TLK IV

[Dakota]

Kopa watched as Kovu limped away, only now was a bit of pity starting to engulf him, maybe they had all placed too much expectations on him to help his sister Kiara to rule their half of the pridelands, maybe he should take some of the blame for not being there, leaving them alone with Malka. Letting a sigh slide through his lips, he looked around, eyes gaze resting on the old lioness.

"Go help her Tani, get to know her a bit more while she's like this, we don't know how long it will last for and if it means now you have a chance to spend precious time with her seeing she is mellow and receptive.. take it my love."

Kopa rose to his paws, stretching himself fully, then gave his mate a nudge towards where Zira lay in the water.
"I'm going to see where Sarafina and Sarabi have got too, remember last time we let them go off for a 'short walk', all sorts of things happen to those two, trouble seems to follow them, once they have their heads together."

Rubbing himself along her side, he dipped his head so his could whisper to her without being overheard.
" When I come back later.. it's our time...remember that..just the two of us."
Moving away, Kopa moved past the old lioness nodding casually at her and kept going. He could see his parents talking animatedly with someone, he couldn't see who, not that it worried him much, he could find out later when he returned, but for now he was out looking for his grandmother and co.

Moving along in no great hurry, Kopa meandered along the route they had come back from after finding Scruffy and the other one back out here in the outlands. Hearing the noise of the river cut into his thoughts and he stopped to gaze down upon the moving water, As he stared almost hypnotic his mind moved back to when they thought Scruffy had also fallen to her death., and unconsciously his large frame shuddered in horror.
Aware where his thoughts were leading he pulled his eyes away from the waves battling each other and ahead once more, one paw in front of the other he moved on, hoping the older lioness wouldn't be much further.

Stepping carefully around a large fallen tree, he stopped suddenly... there she was, the one who was always invading his thoughts, making him wonder ..what if.
Blinking to clear the dust from his vision, kopa stared more closely at her... the way she was lying was as if...shaking his head at the nonsense that was forming, Kopa quietly moved forward stopping once more. He could now see that her body was shaking and the misery on her face, bought tears to his own eyes.. what was so wrong that made her perch on the edge of the cliff.

Slowly, noislessly he grew nearer to her, his eyes watching for any movement, if she was thinking about heading over the side, he wouldn't be standing there doing nothing, she would find him beside her. Kopa was now close behind her, when he heard her utter with such despair.

"Nuka..Why did you have to die?"

Taken aback at such passion in her voice, he hesitated for a moment, then his feelings got the better of him and kopa closed the last gap between them. Lying beside her, pressing his body against hers, he used his paws to wrap around her slim frame and pull her in closer to him holding her tight, his cheek lay against hers, feeling her wet tears press into his skin.

Not speaking, he let the silence wrap around them, with only their heart beats for company, Kopa wondered how he could have feelings for both Vitani and Scruffy at the same time, and neither, was he willing to step back from.

[kyto7878]

Mheetu got up as Nala was silent. Mheetu began padding away past Simba and a strange blue hornbill. Mheetu kept his pace as he padded toward a lioness who he knew was his mother (Sarafina). Mheetu called out "Wait! Mom!" Mheetu began to run and stopped right next to Sarafina. Mheetu didnt make any sudden movements because he wanted to make sure his mother remembered him clearly and wasnt mad at him like his sister was.

[superrr]

"Oh, why not?" the hornbill said relaxation in his tone.

He rummaged at his plumes a bit with his large, orange bill, trying to get at least some of the unkempt feathers in their place. The blue wasn't supposed to mix in with the white, anyway. Taking his head away from his wing to examine it, Zazu nodded briefly. It seemed as though he was satisfied with its current state.

"It would give you the chance to show me if you've added any editions," the bird jokingly added, laughing under his breath as he then lifted his wing up.

He then tried to fix up the creamy white underside a little bit. Cleanly, cleanly, cleanly. He always had to look presentable, especially around lions. That was how he was programmed to function, anyhow. Relieving his beak of the tedious duty of rearranging his feathers, Zazu then relaxed his strained eyes. That of which were formerly trying to focus in on the feathers from quite a close range; and he found that this caused his vision to become a little bit blurry.

