TLK IV

[DarkLion]

"well, you Highness " broke through Kopas fierce stare at the other lion. Swinging his head around towards Scruffy, his eyebrows too raised at the expression on her face. No one else could see her except himself.

so she's weary and suspicious about him too, it's not just me, I trust her instincts, so lets see what he says

Kopa had, had enough with this stranger, moving quickly he bought up one of his massive paws and bought it down his back, pushing him to the ground in a submissive position. Standing there pressing more weight onto the one calling himself Malka. he growled as he spoke.

" THATS ENOUGH ....QUIET...with all your carrying ons. who do you think you are ,just walking in here, wanting us to accept you, you're lucky I didn't rip your throat out and throw you away for someones lunch."

"Sarabi, Sarafina, whats with all the whispering, if you have something to say, spit it out" Kopa was trying to keep his anger under control, adding more pressure on the lion he could hear him slightly puffing "Well ladies ? anything "

[Nadira]

Malka fell to the ground and yowled as the broader male lion landed a giant, massive paw down on his back. He stood over Malka as he growled and threatened him. Malka's ears lowered as the larger lion yelled. He hadn't expected this type of action out of the male, but then again, he DID burst in on thier territory expecting a warm welcome.

Malka tried to stand back up, but his hind leg ached from the attack on his pride and he crashed back down with the larger lions paw still placed firmly on it.

"Please." Malka tried to plead. "I'm just a lost lone soul. My pride is dead! I'm just looking for a place to stay! But I can see you have one too many males in here." He spat. "If you REALLY don't want me here, then go ahead and leave me to the hyenas and the buzzards!" He snarled. "I have nothing to live for! Kill me now your magisty! KILL ME!" He looked at the larger lion, trying his best not to look at the lionesses for sympathy.

[Kirsui]

"If you REALLY don't want me here, then go ahead and leave me to the hyenas and the buzzards!"

Scruffy let out a slight growl, this time unable to control the annoyance towards Malka's behaviour.
"Lemme give a piece of information for ya", she said on a low voice, her eyes flashing slightly. "Those filthy hyenas wouldn't dare to come back to Pride Lands, not after what they've done... They were pretty much chased away, both from Pride Lands and the Elephtan Graveyard... Ask my Queen here if you don believe me."

She stood up, glaring slightly at Malka with her eyes flashing. Then she turned to Kopa, ignoring the pleading male completely.
"If ya allow me, M'Lord, I would gladly return to the Den."
She bowed her head slightly to both Kopa and Vitani, even though she propably wouldn't have needed to do so, seeing how good friends she was with both... And then a slight nod to both Sarabi and Sarafina, and she turned and walked away, following the river.

When she was out of the hearing range, she begun muttering aloud to herself, growling slightly every now and then.
"How dare that... *growl* ...filthy beasts... *growl* ...here?!"
She glared around her surroundings.
"And why am I... *growl* ...following this... *growl* ... RIVER?!"
She stopped after walking for quite a while, taking a deep breath. Her nerves were killing her. Maybe she was just too stressed after what happened during the day.

Letting out a faint sigh, the fluffy necked looked over the river.

And froze.

---

The older lioness had had enough of her rest by the termite nests ages ago, and had walked away from them to strech her legs. The nasty insects were tickling her skin, especially the old scars she had all over her body. The thin fur wasn't enough to cover her scars, and wasn't enough to protect her from the bugs.

She had followed that lioness she had met before, curious of where she had come from. The name Zira was pouncing in her head. Deep inside she had accepted that... maybe that could be her name.

Atleast until she fully gained her memory back.

So now, she was walking along the river that was some sort of a border line between the two areas. She looked at the lands on the other side, how fresh and green they were... She wished she could be there, instead of being stuck on these dry outer lands.

She shook her head and looked at the muddy river, noticing then the reflection on the dirty water. She quickly lifter her gaze, and to her surprise she was looking at the same lioness she had met before.

[Tamber]

Vitani heard the snobby plea from the lion, who was wallowing underneath Kopa's pin. The nerve of him, she thought with a growl in her throat anda snarl upon her face. Playing on our sympathy, in with that stupid TONE. Tani was so proud when Scruffy, who obviously felt the same, stormed up and proved him wrong about the heyenas. The shaggy lioness left in a pout, and Vitani wondered if there was really something else wrong with her dear friend....

But she fought the urge to go after her, knowing she probably only left them because she wanted to be alone, and Tani understood that. Her gaze drifted back to the lion that was so full of himself. Ok, sure, his pride was gone. Fine, he was alone. But it didn't give him a reason to have an attitude.

Vitani stepped toward him with an angry mug on her face. "Look, Mr. long lost soul," she mocked. "You may have experienced a loss upon you, and I don't know in what way you may cope with that, but I think its rather stupid of you to barge in on a stranger pride and expect acceptance, let alone plea to let you join them with that snobby attitude of yours. Do you expect us to let you join us if you treat us like rude scoundrels when we are suspicious of you?"

Tani was greatful for Scruffy taking her miind of the stranger for that short moment as she was leaving. After the male had spoken, Tani almost felt the rage to pounce on him herself, but the distraction had slightly calmed her. Still, she had the impatience in her voice that slearly told the wanderer that she was no one to mess with.

[DarkLion]

"THATS IT " Kopa roared, his anger over flowing. In one sharp movement he unsheathed his claws and let it run down the other lions back, not drawing blood, but enough to inflict some pain on the measly beast.

Stepping back with a sarcastic look on his face, he left him lying there in the dust and dirt and turned towards his mate and the two older lionesses.

