TLK IV

[cheezeegriff]

As Zira wandered away to the water's edge, Kovu sidled over to Vitani and Kopa.
"I think we need to think about what we want to achieve here,"
he said, then glanced at Vitani.
"If we tell her about us, Vitani... I'm worried it will bring all the old hatred back, that she'll remember everything, including her enemies. So... rather than say anything that might impede upon your royal privalege,"
he said, glaring at Vitani,
"I was rather hoping you could tell me what you plan to do?"

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

"We've watched him grow, we respected him as the Chosen One to the throne, and we were taught loyalty to the crown, his crown and to his crown alone. Kov' has a special place in each Outlanders' heart and soul..."

Upon hearing those words, Malka narrowed his eyes and grinned. Rubbish. Kovu limped around the plains alone. He didn't have backing, not even the slightest.

"Happy kingship to ya, Malka... Yer gonna need all the luck ya got, 'cos I ain't sure yer rule is gonna be an easy one."

"Why... thank you, Scruffy one,"
Malka said, his grin spreading.
"I thought that, having beaten Kovu in a duel then the other pridelanders would respect my rule. After all, that's the only reason I let Kovu stay. Stay alive, I mean."
He grinned, pacing around her, as if making to walk towards Kovu and the others, but then switching so he circled back around Scruffy. Speaking softly as he rubbed against her flank, he said straight into her ear,
"Seems I was wrong. An easy remedy to fix though - I'll get right on it. Thank you, Scruffy, for showing such honesty to the rightful king. Your insight will put much in motion, and I'll reward you for your loyalty."
He nipped her ear as if in casual affection, only harder, so it would do some damage, and walked away from Scruffy towards Pride Rock, passing Sarafina,
The thirst for blood in his heart made a smile for her impossible.

[Tamber]

"This Zira...did she have cubs?"

The old lioness's refusal of her former name surprised Vitani a bit, but it was soon forgotten and replaced with the anxiety brought on by this question. Kovu immediately called to her and Kopa, and though Tani wasn't completely eager to speak with either of them, noticing their coldness with her, she would rather talk this over with family than just respond to something like this on her own.

Before Kovu began to speak, Kopa approached her, and she felt the way she had as a young cub. That young, helpless feeling of nervousness when someone you are attracted to comes close and speaks to you. It was something Tani often felt as a cub when Kopa would come up to talk to her. She would tell herself to be cool and collected, to seem as if she wasn't nervous at all, when she was as anxious as she could be. She felt the memories of young love coming back to her in this moment, wishing that she could win Kopa's love again as she knew she was hopelessly losing it.

Then he spoke, and she could hardly believe her tawny ears.

"How are you feeling, now you have her back here amongst us? , you think you can slip away and spare some time with me, just the two of us ?"

Tani's ears perked up at the sound of his voice and the words he spoke. The lioness just couldn't figure her mate out today. One minute he wanted to be with her, the next he wandered off forlornly, as if waiting for something, while Tani sat awkwardly watching and knowing what it was he wanted.

"Of course," she whispered to him. "I'm sorry. I wanted to talk to you earlier, but I had to speak with Zira. I'm just...not sure how to go about it, you know? I'm really trying, Kopa, but...between you and me...I'm pretty nervous. This is...hard...for me to do. I'm sorry if I've been strange and loopy over the past few days." Tani rubbed her cheek against his, half expecting never to feel this again.

They then stood with Kovu as Zira wandered over to grab a drink and let them talk.

"I think we need to think about what we want to achieve here. If we tell her about us, Vitani... I'm worried it will bring all the old hatred back, that she'll remember everything, including her enemies. So... rather than say anything that might impede upon your royal privilege.....I was rather hoping you could tell me what you plan to do?"

Once again Tani felt a cold, bitter aura shooting from her brother's eyes to her's. He glared at her momentarily, and by his words, it sounded as if she had been running wild making countess executive decisions without even consulting her family. When she had done what...traveled off with her friend, found her long lost mother, and asked her her preferred name? Tani suppressed an angry response, but she didn't hesitate to give Kovu a confused, yet irritated response of the face, only to show that the reason for his upset was unclear to her.

"Well to be perfectly honest, Kovu, I'm glad you pulled us over. I'm glad I don't have to deal with this alone. In fact, since we all have a close rapport and understanding of one another, our history, and our interests, I was hoping that the three of us and Scruffy could henceforth make decisions mostly together. I feel like I'm your equal, so why should Kopa and I make every decision simply because we have special titles?" Tani paused, then let on to her suspicion. "It sounds as though you think I feel differently."

Honestly I don't know what to say here, and I think you're right, Kov. I'm afraid of helping her remember anything. Any spark of the mind could bring back hateful memories. Plus...I'm afraid of making this more awkward than it already is."

[Kirsui]

"After all, that's the only reason I let Kovu stay. Stay alive, I mean. Seems I was wrong. An easy remedy to fix though - I'll get right on it."

Scruffy's blood red eyes flashed, as if a hidden fire was sparking up to flames in them. She growled deeply, out of rage and anger towards Malka that she had managed to bottle up inside her before. Now, however, all that rose to surface as she extented her claws and swirled around to send a death glare at Malka's retreating back.

"Touch a fur on him", she half hissed and half roared, her tone promising certain death.
"And I'll rip your heart out myself while yer still alive."

[Deleted]

Sarabi had just laid there not saying a word, taking in all that was happening around her with the arrival of this smelly raggly lioness. As her gaze flickered from one to another, she could see that peace wasn't going to remain the same, the only ones that weren't arguing or giving each other looks where Nala and Simba.