His gaze then surveyed the lands. Dry and greenish-yellow colored, as always. Of course, there was the exception of the reddish-brown stones of Priderock. Those stones were peculiar, though. he didn't recall seeing them any other place besides the exact area. Perhaps they were some sort of special rock. Maybe this place did call onto great spirits...Maybe.

"While I'm here, I might as well ask you, sire. How are those cubs of yours, Kiara and Kopa? Well, I suppose they aren't really cubs any longer..." Zazu paused for a moment, then adding to his past comment seconds later, "I do not recall seeing them...or maybe it's just my eyesight."

He'd hadn't really gotten the chance to see what had become of them, after the Zira incident. Merely a few years after that he had retired from his job at the Pridelands.

Quite a pity for a bird to be losing their vision, which should have been their most valued sense. Their most valued quality of all. Quite a shame. Especially to a bird with a mental complex such as Zazu's.

[Zorayda]

"Well, it seems Mheetu is finished speaking with Nala..." Simba said to himself. Zazu remained busy cleaning his feathers.

"Ya better hang on, old bird," Simba said suddenly, a playful glint entering his hazel eyes. "We're going to take the speedy route around Pride Rock."

Simba sprang forward, enjoying the rush of wind across his fur, a look of exhilaration on his face. His paws worked under him almost automatically as he ran towards the place where he knew his daughter's favorite hiding spot was. He slowed down to a trot, panting.

"Ki?" He asked. "Kiara, are you there?"

To Zazu, he said, "Wait til you see her...she's so grown up now."

[reichtwix]

Kiara, having fallen into a troubled, tired sleep full of worry, awoke to the soothing, melodic voice of her father.

"Dad?" came the echoing groan. Kiara stretched her jaws in a yawn and elongated her toes. Blinking the sleep from her bleary eyes, she padded towards Simba.

He greeted her, his hair slightly ruffled from his recent speedy exercise. Kiara, despite her worry for her missing mate, smiled and commented on his fur. He shook his great mane, and Kiara heard an ungraceful squawk from behind him.

Peering over his shoulder, she was elated to see a familiar, rather ruffled-looking blue bird by the name of Zazu.

"Zazu!" she cried happily, a giddish streak coming to her eyes. "I can't believe... It's been so long! How have you been?"

Reminiscing with the old bird, they caught up with one another. As he brought up a story that got the three of them laughing, she was reminded of when she and Kovu had met for the first time, in which their game of tag had gone horribly awry....

With a sudden jolt, she remembered why she had fallen asleep. She had been searching for him, and had worn herself out. As the other two finished up the last of their laughing, she took on a more serious tone.

"By the way... do any of you know where Kovu is?"

[Zorayda]

Simba smiled as he watched Kiara and Zazu while his daughter told stories of the past, reminiscing and laughing.

Then his sunset-colored daughter asked where her mate was.

Simba shook his head.

"No, honey, I don't know where he is... You should go look for him, though, he probably needs you."

That was true enough--Kovu was injured, possibly crippled for the rest of his life. Not to mention that his soul was probably crushed. The dark young lion needed someone to be there for him right now.

[Dakota]

Sarafina had caught up with Sarabi a fair bit away from all the recent happenings, she needed some quiet time, Malka had gone off to plan his revenge on everyone she presumed back at the waterhole, he could wait till she felt strong enough with her feelings before she approached him again.

Walking alongside her friend, the silence was pleasant as they didn't need to make small talk, there was time enough to chat about 'other' things when they were further along.
Sarafina's ears began to twitch as she heard her name being called.. all she could see was dust being kicked around, floating up into the air blocking her vision. She wasn't sure about the voice, one part of her was hoping that it was Malka having a change of heart and come to find her and another part telling her to stop with those lines of thought or she would be greatly disapointed again.

"Wait up Sarabi.. we have company it seems."

