TLK IV

[Deleted]

Simba worked with Nala, and slowly they raised Sarabi up on their backs sharing the load. Paw by paw they were placed gently in front of each other making sure they avoided anything that could jar her.

Finally out of the range of Malka, Simba turned to Nala
"You know something is real fishy here, and its upto us to find out what and why?, just follow my lead."

Suddenly Simba dug his paws in and stopped, and let Sarabi slide off his back and nodded to his mate to do the same. Moving back Simba stood there waiting patiently.

"Well mother, your time is up... like to fill in Nala and myself as to you and Kiara's little game ? or shall I just tell you what I think.... yes I think I'll start.."
Not giving her any time to protest Simba opened his muzzle with a growl.
" What possessed you, you are my mother., the elder queen.... YOU DON'T go sneaking around, lying and cheating and THEN you make others lie for you as well..."

Simba stopped for a moment and starting pacing back and forth in front of her and Nala.
" Who are you...why have you changed, where's the concerned sensible lioness that we all know and love, who always tried to find a solution for both sides....NO answer I see, well when you find the mother that I know, bring her to me."

Simba closed his muzzle and walked away, leaving a space between them.

[cheezeegriff]

" maybe you should think back to who your parents are Kovu, and take a look at yourself and see if you like what you see and how you are behaving ... hmm ?"

Sarafina's interruption took Malka by surprise, but even more surprised was the fact that she seemed to be siding with him. Pushing past the dethroned king, he marched on for Pride Rock, silently hoping Sarafina would follow him.
"Things will need to change around here,"
he muttered.
"I've tried being nice: I give an order they don't like and they twist it and try and stab me in the back with it. Well... two can play at that game."
Stopping, he turned to face Sarafina. The last sentence he hadn't really wanted her to hear. Sighing, controlling himself, he forced the smile upon his face - the fakery of which was more of a reflex these days anyway - and said,
"Unless you've got an idea to spare?"

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Kovu winced as Malka pushed past his shoulder, a wide grin on his face and a evil glisten in his eye. The other lionesses were looking at him... but where was Kiara?

He spotted a tail a short distance away, poking out from between a mound of rocks... it looked familiar. Once he drew his pained body closer, he could hear her little sniffs, and guilt flooded him like a bubbling, muddy spring, leaving him dirty.
For a while he just stood outside, not knowing what to say. He had thought the ends had justified the means... but aside from the fact that Malka hadn't believed a word of it, something about the whole business of deposing this king made him feel filthy.
Quietly, he settled down beside her, putting his head against hers.
"I suppose... I suppose that wasn't the right thing to do,"
he said. Inwardly, he expected Kiara to rebuke him: Suppose? Suppose? I suppose it was wrong for Scar to kill Mufasa too. Holding his breath Kovu waited, hardly daring to hope she would be a little more merciful.

[Dakota]

Sarafina sighed heavily what on earth was Kovu and Kiara thinking of, this is going to get us all in trouble ,unless I can defuse the situation somehow

Moving forward to catch up with Malka she held back a gasp at what she was overhearing.
"I've tried being nice: I give an order they don't like and they twist it and try and stab me in the back with it. Well... two can play at that game."

Well now was the time to speak up and see if Malka was going to listen to her opinions and not get all snooty, playing the 'I'm the king' role.
Turning her face so she was staring at him, she caught a quick glimpse of emotions flash across his face before the mask fell like a curtain. Hesitating for a moment, then opening her muzzle she began to speak to him a a quiet respectful manner.

"Malka, I gather you are letting me be with you once again, but I would also like to know if you are going to respect what I say and how I say things to you. I just saw the expression on your face, before you shut me out... are you going to lie to me with that look of yours each time, or do you think I might get to see a little of who you really are ?"
Sarafina kept watching him closely, she had a developed a good sense over the past few years at how to hide ones emotions and for those returning the favour.
hmmm nothing forthcoming straight away, well may as well carry on and see how he reacts I guess .

"So you think I might have an idea about how to pay back my family..well I agree something uncessesary happened back there with those three, but I don't think you should take it out on Nala, Simba and Kopa, if you had of been watching, they were as puzzled and then dumbstruck like myself. But.. it also didn't take them long to figure out something was amiss. and the other thing, I think you have forgotten Malka, is that Sarabi isn't in your pride, so you can't ban her from hunting at all.. .."

Trying not to smile at that little piece of news she gave him and annoy him all over, Sarafina carried on speaking.
"But.. Kiara and Kovu are..soo I suggest you order them to go out by themselves and bring back a fresh kill for everyone else to share.. this time stay away from the elephants..hmm."

Still walking alongside Malka, Sarafina kept pace, she wasn't going to walk 3 paces behind, as far as she was concerned she was an equal whether he liked it or not, she knew she still had her old home to go back to if he kicked her out.

