TLK IV

[cheezeegriff]

Kovu angled his body slightly as Scruffy approached, so she wouldn't see the fresh claw marks down his right-side flank. He didn't bother smiling as he said,
"How goes it, second Mother of mine?"
acknowledging all the caring she had done for him as a cub. He puzzled over her. There was something wrong, he could see it in her eyes. Was it Mother's return?

"I though 'Tani was supposed to be 'ere?"

Kovu shrugged, then looked over his shoulder to see Vitani bounding through the grass.

"Speak of the devil,"
he said, and smirked. He hadn't 'smirked' for ages. The outlander in him was really coming to the fore. He listened to Tani's excuses and raised another eyebrow, for she was acting strange too. It was unlike the daughter of Zira to act so undisciplined. Maybe some people did change.

"Sorry, I completely spaced out on helping Zira. Is she ok?"

"She's all done, Tani. She's fine,"
Kovu said, then realised: from where Vitani was standing, it would be impossible for him to miss his new injuries.

[Shari]

A sense of nostalgia overcame the unlikely duo as Timon and Pumbaa arrived at a rocky outcrop overseeing a large portion of the Pridelands. It was the very same outcrop where they had sworn their allegiance to Simba during the preparation of his coup. It all came back to them now; Scar, the hyenas, the battle, the fire, the rain... and how it was over as quickly as it had begun. Boy, how proud they were of their foster son as he claimed the throne with a mighty victory roar.

And then the whole Outsider crisis, that Zira was one mean lioness! In the end it all worked out though, both prides reunited, Kiara and Kovu being declared mates. Aah... love. Not like, love.

Timon took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh Prideland air.

"Aah, it's good to be home, well, our second home at least," he sighed.

Their primary home obviously being the jungle where the rest of his colony lived, and where they had just spent several months.

"Gee Timon, do you think they still remember us?" Pumbaa suddenly asked.

Timon planted his palm on his forehead and let out an annoyed moan.

"Pumbaa, Pumbaa, Pumbaa... lions may be dumb, but they're not stupid!" he answered as if stating the obvious, "Of course good ol' Simba will remember us! We're his best pals, bud-buds, compadres, amigos!"

Pumbaa hung his head and stared at the pebbles laying close to his hooves.

"Still," the warthog replied sadly, "something just doesn't feel quite right."

Timon flinched at his friend's comment, mostly because there was a certain truth to it. Something did feel wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Eventually he decided not to worry about it, and deal with the problem as it properly revealed itself. They couldn't abandon their trademark philosophy after all!

"C'mon Pumbaa, hakuna matata!" he exclaimed, his warty friend visibly cheering up.

"You're right Timon!" he stated firmly, "We put our behinds in the past!"

The meerkat once again slapped his forehead in frustration, but decided not to correct his buddy this time. Inhaling the fresh, but different, Prideland air for a second time, he grabbed Pumbaa's ears.

"Heigh ho, Pumbaa, away!" he yelled, tugging the warthog's ear with one hand while waving an invisible cowboy hat with the other.

And off they where, jumping off the plateau and disappearing in the high grass, the only visible part being Timon's head with his hands folded around his eyes as if holding binoculars.

[Dakota]

As Sarafina felt Malka rest his chin on her head, she gave a little start, it was the first time he had showed any real tenderness towards her and she wasn't sure how she should react, especially when all eyes were resting on them it seemed.

She stood there, accepting of what he was giving, waiting to hear what he had to say about her son.
I'd say that, what appears to be happening, is that young Mheetu seems to be missing his father figure, Scar,and the wound you see... it seems self inflicted. He fell to the ground inside the den and when he got up, he was injured. He seems to blame Scar..."

The older lioness finally let a sigh escape through her muzzle.
why can't Mheetu give up this nonsense about Scar, what has happened to him, since he's been away
About to answer Malka, she paused as he had more to say.
"What relationship did he have with Scar, as a cub? Did they spend a lot of time together?"