Standing there with her face turned away from the dust that was now threatening to encircle her and the other lioness, Sarafina stood patiently, but when the males voice reached her she gasped in surprise and she wasn't sure what else besides.
" Wait! Mum "

There he stood in front of her.. not speaking, just watching her warily. Sarafina sat down on her rump, she wasn't sure what else to do but to return his look.
"Mheetu... where did you come from, what are you doing here?"

[kyto7878]

Mheetu got to sarafina and smiled "Ive come home and i wont leave agian. Nala was a little mad at me I think." Mheetu sat beside sarafina and his dark brown mane waved in the wind.

[cheezeegriff]

Malka sat in the cave, in silence, his mind far away, dipping into imaginings of violence as he contemplated his next move.

One thing he had been taught well was that when one makes a threat, one aught to follow through with it, lest one lose the respect of their peers forever. He had threatened to kill Kovu, so Kovu had to die: that was simple. King Kovu was dead. So long as Kovu played his part, there would be no... well. LESS chance of any uprising. It would hurt him - Malka could sympathise with the ousted King, but that was the way of things after all - and this was the best way he could imagine.

Malka examined his claws idly, watching Kovu's blood dry and turn to clots. There was fresh blood on the floor of the den too. Next time Malka would have to be more careful, lest he kill Kovu in body as well as crown.

Then there was the problem with Zira.

Malka stood, slowly walking to the exit of the cave, and climbed Pride Rock to the very top to survey the pridelands.

He couldn't just kill Zira: she was under Kopa's care, and Malka didn't think that aggressive King would take a member of his pride being murdered lightly. No, he would have to dispose of her another way...

Movement caught his eye, and he saw a large male lion loping around Pride Rock, from East to West, only to meet another lion in the thick grasses: Kiara. Odd, though, that there was a little bird on the lion's shoulder.

He could see them talking and decided to move in for a closer look. As he walked through the grass, he wiped Kovu's blood from his paws.

The male lion was Simba: but he didn't recognise the bird. Shaking the anger aside - or rather, pushing it deeper, where it wouldn't impede on his ability to smile for a while yet - Malka approached the odd trio just in time to hear:

"By the way... do any of you know where Kovu is?"

Malka didn't hear Simba's response, but by the look on Kiara's face it hadn't been very helpful. Putting on a soft smile - the best he could muster at the moment - he said,
"Kovu's at the waterhole, Kiara. I'm sure he'd appreciate your company."
He marched up beside Simba looked at the bird perched on the lion's shoulder, and sighed.
"So! Yet another new face. By the look on your face I'd say Simba's already told you about me, but for the sake of social ettiquite I'll introduce myself: Malka, formerly of the Mountain Pride, now of the Plains Pride."

(btw does anyone know what time of day it is?)

[Zorayda]

Simba stopped walking when Malka approached his little group.

"Er...Kiara, you go on ahead and find Kovu. I'll see you later, honey." He nuzzled her quickly.

He turned his mahogany eyes to Malka. "Malka, this is Zazu...an old friend of Pride Rock. He was once the majordomo, but he's...unofficial, at the moment. I've known him since he was a cub.

Zazu, this is Malka...the...new king of Pride Rock."

[superrr]

"I`m afraid not, Kiara," a sorrowful expression just wiped its way across the bird`s face.

It was true. He hadn`t seen Kovu around ever since he`d arrived newly at the Pridelands. Zazu could only wonder where he was as hepecked at the edge of his wing, brushing a speckle of dirt and dust off here and there. Quickly, his attention was turned around as another lion approached them.

A new face. Now, where did he come from? He knew that new lions came here and there, but they were usually females. A male only came to dominate a pride, but that could never happen to these lands, could it?

Zazu was dismayed to learn this lion was Malka. They'd discussed him earlier, he believed. This wouldn't be easy, would it? Having a new leader around...Especially one that was the likes of said "leader". For the sake of fearing of being eaten and his sense of duty, the bird plastered on a fake smile and greeted the lion. He still shot a sorrowful glance to Simba, though.

"Pleasure to meet you, sire," Zazu barely choked the words out; that lion was the new king, after all.