Kovu, kopa and Vitani were now huddled together talking, Malka had gone with Sarafina, the other one was drinking, but still no sign of Scruffy. Rising to her paws, Sarabi moved around the trio, but slowed down as she passed the lioness, giving her the once over, her eyes still drifted back to the torn ear. shaking her head slightly, on she moved back out into the tall grasses to look for Scruffy.

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

Simba kept slowly walking with Nala by his side until they reached a shady spot from an overhanging tree, lowering himself down making room for his mate, he waited till she was beside him.
" You know we will have to keep our ears and eyes open now they have bought Zi...that lioness back here to Pride rock.I can see problems already between vitani and Kovu, and what if Kopa overules anything Tani and Kovu want to happen. he is the ruling King along with Malka now of course."

Sighing Simba again looked at his Queen
" It's upto us Nala, I don't want things to happen and for some reason Malka gets it all, or blood shed."
Turning away his eyes watched the female drinking from the waterhole.

[cheezeegriff]

"Touch a fur on him, and I'll rip your heart out myself while yer still alive."

Malka smirked, and stopped, ignoring the look Sarafina was giving him.
"Damned if I do and damned if I don't then,"
he said, then turned around.
"If I let him live I'll have a rebellion on my hands. If I kill him, you'll rip out my heart."
He bit his lip and gazed up at the sky, in a mockery of thought.
"Perhaps you and I can come to a deal, hmm? I don't want to kill Kovu. If I did, he'd already be dead. So you make every effort to keep those with a rebellious spirit content. You become my... supporter, of sorts. Put in a good word for me here and there. When you hear someone talking poorly of me, use that temper of yours to tell them to shut up. Help me win a little more support, do your bit, and I'll let Kovu limp around my pridelands for as long as you like. Does that sound fair?"
He looked at her sincerely, from below his mane.
"After all, it's not much to do for such a dear friend."

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

"Honestly I don't know what to say here, and I think you're right, Kov. I'm afraid of helping her remember anything. Any spark of the mind could bring back hateful memories. Plus...I'm afraid of making this more awkward than it already is."

Kovu nodded, and spared a moment for silent thought.
"I suppose my next question is: do you think it's right of us to keep the knowledge of her son and daughter from her? Or would that be wrong?"

[Kirsui]

"Perhaps you and I can come to a deal, hmm? I don't want to kill Kovu. -- You become my... supporter, of sorts. Put in a good word for me here and there. -- tell them to shut up. Help me win a little more support -- I'll let Kovu limp around my pridelands for as long as you like. Does that sound fair? After all, it's not much to do for such a dear friend."

Scruffy couldn't help herself. Her lips had been twitching while Malka had spoken this suggestion, her shoulders had begun to slightly shake.. And finally, when the new king had finished the fluffy necked gave up.

She laughed, a high pitched, piercing laugh, a laugh of a former assassin, a laugh that froze blood. She laughed even as her sides begun to hurt, even as she thought she could die... She laughed until no sound at all came from her mouth, and then she opened her blood red eyes and looked at Malka, her gaze filled with more amusement than there had ever been in her life. And yet, at the same time, the gaze promising certain death was still in her eyes, mixed with the amusement, making it look twisted and cruel.

"Me...?"
She chuckled still, and it seemed she would break into laughter again at any moment.
"Ya.. want... me...? As a supporter?"
Laughter took over again, though this time it didn't last as long as before.
"Yer insane, Malka, to suggest such a thing. I ain't gonna run around like a obedient lap dog 'n do what ever ya wish. That, 'n ya ain't the one with the high ground in this matter..."
She chuckled again, lifting her paw to examine her still extended claws. To her delight, they seemed so sharp they could cut a fur in two from the middle.
"Ya ain't got a thing to give to me, Malka."
Then she went serious again, the amusement somewhat fading as the death glare once again took its place.
"'N unlike ya, 'n I ain't got a thing to loose. "

She smirked, and her sharp fangs sparkled as the light hit them. She put her paw back to the ground, but still she refused to retract her claws.
"Ya disappoint me, Malka, when ya suggest such a deal... I ain't yer friend, no matter how much ya wish that. These ain't only yer Lands, as I think ye've been reminded many times since ya stole the throne from Kov'."
She paused, her smirk widening slightly.
"'N I ain't a fool ya can twist 'n turn to yer side by flashin' a smile 'n lettin' a few polite words slip from yer tongue. Ya offer me nothin' else than Kov's life in return of my 'support', as ya put it. 'N I simply don see what's so awesome in that when there's a whole pride who has deserved my support countless times more than ya ever could."

[cheezeegriff]

Malka shrugged.
"Suit yourself. I thought he was important to you."
He turned around again, walking past Sarafina, heading towards Pride Rock.

[kyto7878]

Mheetu began walking back into the pridelands remembering his childhood he had spent there he couldn't believe he had left to try to start his own pride when he was an adolocent. As Mheetu looked at Pride Rock he smiled. Mheetu roared out into the distance as loud as he could "Nala! Kopa! Simba! Mom! Im back!" Mheetu began running into the pridelands as fast as he could not knowing what had happened the time he was gone.

As Mheetu got closer and closer to Pride Rock he memories flashed before his eyes, Remembering everyone and everything he had left behind. Mheetu began to cry as he got closer to Pride Rock he had left when he was so young and never succeeded in his quest to start his own Pride. It was better just being back in the Pride lands he thought.

