Wasteland

[Nakisisa]

Nala listened intentivaly, she knew all about loosing friends during cubhood, and it took a different effect on everyone.
"Simba," she said quietly to him after this lion had knocked the bones flying, "You wouldent mind if, you know, I helped him, after all we've both had prety similar experiences." she said, her eyes filled with compassion and love, she stared at him, waiting for a reply, putting her paw on his.

[Kama]

Gently, Simba licked along the length of her nose, smiling softly.

"I don't think there's anyone better," he complimented, his own eyes radiating his love for her.

Slowly he stood and turned to make his way back to Pride Rock, but stopped.

"You know," he said over his shoulder, "there was a time when I didn't know who I was, either. Even as king, I still have much to learn about the pawprints I have to fill." The young lion smiled again at Nala. "But I wouldn't be here at all today if it weren't for this lioness here. I think she will be a great help to you, Ajabu, if you let her."

With that, Simba began trotting back to Pride Rock, to finish the discussion with his mother about where to go and what to do.

Father, guide me.

[Nakisisa]

((Somebody to love by queen inspired this post))

Nala loved the affection she was now getting, it was so different from her teen life, but that was behind her. After finishig licking her Simba had just started to walk off when he stopped and spoke,
"You know," he said over his shoulder, "there was a time when I didn't know who I was, either. Even as king, I still have much to learn about the pawprints I have to fill." The young lion smiled again at Nala. "But I wouldn't be here at all today if it weren't for this lioness here. I think she will be a great help to you, Ajabu, if you let her."

Nala was slightly taken aback by what Simba had said, Nala knew she mention alot to simba but she had underestimated herself, she would love him back later but now there were more pressing matters.
"A.J.... Are you alright? I didn't mean to be rude, I've just had bad experiences with rouges' and similar lions, you know if you and I were cubs I would have taken you home immiadetly to show you my parents?" sh said smiling, hoping her nature would rub off on this new lion.
"Do you mind?"she asked as she lay next to him placing one of her paws on his, "Now come on tell me everything." she asked rather than commanded "as lion to lioness, not Queen to Rouge"

[thegunner18]

Ajabu got up and turned to the lioness "i'm sorry, it's just, I woke up in the middle of nowhere, left to fend for myself. I was only just becoming an adolescent then. I woke up with this scar on my neck." he pointed to the part of his neck where a large scar ran all the way down the side of his neck and partially onto his face. "I'm sorry if I interrupted you on anything, also. Could I ask you of your name?"

[Nakisisa]

"Hey don't worry about it A.J. We were just discussing what we were going to do about the land" she looked sadder "Its all scars fault, Scar being simbas Uncle and confessed murder Simbas father, he took that hard, belive me, he may not show it, but it's still a sore wound"

Nala looked at the rouge, "Ohh, and I'm Nala, Queen and mate to King Simba of the pridelands. I'm sorry if this hurts, but do you know roughly where you were left? And what was it like, life wise? She stood up, "And do you want a drink?"

[thegunner18]

"Thanks Nala." Ajabu was now smiling. "You and Simba have my deepest sympathy." Ajabu put a reassuring paw on her shoulder "You can trust me on that. I know how you two feel, especially Simba. I wish I didn't but...yeah...do I know where I was when I woke up? Well, I was lying against a rock in a desert I think. I couldn't have woken up in any worse place, dang it was hot, to be honest, I don't know how I survived...as for a drink, are you sure you have enough water yet? I mean, it's got to be your pride before me anyway, so I don't mind. If I can, then yes please, but if not, don't worry."

[Nakisisa]

"are you sure you've got enough to spare yet?" replied the lion. "with the heards gone, and the rest of us used to little water, there's plenty for us all!" she said witha half hearted smile "Come follow me and I shall take you to the nearest water hole, and if you have any questions please ask me, that's what I'm hear for After all." she started walkig rowards the closest waterhole to pride rock

[thegunner18]

Ajabu started following Nala to the nearest waterhole "water to spare is always good. Thanks for everything aswell. I'm glad I came here now." a grin now etched onto his face. "So, I'm guessing you and Simba have some lionesses who disagree with you ruling? Those loyal to scar? If you don't want to answer, I don't blame you."