Sarafina looked first at Malka, she wasn't sure if it was pity or curiosity she saw on his face, but looked away hastily, only her eyes made contact with Sarabi, Simba and Nala.
well only one thing for it, state the facts and see what we can do for my son

"ok, let me say this to you all, as I won't repeat it again.. I have NEVER EVER had 'fun' with Scar that resulted in myself being pregnant and having any cubs, let alone Mheetu. I don't know what has happened to my son, whether he has had some sort of accident, or someone has attacked him,, but these...these.. hallucinations he is having, are all in his mind only."
Licking her lips as she was feeling a bit nervous with everyone staring at her, normally she kept a low profile within this pride.
" All I can say and do, is that hopefully you all welcome Mheetu back into our family, and we will have to take extra special care with him until maybe he comes to his senses"
Shrugging her shoulders and feeling a bit confused now, as she really didn't know what to say to her son anymore, Sarafina looked back at Simba and then onto Malka.
"Thats unless you want to banish him from the pride ?"

[kyto7878]

Mheetu let out a growl as for what Sarafina said about Scar. Mheetu snapped and yelled out so that everyone could here "Scar would always keep me company after Nala left to find Simba. He taught me how to catch mice and he taught me about what happened when him and mufasa were brothers!"Mheetu glared at Simba and yelled again "All of what happened to Scar was Mufasa's fault!And Scar should have been king!" Mheetu extracted his claws and began to pad away when he heard his own mother asking if he should be banished. Mheetu turned his back to his mother and Malka and said "Is that what you all think. Is that im crazy and should be banished!" Mheetu turned back to his mother and Malka. "I know im not crazy I can really hear Scars voice. And Simba....He wanted me to get back at you for him, but I didnt!. So if I must be banished fine but at least Scar will always accept me!" Mheetu was furious at the thought of his own mother saying banish him if Malka likes.

"Ive survived on my own all this time and I still can!" Mheetu began to limp his way to the edge of priderock and plopple onto the the edge. He didnt know what to think anymore. Everyone he knew said Scar was evil but he had seen the good side to Scar so was he really good or was he truly evil?

[Dakota]

Sarafina was about to add more onto her statement about her son being banished, but before she could open her muzzle, Mheetu launched into his own tirade , insulting both Simba and the dead Mufasa. Licking her lips quickly, she looked at all their faces, trying to guage if anyone of them was going to be impulsive and retaliate back against her son.

Sensing Mheetu moving, she thought he was going to attack someone, but instead he started to limp away, slowly but surely.
Fearful for her son, Sarafina looked back at Malka and Simba with regret on her face and quietly spoke pleadingly.
"Please, don't harm him...I don't know whats wrong, but I'm his mother, so I will have to take some responsibilty for him...just wait before you decide anything."

Turning away from them all she trailed after Mheetu, passing him and stopping in front so he had to stop unless he walked into and over her.
"Mheetu, please wait.. I'm sorry I appeared so harsh towards you before... but please let me finish, what I didn't say out loud ?"

[Shari]

Panting heavily, well, Pumbaa was, the duo arrived at the watering hole, which surprisingly was free of animals at the moment. Timon hopped off the warthog's back and casually walked towards the shore, while Pumbaa simply collapsed face first into the water and began to drink. Timon groaned at his friend's lack of etiquette and gently formed a bowl with his hands, filled it with the cool liquid, and splashed it in his face.

"Oh who am I kidding?"

The meerkat wanted to throw himself into the water like Pumbaa did, if he hadn't realised the water level had dropped by at least an inch, and Pumbaa's tummy was about to explode.

"Whoa boy! That's enough for one day!" he yelled as he pulled Pumbaa's ears backwards in order to pull the warthog's head out of the water.

"Sorry Timon, guessed I lost myself a bit in there," he said while grinning sheepishly, his feet barely able to touch the ground.

"A bit!?" Timon asked while softly prodding the expanded belly with his index finger, only to have it bounce back into his face.

"Never mind, let's go, can't leave our little Simba waiting!" he then exclaimed cheerfully, hopping on Pumbaa's back and tugging his ears.