[Kirsui]

"I think it is worthy of respect that we have given you such a generous offer. I also wonder why we would be undeserving of your respect...ma'am."

"A generous offer that was uncalled for", the old lioness added.
"Or did you not perhaps listen to what I said?"
The old lioness streched then, and slowly rose from the cliff she had been resting on. She gave the area a longing look, without the knowledge why this place was so calming to her. And then she pounced down, using several smaller cliffs on the rock wall to reach the ground level.

Once there she walked to the two lionesses, but without a threating pose. No, she didn't want to fight these two, not yet.
"Little queen..." she begun, completely ignoring Scruffy's precence as her full attention was on the blue eyed lioness with the tuft.
"You ask me why you are not worthy of my respect...? Because a simple offer that I have not asked for is nothing compared to the fact that there are far too many questions needing an answer, questions that concerne you."
She motioned at both Vitani and Scruffy with her paw before continuing.
"Had I come to you, pleading for you to take me in... Then you would gain my respect if you took me, because from a pride to take in an old, literally worn out lioness is a huge risk. It would have been an honorable act, and from that you would have gained my respect because I am not my old self, what ever I have been back when I was young... I live on what I can find, like a mere hyena who is too much of a coward to hunt. I do this because it is the only thing I can do, because I am simply too weak to hunt on my own."

She paused, still ignoring Scruffy who didn't seem to mind at all.
"But what happens here is that you sound like you are begging me to come with you. You behave below your station, little queen, and thus you do not deserve what ever respect you wish to gain from me for there is nothing honorable in what you are doing. Your intentions may be as goodwilled as you try to make them sound like, but something in this whole situation simply stinks."

The old lioness paused again, letting her words sink in. However, she continued speaking before either of the lionesses present could say anything.
"However... If you give me a good enough reason, little queen, to come with you, a reason I can believe is true, then I will come with you, what ever it is you wish to gain by taking me in."

[cheezeegriff]

"But.. Kiara and Kovu are..soo I suggest you order them to go out by themselves and bring back a fresh kill for everyone else to share.. this time stay away from the elephants..hmm."

"Kovu?"
Malka scoffed.
"Kovu couldn't hunt a duck with a broken wing at the moment, let alone anything else that could provide us with nourishment. As for Kiara... no. I'm not asking her to do anything. She must think I'm stupid: I won't give her the honour of a hunt. I shouldn't even be letting her live. In fact, I've got a better idea."
He looked at her sideways, grinning wickedly.
"Don't think that just because I don't do everything you say - or even anything you say - means I don't have any respect for you. It was you who wanted my company, remember. I respect you as my subject - perhaps as a potential companion - but you must respect me as a king, and realise the decision is mine to make.
"Besides, I've got a better idea."
With that he turned around, yelling over his shoulder back to the main group of lions.
"Kopa, old friend!"
He said, smiling graciously, as if he weren't angry at all.
"I'd like to arrange a meeting with you, if you don't mind, so we can finish the conversation we started at Pride Rock. When's convenient? And your place or mine?"
As Kopa stopped to think, Malka said to Sarafina,
"I'd like you to come too: I don't think this plan will be half as bad as you think it is."

[Reagen]

Zazu flew into Malka's den in a hurry. "Malka! I just-" He paused when he noticed it was empty. "Oh. How odd. Where could he be?" He circled around in the air for a moment and then flew outside. He saw Malka and almost all of the pride coming back to Pride Rock.
"Oh dear, it looks like everyone already knows about Sarabi's injury."
He sighed.
"I guess I'm behind in knowing whats going on, as usual. I feel so useless sometimes."
He flew down towards where Malka, Kopa, and Sarafina were. Landing on the ground next to them.
"Hello Malka, Kopa, Sarafina. I was coming to tell you about Sarabi's injury, but it would seem you already know. In any case, I suppose the situation has been sorted out. Is there anything I can do to help?"

[Deleted]

Simba kept walking away from his mother and mate, he was really in no mood to stay and talk about all the nonsense that had happened, all he knew was that now Malka was here, if the others didn't stop all this, someone would be banished.

moving back to the waterhole he lay down, on the edge his paws half in the water, watching little ripples hot the front of his fur and then bounce back.

I wonder if I should warn them , any more stupidity I will take control back, just like that, no discussions, nothing, and I will rule once more

[cheezeegriff]

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Ahh little hornbill, so nice of you to grace us with your presence at last,"
Malka said, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in his voice. He bent down and presented Zazu with his best fake smile.
"Be present for my meeting with Kopa and give me any feedback you have,"
he said, then looked over his shoulder, waiting for Kopa's response to his earlier question.