[Nakisisa]

"We don't know" she said angrily, "We just don't know, after he first took over many resented him, but as his reign went on some joined him, and we haven't accounted for all the pride so we just don't know" she snapped.

About five minutes more travel delivered the pair at the waterhole as prommised, Nala took a small drink and allowed A.J. To take his share. "We should go to pride rock when your all done here"

[Zorayda]

((wow, guys...you posted a lot. Would it be okay for me to ask for the other RPers to wait for those who don't post every few hours? I'm busy with school and stuff, and it's hard for us to keep up. It's just a tip if you want to keep your RPers from wanting to leave the RP.))

Sarabi nodded to her son, deciding to go with him and stand behind him in case he was in trouble or needed advice. She trotted down to meet Ajabu, as the rogue called himself, and listened to his concern for the Pridelands.

Simba then asked to speak with Ajabu alone...Sarabi gave her son one last look, as if to say 'I'll be here if you need me'. She trotted up to Nala then.

"He's already making a great king," Sarabi sighed to Nala. "And you will be a wonderful queen to stand beside him," the old lioness said, smiling gently at Nala. Sarabi considered Nala to be close to something like a daughter, seeing as she and Sarafina had raised her and protected her while Simba was away. She'd grown up under Sarabi's nose, becoming beautiful and graceful and very gracious.

"I do miss you mother very much...you're so much like her," Sarabi said, smiling wistfully.

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

Zira nodded to Zee as she offered her services, smiling.

"I want you to serve Nala and Simba for now. Make them trust you...and we, together, will make the rest of the pride lionesses see that Nala is not fit to be Queen, that scum does not make royalty." Zira dropped her gravelly voice to a whisper, moving closer to the sunset orange lioness.

"And there may be a place in the upper ranks for you, Zee," Zira said, placing a paw on the younger lioness' shoulders. Zira turned away, ignoring Nuka and his stupid rambling on the way by to take care of Vitani and Kovu.

"Come, Nuka. Don't make me call you again."

[thegunner18]

After A.J had also had a small drink, they made their way to pride rock. "hey, Nala, you know, your really the first real friend I've had, even if we haven't known each other long, I could talk to you about stuff I normally wouldn't be able to. I appreciate that. Thanks."

[Nakisisa]

((Ok clearing up 3 posts, again sorry for racing ahead))

1: predate this back until just before Nala interveenes between Simba and The rouge (about 6-7 posts
ago, also is sarafina dead or not?))
"He's already making a great king," Sarabi sighed to Nala. "And you will be a wonderful queen to stand beside him," the old lioness said, smiling gently at Nala.
"I do miss you mother very much...you're so much like her," Sarabi said, smiling wistfully.
"Thank You Sarabi, that means allot coming from you, I knew you and my Mother were/are close. Sarabi, you'll still be there to help us on the hunts won't you?"

((2: Latest post from Gun))
"Thank you A.J. That's what's a queens here for, to look after her subjects, make sure there well and have someone to talk to, Remember I'm always here for you."

---

((3: Outlands))

"Your wishes be done my queen" Zee said bowing lower still "If you will please excuse me I have a duty to complete." With that she walked off towards Pride Rock hoping to find Simba or Nala.

[xscar10]

"Come, Nuka. Don't make me call you again."
"Yes mother." Nuka bounded closer to his mom. Nuka fallowed his mother loyally, like a puppy.
"Why dose mother always act like I'm invisible, she's so obsessed with Kovu she dosn't even notice me." He thought, looked at his mother; she wasn't even watching him.
"Mom can I go to the water hole; please?" He ran in front of her, but still out of her way.

[thegunner18]

"just remember, I'm always here for you"

"Thank you. I will remember. Always" while walking, Ajabu thought he caught something in the corner of his eye, so he stopped and curiously looked around, untill finally, in the distance, he saw a lioness running toward pride rock. "Hey, Nala, who's that over in the distance? Sorry, it's just bothering me."