[Tamber]

Nala lay down beside her mate and leaned against him. It was nice to be alone with just him again, apart from the rest of the bustle in the pride. The former queen couldn't decided what was easier: being queen or being a spectator. As queen she could make these decisions with her own knowledge and judgement, being fairly confident in the ruling of the lands. But as she was now, as she remembered her days of power and watched others do as she had done, she wished she could do something besides sit back like an old woman. She had to respect her daughter, though, and let her make decisions for the pride herself.

Malka, on the other hand, was still undeserving of her respect, and she felt awful that she had ever had any feelings for him. She was grateful that she had this opportunity to see how rotten he really was, though she wished his reign would come to an end as soon as possible.

" It's up to us Nala, I don't want things to happen and for some reason Malka gets it all, or blood shed."

Nala looked at her mate and nodded. She knew that she would have to step in at some point and aid in the fight. She just wasn't sure where her place was. Oh, how she wished she was young again, young and free-spirited and rebellious as she was with Scar. Perhaps she could find this within her again.

An idea came to her mind, but before she could mull it over, she sensed something approaching from behind. The former queen turned her head in its direction, and she saw a light, almost white lion with a tan mane. She did not recognize him at first, and she felt obligated to stand up and greet him before he drew any closer. They didn't really need any newcomers at this point. Still, something in her heart told her to wait. Something about this lion was familiar. Maybe it was his color...

As Nala raised up alertedly at recognizing this male, she stared with amazement into his light blue eyes. "Mheetu?"
____________________________
"I suppose my next question is: do you think it's right of us to keep the knowledge of her son and daughter from her? Or would that be wrong?"

Tani sighed, unsure of how to answer. "Yeah...that I'm wondering, too," she said quietly with her head hanging lower, looking away fro the others. It did feel wrong to hide such information, and Tani herself couldn't decide which route would suit her or her pridemates more.

"I suppose we have to make a decision, though," she said. "Zira is still new here, still relatively new to this world. Let's give it some time, and we'll break the news to her when we feel she's ready.

"And..." Tani began, swallowing uncomfortably, "I think she should hear it from us...just us," she said to her brother.

[Zorayda]

Simba nuzzled his mate--his Nala--next to him and licked the top of her head once affectionately. He could almost see the many thoughts whirring through her mind and his brow wrinkled with worry. He made a bitter remark about the new king and she nodded.

So much had happened since he'd stepped down as king. Malka...Simba shook his mane, the red color fading with age. Malka used to be such a great friend. But he'd changed... changed into a manipulative tyrant, just like Scar.

Nala suddenly moved to look at something, and, having been with Nala for so long, moved almost exactly at the same time to see what was in her line of vision.

"Mheetu?"

Simba flicked an ear. Did he just hear her right? Mheetu, her little brother who used to tag along and annoy the crap out of them? Mheetu, the obnoxiously cute little cub?

Sure enough, as he looked, the color of his fur and the light brown mane, matched with soft blue eyes went with Simba's memory of the little cub. Wow, he was big...

Simba stood up, the age of his bones making him shuffle a bit as he did so.

"Mheetu, is that really you?"

[cheezeegriff]

Malka walked away from Scruffy and Sarafina, trying to keep his composure, his cool before his pride. They watched him from the corners of thier eyes as he climbed up to the den, bowing their heads in respect, but then lifting them again with askance glances when they thought he wasn't looking. Some of them, though, some of the ones he had spoken to more personally, looked at him with something more than concern for his competence. Potentially, they were his friends, if there ever truly was an uprising.
And the more talk he did, the more friends he would make.
Outwardly he put on his smile and spoke to them in a manner he thought they would respond to, and respond they did: Even some of those that looked askance seemed to respond to his efforts at charisma. They nodded at his statements, replied to his questions, laughed at his jokes.
At the end of the conversation he said, "You wouldn't go and fetch Kovu for me, would you? I need to have a word with him, in private."
Two of them looked at each other, then back at Malka, studying his face, and he almost let his smile falter. Would have, but they walked away to do as asked, and he walked into the den to wait. It was empty already.
The rush of what he had just done with Scruffy - what he had threatened to do, and intended to do - came at him all at once. For a moment he couldn't breathe. Had he really contemplated such a thing? Of course he had... if that's what it took to quash a rebellion that would take many lives, he would do whatever it took. He would kill Nala's son-in-law and then those that planned rebellion would fall into line. If they didn't, he would kill them too. After all, there were bigger things at stake than her happiness, or the happiness of Sarafina.
Or the happiness of anyone.
Startled, he shook his head: No. He wouldn't become his enemy to defeat it. He wasn't that bad. He was marginally better - and that thought was the only thing keeping him sane. But he had a reputation to keep. He had said he'd kill Kovu, and unless he wanted his reputation to suffer, he would have to carry through.
Unless...
Malka grinned. After all, there was more than one kind of 'death.'

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

"I think she should hear it from us...just us."

Kovu nodded, looking at the grass before his feet in thought, then up at Vitani. She was leaning close to him, whispering, and all of a sudden he had an urge to throw his arms around her neck and squeeze her tight. He didn't of course, but he took a step back, then forward again, and said softly,
"Tani, you're my sister. You know I'd do nearly anything for you, right?"

"Kovu?"
someone said, just as Kovu finished.

Kovu turned. Two lionesses approached him from Pride Rock. He recognised them: they were good hunters.
"Malka wants to see you privately. He's in the den at Pride Rock,"
one said. Kovu nodded, and they left.