[Dakota]

Kopa stood there, making sure he had no expressions on his face that Malka could take the wrong way and listened attentively.
"I'd like to arrange a meeting with you, if you don't mind, so we can finish the conversation we started at Pride Rock. When's convenient? And your place or mine?"
As Kopa stopped to think, Malka said to Sarafina,
"I'd like you to come too: I don't think this plan will be half as bad as you think it is."

"sounds like a good idea Malka, how about instead of your place or mine, we just mosie on down to the water hole, I'm feeling rather thirsty after all this...misadventure."

Kopa turned to look at Sarafina, she seemed to be a bit taken aback, maybe Malka was putting her in place, whatever that maybe, He still wasn't sure what this 'friendship' between them was, and what would happe,. he wished Scruffy and Vitani were here, things always seemed to work out when the three of them were together.

Turning back, they were suddenly interupted by the flapping of wings, Zazu, had finally put in an appearance.
Kopa turned his attention to the hornbill...
"So, where have you been, and what mischief have you been upto my friend, we havent seen you around for a little while ?"

[Tamber]

Tani watched as her mother bounded down the rocks leading up to her perch, eventually landing and approaching to stand before the two of them. She spoke sternly to Vitani and only Vitani, seeming to leave Scruffy out of the conversation. That's fine, Tani thought. As I'm the queen, she should be speaking to me.

"But what happens here is that you sound like you are begging me to come with you. You behave below your station, little queen, and thus you do not deserve what ever respect you wish to gain from me for there is nothing honorable in what you are doing. Your intentions may be as goodwilled as you try to make them sound like, but something in this whole situation simply stinks."

Tani squinted a bit at the old, dicrepit lioness's logic. Understandable, it was, but Tani needed to clear something up with her.

"Well if I have given you reason to think that we are 'begging' you to join us, forgive me, for it's not true." The tawny lioness spoke earnestly, not letting anything about her waver. "The only good reasons I have for you to join are that we have shelter, community, and means of finding food, all of which, as you mentioned, you do not have.

"However," she said with a quick shrug, "If you do not want our help, you certainly don't have to take it. Hence why we are asking you if you would like to join us, and nothing more. You can come with us, have plenty of food and a nice place to sleep, good company who are eager to meet you again, beautiful scenery, and all the time in the world to improve your health and feel top notch again.

"Or you can stay here, in the comfort and peacefulness of your cavern, free of responsibility or any pride members to get on your nerves, and able to make a living for yourself. The decision is yours to make."

Tani gazed into her mother's eyes, awaiting a response. It was true that Tani secretly preferred not to bring Zira with her if she chose not to go. She only wanted her mother to be happy, for Tani could not remember a time when she was, and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity to set things right.
________________________________
Nala assisted Simba in laying Sarabi down. However, he seemed to be in much more of a hurry than she, and plopped his mother down carelessly. Nala stepped back, watching Simba become angry with his mother.

"Well mother, your time is up... like to fill in Nala and myself as to you and Kiara's little game? What possessed you, you are my mother, the elder queen.... YOU DON'T go sneaking around, lying and cheating and THEN you make others lie for you as well..."

Simba followed by stomping off, snorting under his breath. Nala couldn't believe how angry he had let himself become. She looked down to Sarabi, still lying on the ground. She gave her a slight smirk and a shrug. "Men. They have short tempers, do they not?"

Nala walked over and sat beside her mother in law, looking down at her peacefully. "I'm sure Simba forgot that whatever you might have been up to, you are Sarabi, and you must have had a pretty decent reason for it. What exactly is going on, ma? I'm all ears."

[Kirsui]

"-- have plenty of food and a nice place to sleep, good company who are eager to meet you again, beautiful scenery --"

The old lioness' ears twiched slightly. None of what the little queen had to offer interested her, she had survived this far on her own at the termite nests and on this place with skulls and bones...

"-- The decision is yours to make."

"I will come."
She said this with a blank face void of all emotions that could have revealed what was going through her mind... Because really, she indeed wasn't interested at all of what ever beautiful views they thought to offer her, or how much food she could have, or how much better places she could sleep in...

No, it was the mentioning of company who wanted to meet her again that made her agree to follow. She didn't let it show, but her curiosity had risen to a new level with that being mentioned. She couldn't remember anyone, did't even know if she had some day known these two fools standing in front of her...

---

Scryffy's eyes widened slightly and she gave a quick glance at Vitani. Zira looked utterly bored, so bored in fact that the fluffy necked had no idea why Zira had agreed to follow them. It couldn't be anything Vitani offered, could it? There was just something fishy about the sudden change of mind...