It didn't take for the two to reach the lower steps of Pride Rock. Once again they gazed upwards in awe at it's majesty, a truly magnificent sight even with this new feeling of uncertainty. The two trodded up the steps, seeing a few lions walking down on the other side of the rocky plateau, unknown lions. Both meerkat and warthog gulped. What if Simba and the rest were gone? After a short period of pondering, well, Timon did, the meerkat decided to take his chances and forced his heels into Pumbaa's flanks.

"Hakuna matata everybody!" they cheered as they reached the top with a small leap, only to be met by cold, totally not worryless stares.

"Whoa, what's with the long faces?"

[kyto7878]

Mheetu listened to his mom and respected her wishes "Ok ill let you finish. I just dont wanna be alone again." Mheetu listened when he heard 2 unknown voices. Mheetu looked towards their direction and let out a small growl. He got up and extracted his claws. He began running towards the warthog and meerkat. He let out a scrawny roar. He had never learned how to roar so it sounded cubbishly. Mheetu jumped and grabbed the meerkat by its tail and pulled it over his mouth ready to swallow it. Kinda like when scar was about to eat the mouse years ago the day simba was born.

[Shari]

Timon yelped in surprise as he was suddenly pounced upon and lifted above a gaping maw, but quickly regained his composture. Clenching his hands into fists, he punched the young lion's nose in defiance.

"Put me down this instant!" he yelled, his arms flailing aimlessly as the lion raised him just out of it's nose's reach, "you wait until king Simba hears of this!"

The lion neither flinched nor backed up, okay, this was getting a tad too serious for Timon's comfort. Time for a different approach. Sweat drenched his small tuft as he desperately tried to find a way to freedom. Would he beg for mercy? Yell for Simba? Or...

"Pumbaa! He called you a pig!"

The warthog's eye twitched, and Timon already knew the outcome was one to be relished.

"WHAAAAT!?" Pumbaa roared, as far as pigs could roar, before breaking into a charge. He sped across the plateau within seconds, leaving a trail of smoke and dust behind, and knocked the unexpecting lion off of it's paws. Timon enjoyed his brief time spent airborne before landing on the warthog's back.

"That's Mister Pig to you!" they both warned, snorting.

[cheezeegriff]

Upon hearing a commotion coming from where Sarafina and Mheetu had wandered off together, Malka glanced at Simba, then ran in Sarafina's direction.
"Sarafina?"
he called out, but the saw her, looking baffled but unharmed. Mheetu, on the other hand, lay as if he had been hit by a rhino, and a very large - and very angry - warthog stood nearby, breath steaming from its nostrils like vaporised rage.
"Danger! Ferocious animal at Pride Rock!"
he roared, and leapt at the warthog, teeth and claws extended.

[Dakota]

"Ok ill let you finish. I just dont wanna be alone again." Mheetu spoke to her.

Sarafina licked her lips, she wasn't really sure how to go about 'addressing' her sons issues with him, all she knew was that she had to try, the way he was behaving, the others wouldn't put up with his nonsense much longer.
Opening her muzzle, she found she didn't have to say anything, as something caught his attention, and the young lion was off like a rocket just leaving her standing with an open muzzle.
Lordy what am I going to do with him, he's a danger to himself, he almost needs a keeper with him all the time

The older lioness squinted into the sun, following Mheetus run, he had stopped by a Warthog and Meercat. and was manhandling one of them.
"What on earth... thats..thats ."
Hearing someone else approaching fast, Sarafina swung to the left a bit and saw Malka who was calling her name.
has he come to punish my son.. or..or maybe he's come to see if I'm alright

Before she had the chance to say anything to Malka, his gaze had switched to where Mheetu was now lying slightly dazed and was in a run and roaring.
"Danger! Ferocious animal at Pride Rock!"

"Malka... NO, don't hurt them, it's Timon and Pumba, they are friends of Simbas... NO.."

.

