Wasteland

[Kama]

((Okay! Without further ado, I will begin! X3 Oh, and I would love it if little messages or conversations between members would be put in these double parentheses before and/or after the entire post itself. Alternatively, please don't post JUST a double-parentheses message, unless it's to say something like "I'm sick, but I'll be back soon!" Okay, so thank you, and I will start! ;D))

~~~

Dawn found Simba at the edge of Pride Rock's jutting outcrop, surveying the land that was once Mufasa's kingdom.

"Everything the light touches..."

Worry creased the young lion's brow. There was nothing left, as far as the eye could see. The lush savanna grasses had been cropped within inches of the dusty earth before the herds had moved on. A skeleton here or there betrayed where a prey animal had been brought down, but the bones had been picked clean by vultures and hyenas. The once-bloated river had been reduced to a trickle a few inches deep, and even that was only the result of last night's downpour.

This land would never keep them alive. Most of the lionesses already were looking quite thin, and one had even lost her new cub to starvation. There was no doubt that something needed to be done.

"Father," Simba pleaded softly as the newest star in the sky began to fade into the sunrise. "What should I do...?"

~~~

((The lioness who lost her cub might be Safiri, but I forgot how she said her cub died... I'm sorry, Chema! If you don't like it, that lioness can just be another random pride member.))

[Zorayda]

((Kama, please read my last post in your first idea thread for this RP. I think you might like it ^^))

Another lioness dead, her bones prominent as she lay awkwardly in the dusk. As soon as she'd collapsed, the hyenas fell upon her viciously until there was nothing left of the pride member, not even bones. The old ex-queen closed her eyes in sadness and exhaustion. Her heart was heavy with the losses her pride had suffered. She had to talk Scar into migrating. There was nothing left here for them...and suddenly Scar was there, beating her and making her suffer, his menacing green eyes alight with fury while the hyenas watched with amusement, taunting her with things about her dead family...her son, her mate...Sarabi lay on the cold ground, wishing to die more than anything else...

The old queen opened her eyes suddenly, realizing a few seconds later that they were wet with her tears. My son is alive, she reminded herself. She could feel her face light up with that fact. Simba was alive and healthy, and now he was in his rightful place as king. He would need a lot of advice...but Sarabi knew that her son was kind and suited to be the leader of their pride. But...they needed to move away from Pride Rock. Now that the hyenas were gone, they could eat their fair share and hunt properly again.

Sarabi got up slowly, her bones audibly creaking as she did so. She flopped her black-rimmed ears, a trait that had carried on to Simba as a cub but had faded away as he grew. He was so different...a small spark of the young cub she knew was left, but he was much more laid back now. He was patient and kind and extremely caring. Sarabi was very proud of what her son had become.

But...

The ex-queen frowned slightly as she remembered that Simba had been alive and well, away from the Pridelands. Why hadn't he come back? Why didn't he decide to come back to his home? To his mother, and Nala? There was a sense of insecurity about her son now, something that had never existed before. He'd always been so confident before. Now...well, now he just wasn't sure about anything.

She looked out of the warm old den to see Simba standing on the point of Pride Rock, his red mane teased by the wind. He did so much look like his father...

She wandered up to him, her old bones not allowing for much more than slow movement. She looked at his face and saw that he was speaking with Mufasa, just as she would at times. Sarabi closed her eyes and sat next to Simba, allowing the gentle wind to drift through her fur and touch her skin.

"What is troubling you, my son?" she asked, her eyes still closed.

---------

It wasn't fair.

The newly dethroned queen stalked back and forth, her claws tearing at the earth under her. Her wiry frame was taut with hardened muscle, and the stripe that ran from the top of her head down to her shoulders rippled with the tension in her stance.

Simba had killed her mate. Ruthlessly. Horribly. The coward had let the hyenas do the dirty work for him.

Zira snarled viciously. Scar, or Taka, as she called him in private, had been her soul mate. He was kind to her. He had been an amazing king, keeping his subjects under control even under such circumstances as the horrible drought. Zira's bright red eyes danced back and forth as restlessly as her warped mind thought.

Simba was evil. Him and his little floozy lioness had taken over the throne and had thrown out the hyenas, the only useful life forms around the place. Scar had the right idea about Mufasa and his family. They were scum.

But she couldn't act now, no. There was no way she could kill Simba, what with all his new loyal body guards there to protect him. No. She'd have to bring some of the lionesses over to her side, make them see sense. Make them see that Scar was the best thing that had ever happened in this place.

After all...

Zira smiled. After all, her little Kovu would simply have to be king. Scar had said so himself.