[cheezeegriff]

"Ah, Zazu,"
Malka said, and his smile became a little easier to bear.
"I've heard your name mentioned among the huntresses of the pride. You're held in high regard."
Pausing for a moment to think, he said,
"Make yourself welcome. It's good to have someone with so much experience around, even if you aren't officially on duty. If ever you want to take up the old banner and return to service though simply ask. I'm sure the kingdom was better off with you around."
Turning his smile to Simba and raising an eyebrow, he said,
"Highness. Can I have a word, in private?"

[Zorayda]

"Uh..." Simba was immediately skeptical about being alone with Malka. What would he need to talk about that wasn't in front of Kiara, the queen, or Zazu, a trusted friend?

"All right, then, we'll walk together and talk." He nodded at his daughter and at Zazu. "I will see you later," he said to them. When he was out of hearing range of the two of them, he asked, "So, Malka, what is it you wished to talk about?"

---

Nala sighed, her breath making ripples upon the water she lay next to. Mheetu...was so messed up. What did he and Scar share together that made her little brother so protective of him? And why was Mheetu so...skittish?

Her slightly dulled cream fur ruffled slightly in the wind, feeling very pleasant. Her mate had gone with Zazu--she'd spotted them across the waterhole--to be polite and leave Nala and her brother alone.

Now Mheetu was off, trying to speak to their mother while so much...so much drama was going on. How would Sarafina react?

She got up, stiffly, and stretched out her old muscles. The only thing that hadn't really aged were her eyes--they still retained the same aquamarine gleam they had as a young lioness.

She shuffled off to find Simba and tell him what had happened.

[cheezeegriff]

"So, Malka, what is it you wished to talk about?"

"The future of our kingdom,"
Malka said, smiling, and checking over his shoulder to make sure nobody was listening.
"You're a lion with experience, Simba. I know we didn't always get along as cubs - and certainly there are many reasons we shouldn't be getting along as adults now - but as I see it, this kingdom would be better off if you and I cooperated."
Stopping mid-stride, Malka dropped his smile, lowering his head and voice.
"Well, to be honest, it's not entirely mutual cooperation. Rather, I'm asking you to be my advisor. That means you tell me what you THINK I should do in any given situation, and I decide whether I want to follow that advice. But still, at least you'd have my ear, no?"
He cocked his head, grinning wryly.
"I'm not asking you to answer me right now. But think about it carefully: after all, if you say yes, you might just convince me not to kill someone ou care about."
With that he winked, and turned to walk back to Pride Rock.

[Zorayda]

Simba stood aghast at Malka's comments. The elder lion gritted his teeth in barely suppressed rage and ran to catch up to the arrogant male he'd once called a friend.

"Listen," Simba snarled. "I WOULD have given you my consent as an advisor without your stupid petty threats. Here's your first piece of advice--" Simba got close to Malka's face, all teeth bared. "Threatening your subjects may work for the first few years, but you'll be overrun, all will hate you, and you will die because of mutiny."

Simba's voice became poisonously soft. "And if you EVER threaten my family again," he warned, "I'll kill you." With that, Simba gave Malka one last disgusted look and went off to find his mate.

---

Nala hunched over, her long, graceful neck making a curved arc as her pink tongue lapped at the water below. She opened her eyes to see her familiar visage in the water, her aquamarine eyes sparkling.

She turned her head around, ears perked, when she heard a noise behind her.

"Simba?" She smiled warmly at first, ready to greet her mate, but then she noticed that his face looked angry. "What's wrong? What happened?"

[cheezeegriff]

"And if you EVER threaten my family again, I'll kill you."