[kyto7878]

Mheetu was on the ground unconcious by the warthogs powerful hit. Mheetu layed on the ground with a his eyes closed and his body asleep but his mind wandering. As Mheetu wandered in his thoughts he saw Sarafina,Nala,Scar, and Chumvi. Nala and Chumvi were cubs again splashing water on Mheetus little cubby face. and Then Scar came out and took Mheetu to where he thought he was teaching him to hunt as a cub but he now realized that He was trying to get Mheetu killed. Then his mother mother came in and protected her cub extracting her claws until She carried mheetu away to their den.

Mheetu suddenly woke up to see scar's face once again. When will these visions end. Scar walked up to Mheetu and began to pat him on the back "Good try but next time dont hesitate!" Scar walked back off into the distance. Mheetu yelled into the distance "You tried to kill me!" Mheetu's face flooded with tears as he looked into the sunset. Mheetu looked back to his mom and sobbed "Mom I dont wanna see scar anymore. Make him go away." Mheetu was cry like a little cub and he didnt even know it. He was never around adults so he never really grew up much.

[avongara]

Vitani gasped. She approuched her brother's flank cautiously "Kovu.." She cooed, "Who did this to you?"
Vitani looked at scruffy and could see by her face that she was as surprised as she was. But what was that other look she had was it "Fear?" This confused her but now she must put her suspitions aside and focus on Kovu.
She looked into her brother's eyes and searched for the answer.

[Deleted]

Sarabi had moved a little and was now standing behind her son and his mate Nala. All these happenings in such a short space of time, was puzzling and yet hilarious in some ways, they hadn't had this much action here since..since..she couldn't remember really.

Leaning into Simba so her words wouldn't be overheard for all those in the area.
"So my son, whats the plan ?. Are we all going to greet the old lioness, who I think we all can agree is 99% Zira, or we going to give Sarafina a paw with that idiot son of her."
Looking quickly at Nala realising it was her brother as well, Sarabi gave her sheepish grin.
"sorry, but he is acting really weird that one."
Then switching her eyes back onto Simba, still smiling.
"or maybe we should go and see what Scruffy,Vitani and Kovu are worrying about."

[cheezeegriff]

"Kovu.." Vitani cooed, "Who did this to you?"

Kovu shrugged, then winced - even that wasn't really a good idea. He turned his face away, not meeting Vitani's eye, then said,
"Maybe it was an antellope?"
Foolish, he knew - who in their right mind would believe an antellope could give him a set of four identical scratch marks?

[Kirsui]

Scruffy turned her gaze to Vitani when the young queen returned to the waterhole. She hid all emotions and thoughts concerning Kopa's sudden interest at her, and that her usual blank assassin's expression took over her face. She nodded her head slightly at Vitani as a greeting, but her gaze turned back to Kovu very fast when the young queen pointed out Kovu was wounded.

"Maybe it was an antellope?"

The fluffy necked frowned and instantly was on her feet, circling around Kovu so that she could take a closer look at what Vitani had already seen. She snorted, and turned her glaring eyes at Kovu.
"Ya ain't getting away with a pathetic explanation like that, 'Kov..." she remarked with an icy tone.
"If those were made by an antelope, then I'm a warthog."

She narrowed her eyes. Those wounds were too fresh to be from the battle Kovu had had with Malka. A lion had attacked Kovu, that much was sure. Question remaining was...
"Who was it?"
Scruffy asked this with a demanding tone, much like she had used to when either Kovu or Vitani had managed to sneak away from her when they had been cubs and she had been questioning where they had been. And yet at the same time she begun to rearrange her own thoughts into possibilities of who it might have been. She had been in Kovu's presence almost the whole day, so no one could have done this during that time. In fact, the only moments when she had not seen Kovu was just a moment ago when she had been at the river and earlier when Kovu had gone to meet...

The fluffy necked tensed visibly when realisation hit her. She breathed in sharply, then voiced out her suspicions with a voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Was it Malka?"