However, since Zira had voiced her decision, she wasn't going to argue with it. But she did wonder what Kovu planned on doing with this old lioness, or even if he'd recognize her as the same creature. She was so skinny, and so awfully dirty, and her once rather well cared fur was so thin the scars under it could be seen too well, not to mention the half missing tail tuft and barely visible stripe...

Scruffy mentally shook her head and prepared to follow Vitani back home. They'd see once they got there, they'd see if anyone recognized this as Zira and they'd see what intentions this old lioness really had behind the decision to come with them.

[Dakota]

Sarafina stood there, her face devoid of all emotion as Malka basically told her her off for voicing her ideas. so this is how he is going to handle things, hmm we shall see.
About to walk away, the older lioness stopped when his words reached her.
"I'd like you to come too: I don't think this plan will be half as bad as you think it is."

Sarafina met his eyes, blinking slowly to cover what she was feeling, and answered him slowly " as you wish Malka ". and then she turned from him, and moved over to a shady bush and lay down to see where they were to go.
well I guess its fair play, Sarabi and Kiara had their little plan they tried to implement and failed miserably, looks like its time for Malka to call their bluff

[cheezeegriff]

"Let's head down to the waterhole,"
Malka said to Kopa, as Sarafina lay down. He started walking off slowly, allowing time for the older lion to catch up as well as for the hornbill to attend. When they reached the lapping edge of the water he turned around and sat before Kopa, still unable to remove the semi-smile from his face that had gotten him out of so many scrapes. It was touched with a little hint of satisfaction, he knew, but perhaps it was well-deserved.
"So, I'll start with my perception of the truth, seeing it seems so often misrepresented: It appears to me that Kiara and Sarabi have faked an injury whilst hunting the elephants on my suggestion. I can only think of one reason they'd try to do this, and that's to try and make me, he who gave the order, look bad."
He gazed around the group, studying their eyes for a few moments, before adding,
"Does anyone disagree?"

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Kiara stared disbelievingly at Kovu. "You suppose..." she repeated. She was so angry at him. He had told her to carry out this plan, and like an idiot she had believed him. Now, she and Sarabi faced a whole lot of punishment and Kovu stood to stand none of it. "I suppose that you also suppose that Sarabi and I will probably be punished for you 'brilliant' idea, huh?" She spat at him, her fangs showing a little.

"I also suppose that you will have to deal with none of it. Literally nothing. Now I have an enemy, Kovu, and guess who that enemy is, my dear. That enemy is the king. Thanks so much, Kovu dearest." she said, mocking him with the last sentence. She glared up at him, hoping she had cut deep. She loved him, she knew she always would, but she was so hurt by all that had happened, she didn't care if she hurt him or not.

[Dakota]

Kopa followed after Malka with Sarafina now walking beside him, he turned to her and lowered his voice.
" I hope we can reason with him, and whatever he suggests isn't going to be too outlandish, I know he will want payback for what Kiara and Sarabi have tried to do, and then there's Kovu to consider as well.. we know don't we Sarafina that he has to have had some input in this mess, we have found ourselves in ."

Seeing Simba lying by the waterhole, he noticed that Malka had stopped a short distance from him as well, so they were still isolated.
Sitting down, making sure Sarafina was between him self and Malka, he wasn't about to take the lion for granted, as far as anyone of them knew, he could turn in a second, so it was precaution time.

Having settled himself, Kopa didn't give anything away on his face when he heard Malkas words
"So, I'll start with my perception of the truth, seeing it seems so often misrepresented: It appears to me that Kiara and Sarabi have faked an injury whilst hunting the elephants on my suggestion. I can only think of one reason they'd try to do this, and that's to try and make me, he who gave the order, look bad."

Kopa nearly rolled his eyebrows, didn't have to be too smart to figure that one out, you think kiara or Sarabi would have got some bleeding cuts or something on themselves to make it more authentic. "Well yes Malka, I suppose that does seems possible"

Kopa met his gaze head on "And, what are you going to do about it, is the next question ?"

[cheezeegriff]

Malka returned Kopa's gaze with a sneeky smile, which quickly grew into something more genuine.
"First tell me why you're living all the way out here, instead of at Pride Rock, like a true king? Doesn't that..."
He looked about, as if trying to find the right way to say it.
"... bother you at all? Because it would me. Here you are living in luxury, the eldest son of a line of kings, but why isn't it you who'll have permission to present his firstborn to the herds from Pride Rock?
"Nownow, I'm not trying to make you jealous,"
he added quickly,
"But I've seen the longing some members of your pride have, when they look at Pride Rock. Perhaps you're happy living down there, but are you sure all your subjects are?
"There's an old saying: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."
he leaned closer to Kopa, unintentionally keeping his voice down, forgetting about Sarafina and Zazu's presence.
"Personally, I think it's a load of dribble. Personally, I want to keep my friends close, and my enemies far, far away."
He drew back.
"So. The offer to join me at Pride Rock as my equal is open to you and to any of your pride that wish to come. The same is true for the reverse: those who want to leave pride rock - for whatever reason - will be allowed to, so long as you'll have them. If not it's of no concern of mine really,"
he got up, and sat by Sarafina.
"But my offer for lions to move into Pride Rock is wide open."
He fixed his offer with a smile.
"Any thoughts?"