He took a deep breath.
"Well..."
he said, and smiled wryly at Vitani and Kopa.
"Take care of our new friend."
With a sideways glance he looked over at Zira, then slowly trudged through the grass towards Pride Rock.

[kyto7878]

As Mheetu got closer and closer he ran faster and faster trying to get to Nala as fast as he could Mheetu thought in his mind that maybe he might Pin Nala when he gets to he. Mheetu mane whirled in the wind and that didnt stop him from running. As Mheetu got to Nala he Jumped ready to try to pin her, but like always Nala countered it and Mheetu ended up the one being pinned.

"Ok you got me. Its me Nala." Mheetu chuckled.

[Kirsui]

"Suit yourself. I thought he was important to you."

Scruffy's eyes flashed, but she said nothing more as Malka walked away. Then, with a swift movement, her red eyes were on Sarafina.
"I hope yer happy with yer choice o' company, 'Fina", she hissed at the older lioness.
"'Cos... ya do realize that if he makes one stupid move he'll get half o' the pride at his neck as well as to the neck o' those who support him?"

Shaking her head she walked away swiftly, not wanting to give Sarafina time to answer her. She had one goal in her mind now, and that was to speak with the one to whom she had been taught loyalty since her childhood. The fact that by going to Kovu he'd also be forced face to face with Kopa and Vitani escaped her mind.

"Malka wants to see you privately. He's in the den at Pride Rock."

Those words came to her ears so unexpectedly that she stopped in surprise. She didn't let the surprise show, but she did watch with slight bitterness as the two lionesses walked past her to the direction of the Pride Rock. Then her gaze fell upon the one with whom she wanted to talk.

"'Kov", she said when he was at hearing range.
"Malka wants to talk to ya?"
She stepped closer to him, and lowered her voice so that only he could hear. Slight concern flickered in her eyes.
"I ain't gonna tell ya not to go, 'cos ya gotta go... But beware o' him, kay? He... might be plotting som'thin'..."

---

"Take care of our new friend."

The old lioness' ears twitched. She had stopped drinking and had laid down close to the water so that her front paws were soaking in it up to the ankles. She had watched, with somewhat surprised expression, how the dirt from her paws slowly disappeared, and how the thin, tan fur had been revealed from under the layer of dirt.

She hadn't remember when she had last time seen any part of her fur as clean as her paws now, and so with slight wonder she had lifted her paws from the water, and had brought them close to her face so that she had been able to examine them closer.

That is, until Kovu left. When he had begun walking away the old lioness had lowered her paws, this time to the soft grass instead of water. She watched now how Scruffy appeared and spoke to him, though she couldn't hear what the fluffy necked was saying.

[Tamber]

"Tani, you're my sister. You know I'd do nearly anything for you, right?"

This was the only response from her brother other than a nod in agreement, and Tani couldn't help but smile. She looked into her brother's eyes and saw his honesty. They no longer reflected any anger or resentment, simply affection. Tani grinned thankfully at Kovu, he only brother she had remaining. At last it seemed he was no longer angry with her, and Vitani couldn't have been more thankful.

"I know, Kovu, as would I. I hope that..."

Teh queen was interrupted by two strong lionesses, coming forth to invite Kovu to speak with their "king". "Well...take care of our new friend," he told her, and she grinned as he walked off. Just before he headed into the distance with them, Scruffy returned, whispering to him warily.

With the others busy and only her mate beside her, Vitani turned to look at the new friend she was to deal with. Though the task was difficult, she felt that, indeed, taking care of this "friend" was up to her, that this responsibility had its own place in her destiny. She padded over to the scraggly lioness, who still remained openly nameless. The queen drew closer and saw the lioness's damp paws. They appeared shiny and new, and under the droplets of water, her true fur color emerged, while the rest of her coat was matted and coated in dirt. Her paws looked truly familiar, and they gave Tani an idea she felt confident with.

"Perhaps it would make you feel more at home if you washed up a bit?" she offered. "I'm sure all that dirt is itchy and uncomfortable. I'd be happy to assist you, if you'd like."
___________________________________________
Mheetu picked up his pace and began to run at his big sister as she recognized him. His blue eyes grew ecstatic and cheerful, and Nala's as well, as they collided and she deflected his leap and pinned him herself, as she had always done when they were younger. She was blown away to realize that she was standing atop her younger brother, yet he was much larger than she was.

"Mheetu, you devil!" she shouted at him. "Where on earth have you been? I haven't seen you since I left to find help!" She slightly feared his response. Surely he didn't abandon his pride like a coward, did he?

[kyto7878]

Mheetu went respawned to Nala's yell with a frown. "Scar... When you were gone scar said you had ambandoned me. I was depressed and scar said that... that I had to run away and find a new pride. Of course I was only a cub then."

Mheetu frowned and pushed Nala off of him "If you dont want me here then fine!!! But I still wanna see mom and the rest of the family before I go, if i must."

Mheetu was depressed to see Nala yelling him. He thought everyone would b e happy with his return. "Oh wait where is Scar? I got something for him."

[Zorayda]

Simba was dumbstruck at the sight of Nala's brother, until Nala performed that old trick and flipped her brother over. Even though she was getting on in her age, Nala still had that cublike spunk. Simba grinned.

Nala voiced a concern that arose within Simba's mind...where did Mheetu go? and then he explained that he'd been lied to--just like he had been as a cub. Simba nodded his head in understanding.