[Deleted]

(OCC. I wil be posting as Kiara, till someone takes over, so we can keep her in storyline. I will post later)

[Deleted]

One minute Kiara had been standing there with others around her, and now she was all by herself, looks like her daydreaming had caught up with her again.
Her mind had taken her back to when her and Kovu had ruled their half of the lands and kopa and Vitani the other half, and now thanks to her mate, only Kopa had anything left to rule. Sighing she shook her head briskly, no use going back over things that had already happened, wasn't going to change much.

Looking up and around her, she squinted her eyes trying to see if she could spot Kovu anywhere, he and Vitani should have had enough time on their own to talk to the lioness that was bought back to see if she was their mother or not.
Moving faster Kiara walked back to where she saw family members were gathered, pausing for a moment when she realised it was her parents and some others, she turned and looked towards the waterhole, squinting her eyes a little bit. There she had spotted her mate, but for some reason Vitani and Scruffy were circling him. More interested now, Kiara broke into a run, feeling anxious that something had happened that she should know about.

[cheezeegriff]

"I don't think you need to fuss quite so much over me anymore,"
Kovu said to Scruffy, simply, without hostility. Then he saw Kiara bounding over the grass towards them. The sight of her filled him with sweet relief, followed quickly by dread: he might be able to dodge Scruffy's scrutiny, but he doubted he could do the same with Kiara, and the last thing he needed was both of them on him.
Desperate for an escape, he converted his panic to old outlander hostility.
"And don't think that every bad thing that happens is Malka's fault either,"
he snapped, then turned away, putting some distance between himself and Scruffy as he said over his shoulder,
"He's your king, and maybe his victory over me was the best thing that could have happened. At least now the pridelands has a ruler with some brains."
He looked at Kiara: who looked anxious. Again his heart went out, but the love was dulled by the knowledge that she could see him as nothing but a failure.
So he put his head down, and concentrated on making his left leg work as if it didn't ache with every step.

[Kirsui]

"And don't think that every bad thing that happens is Malka's fault either. He's your king, and maybe his victory over me was the best thing that could have happened. At least now the pridelands has a ruler with some brains."

Scruffy laughed, but she was far from amused.
"My king?" she asked. "My king?!"
She snorted at Kovu when he turned his back at her. Surprisingly enough she managed to continue speaking with her usual cold and calm voice.
"Go on, turn yer back on me... If yer 'highness' decides to slip into worshipping that idiot of a lion, be my guest!"
Her eyes narrowed.
"But he ain't my king, Kov', just like ya weren't my king before you made that idiotic slip of yours and let him overthrow you. Kopa is my king, has been every since the pride was split to two. I just respected ya as a king 'cos I thought you deserved it."
She rolled her eyes.
"Ya just proved me I should've just let you drown or get eaten by those darn crocks when ya were training instead of keeping ya alive. I'm disappointed in ya, Kov', highly disappointed."

The former assassin paused momentarily, her gaze focusing on Kiara who was racing towards them. She shook her head, disappointment written clearly all over her face.
"Lie to me all ya wish Kov', it doesn't matter any more..."
She then turned at Vitani, and bowed her head slightly. She was as if nothing had happened, as if she just had not said anything to Kovu.
"Excuse me, 'Tani, but I have things to attend to."

Without waiting for a answer Scruffy walked away from the waterhole, again. It looked like she was just walking to a random direction, but truth was she well knew where she was heading. What she was not so sure about was what she was going to do now. A troubled expression came to her face when she was sure no one would be able to see it.

"And bad for ya, Malka, is that like the hatred towards Pride Rock is in our nature, the respect towards Kov' as our King is in our nature as well. 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..."

The former Outlander shook her head with a sigh as she recalled the words she herself had spoken to Malka. She had believed those words when they had left her mouth. but now, after what she had just said to Kovu...

---

The whole situation was very... interesting. The old lioness allowed herself a mental smirk as she slightly opened her eyes so that from further away it would look like her eyes were still closed.

Scruffy was walking away, Kovu was walking to another direction, a young, gold furred lioness who looked suspiciously a lot like Kopa was racing towards the waterhole, and Vitani stood there doing nothing.