[Dakota]

Kopa sat there digesting all Malka had to say, he wasn't too sure if the lion was being sly or was acutally genuine in his puzzlement about there sleeping and living arrangements. Taking his time, Kopa truly didn't know what to say in return, he himself had never stewed over the fact that Kiara and her mate were at Pride Rock and he was elsewhere.

"well.. truth be told Malka, if you've seen longing of any of the lions faces about living at Pride Rock, maybe you should invite them to join you, as far as I know, everyone comes and goes as they like, it's their choice and I wouldn't stand in their way, no matter what they choose. And enemies.. again.. unless I'm going blind, haven't seen any of them around here for a while, and no one new has ventured close.. apart from you that is.. and what catagory do you slip into Malka ?"

Turning away for a moment his gaze rested on his father lying further along from them, with his paws resting in the shallows, for some reason it looked like he was brooding about something, most probably Kiara and Sarabis little adventure. Glancing back at first Sarafina then Malka.
"as for permission for holding my first born to the herds from pride rock" Kopa shrugged slightly " who knows Malka, mighten even happen, so no point worrying about something that doesn't exist"

Kopa waited while Malka rose and decided to stand by Sarafina for some reason, then continued in a carefully modulated voice.
"Now.. that you are more comfortable, what was it that you wanted to talk about to do with the earlier events regarding my sister and grandmother?"

[cheezeegriff]

"...Thanks so much, Kovu dearest."

Kovu bore Kiara's anger with as much grace as he could bear, when in truth, all he wanted to do was curl into a little ball and cease to exist. He had already apologised, and Kiara was right, after all. What more could he do but stand there?

He decided to let her make the next move. He didn't want to leave her just now, when she was upset - but he didn't want to presume that she would let him wrap her in his arms either. So he simply sat, looking at her, trying to project his sincerity, as awkward as that was, and waited.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"Now.. that you are more comfortable, what was it that you wanted to talk about to do with the earlier events regarding my sister and grandmother?"

"Ah, my apologies,"
Malka said.
"I didn't make myself very clear. By opening the gates to who lives within Pride Rock, I was hoping to kick Kiara and Sarabi out."
He paused for a moment, trying to read Kopa's expression.
"Subtley of course, so as not to embarass them, or make myself seem cruel as I'm sure many will see it, but as I believe I may have mentioned - or maybe not, I've said it so many times I've forgotten who I've said it to - I prefer to keep my enemies far, far away."
He looked to Sarafina as well, cocking his eyebrow.
"You're allowed an opinion too, you know."

[Kirsui]

The walk back towards home was... uncomfortable. Scruffy didn't know what Vitani was thinking, and she herself didn't speak a word. She kept her gaze strictly forward and could hear the soft steps of the older lioness behind them.

However, what really made the whole walk so uncomfortable for her was how she felt Zira's eyes on her almost all the time. Though said lioness had barely given a glance at her back at the Graveyard, now it seemed that when the old lioness wasn't examining Vitani, she was examining her.

As they crossed the border river and arrived back to the Pride Lands, Scuffy felt somewhat relieved. She hoped that soon enough she would be able to leave the old lioness' precence. She glanced at said lioness when she waited for her to cross the border river. Yes, the similarity was there if one knew how to look through all the dirt, thin fur and scars that hadn't been there when they all had last seen Zira during the final battle.

However, when their tiny group begun to head where they had last see Kovu, Scruffy got an odd feeling. Something was... different. She didn't know what it was, but she was sure she didn't like it the slightest bit.
"Somthin' has happened..." she muttered quietly through clenched teeth.

She was only glad when they could finally see the shapes of Kiara and Kovu... Or was for a moment, before something in Kiara's pose told her something really was wrong here. She stopped walking, causing the old lioness behind her to stop as well. She had no idea what to do. She couldn't see Kopa anywhere. nor was there - to her relief - any sign of Malka.

And so, the fluffy necked remained where she was, her gaze focused on Kovu and she just hoped he'd look at their way soon so that no one who wasn't supposed to see their supposed Zira wouldn't have time to show up.

[Tamber]

No one uttered a word as teh three lioneses walked back to their homeland. Tani lead the way with Scruffy beside and slightly behind her. She knew nothing of Zira's actions, for she chose not to look back at her for the entire trip. She trusted that she was not wandering off. Why would she, after all?