Malka paused for a moment, shocked, and Simba immediately ran off.
He just threatened me, Malka thought, and turned around: nobody had heard Simba's threat: Malka need not make an example of him. Thank goodness. Nevertheless he starteed a loping run, gradually picking up speed until he saw Simba stop: then he leapt, ploughing into the old king's flank. Before Simba could react he said,

"Listen to me, you old fool: that wasn't a threat. It was a fact: you plains-dwellers preach peace and tolerance over swift action so I'm giving you the opportunity to influence my decisions, and maybe - just maybe - I will listen, and someone whom I might have killed might live."
He got up, turning around, his anger boiling over before gesturing broadly, bearing his claws.
"Can't you see?? Simba, I'm trying here. I'm asking for your help. Every other lion and lioness here decides that when I make a decision they don't like, that they won't talk to me anymore. Well let's not forget: I. Am. King. And king's don't rule well alone. So you can either do two things: you can stand by my side, let go of that kingly ego and have the opportunity to INFLUENCE my decisions, or you can march away like a constipated rhino because you're personally insulted - and not able to do a thing about anything I choose to do.
"So, you decide. And by the way: if you ever, EVER threaten my life again, I'll kill you. That, my old friend, IS a threat."
With that he turned and, to his surprise, bumped into another lion. Or rather, lioness: Nala. Being in such close proximity to her, close enough to smell her, as they did back during their childhood, rolling in the grass, playing games, brought forth such a sadness that all he could do to smother it was let his rage return.
"Out of my way,"
he said, shoving her aside, and marched back to Pride Rock.

[Zorayda]

Nala's question was quickly answered when Malka showed up and spoke angrily with her mate, in the end threatening him.

"What--?!" Nala could only utter that single word, strung up with confusion and now anger. Then Malka looked at her with some unreadable glare and shoved her aside to get to Pride Rock again, walking away from the waterhole where they now stood.

Simba growled angrily. "He threatened someone close to me," Simba said. "I don't know who, but...I lost my temper with him. He wants me to become his advisor." He sighed, the air rushing out.

"Advisor?!" Nala yelled, her temper rising. "That JERK wants your help?"

"Nala, if I don't give him advice, he'll find a way to kill whomever he's threatened to kill. Besides, perhaps with my help this kingdom will prevail," Simba reasoned exasperatedly.

His mate raised a clawed paw and stomped it into the ground. "Simba, you can't do this just because he's threatening you--it's just not right," she said loudly.

"I'm going to do it, Nala...I'm sorry." With that, he started walking away from her.

She followed, hissing at him like a snake. "Don't you realize what you're doing? You're making this easy for him, you're letting him walk all over y--"

"I KNOW!" Simba roared, his pent up anger suddenly reaching the boiling point. Nala's face went from angry to surprised and worried. "I know," he said more softly. "But...maybe it's the only way to talk some sense into him. Maybe this is how the Pridelands will survive."

The old golden lion started walking once more. "I...need to think for a while."

With that, he left his mate staring after him with anxious aquamarine eyes.

[superrr]

The air around here was nice. Not like the air that he had gotten used to the past few years. It was all smoggy and stuffy over there, far too humid for his taste. The blue-white bird fluttered about the breeze, watching the lions from overhead. There were snarls and growls down there. Near the lions he had become so close to so long ago...How could this happen? He hadn't left for that long, had he? Then the threats came.

There was no way he was going to take up his post again. Could he really bring himself to serve under that? It was like his mother licked his fur the wrong way when he was a cub, though. But then Simba had made a point. Maybe they could influence his choices and save the kingdom. It quickly appeared to him as he was not the only one who had thought of this. He heard Simba speaking of something similar to his mate. Nala. They were so...playful as cubs. It felt like to him that he was just watching them grow into gold while he was deteriorating into dust.

Now they were grown. When things grew, conflicts occurred. They started to realize when there was something that they didn't like. They knew there was a way other than kicking and screaming to get their way now. Zazu wished that it could just be like old times. But they were gone, and that was the cold, harsh reality of the world. He landed quickly on the ground, swooping down through the long blades of grass. His orange bill stuck out like an elephant on a red plateau.

He shouldn't approach them just yet. The older bird assumed that he best familiarize this place with himself once again. He had a feeling he wouldn't be leaving any time soon, if at all again.

[Dakota]

Sarafina sat there still slightly stunned that after all this time, of not knowing whether her son was alive or dead, he was now sitting in front of her calmly as if nothing had ever happened and he had gone for a quick stroll and was now back wondering what all the fuss was about.