Mheetu began to get angry with Nala.

"No, Mheetu," Simba said gently. "She was worried about you. And she would never have abandoned you. Of course we missed you--so much." to express this point, Simba walked up and gave the younger lion a one-armed hug.

"Your mother is still around...somewhere," simba said, gesturing generally with a paw. "Scar is...dead. I fought him and threw him off the cliff, using your sister's trick--" he looked at his mate affectionately-- "and the hyenas took care of the rest of him. However, it seems we have a new problem with the new king of Pride Rock," simba said bitterly.

[Dakota]

Sarafina stood there listening to the byplay between Malka and Scruffy, she was very careful to keep her face blank, so neither of them could read her emotions, one part of her was barracking for Scruffy trying not to smile at her words and the other part of her was amazed at how Malka turned and twisted words to suit himself, all in all it was very entertaining, yet she knew both of them believed every word they spoke, and somehow it wasn't going to be a very good outcome for anyone, once again.

Lowering her eyes as Malka walked past, she was sure at that moment he hated everything and everyone around him, his past had come back to haunt him once again, she wasn't that stupid to try and calm him down, best he walk back by himself and leave him to his own thoughts.
Turning her head, Sarafina still sat there silent, her gaze centred on Scruffy, she could see the hatred and fire in her eyes and the way she held her body, so she sat and waited.

"I hope yer happy with yer choice o' company, 'Fina Cos... ya do realize that if he makes one stupid move he'll get half o' the pride at his neck as well as to the neck o' those who support him?"
The older lioness didn't flinch when Scruffy tossed the words at her with a snarl, she was expecting them, she was sure they would have come sooner from some, except no one else had the backbone to actually voice them out loud. Just as she was about to answer Scruffy moved away heading to Priderock, not giving her a chance. Sarafina rose to her paws and quickly cut off the younger lioness route, staring at her now, still with a blank expression on her face.

"Well it was my choice to ask Malka if he would accept my company, so I can't say I was forced now can I. You like everyone can voice your disgust or whatever it may be, but it is my choice, whether its been one of the smartest I have ever made, only time will tell. I thought you of all, would understand about lonliness Scruffy...I have no one..me, myself and I actually, so I took a chance, I'm tired of being alone, treated like an outcast, always pushed aside, watching you all play happy families, even my own daughter only talks to me when she feels it appropriate.. so don't you start with your holier than thou attitude with me miss."

Sarafina stood there with her eyes glaring at Scruffy, "maybe if you had of spent more time with your precious Kovu and made him into more of a male, we wouldn't have all this trouble on our doorstep, at least Kopa knows the art of diplomacy and is still King and not handed his over as well."

The older lioness started to turn away as she was getting emotional, but looked over her shoulder once more.'
"Oh.. one other thing, I'd watch your guard around Vitani for a little while, Kopa has had a few slipups with his tongue when talking about you... see someone else you have wrapped around your paw it seems."

[kyto7878]

When Simba told Mheetu he had killed scar Mheetu began to growl. "Why would you do that?! Scar was like a father to me as a cub!" Mheetu growled "Maybe I should of never came back here!"

Mheetu stormed off. Mheetu ran by the watering hole and plopped down in the grass, Lapping some water. Scar was his father and he was dead. "I should have never came back!!!" Mheetu roared.

[Kirsui]

"Maybe if you had of spent more time with your precious Kovu and made him into more of a male, we wouldn't have all this trouble on our doorstep, at least Kopa knows the art of diplomacy and is still King and not handed his over as well. Oh.. one other thing, I'd watch your guard around Vitani for a little while, Kopa has had a few slipups with his tongue when talking about you... see someone else you have wrapped around your paw it seems."

Scruffy visibly paled when Sarafina's last words reached her ears. She didn't care if others would hear her now or not, she didn't care of anything. The expression on her face was unreadable, though the uncharacteristic paleness hinted that her inner balance had been deeply shaken. Whether it was by shock or anger was unclear though.

Then, her eyes sparked and on one swift movement she had swirled around, facing Sarafina with an enraged expression.
"Outcast? Happy smiles? Spendin' more time with Kov'?!"
She didn't care that she basically roared those words out.
"The hell's wrong with ya, 'Fina?! Go ahead, take yer chances with 'prince charming', I ain't gonna stop ya. But ya have no right to tell me what it is to be an outcast!"
She took in a breath, and then her roaring rant went on.
"What do ya think ya know o' how much time I spent with Kov'?! NOTHING!! I was the babysitter when Zira was too busy to look after him n' 'Tani and when Nuka had been wise enough to hide Zira's wrath! Ya got no right to tell me I should'a made Kov' more o' a male, 'cos you were not there!"

She leaped forward, standing in front of Sarafina to stop her from walking.
"And I did do my best with him, 'cos my own health and life were at stake! Do ya know what Zira did to me if she wasn't pleased?!"

She sat down, and with her other front paw, she brushed the fur first on her left side. Four long scars came visible. But she didn't stop there. Her eyes blazed as she moved her paw to brush her belly, only to reveal another set of scar. She repeated this to her other side, and yet again the same scars were there. She then lifted her head, and bared her neck, brushing the fur there as well to reveal more of the four grouped scars as well as something that looked like a bite mark.

"Ya see 'em, 'Fina?" she asked with dangerously smooth voice.
"Ya see what Zira did when she was NOT pleased with how much time I spent with Kov', how much fighting I taught him, how much I had turned him from the path of light to darkness?"
She stood up again, but she didn't brush the fur back to cover the scars. Instead she now brushed her fur more, and more scars appeared after each brush.