The three of them carefully crossed over the log that led into the Pridelands. As Tani took ehr first step onto its soil, her toes pushing up into a shelf as she put her weight on her paw, she felt a rush of nervousness. As first she was not sure why. It must have been because of the ominous feeling of walking with Zira. What if a creature passed by and saw her with them? What would it think? Tani knew that being with Zira wasnot a bad thing, at least at this point. But something about bringing her home out on display did not sit well inside of Tani.

They finally approached Pride Rock once more. Everyone was out and about, seeming ot be in a large bustle. An elephant herd was walking off out in the distance, and Tani thought she could see a tinge of dust hanging in the air. Scruffy stopped beside her, and Tani followed suit. Something was definitely up, but who to talk to?

Kopa was nowhere in sight, and nor was Kovu. She saw Nala sitting beside Sarabi nearby. "Maybe we should talk to Nala," he said quiety to Scruffy. "I don't see anyone else around."

[Dakota]

Kopa sat there, his glance flickered to Sarafina, but for some reason she kept her facial expressions neutral once again. sly old thing, she's learning to play the game by the looks .

"Well Malka you can toss out Kiara seeing she is in your pride, but Sarabi she's not, so you have no jurisdiction over her I'm sorry to say. At the rate you are going, you will be all by yourself.. but as you say you like to keep your enemies far away, perhaps that is good, I would rather have any I might make, which I havent as yet, close by me... you know keeping a close eye upon them and a paw or two handy for when its needed. Of course its your decision not mine.. looks like my pride might be growing rapidly if this keeps up."

Kopa felt a shudder run up his spine and turned around quickly glancing in all directions, something was about to happen, but he couldn't see anything, but his instinct hadn't let him down before he just knew things were about to change, some new force was coming to them.

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

Sarafina sat there beside Malka, not saying a thing just listening. her thoughts weren't anywhere in particular, the last thing that had crossed her mind was, why on earth hadn't Simba just made Kopa the leader of all the pride instead of splitting it up between him and flirty kiara, things wouldn't be happening now if that had been the case. She was proud ofthe way Kopa was handling things, and not bowing to pressure from Malka or making untimely comments.

Turning her head quickly when she realised Malka was addressing her, her ears twitched with his question "You're allowed an opinion too, you know.".
The lioness met his eyes and smiled 'Well thankyou Malka, its nice to see that you value what I have to say... but I happen to agree, this time, with Kopa. I'm sorry if it not what you want to hear but that is my feeling on this matter, again though I would like to see Kiara not get away with what she tried so foolishly to do, the same can go to Kovu, as he's not entirely innocent in this matter either."

Stepping away her gaze flickered over Kopa, noticing his apprehensive search of the area, " Kopa..something the matter ?"

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Kiara stared at Kovu, long and hard for a few more minutes. She remained silent and she thought. 'What on earth am i going to do? I'm going to be in so much trouble, and it was all in vain. I might as well curl up into a ball and die. There's no point in even living anymore...' was all that went through her mind. She hated everything that had happened since Malka arrived. Soon she would probably be a cast out and worthless to the pride.

She came out of her thoughts and stared at Kovu. "Kovu I kn-" she said, the rest of her words caught in her throat. She ran the short distance between them and curled into him. "What am I going to do?" she sobbed into this chest.

[cheezeegriff]

Kovu put his arm around Kiara as she leaned into him, holding her close, ignoring her injuries.
"What ever we'll do, we'll do it together,"
he said, trying to stop his voice from breaking. Heavens, what had he done to her, and Sarabi too? It had seemed such a good idea... and if he shifted to the right sense of mind, it still seemed like a good idea, but they had been caught, and they had no excuse.
Maybe... maybe he could appeal to Malka for mercy,
"I'm going to go for a walk,"
he said, still holding onto her.
"If you like, you can check on Sarabi, and I'll come meet you back at the cave. Is that alright?"
He pulled away, looking into her eye, then noticed over her shoulder that Scruffy and Vitani had returned! The joy at seeing them was insurmountable, but so was the realisation: that he would have to tell them he had stuffed up again.
Then he noticed someone following Scruffy and Vitani, a lean stranger.
By the fathers... they'd found her.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"but I happen to agree, this time, with Kopa."

"And you're quite entitled to your opinion,"
Malka said, slightly disappointed that she didn't agree with him, but then, he didn't want her to agree with him on everything. Perhaps she'd be more useful to him than he had once thought. He was about to ask what she thought he should do, but then saw her gaze into the distance and ask Kopa what was wrong.

Malka followed his gaze to three lionesses walking back across the long grass. Neither Kopa or Sarafina had moved yet, so he stepped ahead of them, marching towards the lionesses slowly.