Slowly she let her eyes move along the length of his body, noticing a few scars placed here and there, he seemed in fine health, yet.. something about his eyes.. she wasn't sure if they held mockery, displeasure or even contempt, but there was a reason for him to return to their pride, funny how it was so soon after Malka's arrival that he showed up.

Taking her eyes off him as the breeze teased at his dark brown mane, she turned to the other lioness, to find Sarabi watching them with a faintly amused look on her muzzle
Puzzled, Sarafina raised her eyebrows in question,but getting no reply turned back to Mheetu waiting patiently in front of her.

" So where have you been son ? what has brought you home after all this time.."

Trailing off Sarafina, paused for a moment realising that what she had said sounded accusatory, when it should have come out more welcoming. Licking her lips she carried on trying to make amends.
"What... I meant was.... of course its good to have you back amongst us, I'm Sure Nala will want to know what you have been doing as well... and you remember Sarabi here as well ?"

[kyto7878]

Mheetu replied " I already talked to Nala she doesnt want me she began to yell at me, And I thought i had came home but i have one question mom. Scar is my father right? Nala said scar was dead and wasnt my father. Is it true?" Mheetu sat and had a sad face as tears began to fall down his face. And Mheetu began to cry hoping the answer was that scar was his father and that he wasnt dead.

Mheetu looked up into the sky and heard Scars voice "Dont listen to them! Avenge me and Kill simba! You are the true Kill! Kill anyone else who gets in your way!" Scars voice disappeared.

"Mom!!! Did you hear that!!!" Mheetu scammered

[Dakota]

" I have one question mom. Scar is my father right? Nala said scar was dead and wasnt my father. Is it true?"

Sarafina's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open at Mheetus words, where on earth had he got that idea from, heavens forbid, of all people ..he chose Scar as his father.
Taking a small breath she steadied herself, again looking quickly at sarabi who it seemed, wasn't about to interject, but wanted to hear what she was about to reply as well.

"Mheetu, why didn't you believe Nala, she wouldn't have lied to you, even if she hasn't seen you for years like myself... but seeing as its obviously looming large in your mind, I had better clear up all your doubts."
Moving closer to her son Sarafina selected her words carefully, so as there would be no misunderstanding.

" Mheetu,, I need you to listen and listen well, I'm only repeating this once to you.. Scar is NOT your father, neither is he Nala's father. Scar has never come within spitting distance to me, let alone sire you and your sister. I don't know where you got that nonsence from, but you've got to stop with the Scar is my father... do you understand?'

Sarafina's heart lurched a little when she saw small tears run down through his fur to roll off his muzzle and then drip onto the dry dusty soil. Moving closer she stopped, when this strange looked came over his face and he tilted his head up to the sky.
Mom!!! Did you hear that!!!" .

Tilting her head to look in the same direction as Mheetu, a puzzled look appeared on Sarafina's face.
"What was I meant to have heard ?
The lioness padded back a little until she was beside Sarabi once more, and leaned in towards her friends ear, whispering softly.
"So.. what do you think.... he's been out in the sun too long, or something has hit him on the head and dulled his wits somewhat?"

[Deleted]

Sarabi was surprised when this lion came forward to her and Sarafina announcing that he was Mheetu, she couldn't even remember what he looked like from when he was with their pride, but it must be as his mother recognised him.

Keeping her mouth closed, she just stood there and listened to what he had to say, it was hard not to burst out laughing at the stupidness coming from his mouth, and to actually think this was Nala's brother, it would be amusing to see how he fitted in with the others back at the waterhole.

"Come Sarafina, I think we'd better save our walk for another time when we're not interupted, and maybe we should take this one back to Nala and Simba, maybe even Malka would like to see him?"

[kyto7878]

Mheetu heard sarabi's voice and urgently siad "No im not going to see Nala and simba they already yelled at me for coming back to Pride rock!" Mheetu noticed sarafina didnt hear the voice so mheetu whispered in her ear "I heard Scar's voice. Please dont think im crazy. I really heard it."