[thegunner18]

((why does everyone call them parentheses? I just call 'em brackets, anyway sorry, had to get that out of my system))

The sun was high in the sky and not a cloud could be seen. The sun's glorious rays, washing over the grass and other vegetation. Perfect for travelling in, just as one lion was doing that day, and had been doing since he could remember, since he had woken up, lying in the middle of nowhere, left to fend for himself...he couldn't remember any of his cubhood, but that was what he was searching for, the truth, answers. He had to find out who his family were. This lion's name was Ajabu.

Ajabu had stopped to rest for a while and lay down in the shade of a tree, after all, he was travelling for hours upon end, but that didn't stop him. After he had rested, he decided to carry on towards the pridands. They had a big reputation everywhere, surely they would be able to let him rest there for a few days. Oh, how wrong he was.

After a few hours, pride rock came into view, the landmark of all landmarks. Ajabu couldn't wait to get there, see it's beautiful views. He quickened his pace out of exitement of the days ahead. However, what he saw next, shocked him enough that it probably couldn't be put into words.

Instead of green grass waving in the wind and birds singing in trees, it was a barren landscape, no life could be seen. A few skeletons were also scattered here and there. This time, Ajabu quickened his pace, into a sprint and headed straight for pride rock, not out of exitement but anger at whoever did this.

[Nakisisa]

((Yey, Here we go!))

Nala walked towards Simba and Sarabi, they were both together, properly, for the first time since Mufasas death, a smile appeared on her face as she had a thought, the sun shining and the clods still waiting to rain she made her move,
"Good morning my King" Nala said with a bitter tone to her voice "Queen Mother." she said with a similar tone, her face as hard as stone, and looking angry.

---

Zainabu walked the lands anoyed, she had fought with Simba but regretted it deeply, after all she had done for Nala and for Nala to deserther like that, it was just too much.
She Carrie on walking until she met a pacing lioness, her claws unsheahed. "Hey are you alright?" she said, her voice cold.

[Kama]

(( Parentheses => ( ) Brackets => [ ] or { } Lol, for some reason I felt the need to make that clear. Ignore me

I didn't realize that Kovu had been born already! He has? I thought he was more like Kiara's age...))

Simba turned to see his mother sit down beside him, and couldn't help the smile that spread over his face at seeing her again. He had missed her so...

He leaned over slightly to give her cheek an affectionate brush of his tongue, then sighed and let his head drop.

"Mother... I don't know what to do. This is our home, but there's nothing left... but how can we leave? And even if we did, where could we go?"

Simba looked up to the heavens, but the star had faded.

"What would he have done?"

But before Simba's question could be answered, Nala approached. Simba rose, his troubles momentarily forgotten at the sight of the lioness. He went to greet her, but she cut him off in a cold voice, and repeated the tone with his mother.

"Nala...?" Simba questioned, perplexed. He took a tentative step forward. "Is something the matter?"

[Nakisisa]

((Is Sarabi the queen mother or not?))

Nala laughed, "I forgot how fun it is to wind you up Simba," she fell down laughing "Sarabi, I'm sorry" she said catching the (probabily) disaproving look from the queen mother.
"Im sorry" she giggled "But it's been too long." she said using her baby voice. "I missed you" she continued, licking his cheek, "But thankfully you beat scar, My King, what do we do now?"

[Zorayda]

Sarabi opened her eyes when she felt Simba lick her cheek and smiled. She loved him so much...more than he could ever know.

He expressed his concerns about the drought and famine, and Sarabi sighed.

"What would he have done?" Simba asked, looking up at the stars. Sarabi laughed quietly to herself. Oh, the things her son didn't know...

"Simba, I'm going to tell you something," she started, but was interrupted when Nala showed up behind them.

"Ah, Nala," Sarabi began, happy to see her son's new mate. But Nala regarded them coldly and her tone was abrupt and curt. Sarabi raised her eyebrows. This young lioness dared to give Sarabi that tone, when she and Sarafina, who was now dead, had kept her safe from Scar and the hyenas? During Scar's reign, Sarabi and Sarafina had made sure that Nala got plenty to eat and remained safe. Why was she being so rude suddenly?

"Young lady," Sarabi said sternly. "Do not forget to whom you speak." Nala may be queen, but Sarabi was her elder and deserved respect.

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

Zira stopped her pacing suddenly when a lioness appeared behind her and asked her what was the matter. Zira almost scoffed at her, as she would normally have done, but then something in her mind clicked. Hmmm...

"Oh, I was just thinking to myself...I'm rather upset about my dearest Scar's death..." Zira hung her head and tried to look as pitiful as possible. If she could get this lioness' sympathy...yes, she recognized her now. This was the one who felt betrayed by Nala. This sunset colored female was teetering on the edge of being on Scar's side...However, Scar had done some terrible things to this lioness.