When she put her paw back to the ground, it seemed there wasn't a part on her that didn't have some sort of a cruel scar that Zira's claws or teeth had left.

"Ya still got a problem with how much I spent time with Kov'? I spent more time with him than Nuka ever did."
Then her eyes narrowed, and with a snort she left Sarafina, not bothering to smooth her fur back to cover the scars she had.

However, before she was out of Sarafina's ear shot, she stopped.
"I don' blame him for what Zira did to me though when it should'a been him who got the scars..." she said with a loud and clear voice.
"Wanna know why?"
She turned to look over her shoulder, her blood red eyes still burning with anger.
"I loved him. I loved him when no one else did. I loved him 'cos I pitied the position he was in. He lived in Kov's shadow. No one ever noticed him, except if Zira wanted him to look after Kov' 'n 'Tani. I pitied him 'cos by takin' his place as the babysitter I felt the pain he would'a felt had I not been there, and yet I still knew his pain would'a been worse 'cos it would'a been his own mother who tortured him o' his failures!"

She was glad to be far enough from the others so that they couldn't see her face. She forced herself not to blink, even when her vision did become blurry. She made herself stand still without wiping the tears away. And she made her voice stay calm, even though it continuously threatened to tremble.

"Zira truly saw him only when he died", she continued, her voice still loud enough to be heard by everyone who was in hearing range.
"But love him... She didn't. She was enraged by Kov's betrayal more than she was saddened by the death o- her eldest. And yet I still loved him when he died, 'cos he died when he tried to prove her that he was worthy and got nothing in return than death. And I..."
She felt funny... like something inside her was breaking.
"I still love him, and 'cos o' that I mourn. Every.. passing.. moment...!"

She snapped her mouth shut then, and turned her head forward once more. She dared not look at the direction of the waterhole where Kopa and Vitani were with their supposed "Zira". She didn't look at Kovu, and she certainly did not look back at Sarafina. She was sure they had all heard her every word, and she dreaded what would happen if she looked at them.

No, she walked away from all of them, her head and tail hung low in grief. She looked miserable, and so depressed that it was a wonder she didn't kill herself there and then. She walked away without looking back, and she truly looked like an outcast among all these happy or almost happy beings.

When she couldn't take it any more she ran, unable to see where due to the tears she had sworn she would never cry, and uncaring where her feet would carry her. She just wanted away...

[Dakota]

Sarafina stood there taking all Scruffy's hatred, despair,loathing and everything else the younger lioness threw at her, she knew she deserved it, much more probably, truth be knowen.
She knew Scruffy would be crying as she ran away, part of her wanted to go to her and apologise and comfort her, but what she had said had needed to be said, Scruffy was like a time bomb ready to explode at any moment Sarafina sighed deeply, she had wounded another friend, but she had to say awful things to get her riled up so much, she would break out of that shell she had encased around her.. something else Zira needed to be held accountable for.

Not going back to where the others all were, Sarafina just kept on walking, her head held down watching snall insects scurry out of her way before her paws hit the ground squashing them to their death, all her mind replayed was the look on scuffys face as she broke down.... how could you tell someone you were only being cruel to be kind.

[Tamber]

Nala's heart was nearly broken when her brother took her questions the wrong way and became defensive and angry with her. She shook her head as he yelled back at her and nodded it once again as Simba tried to reassure him. Still all that he had heard was already too much for him, and he ran off alone.

Nala looked at Simba incredulously. "What on earth is wrong with him?" she exclaimed, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Has he not grown up at all?"

She jerked her head in his direction, hoping Simba would follow her. Scar, Mheetu's father? Obviously her brother needed a talking to. He knew that Scar had lied to him, told him to run away, yet he refused to see that it was all part of his relentless plan.

She arrived next to her brother, who lay alone beside the watering hole. "Mheetu," she said gently as she approached. "Mheetu please don't be angry with us. We're so glad you've returned." Nala's voice cracked slightly, showing her true happiness to see her kid brother after all this time. "I'd never expected to see you again," she said as she lowered herself to lie beside him. "Do you know how much it bothered me, never knowing what happened to you? For all I knew you were dead!"

Nala nuzzled her brother gently, feeling her eyes twinge, threatening with their tears. Her mouth began to tremble, and she remembered her greatest worry after becoming queen. That fear and curiosity of what had happened to her dear brother had always bothered her, and though the thoughts had died down a while back, they never truly went away.

Thinking about her past with her brother, Nala pictured her mother caring for both of them, and suddenly she remembered her mother now. Nala looked up in her Sarafina's direction and saw Scruffy crying out at her. Just another person she had enraged and betrayed. Gosh...how she's changed. The former queen knew that this was not the time to speak with her mother, particularly not a good time for Mheetu.

"Maybe this isn't the best time to visit the others," she thought out loud. How about we travel around the Pridelands. Get yourself familiar with them again. I'm sure they miss you," Nala finished with a chuckle.

[kyto7878]

Mheetu felt Nala's warmth as she nuzzled against him, but her words were burning him inside. "Nala? What was Scar like after I was gone?" Mheetu began to cry on Nala's shoulder. Mheetu wanted the truth and not more of the lies he was told as a young cub.

Mheetu looked over a Nala and asked her something "Nala, Scar is my father right?"