Then out of the blue Mheetu noticed a rat. When he was living on his own out of the things he could hunt; between Mouse, Rat, Snake, and sometimes a bird; Rat was by far his favorite. Mheetu leaps over sarabi and sarafina and began chasing the mouse into a tree, but what he didnt notice was the hole at the bottom of the tree so when he chased the mouse he ended up hitting his head on the tree trunk. Mheetu walked back to sarafina and sarabi dizzily and said "Im ok."

[Deleted]

"No im not going to see Nala and simba they already yelled at me for coming back to Pride rock!"

Sarabi turned again to watch the lion as he shouted out the words at herself and Sarafina, then of all things he took off, jumping over them and landing head first into a tree. The older lioness couldn't help herself any longer and burst out laughing, the noise echoing all around.

"I'm sorry Sarafina, are you really sure this one is your son, I mean look at him, he's just...just..well, I'm not sure what, but we have to take him back, we all need a good laugh."

[Kirsui]

((OOC: sorry it took me so long to drag myself into this RP and post. ))



The old lioness was rather surprised how soothing the calm waters of the waterhole actually felt like against her thin fur. She had walked as deep as she could so that her head was still above the water while the rest of her body was completely underwater, and how she just simply stood there with her eyes closed, enjoying the calming peace the water was giving.

A small smile made its way to her muzzle. How was it possible she had forgotten how wonderful it felt like to bathe? How could she have thought the cracking and itching layer of dirt all around her body was calming? It might have protected her from termites and heat, but... This was total bliss.

And so, the old lioness finally took a deep breath and sunk her head underwater, shaking it there to get as much dirt off as possible before she surfaced again. She shook her head again, sending water droplets all around her on the calm surface of the waterhole. Her ears twitched and the faint, happy smile grew slightly upon seeing the reflection of her face. She wa cleaner already, and though there still was some dirt on her fur that would require more washing, she could already see the colour differences of her pelt, as well as the stripe on her head.

Then she would look over her shoulder back at the shore and at Vitani, wondering if the young Queen would join her as she had said she would or if she would stay on the shore.

---

Scruffy didn't even realize Kopa had come after her, not until he had settled himself down next to her, hugging her gently, apparently trying to calm down the overwhelming sorrow she was feeling. She didn't know how to react to this, though his presence did stop her tears from flowing. Truth was that at first she had thought it was Nuka who had come there... But when her nose registered Kopa's scent she knew she had been wrong.

With this realization came another one, however. She suddenly tensed in Kopa's embrace, her gaze locked at the opposite side of the river.
"What... What are ya doin'...?"
She mentally smacked herself for letting her mouth form those words, and with such an unsure tone too! What she should have done was to pull away from Kopa, to gather herself and make Kopa return to Vitani...

But no, instead she had asked that like a lost adolescent who had no idea what was going on around.

[kyto7878]

Mheetu heard Sarabi laughing at him. Mheetu became urgently mad and roared at sarafina and sarabi "Fine!If no one wants me around here then I guess ill look for a new Pride!One that will accept me for who I am!" Mheetu's words echoed through the savannah.

Mheetu left his paw print in the ground as he stomped away. He padded his way up to the top of Pride rock and plopped down at the edge. The wind blew through his thick mane and Mheetu sighed "Maybe i should have never came back. If no one wants me then maybe i should just give up and end my life."

The words of scar repeated over and over in his ears "Kill simba. Kill simba. Kill simba. Avenge me." Mheetu couldnt get scars words out of his head. Mheetu yelled "Get out of my head!!!!!" Mheetu covered his head as tears fell "leave me alone scar leave me alone."

[Dakota]

Kopa lay there holding her trembling body just letting the minutes pass by, not caring about anything except making Scruffy feel cared about. When he felt her body tense up he realised that she had finally registered that he was there with her and she wasn't alone.

"What... What are ya doin'...?"

Kopa didn't move away from her, didnt drop his paws holding her or even move his cheek that was still pressed against hers, he doubted he could have moved even if he wanted too, He found himself in a position that had come into his thoughts at the oddest moments both day and night, when he let his guard slip down and this lioness had filled them, and now here she was, her warmth pressing against his.