"Greetings all,"
he said when he reached the first, then glanced back at the dishevelled and scarred lioness trailing the first two. She looked familiar, but less familiar than the first two, and asked with a smile,
"What have we here?"

[Kirsui]

"Maybe we should talk to Nala. I don't see anyone else around."

Scruffy shook her head in denial, her gaze wandering from something in front of them to something slightly to their right.
"I do... I see trouble"

"Greetings all. What have we here?"

Mentally the fluffy necked lioness cursed that Malka had reached them before Kovu. She was only slightly relieved that the new king didn't seem to recognize the old lioness who had followed her and Vitani.
"What we have here, Malka..."
Scruffy said as she kept her gaze locked on the much larger male. Her head was held lower than his, but her voice held no respect towards him. He wasn't her king after all...
"... is two lionesses from Kopa's pride, one who happens to be his Queen as well, and a wanderer who wished to meet our King."

Well that... wasn't exactly the whole truth, but it was as close to it as the she wanted to explain. She didn't like Malka at all, and truth was the former Outlander didn't care if she was rude at him. She still held Kovu in higher position than this fool who had won the crown from the younger male. The blind respect towards "the Chosen One" was the whole pillar of her life, Zira had made sure of that when she had trained them. And Scruffy had made sure she was one of the best ones, she had to be when she was forced to look after Kovu and Vitani when Nuka had slipped away.

And so the fluffy necked glared at Malka with her dark reddish-brown eyes and trying to keep his focus on her instead of the old and very dirty lioness behind her and Vitani.

---

The old lioness watched with something close to boredom as the large male, who one of these lionesses called Malka, approached. She gave him only a brief glance, and saw nothing spectacular about him. Sure his two coloured mane was something she would have remembered had she seen him before, added in with the small black tufts on the tips of his ears...

But he wasn't familiar to her, and so she soon turned to look around these lands. It was... a disappointment really. The lands were beautiful, but the old lioness didn't care for beauty. Already she longed to return to the dusty graveyard and spend her time with the elephant skulls, to feel the familiar precence...

She sighed, briefly looking at the Elephant Graveyard in the distance before turning her head away from it as she tried to catch up with the conversation between Scruffy and Malka.

[Deleted]

Sarabi lay there on the ground after Simba had raised his voice at her and walked away leaving her alone with Nala, her own son was now n ot talking to her. Sighing she turned away, it has been such a good idea of her Kiara and Kovu's and now it had all gone wrong.

Stretching the older lioness looked up at Nala, she was just sitting there patiently waiting for her to talk.
" Yes Nala, its all true.. we thought we had a foolproof plan where it would make Malka look so bad, he would have to give kovu back his crown and Malka would have to go back to whereever he came from, but it all backfired, none of the other lioness or elephants really wanted to participate, they didn't want us to take the crown by foul ways, soo..."

"I'm sorry Nala, it was a silly thing I did impulsively, so it's upto me to put it right, if I can, so I will go see Malka."
Looking over Nala's shoulder, her eyes widened in disbelief "No, it can't be.... what on earth were they thinking, now the day has realy been shot to pieces. We have company Nala, you better look yourself to make sure my eyes are seeing wrong.".

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

Simba lay there by the waterhole. He knew Malka and Sarafina were a bit further away from him 'discussing' the situation with Kopa, he only hoped kopa kept his cool, he could usually rely on his son to use commonsense and keep his head in times when it was needed.

Seeing dust flick up beyond them all, he turned and watched with interest, it should only be Vitani and Scruffy returning from wherever they had sped off too. Pushing himself to his feet he walked towards and following after Kopa and company, it seemed everyone was going to greet the girls. Puzzled Simba sped up, a gasp leaving his mouth when he saw they had someone with them. His eyes kept staring at the torn ear, his brain denying what was facing him... Zira.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

"What ever we'll do, we'll do it together,"

Kiara smiled at him. "Swear?" she asked jokingly. She knew he would never leave her, and she felt comorted in that. She snuggled into his chest a big longer and then looked at him again. "Yes, I think I'll go check on Sarabi then." she added.

Kovu suddenly stared beyond her and she turned to see what was the matter. Her mouth went dry and she was suddenly confused. They had found her. There, standing not very far away, was the lioness who had tried so hard to keep the Pridelanders and the Outlanders apart. Standing next to Scruffy and Vitani was Zira.

[Tamber]

Nala listened patiently to Sarabi's response. The matriarch spoke with embarassment and shame in her voice, and Nala only wished she could help Sarabi feel less guilty of what she had done.

"Yes Nala, its all true.. we thought we had a foolproof plan where it would make Malka look so bad, he would have to give Kovu back his crown and Malka would have to go back to wherever he came from, but it all backfired."