[Zorayda]

Simba wanted to follow after Mheetu and Nala, but thought better of it. After all, the two of them were blood relatives, which was different from any other kind of relationship. Sibling love...Simba remembered wishing as a cub that he'd had brothers and sisters. Nala was his replacement.

Even now, Simba felt a small twinge of jealousy at the sight of Nala with her brother. He sighed. He still had so many others that loved him--he shouldn't envy such a precious gift. Simba waited out of sight but where he could watch the two of them, waiting to speak with his mate alone.

[Kirsui]

"Perhaps it would make you feel more at home if you washed up a bit? I'm sure all that dirt is itchy and uncomfortable. I'd be happy to assist you, if you'd like."

"Perhaps."
The old lioness replied without turning to look at Vitani. Her gaze was locked in the retreating form of Scruffy, and only when the former Outlander couldn't be seen any more she turned to face the Queen. She just watched Vitani for a moment in complete silence. It didn't show on her face, but she was slightly curious of what the three had spoken of after she had made that simple question about Zira's offspring.

But... Since it seemed that at least for now they would not be answering, she chose to wait. Sooner or later she would have her answer, she was certain of this.

She smiled pleasantly, though only with her lips. Her smiles never seemed to reach her eyes...
"I would gladly accept your assistance if you wish to help me", she replied.
"I am old... I can no longer reach every part of my body. And you are right, the dirt does itch but it was rather necessary when I stayed at the termite nests."

She turned to face the water, and with a faint sigh she stepped into the pleasantly cool water. Protection from the termites hadn't been the only reason why she hadn't kept herself clean. She hadn't cared how she looked like, and with all the dirt she had been able to hide the fact that her fur had grown very thin. But... if the young queen had to amuse herself by getting her cleaned, she'd give her that pleasure though she knew not what the point was.

---

She had run where her paws had carried her, without thinking where she was going. Perhaps it had been instinctual of her to return to... this place, perhaps she unconsciously had longed to come here to seek solace.

Scruffy laughed bitterly as she watched the raging waters down below. Seek solace? From here? There was nothing comforting in the field of the Final Battle, nothing comforting in the river where the dam had once been...

She gazed down at the river, standing perfectly still. She was aware of the two small rivers of her own, the ones her crystalline tears made as they flowed unstoppably from her eyes, down her cheeks, to her chin, until they fell to the ground under her paws. But nothing did she do to stop the tears, and truth is there was nothing she could have done.

Nuka... He had died here. The spot where he had laid dead was now underwater, his body swept away by the flow. But... There was this feeling of his presence when ever she came to this area. Perhaps that feeling was what had brought her here now. She was seeking comfort from Nuka.

And unfortunately he was the only one who could not give that.

Knowing this made her heart feel heavier. Was this how it felt like to be heartbroken...? That she wanted nothing more than to cease existing...?

The realization struck her, and she gasped. She remembered how the water had felt when she had fallen into the river right before she had found Zira from the Outlands. She remembered how the flow had pulled her, begging her to stay underwater, to stop resisting... She had fought back then, and she had lived. But she could as well let the flow take her...

Scruffy shivered at this thought. She couldn't kill herself, could she? They needed her for...
"...nothin'."
The fluffy necked was startled when her mouth acted on its own and finished the thought. That was not the way she had meant it! They did need her for...
"They need me for nothin'."

They all had someone to share things with. All, except her. Kovu had his Kiara now, Simba had always had his Nala, Sarafina was now getting Malka, and Kopa... had Vitani.

She shut her eyes tightly, sending another larger wave of tears to flow down her face. Kopa had Vitani, Kopa had to have Vitani! The young Queen had deserved happiness, and Scruffy knew Vitani was happy with Kopa. There was no way she could take that away from Vitani...

The former Outlander felt her feet give in, and she had no will to even try to stop herself from collapsing to the ground. Her other front paw hung over the cliff while the other one laid next to her head. Her other hind leg laid straight behind her, while the other rested in a very uncomfortable position under her weight.

"Nuka..."
She gripped the ground next to her head with her paw.
"Why did you have to die?"

[Deleted]

Sarabi kept moving, there was enough drama back there to stop a herd of elephants, yes she had caused a little, just a little of it, but hopefully her part in things would be long forgotten, now the scruffy lioness that was amongst them all was causing a stir.

Looking ahead she saw a cloud of dust and Scruffy running away, who she been having a little chat with I wonder, thats caused her to head off.
Moving in closer she saw Sarafina heading the other way, speeding up a bit she was puzzled as to why she was by herself and moving in another direction away from everyone. oh well, nothing holding me back, maybe its time us girls went on another walkabout, we had ourselves a little adventure last time.

" Sarafina, wait up "

[superrr]

The wind was still fresh in the air, propelling the softly-fallen leaves from far away trees around and about the skyline. That was the thing about the wind. It could take anything anywhere without a creature knowing. A certain bird probably knew that more than any other one; what with him and his over-analytical nature.

But he had to keep his mind focused, as always. There was certainly no room in the pride for any more morons. Zazu chuckled at his own "joke", fluttering his blue wings, pushing him out of the tall grasses and into the air. He kept his gaze on Priderock, orangey-red beak pointed straight towards it.

His gaze then drifted elsewhere as he spotted a group of lions in the grasslands, keeping his beak held high in a dignified way as he looked down on them. They looked familiar...but he just couldn't identify them from this altitude. Maybe if he got a little closer he could--

CRACK!!

Zazu soon found himself face to face with Priderock. At least he'd reached his destination. Slowly and painfully he slid down the side of the rock. He let out a pitiful sqwack each time one of his feathers was pulled or pinched at by the stone that had happily greeted him upon his arrival.