Perfect. No one paid attention to her, and so with slow and yet swift movements the old lioness crawled away from under the tree under which she had been "sleeping". She slipped into the long grass, knowing she would be perfectly hidden there from prying eyes. She was sure she slipped out of sight unnoticed, the scene between Kovu and Scruffy pretty much would pull everyone's attention away from her.

Besides, they all thought she was asleep. With a low chuckle the old lioness kept crawling forward, until she reached the point when those at the waterhole would not be able to tell her apart from any other lioness. Then she changed her direction and begun to follow Scruffy.

[Deleted]

Nala stood beside Simba all this talk was making her have a headache plus having her baby brother with her once again, Nala looked at Simba then turned and padded off she needed to rest her brain for a minute. Nala jumped the last few stones and with great speed and agility ran off to the watering hole.

Slowing slightly she let out a sigh. Finally, finally she could rest her mind, she looked into the water she looked a mess, her fur was ruffled and sticking out over the place, "Must be the speed I was going." She muttered to herself, turning she began to groom herself flattening all she could reach. She looked behind her at the majestic rock.

Yawning, she slumped to the ground and began dozing in the warm sun.

[The Hedgehog!!]

(OOC: I will be rping Kiara now, I know I am noobish around here, but I think I can keep up.)

As Kiara's legs stretched out, slowing the last few steps of her pace, she pulled to a stop beside her mate. The anxiety that was painted across her face warped into a mixture of pain and confusion. Surely those wounds can't be from the battle with Malka...But who would have enough sour feelings to wards him to do that anyways...? Her mind was swimming with questions, none of them were answerable from what she knew.

With a small gasp, her maw dropped open, allowing the quick intake of air. Reluctantly, she made an attempt to drag her gaze away from his wounds. When her eyes met his own, a small whine escaped the confines of her throat. It was all she could manage. She was speechless; her love was wounded, and yet she had absolutely no idea what had happened. In a sense, she almost felt betrayed. Surely he knew that he could come to her about anything... any problem in the world. Obviously he decided to leave this one out of the picture.

Almost mechanically, she walked over to Kovu, leaning her shoulders against him, carefully avoiding his gashes. "C'mon. Lets go home." Her voice was distant, but it was all she could do to try and stay steady before she completely broke down. As she made her way back to wards the dens, she cast a quick glance over her shoulder at the other lions, a worried look shimmering in her pools. How did we come to this...?

[Dakota]

Posting for kyto ~

Mheetu lay there on the dry dusty ground, his body lay curled in a foetal position. Tears spilled over his eyes and ran down through the pale golden fur on his face, finally dripping onto the soil, leaving moisture to be absorbed by the hot sun.

Through the haze of the painful memories of Scar, he could hear his mother's voice shouting for someone to stop hurting him.
she hasn't gone away and left me all alone, she's here with me and protecting me

Mheetu shook his head from side to side trying to clear his thoughts, slowly he opened his eyes one at a time, and gasped at what he saw. It was Malka standing there protecting him from those beasts, along with Sarafina. Using his paws he pushed himself to his feet, stumbling slightly Mheetu righted himself and stood wide eyed watching and waiting.

[kyto7878]

(ooc:Im back from camp and thank you dakota for poting for me =])

[Shari]

So much had happened since they came back to their second home. All they wanted was hang out with their old friend Simba, wish Kovu an Kiara luck on their future reign, perhaps even meet their cub (ya never know, right?). Instead all they've gotten was a feeling of being not welcome, only strengthened by the fact that one lion, who looked a surprisingly lot like Nala, had actually attacked them! Timon had barely escaped the feline's stomach acids thanks to his friend's timely rage, and now another unknown lion was about to make the two his meal. Suffice to say, this was all a bit too much for poor Timon.

"What is GOING ON HERE!?" he screamed at the top of his tiny lungs, it wouldn't take a genius to figure out that he was severely infuriated at all the confusion. The charging lion stopped in his tracks, staring at the duo suspiciously.