[Nakisisa]

"Who i don't see anyone" relied nala her voice full f confusing

((gun we need to cut down on theses posts))

[Zorayda]

"Of course I'll help on hunts. There's still energy in these old bones," Sarabi said, winking at the new queen.

Sarabi nodded and left Nala to speak with Ajabu, coming to a stop when she reached the lion's den. She saw Zira pass by with her son, Nuka, trotting behind her loyally while she ignored him.

Sarabi wrinkled a nose in disgust at the lioness' back. The "false" queen, as Sarabi thought of her, was ruthless, cruel, and untrustworthy. She wasn't sure why Zira was still in the pride...Sarabi was sure that Zira was more than likely cooking up some plot.

The old ex-queen sniffed delicately and carefully avoided eye contact with Zira, walking to the other side of the den and lying down against a rock that had been recently warmed by another lioness.

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

Zira watched as Sarabi sauntered by her, sneering as the older queen lay down on the other side of the den. Zira wrinkled her nose at her. The mother of scum herself.

Zira licked her little Kovu tenderly, smiling.

Her moment with her 'real' son was interrupted by the scruffy nothing Nuka again, and he was asking to go to the watering hole.

"Fine," Zira snapped, fed up with his chattering. "Go. Just get away from me."

[Kama]

((I'm really sorry zorayda. I know it doesn't look like it, but I tried to wait as much as I could. Don't worry, we'll slow down.))

Simba smiled as he returned to the rock, seeing his mother there waiting for him. He picked up his pace to a trot as he approached her, but nearly tripped over a young cub begging to go to the waterhole. He grinned, remembering asking his mother, in the same fashion, to go to the "waterhole." Simba had learned a very important lesson that day.

He was appalled, however, with the lioness's retort to her innocent young cub. The young king blinked in confusion. How could a mother be so cruel...?

However, Simba decided it wasn't his place to intervene with the relationships of mothers and their cubs, so he continued on to Sarabi, sitting down beside her. But he couldn't get the incident out of his mind; it bothered him to his core.

"Who is she?" he asked quietly; in such a tone that only Sarabi could have heard him.

[xscar10]

"Fine, Go. Just get away from me." She said looking down at him.
"Oh ok." Nuka said sadly. He walked slowly away, hanging his head low. A few minites later.
"I hate it when she talks to me like that. Why dose she treat Kovu better than me. Hey there's Nala, and who's that?" He ran over behind a rock.
"Hey, Nala, who's that over in the distance? Sorry, it's just bothering me." Said the stranger "Who i don't see anyone"

[Zorayda]

Sarabi looked up at her son when he entered the den behind her, and she noted the look on his face at Zira's treatment of Nuka, her firstborn.

"That's Zira," Sarabi said quietly. "She was Scar's mate and 'queen' of the Pridelands for a short time. She considers her firstborn worthless--such a good little cub he is, too, but not for long with the way she treats him. She dotes on her youngest son, though."

Sarabi jerked her head in the direction of the cruel, wiry lioness, who was lavishing her attentions upon Kovu.

"Her little daughter is just sort of...caught in between. One wonders why she acts that way..." Sarabi shook her head sadly. "She should be grateful to have her cubs alive and well. I didn't have you for years...and it tore me apart," the old queen sighed.

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

Zira watched as Simba entered the den, her eyes filled with hatred and scorn. Oh, how she wished she could tear that son of a jackal apart right where he stood...

She looked down at Kovu, and her heart immediately filled with happiness. Her son would soon make her slowly forming plans whole...he would be a brave and handsome king, just as Scar was.

Zira winced with some guilt. She felt terrible at times that Kovu was not truly Scar's son; the offspring of Scar himself, Nuka, had turned out to be a weakling. So Scar told Zira to find someone to give her strong offspring, a son who could become a king to be proud of. Zira had little choice but to find a rogue to give her her cubs...