His little orange feet finally met the ground, talons clicking and clacking against the dirt as he pompously trotted away from the wall of stone and into the open area of the large structure. Zazu's beak perked upwards slightly as he noticed lions of the pride. There were a few of them nearby. A small percentage of those unfamiliar (he did travel around and about to carry off the King's duties, after all).

There was a face that was more familiar among them. He actually looked quite a bit like Nala and Sarafina...Wait, no. No, it wasn't that little brat, was it?

"G-Good day, sire," Zazu almost mumbled at greeting to Simba, but quickly corrected his one to a more respectful one.

He still did address him with respect, as he did with most of the lions and lionesses, although he wasn't exactly the head any longer. Quickly he turned his attention to where Nala and that other lion were, eyes opening a bit wider than before. That pleased-with-himself grin dissolving from his face.

He regained his flight and began gliding towards the two, curiosity overwhelming him. No sooner than he had been surprised, a large fly had plopped down onto his side, causing him to screech with fear.

"Aaagh!! Oh no!!" frantically, the bird tried to swat away the fly as it repeatedly came back for him, "I'm going to get something, I tell you!! I'm going to catch a disease! Auugh, then I-I!!"

Zazu was cut off by his own twitchiness and surprise from the insect, deterring him from his former curiosity with the new lions. The bird quickly lost his balance and wavered to the side, landing to the ground with a thud and a startled sqwack.

[Zorayda]

Simba looked down at the little bird he'd pounced on so often as a cub.

"Zazu! How've you been?" He crouched down low so that he could see eye to eye with his old friend.

A fly came by, and, as usual, Zazu the neurotic bird went crazy. Simba crushed the fly easily under a heavy paw.

"You must be tired," Simba said, noting how the old bird was missing some of his blue plumage and looking as if he could collapse any second. "You can get on my back and rest a bit. I'll update you on what's happened since you've been away."

Simba told Zazu of the manipulative tyranny of Malka, and that many other of his old friends had showed up suddenly as well. He told Zazu of Scruffy and of the complicated love triangles associated with her, Sarafina, and Malka.

"Right now, Nala's talking to her younger brother," he finished. "He suddenly showed up as well. Seems the Pridelands call to those who have ever visited it. Perhaps everyone has come because they felt a tug on their hearts to come home."

Simba smiled easily at Zazu. "Seems you felt it too..."

[superrr]

"Oh," Zazu whispered to himself as he watched the fly crushed so easily by his old friend.

"Never better," the bird half-jokingly replied to Simba, his feathers rufling against him, some of them barely hanging onto him.

He slowly looked back to Simba, starting to smile proudly once more. Things could get old, but things could never change. Sooner than he could realize he was on Simba's back, listening to what the lion had to tell him. Some of it he understood and some of it he didn't. He was getting to be an old bird, after all, which was why he had retired those years ago as majordomo.

Love triangles? Tyranny? It looked like to him that things had gotten more interesting in the pridelands; or perhaps he had just forgotten all the things that went on in this area. What with all of the conflicts in the past, who was to say things would change years or so later?

Then he spoke of Nala's brother. Realization hit him like how the rocks had just recently done to him. He remebered how them as cubs used to pounce at him. How they used to pluck at his tailfeathers and all that sort of thing. Sure, Nala and Simba had done it; but there was a difference. He got to know them as respectable adults. This, he had not accomplished with Mheetu, whom had run away after Nala went for help.

Guilt hit him shortly afterwards. He'd tried to find Mheetu. He'd scounted around and about, far and wide; but....he couldn't find him. He just...there was no sight of him! He winced as he thought of the memories of them pouncing on him and his guilt combined. It set an unpleasing feeling inside him.

"Uagghh..." Zazu whispered to himself in a disgruntled tone, "I believe I remember him."

He paused for a moment, thinking over what he should say next.

"It does seem as though there has been much going on here, sire," he suddenly smiled, perking his head up a puffing his chest out a bit, "Well, these lands do need checking on once in a while."

He let his feeling of "I'm so great, make me an award" wash over into a feeling of happiness. He was glad to be back, although he didn't know exactly why. Perhaps Simba was right. There was a tug on his heart to come back.

"These lands do hold memories..."

Zazu just hoped no more bugs would come by.

[cheezeegriff]

Kovu paused as Scruffy spoke, looking her in the eye. He saw the old loyalty there, and tried to hide the shame of letting her - and every other outlander - down by picking a stupid fight. Once she finished he said,
"Thanks, Scruff. Glad someone's still looking out for me." He smiled at her, then entered the den at Pride Rock alone.

Some time later, he emerged.

He blinked in the light of day through a freshly bloodied eye, and limped towards the waterhole, slower than he had moved before, his body aching, exhausted, dirty. Blood trickled from his left flank where cruel claws had torn his flesh, and he held his rear leg cautiously above the ground.

Plonking himself down by the water's edge, ignoring - and in truth, not even seeing - the lions that washed themselves on the opposite side, he stared at his reflection in the water and wished that Kiara was with him right now, to take the pain away.

[Zorayda]

Simba smiled at Zazu's self-pride and looked once again towards his mate and her brother.

"Well, maybe we should take a short walk around Pride Rock, then, hm? Nala seems as if she'll take a little while with her baby brother."

Simba shook his faded old mane. "What do you say, Zazu? You up to it?" He asked the blue hornbill atop his back.