"What happened here!? Where's Simba!? What's the Nala-wannabe's problem with us!?" he blurted out within three seconds. Even Pumbaa couldn't keep up with him, and merely shrugged with an apologetic grin as if that would be enough to satisfy the confused gazes. Timon however had one question left.

"And WHO THE HECK ARE YOU!?" he spat, pointing his index finger accusingly at the ex-charging lion in question.

Normally he would be scared beyond his wits, but at the moment he was too angered to care about petty fears. Pumbaa knew this, and also knew that he'd better leave the angry meerkat alone for the moment. Thus he simply sat down and watched as Timon went on with his tirade, hoping that Sarafina who was standing by could calm everyone down before things got ugly.

(OoC: Aw come on, why is p-i-s-s-e-d censored?)

[cheezeegriff]

Kovu braced himself when Kiara approached him, but when he was asked no probing questions, when all Kiara's face showed was pain, the flicker of relief he felt soon turned to guilt.

"C'mon. Lets go home."

she said, and Kovu followed her.
He waited until they were well away from the waterhole, concealed in the thick grass, when he forced his tired body to move and gently leapt upon her back with his paws. Biting her ear playfully, he shoved her onto her side and said,
"Things... aren't as bad as they seem you know,"
pressing his nose to hers.
"Things will get better in the end. Trust me. Put your faith in me. Do you trust me?"
He looked at her closely, watching the redenning evening sky reflect back at him by her beauitful eyes, and waited for her answer.

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

Malka skidded to a stop at Sarafina's rebuke, then watched, puzzled - and slightly miffed - as the small creature before him exploded in anger.

"And WHO THE HECK ARE YOU!?"
it said, the tyrade finally coming to an end.

There was nothing to hurt the pride of a king like being shouted at by a creature a hundredth of his size. Malka, a little too angry for his own good, looked up at Sarafina.
"Someone you know?"
he said, then turned and looked back at Simba and Nala.
"Someone fill him in. Use whichever version you want: I don't care."
Sighing, Malka looked up at the sky, only then realising how weary he was.
"I'm getting an early night. I suggest everyone else does too - we haven't eaten today, after all, so I imagine a hunt will be the lioness' first priority tomorrow, hmm?"
he said at Nala, then began walking up to the den in Pride Rock, passing Simba on the way.
"King's advisors may rest in Pride Rock tonight... they can bring their wives, too,"
Malka said, glaring at Nala, his face still burning from the scratches she had given him... and his heart still burning at the insult to his pride.
"Good night, all. Oh, and Meerkat,"
he said, facing the little creature,
"Welcome to MY pridelands."
Then he turned about and stalked up to the cave.

[kyto7878]

Mheetu walked over to the warthog and meerkat sincerrly and humble. "Im sorry if I hurt you. I dont really see alot of animals most of the time. Scar made me leave this place when i was just a cub. Im Nala's brother." After their response he began to pad up to Nala. "I guess I better leave now since im not in your pride. Im glad I saw you again sis." Tears rolled down Mheetu's eyes again. He had been away from his home for so long with no family or friends and now he comes back and he has to leave so soon.

Mheetu was happy for the little time he spent with them even though most of them still thought he was crazy. Mheetu didnt want to leave but he figured that if most of the pride thought he was crazy then why would they let him stay.

[Deleted]

Nala watched Malka pad by a snarl building in her chest. "The advisors wives can stay at pride rock too."
Nala got to her paws and snarled, "I have a name!" She spat at Malka darting after him, she wanted to feel the little brats blood but froze when she heard someone talk to her, she turned to Mheetu, "I guess I better leave." He said to her. Nala sat down thinking, "No need. I have an idea." She turned looking at pride rock Malka seemed to be nowhere in sight. "Follow me."

Nala had two reasons for doing this, one revenge and two she didn't want to lose her brother again. "Simba." She hissed looking around for her mate. She saw a large rock which would hide Mheetu. "Go behind that rock and wait until I tell you to follow. You should be safe." She said wiith a smile, she turned away. "Simba!" She hissed again. She went and sat by the rock to wait for Simba. "When Simba comes out I think we have a cave to ourselves, I'm not entirely sure but if we do then we can make a hidey hole like old times and you can sleep there for the night until we find a way." She was unsure if it was having her baby brother back but her mothering senses seemed more alert, or was because of Kiara and Kovu? She frowned mulling it over whilst she waited for Simba.