Nala was surprised at hearing how much Sarabi thought her plan would accomplish, but she did not disagree with the lioness's feelings and appreciated the attempt. She wanted to reassure Sarabi that what she had done was well justified, but she did not have the time.

The former queen turned her head in the direction Sarabi was staring. With a quick squint, Nala could see the details of an old, dirty, skinny, beat up lioness. But the overall picture was clear. She was no stranger to them, and Nala only half believed that before her eyes stood Zira, the bug they thought had been long-exterminated.
__________________________________________
"I do... I see trouble"

Vitani sighed as she spotted what Scruffy had seen herself, the approaching "king" of the Pridelands, thief of the throne, Malka. Tani had not missed him in the least, and she instinctively felt a rush of anxiety and anger at seeing his face once again. Still, as much hate as she felt at the sight of him, the lioness stood tall and proudly. However the stern look upon her face would not disappear for him. He had no reason to be deceived to think she respected him.

Scruffy responded to his cocky inquiry, suggesting that Zira wished to meet Kopa. Tani agreed silently that speaking to an ally first would be wiser than speaking with Malka right away. The queen gazed into Malka's eyes intensely as she spoke: "If you would kindly point us in Kopa's direction, Malka, it would be very appreciated." She waited for the ridiculous king's response, expecting him to hold them back and get first dibs on the new lioness on the scene. Tani had no patience with him at this point. Either he would let them past, or she would set the record straight immediately.

[Deleted]

Simba stood there among the others, they were staring past Vitani and Scruffy, and it seemed all eyes were locked on the half dead looking lioness that they had bought back from their travels with them.

The only one who wasn't eyeing her up with speculation, was Malka who was greeting them all. smiling to himself Simba moved forward passing Nala and Sarabi, giving them a 'look' he used his head to message them to come along as well, a united front was needed.

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

Sarabi had bowed her head after telling Nala all that had happened, but now after it seemed everyones eyes were on who was now standing in front of them all. Pushing herself to her paws, she nudged Nala, maybe things would calm down now Malka had someone new to focus on.
Looking up as Simba passed, it seemed that he wanted them all to gather around, not sure whether to sigh or smirk, the older lioness fell into step behind her son.

[Dakota]

Kopa watched as Malka took to his paws as soon as he saw the three lionesses walk towards them. Nudging Sarafina who seemed glued to the spot, "Come on, we can't let Malka carry on as though he is the one reigning King."

Speeding up, he reached the lion just as he was greeting the females, it was amusing actually to see Vitani and Scruffy's reaction to him, and they were in his pride so Malka couldn't do anything about it.
Passing him, Kopa reached his mate and gave a her a slow nuzzle on her cheek
"About time you came back, I was getting lonely, and by the looks of it, things are going to get slightly interesting real soon, we've already had trouble with your brother, kiara and Sarabi."

Leaning up kopa straightened and moved over to Scruffy, Looking beyond her shoulder he gave the old female a quick lookover, grimacing in distaste then moved his eyes back to Scruffy. Kopa's look softened as he saw her standing there, with her beligerant gaze on Malka, he started to smile , poor Malka would have a very hard time if he thought he could control her, she was her own person, something he did indeed like, maybe a tad too much.

"so you finally decided to round up the scrawny one and bring her back, I wonder what sort of persuasion you tried with her my little warrior. It's good to have you back here with us Scruffy, I... missed you." Catching her glance, he smiled gently and then moved back away from her, so he was again facing the three females.

"well, shall we go back to the waterhole ladies "

[cheezeegriff]

Malka was finding it very hard to keep his smile. Not because of the rudeness of the two lionesses of Kopa's pride - which he was disappointed to recieve but which he nevertheless expected - but rather, because of the lioness they were guarding.
Something smelled absolutely foul.
Striding forwards, he came nose-to-to nose with the new lioness and reinforced his grin wth a mental effort.
"Greetings old one,"
he said, bowing his head respectfully,
"And welcome to the pridelands. You seem... somewhat familiar to me, though I can't place where. Have we met before? Have you ever visited the mountain clan?"
He knew they had met before - he couldn't exactly place it, but whoever she was, he knew they hadn't left on good terms.

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Kovu looked over Kiara's shoulder at the group that was forming not a short walk away. Scruffy, Vitani, Kopa, Simba, Nala and Sarabi... everyone there but the one person who had asked the others to go and get her - Zira, his mother.
Taking a deep breath, he said,
"I'd better get over there,"
then started stepping forwards.
"You needn't come - I won't put you through any more unpleasantries, but if you do then please don't stray too far from my side."
Truthfully, he wasn't sure he could do this alone... but he forced his feet to walk forwards, away from Kiara, and hoped for all his worth that she was following.