She shook her head. No, she was loyal to only Scar. She loved only Scar, and she would avenge him. No matter the cost.

[KanuTGL]

((Don't interact with Sorondi just yet. He hasn't quite reached the Pride Lands yet and nobody's seen him. I'm just cutting my introduction post up in two chunks, so that it won't get ridiculously long ))

Finally! The old lion smiled to himself. His paws recognised these paths; they had walked here before. Every rock and strand of grass, they seemed exactly the same as they had been all those years ago. How he had missed this route; more than he had first realized. How joyous it would be to meet his favourite nephews again! The old lion hadn't seen them since their adolescent days and he was eager to how see Mufasa's and Taka's kingdom was doing. Mufasa would surely have been a king of grandeur, ruling with justice and wisdom, just like his grandfather Mohatu. Yes, Mufasa had always been destined for heroic deeds and greatness. And his little brother, Taka, would surely be Mufasa's greatest royal advisor. Whatever the older brother lacked in wits and cleverness, the younger brother made up for. And what Taka lacked in physical strength and courage, Mufasa completed. Yes, as a unit, those brothers would be the greatest rulers in the Pride Lands' history! It was a great shame that the Ghurubu kingdom was so distant from the Pride Lands that news hardly ever came through to them... He had heard nothing since his last visit - when Mufasa had assumed the throne.

Now, this scrawny old uncle was finally heading back to their kingdom to see them. Oh, it had been all too long. The brothers would soon be getting into their elderly days themselves now. The old lion chuckled to himself as he walked. It was hard to imagine. His own body wasn't what it once had been either; it had lost much of its vim and vigour, and this long distance seemed to get even longer every time he set out. His once glossy, rich brown fur was now matted and dusty, the long black mane lifeless and dotted with grey hairs. His figure was also everything but flattering. Instead of rounded and muscular, his body was now scraggly and angular, with hip bones and spine protruding under the skin. The brown lion was incredibly thin, but didn't look emaciated; he was just... old. In fact, older than most other lions he had met through the years. But this had never stopped Sorondi - "As long as I can walk and eat, you won't be rid of me." he used to say.

Now it finally wouldn't be long before he reached the Pride Lands. Just over that hill and the great Pride Rock and its kingdom would be in sight...

[xscar10]

"Kovu that little termite, Scar wasn't even his fater; If mother would only give me a chance, I'd show her I can be as great as my father." He looked over at the stranger, whom had been talking with Nala.

"I bet if I were as strong as him I would be mothers favorate." Nuka groweled to himself.

"Just wait, I'll get my moment of glory, maybe even kill simba, just like mom wanted." He dreamed of the day he would be king.

[thegunner18]

"who? I don't see anyone?"

"Oh, don't worry then, must just be my paranoia" he said trying his best not to look embarresed. However, he was sure he saw something dart behind a rock, bur decided to push it to the back of his mind and worry later.

Finally, they arrived at pride rock, and what a sight it was! Even in these harsh times. There was still, most definitely beauty in it. "After you Nala. You might need to explain who I am and why I'm here to everyone else because they probably won't trust me."

[Kama]

Simba glanced over at his mother, the guilt nearly as old as he was washing over him. He gently shoved his great head beneath his mother's, purring.

"Don't think like that anymore," he pleaded, licking around and behind her ear. "I'll never leave you again." It was a promise, and he hoped his eyes showed it.

In the distance, Simba could pick up the faint sound of pawpads. He looked up to see Nala and Ajabu approaching, and smiled at the sight of his mate. However, the sight of the lands behind her still caused him great worry. There was no longer any choice.

"We have to move, don't we," he remarked quietly to his mother. It was more of a statement than a question.

[Nakisisa]

"Ohh you should know," said Nala, "everyone will know who you are, news travels fast here, just follow me and don't try anything, those lionesses are quick" she said warningly,

traveling up to the den she put on the "Ask Simba" look, showing it to any lionesses that started to move towards them, He let the rouge in, so let him deal with it she thought playfully, she started to walk towards the den, hoping to find Simba and Sarabi, she wanted to talk to them, they had a lot to catch up on.