[The Hedgehog!!]

A creepy fog had crept in on her mind, hiding her behind a misty film. It was almost as if she was only half way there, like part of her had been torn off and taken to some different universe. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, crashing into each other and then vanishing on a dime. None of it made sense. If she could just fathom some type of plan that Kovu might be hiding, then maybe she would have some hope. But at this point she found herself questioning everything. She had put her trust in him from the beginning, she had been the one to stand by him when no one else would. But here he was, almost acting as if he had no desire to retake his place on the throne. Almost as if he had no care or loyalty left to all that her father, and grandfather, and many other relatives had strived to preserve.

A gentle huff of air escaped her maw as she hit the ground, drawing her away from the glassy cage she had been trapped in. It took her a moment to realize what he was asking, and she was momentarily shocked by the sense of irony. She had just been thinking about that... whether she still trusted him or not. Her eyes glazed over, recapturing their foggy look. She rolled slowly away from his clutches, sitting herself up a few paces away. She was like a statue, even her tail was still, and for a moment, she thought her heart had turned to stone.

"I don't know if I can do this Kovu. I've been trying, as hard as I can, to keep a happy face on and act like I was okay with Malka taking your place. But I feel like an outsider, like I am supporting a lost cause... I feel alone." Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, threatening to break through at any moment. "And if you don't trust me enough to at least let me know what is going on, then I don't know if I can put all my trust in you."

With nothing left to say, she spun around walking off in the tall Savannah grass, hoping for once that he wouldn't come looking for her.

[kyto7878]

Mheetu ran behind the big rock as he was turning the corner he tripped and his chin hit the rocky ground with his tail in the air. He then got over his pain and crawled behind the rest of the way so his whole body was hidden. Mheetu didnt know what his big sister was planning but it had to be something good if she wanted him to stay that bad. Mheetu hoped he could stay becuase if he couldnt then what was the point in having family you could never see.

Mheetu began kicking rocks off the edge of priderock while he waited for Nala's signal.

[Dakota]

Sarafina had stood there long enough listening to all the hysterics from everyone that had now gathered around them and was about to speak again when Malka turned towards her with that look on his face she was now getting aquainted with
"Someone you know?" he queried her.

About to tell him about these two strange friends, he again cut her off tranferring his gaze back to Simba and Nala and again throwing out his challenge with haughty words.
"I'm getting an early night. I suggest everyone else does too and "King's advisors may rest in Pride Rock tonight... they can bring their wives, too."

hmm seems like he's in one of those moods, came up against someone smaller than him and didn't like being yelled back at for once, sort of funny in a way when you think about it.
Sarafina hadn't moved as her mind was still on her thoughts, making a smirk appear on her muzzle to those around her. Seeing dust being flown into the air, she blinked and looked, why was her daughter hiding Mheetu behind a rock, what on earth was she upto. hadn't she learnt from Sarabi's tricks what retribution could be handed out.

Sighing she made to move past Simba, but paused in front of him.
" You had better do something with Nala, calm her down I don't care what, but if she wants her life to be made a misery by Malka, shes's going about it the right way, and I will deal with my son".

With her paws leaving imprints on the dry ground, the golden lioness moved over to where her daughter was sitting in front of the boulder.
"For goodness sake, go back to your mate and stop this nonsense, I'm taking Mheetu with me, we will be spending the night in Malkas cave, no where else, and if he's not wanted then I will leave with my son, your brother back to the waterhole."

Stepping around Nala after giving her a frown, Sarafina reached in behind the rock with her paw and pulled the lion forward.
"Mheetu, you're coming with me, forget about what Nala says, you're here back with your family and thats where you're staying.. Come now, lets get a move on before nightfall completely encloses us all."