Zira would have to tread carefully around this one to get her to join her cause...to murder Simba and Nala and let her little Kovu take the throne...

[Nakisisa]

"Young lady," Sarabi said sternly. "Do not forget to whom you speak." Nala may be queen, but Sarabi was her elder and deserved respect.

"Im sorry Sarabi" Nala appoligised again, "It was only to wind simba up, it's so much fun winding him up, and so easy" she amirked at her last comment
---

"Scar, ahh he was a good lion," Zee said sympathetically " If only his heart had been in the right place, not like tha backstabbing traitorus Nala, why does she have to be queen?! She's not even of royal blood!" Zee ranted, seeing she could be boring the lioness she stopped, "Im sorry about that, it must be boating to hear me rant on like that, anyway my names Zainabu, Zee for short, what's yours again?"

[Kama]

Simba grinned once he understood Nala's joke, but cringed slightly for her sake at Sarabi's rebuke. He then proceeded to realize that a king should not cringe, and sat up stick straight, only to melt entirely beneath Nala's kiss. He blinked to refocus himself on the situation, and his face fell.

"Mother and I were just discussing that," he sighed dejectedly. But then his ears perked up; Sarabi had just been about to give him some much-needed advice.

"What were you going to say before we were so... oddly interrupted?" he questioned his mother, throwing a wink in Nala's direction to go along with his playful jab.

((I feel kinda bad, so I think I must explain: Akuseruz, there may not be much for Kovu to do until the move begins, unless someone claims Nuka or Vitani before that. There's no one near him right now. ))

[akuseruz]

(I was told I can post so here it is) Kovu slept silently in his little bed while his mother Zira was away (I always said zera not Zira lol) he eventually woke up and played with some leaves that had blown into his bed while he slept.He got doen playing with the leaves and turned all the way around too look at the leaves from upside down,and also tried hitting at them from upside down thus knocking the leaves out of his bed.He got bored after playing with the leaves and went back too sleep waiting for his mother to return home again.(Also this will be probally the only post of Kovu until the Rp gets into TLK2 so jsut tell me when I can kay?? )

[Zorayda]

Sarabi smiled gently at Nala, used to her teasing and silly nature. She could be responsible and serious when need be, but inside, Nala was just a mischevious cub.

"It's all right, Nala, you silly girl," Sarabi said, her hazel eyes warm. "I was going to say that Mufasa had just as much trouble or more than you have ever had," Sarabi told Simba, her eyes twinkling.

"He was just as unsure of himself, and he worried over the silliest things...I swear, if I wasn't around all the time to help him out he would have fallen apart," she said, chuckling. "You should have seen him when he had to make a decision about what to name you," Sarabi said, looking off in the distance.

She stopped smiling and narrowed her eyes immediately. "Simba, there is a rogue headed our way quickly," she said. She turned to him. "You and several lionesses must confront him and drive him off if he means harm," Sarabi said, guiding her son's decisions.

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

Zira repressed the urge to grin with glee at Zee's words.

"Zee?" Zira sniffled, keeping up her front. "I don't think you're boring. I...well, to tell you the truth, I'm lonely now. Scar is dead, and I have to raise my cubs all on my own...nobody likes me because I was Scar's mate..." the wiry lioness pretended to wipe a tear from her eye.

"I think you're right, about all of it," Zira said. "My name is Zira. I'm glad I met you, Zee," and those last words were the only truth that left Zira's lips.

Something crossed the older lioness' mind. "I must tend to my cubs," she said, turning away. "I am sorry to leave you, but a mother's job is never done," she said, grinning.

[Nakisisa]

"owe" nala muttered quietly "no need for that" she said, however she moved closer to simba and sat next to him, nuzzeling his mane and feeling the warmth it brought into her after so many years of disapointment. Again she licked his cheeck and whispered into his ear, "I Love You".

As sarabi spoke Nala thought about what they were going to do, all until sarabi mentioned a rouge, "Come on then Simba, let's go ya old cat" and she trotted of to where sarabi had pointed.

---

"Zira? Your not the Zira? Former queen of the pridelands? Well if you were scars mate then you must be you majesty" she bowed low to the ground.
"if your highness needs me then please send someone for me, you will always be a Bette queen than that pretender Nala!"

[Kama]

The young lion smiled sadly while Sarabi spoke of his father, his best friend... it was good to know that he was not the only one who had no idea what to do with himself.

"It's a good thing you're here, then, Mom," he chuckled softly, using the name he had called her as a cub. "It certainly looks like I'm going to need your help, too."