" What am I doing... I'm here with you Scruffy, holding you, caring for you, letting you know you're not alone"
Unconsciously Kopa had started rubbing his cheek back and forth gently along hers once again, letting a small purr escape quietly through his lips, and he wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything else for along time.
I wonder if she feels anything for me, does she too have this burning desire to see if all the 'what if's, could be made possible.

Kopa was about to take a gamble that he hoped Scruffy would take with him when the name Nuka came into his mind. Perplexed he stopped still and thought about what he had heard come from the lioness lips... it wasn't him Scruffy wanted, she was pinning for one that was long dead, her tears were for another she couldn't have.
Not knowing what to do for a moment, Kopa felt his anger rising, he could still have her whether she loved another or not, he was the King, simple as that, but then that thought was banished as he knew he wanted her to come to him free,to want him as much as she wanted Nuka, even more than that.

Stunned at where his thoughts had led him, Kopa suddenly felt afraid of where things might go and what could happen and consequences that could occur, was he willing to take that chance. Resting his cheek on top of her head, he held her more tightly, unwilling to let her out of his embrace.
"Shhhh Scruffy, just let things be for a little more, let me feel some of my dreams before we return to reality."

[cheezeegriff]

Malka was still fuming from his encounter with Nala and Simba, still trying to cool the ashes by thinking about something else, but of course, the first place his mind wandered was towards Zira... and there weren't any happy thoughts there.
So when he heard a small voice say, "leave me alone scar leave me alone.", it was a welcome distraction.
Though, when he looked and saw a white lion sitting on Pride Rock, his first instinct was to challenge the new male.... though, perhaps that wouldn't leave the best impression on his oh-so civilised subjects. Nor would he invite a fight anyway. Instead he walked cautiously towards the male and sat down next to him, looked him in the eye and said,
"Hello, stranger. You look a little blue: what's left you in such a state? Anything Malka can do for you?"
More importantly, why are you talking to Scar? he thought.

[kyto7878]

Mheetu heard the voice of another lion and told him diectly "I am not a stranger. I lived here as a cub but the father a thought i had told me to run away. Now I am back. I am also Nala's brother. And there is nothng you can do for me." Mheetu starting walking towards the lion and said "Have i seen you before?"

[superrr]

Maybe he wouldn't need to get involved. Mheetu seemed calm enough with his mother, Sarafina, along with Sarabi. Maybe he could just leave them there and watch from afar...Then his eyes widened as his blue feathers ruffled up against his skin. He gulped painstakingly as his gaze caught the sight of what was just happening.

"Oh..." Zazu let the words escape from his mouth, "Oh. Oh dear, oh dear."

Quickly, the bird began to flap his wings. Slowly, at first, but they then gradually increased in speed until they were moving at a feverishly nervous pace. A few of his white feathers became scrunched up with each flap, probably because of his recent run in with those rocks way up high in the Pridelands. He squawked loudly, his voice grating against his dry throat. In an effort to get the fullgrown Mheetu's attention, Zazu repeated the same actions.

The Hornbill gave a cautious nod to Sarafina, trying to communicate that he would try to "help" in getting Mheetu back into his proper head. Landing quickly on his feet, the bird dug his talons into the dust. He spotted Malka and gave a quick bow to the lion. Zazu was still as dutiful and proper as ever. Suddenly, he twisted his head over to the other lion, Nala's sibling.

He'd grown...so much. Had he really missed out on this much while he was just going on and...living the rest of his life? Apparently. The bird hopped over to Mheetu, taking quick and light steps as he began to talk to the lion in that ever-famous tone of his. The one that could go from calm and soft to quick and agitated in a moment.

"Mheetu, please, calm down," he spoke in an almost caring way, although he was still stern, "Listen to your mother and sister. They wouldn't lie to you. Now, what is all this talk about voices? Oh, hemm. How rude of me. Zazu."

He took another bow, pointing his beak to Mheetu in that pompous sort of way.

"I'm not sure if you remember me; but I certainly remember you."