---

Zee was in shock, she had just signed up to overthrowing the King and Queen, Her former Best friend and her mate. she should have been in disgust and immediately said no, but she felt so good planning to overthrow them,
Come On Girl, don't let them know what your doing she thought to herself, Lie if you Must
A few minutes later she was walking up to the den, when she saw the tail of an outsider, All part of the plan she told herself, barring her teeth and unsheathing her claws, she was just about to jump when she caught sight of the other lionesses telling her to stop, it headed into the den, and she just caught sight of Nala, Your Day Will Come she thought traitorously, but she too went into the den, bowing her head significantly less than she had done with Zira a short time before.

--- Short Amount Of Dialogue Between Nala And Zee---

Zee was just about past them when she heard it, "Zee? Is that you?" Nala shouted after her.
Zee though Ohh Great, Why Now keeping her head looking away from Nala and the others she replied, "Yes My Queen, what do you require"
Nala was stunned by the tone Zianabu had taken on with her, "Zee is there something wrong?" she said hating to see her Best friend sad.
"No my Queen" Replied Zee
"You know i hate you using my title, please come ad sit with us" said Nala, beckoning her to the space she had just made between herself and A.J.
"Yes Nala" she spat the words as if they were poison, as she went and sat down between her and the rouge
When Nala hear her speak so nastily she started to cry, leaning in on Simbas shoulder, letting him take charge of hat Zee should do.

[xscar10]

Nuka was fallowing them to pride rock, what could he do other than fallow them?
"Oh I hate this, I should just let the hyenas have me." he saw one of the lionesses glance back, and jumped into the grass.

[thegunner18]

Hearing the way Zee was talking to nala, A.J stood up and walked towards her in a threatening manner. "how can you talk to her like that!? She's the queen! And the rightful one at that. What have you got against her! If you want to hurt them, you have me to get through first." he said, snarling to the lioness.

[Zorayda]

Sarabi winced with guilt when she realized she had caused Simba pain. She wasn't sure why he'd stayed away for so long, but there was no need for her to rub it in like that.

"Oh, I'm sorry, son, I didn't mean--"

And then a small argument broke out between one of the pride lionesses and Nala, ending with Nala in tears. She came over to Simba for protection, and Sarabi looked at Simba with a look that clearly said, 'What are you going to do about it?'

[xscar10]

"How can you talk to her like that!? She's the queen! And the rightful one at that. What have you got against her! If you want to hurt them, you have me to get through first."

"Who is that?" Nuka snuk past the stranger, and hid behind a rock.

"Wow he's angry." Nuka thought as he looked over the rock.
Nuka didn't want to admit it but he admired his ferocity.

[Kama]

Simba licked Nala's head gently when she rested it on his shoulder, the used his tongue on her cheeks to bathe the tears away.

"Zee," he looked at the lioness sternly, but gently. "I understand we don't know each other very well yet, but I don't believe there's a reason to speak to the queen in that disrespectful manner, especially in front of everyone else. And even more importantly than Nala's status, if you need to clear the air with a close friend, I wish you would do it in private. I realize it may seem to be none of my business, but Nala is my mate, and if she hurts, it becomes my business."

Simba returned his attention to Nala, gently tending to her tears and purring softly in her ear. He hoped he had handled the situation correctly, without making Zee even angrier. But then again, if he was going to be king, he would need to keep others from walking over him. To let that happen was asking for mutiny.

[Nakisisa]

"yes sire" Zee said as she got up and headed for the back of the den, a discret smile spreading across her face.
---
"T... Thank You, everyone" Nala said in a croaky voice, she was still shocked by how her best fried had spoken to her. She was calmed greatly by Simbas purring, he always, even from when he was a little cub, knew how to calm her down aster something bad had happend.
Sadness still on her face she lay down, slowly, she moved herself so she had her two front paws inbetween Simbas paws, she then nuged her head under and betwen Simba so her head rested her paws.
She started to cry again, but this time she felt safe.