Nala approached him, snuggling into his mane, and he nuzzled back into her warm fur, purring lowly in his great chest. He had missed everything about her, her voice, her smell... and now she was whispering her love for him.

His ears went back in a feline blush, and he whispered back: "I love you too. I missed you so much..." Simba licked her cheek and her forehead before affectionately butting his head into hers with a soft laugh. Their tender moment was interrupted, however, by Sarabi's warning.

"Nala, rally some lionesses, please!" His first, though minor, order as king. As soon as she turned to go, Simba bounded down the rock to meet the stranger.

[xscar10]

Nuka woke up and saw his mom talking to another lioness so he snuck around behind her.
"If your highness needs me then please send someone for me, you will always be a Better queen than that pretender Nala!" The lioness bowed to his mom.

"Mom was queen, before simba came along." He wispered, and snuck out of the cave.

[Nakisisa]

"Nala, rally some lionesses, please!" simba ordered
"Just because I'm your mate dosen mean you can order me about" she said cheekily "you could just ask!"
she ran down to the den and shouted "We have a rouge in our lands, Who is willing to help get rid of him?" the shout was answered by some of the lionesses, "Come on then Simba can't do everything by himself" she shouted again and ran off after Simba a troop of lionesses following her

[Zorayda]

Sarabi watched with a small sense of pride as Simba immediately sprang into action, taking control of the situation.

"I'll go with you," Sarabi said to Simba. "Or would you rather me find more lionesses with Nala?" she asked. She didn't know if he would need help negotiating with the rogue, or if Simba wanted to do this on his own.
---------
Zira's jaw dropped when the lioness, Zee, bowed down before her. Nobody had done that willingly for her. Nobody.

"I...You have my deepest gratitude," Zira said quietly, completely honest now. Zira turned her head around to see that her oldest son had stepped out of the cave. "Nuka, why are you out of the den? You're supposed to watch your brother and sister," she snapped. She was extremely protective of Kovu and had nearly no regards for her eldest son's feelings.

"Zee, I am sorry, but I have to go," the ex-queen said. "But I will come back to speak with you later. I promise."

[Nakisisa]

"I understand my queen" said Zee with the upmost loyalty, "is there anything my queen wants me to do while she attends to her cubs?" she bowers low again.

[thegunner18]

Ajabu kept running, determined to get to the bottom of this. Looking up, he saw a group of lionesses and another male lion, probably the leader. "Oh geez, this is just great, isn't it." He decided to just lie down to show he wasn't a threat. Ajabu shouted at them. "What do you want!"

[xscar10]

(I tryed to capture the fact that he always felt like he had to prove himself to her, and live up to the image of his father, but always standing in his shadow.)
Nuka was almost out of the cave when he heard;
"Nuka, why are you out of the den? You're supposed to watch your brother and sister, Zee, I am sorry, but I have to go, but I will come back to speak with you later. I promise." Nuka floped to the ground.

"Why is it always me?" He thought.
"Hey mother, I was going to be right back. I was just going to get some feild mice for you." Trying oh so hard to impress her.

[Kama]

Simba was torn between keeping his mother safe, or allowing her to do what she wished. She was his mother, after all, so he chose the latter.

"Come and help if you like," he smiled. "Or stay here and have a nice stretch. You deserve to relax for once." The young lion was sure she hadn't done that since his father's death.

Simba bounded down the rock, rolling his eyes with a smile when he heard Nala callto him.

"That's why I said 'please!'" he shouted back over his shoulder as he flew down the side of Pride Rock and towards the rogue.

The feeling of running along the Pridelands with lionesses behind him was a bit... odd. It certainly wasn't what he had pictured as a cub. But it felt more like being king than he had imagined, too.

The rogue seemed to have seen them coming and lay down before them, assuming a submissive pose.

"What do you want?!" the stranger shouted to them. Simba came to a halt a few meters away, standing tall, his stance wide.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Simba retorted, trying not to pant. "Why are you here?"

[thegunner18]

"yeah, well, I was the one who asked first, but...there you go, there's life for you." sighing, Ajabu decided to tell the lion why he was here. "Fine, i'll tell you first. I don't know who you are but, who gives a damn? Anyway, I'm a rogue...I'll tell you why later..." he said, trailing off, not really very enthusiastic about giving away why he was here. "I've been travelling since my earliest memories...and, today I decided to come over here and stay for a day or two, then move on but...looking at this place now...it looks like you need all the help you can get." he said, looking around at the land, which, it seemed, had only seen rain just yesterday. Suddenly, Ajabu's voice turned cold-hearted and emotionless, while his eyes were transfixed on something over on the horizon that, even he didn't know what it was. "and you know what? I'm going to KILL whoever did this with not even a second thought."

