, Zira? What in the world is she doing here?
He looked down and smiled at Kyto and said,
"It'll be ok, buddy," then he looked back up and whispered,
"What in the world is Zira doing here and who's that lion she's talking to?"

[magiccat]

Cat glared at the black lion. "Well your rude" She exclaimed. She noticed he was looking for somebody and smirked.

"I know jungles better than anybody I know. I did grow up in one. If you hadn't been so rude, maybe I'd help you find your friends" She called to him as she stood. She trotted up the small group of lions. She glared at the adolescent.

"They haven't killed you yet, you are a lucky thing" She commented. Afya snarled at the lioness as she trotted past.

"You can talk. You're lucky Charlie didn't rip your head off" She realised she had given away the fact that she knew his name and hoped that this would prevent the group of lions from killing her. At least one had payed no attention to this hateful adolescent.

Meanwhile Cat ran out of the jungle, eager to get away. However she noticed a light brown lioness relaxing on a rock. She raised an eyebrow, somebody who wasn't in a hurry. She had a good feeling about this lioness.

She aproached her and nudged her with her nose. Then batted her lightly with a paw.

"Wake up...something is going on in that jungle. I like the look of you so I'm going to hang around here with you" She announced. She sat down beside the lioness and smiled.

"I'm Cat. What's your name? You do have one right?"