[Kama]

Simba flicked an ear, unsure what to make of this male. He had never met a rogue before, but he was confident nonetheless. Knowing he had found his place in the Circle of Life gave him that.

"He's already dead," Simba informed the stranger. "My uncle, Scar. He killed my father and ran me off when I was young. I've only returned just last night to reclaim these lands." Seeing the other male's apparent love for the Pridelands, Simba was beginning to think he wasn't going to be a threat. However, his guard was far from dropping.

[thegunner18]

"your...your uncle did this...? I...I'm sorry, I didn't know...so, you're sure he's dead? I mean, surely he had a mate, Is she still alive? If so, it's ME who wants to do the dirty work, if that's ok with you and, why do you still think I'm a threat, I'm lying down, how can I be?" Ajabu clearly didn't know who this was, but if he did then he would probably act differently.

[Nakisisa]

Nala arrived behind Simba, with the other lionesses just behind her. Simba immediately took charge of the situation and Nala sat down, like some of the other lionesses, she was still ready if Simba needed them. however she was bored, she wanted to spend loads of time with Simba now he was king and her mate. Although he saw no signs of him using his title, so she thought she would Intervene

"Simba, why don't you just get rid of this rouge already" she said frustratedly, it was getting hotter now, "Its not like hes here for Your Kingship especially with the queen and a defending force of lionesses behind them." she moved up to Simbas side, Nuzzling his mane, as a show of affection and to prove a point.

[Kama]

Simba couldn't help but smile at Nala's pluckiness and accompanying snuggle. He nuzzled her ear, though still keeping his eye on the strange male.

"Now, Nala," the young king chastised playfully. "Father never turned away anyone in need, providing that they were not threatening to the rest of the pride." He turned his head back towards the stranger, his eyes becoming warmer.

"Yes, Scar is dead. I don't know of his mate, but I'm sure he had one." Simba nudged the lioness at his side. She would know. "Nala?"

[thegunner18]

Ajabu stood up and looked at the lioness in surprise. "Get rid of me? I'm trying to help you here, and all you can think about is getting rid of me? Geez, some lionesses these days. Oh, hey, and no offence but you certainly don't seem like your a king, I mean, normally...normally, kings are bossing everyone around and stuff, but you...you're different...and I like that. Sorry, where are my manners?" he asked himself, smiling. "My name is Ajabu or A.J for short. May I ask for yours? By the way, you may aswell send those lionesses back, this is a waste of their time, I'm no threat to you."

[Nakisisa]

Nala?
"Yes scar had a mate, her name was Zira, i don't know what happened to her after i *Uh-um* Left to get help. and im sorry A.J. My lionesses will be the judges of that," At least for now she thought "And if you wish to be a member of these lands, or even stay here, i wouldn't insult the Queen if I were you."
She turned back to Simba whispering to him "What do you want done with the lionesses? they'll be getting hot standing here doing nothing." so what are we going to do with the manner less Rouge?" Nala said aloud turning back towards the rouge, just putting a 'We'll talk later' look

[thegunner18]

A.J turned to the lioness. "Your the queen? Oh, geez, I always make that mistake..." he quietly said to Himself. "I'm really sorry, honestly. I don't want to be an annoyance to you but, as I said, looks like you need help." looking down at the ground, letting his nearly fully grown mane droop over his head, Ajabu sighed. "hey, could I please talk to you two in private, without all of these lionesses around. It's about why I'm a rogue...and, I haven't told anybody this but I think I can trust a good king and a queen like you." he brought his head up and smiled faintly.

[Kama]

Simba tilted his head in thought. There was still a very small chance this might be a trap, but he didn't think so. And besides, if it were, Ajabu wouldn't stand a chance against him and Nala.

"You may go," Simba said to the lionesses behind him. "Thank you all."

Once they had left, Simba lowered his haunches into a sit. "Go ahead," he told Ajabu, with an encouraging smile.

[thegunner18]

Ajabu also sat on his haunches, opposite the king and queen. "where to start...well, the reason I'm travelling, it's because, I-I can't reme-" he sighed, why couldn't he just say it properly? "I can't remember anything about my cubhood!" Ajabu quickly stood up and walked away from the king and queen, turning his back. "I can't remember who my family were! Who my pride were!" he walked over to a pile of bones and swiped at it, knocking the bones about 25ft, letting out all of his anger. He turned back to the two. "most of the time, I don't even know who I am!" he quickly lay back down and put his head in his paws letting tears roll down his cheeks.