" I'm done with him and all the nonsense, I'm leaving that which calls himself a lion, with you three, you can decide what to do with him, for his sake I hope its different from what my plans would be. I'm going after Scruffy, we need to have a talk, and I think nows the perfect time."

Looking down on him still just laying there, Kopa found he had no words left to berate him with, shaking his head he just turned and walked in the direction he last saw Scruffy run to.

[Kirsui]

((OOC: sorry, I seem to get carried away easily and make really long replies... XD)


Scruffy begun to panic. That old lioness was staring at her! She swallowed, her tail swaying in slight nervousness. Now, in better light, she couldn't help but notice even more similarities between this lioness and her former leader, Zira. That damage on the right ear was there... making her remember...

And now, she finally saw something she had not noticed in the Outlanders' Den. The lioness' fur was very dirty, and it was surprising she could see the dark brown stripe on the lioness' head, going up her forehead between her ears and down her neck towards the back. Never had she seen a stripe like that on anyone else than Zira.

But, if the lioness indeed was Zira, then she had changed in appearance quite a lot. She was skinnier than she had been before, and there were several long scars on her body. The fur seemed to have grown thinner, and the tail tuft was missing most of its fur.

Over all, she looked miserable.

"Do you know who I am...?"
Scruffy's eyes widened as the lioness spoke. Her voice was rough, and it was barely loud enough to carry to her ears over the muddy border river.
"I...I-I think..."
The lioness tilted her head slightly as Scruffy's reply.
"You think...?"
Scruffy nodded her reply. She begun to feel uncomfortable in the precence of this old lioness, even when there were the muddy waters between them.
"Who is Zira...?"

Now THAT was something she had NOT expected. Scruffy stared at the older lioness in confusion. Was it possible that she, Scruffy, had bee wrong and this lioness wasn't Zira after all?

But... She was so familiar!

Unfortunately, the old lioness was so dirty that Scruffy couldn't check the scent and be sure.
"Zira... Was my leader once."
The old lioness seemed to think this for a while.
"I see", the old lioness said. "Is she dead?"
Scruffy hesitated before she nodded. The old lioness seemed to sigh deeply.
"I see... And you think I look like this Zira?"
Another nod from Scruffy, and the old lioness seemed to chuckle. Then, the odler lioness turned and walked away, leaving Scruffy alone to the river bank, staring at where the Zira-like lioness had stood.

[Nadira]

(ooc: I'm going to be away this weekend, I'll return Sunday night)

OC: Malka roared in pain as the male lion swiped his back. He left Malka there in the dirt. Carefully, painfully, he got up as one of the lionnesses left and Kopa was talking to the rest of them.

"There was no need for that son." He limply turned around. His hind leg was killing him and the male lion didn't help it any... "I was just trying to be polite to your pride." His tone went down into a nervous one. "Please, don't really kill me. I have nothing to live for, but I still want to live." He looked desperatly into the lion's eyes. "I didn't mean anything by it, really I didn't. I'm sorry." He took to a knee and bowed to his attacker. "I'm just...scared to be alone." His eyes didn't even touch the taller ones'.

[Deleted]

Kiara, smiled as Kovus sillyness as he pinned her and shouted tag you're it.. She would rather have had some fun at the water hole, oh well maybe later she thought.

Rolling over and onto her paws she stood up and gave her self a shake to get rid of dried leaves and dust clinging to her coat. Looking in the direction as to where Kovu had run to, she pushed her self forward , most times she could catch him anyway she thought with a smirk to herself.

Runnng forward she couldn't see him anywhere, pushing on, she started to get worried..He didn't have that much of a head start. Slowing down , she then stopped and her ears twitched to catch any noise, complete silence...

[Sarafina]

Sarafina watched the whole Scruffy, then Vitani then Kopa arguement. She sighed and looked at Sarabi. they sort of needed to stop this...but she knew how Kopa could be. She looked at Sarabi. He would listen to his grandmother. She looked at Malka. She sighed when Kopa ran to see Scruffy. She closed her eyes and raised her paw to her head. She then shook her head and looked at Sarabi. Hopefully she would know what to do with him..

[Deleted]

Sarabi sat there half amused and half annoyed at the lions antics, she knew enough was enough when kopa took to his paws and left to find Scruffy.

Looking at Sarafina and Vitani, she raised her eyebrows as if to say ' shall we stop this nonsence', it seemed like they all agreed.

Standing up she slowly walked over to Malka and walked around him in a circle, just looking him over from top to bottom. Sarabi saw his mouth open to say more but she stopped him. " If you knew what was good for you right now, I'd just lie there".

Completing her inspection, she looked at Vitani first "well what do you think we should do with him" trying not to grin she then turned to her friend " do you think we should finish off what Kopa wanted to start, we havent had any blood sports for a while have we?"

"mmm, you know though, he does seem a little bit familiar, I can't think where from, Sarafina, does anything come to your mind? "

[Tamber]

Rolling he eyes at the pathetic pleas of the outsider, Tani felt relief as Sarabi approached with such an expression of hunger on her face. Tani felt the blood rushing through her veins at the request to do Malka a bit more than harm. She felt devilish not at the wish to kill him, but just to mess with his mind, as she knew Sarabi was doing.

But her head and ears perked up as Sarabi mentioned the possibility of seeing the stranger before. Was it a possibility that the stranger was not actually a stranger? The thought disgusted Tani. She had quickly grown to highly dislike this lion, but now there was a possibility that she would have to put up with him for longer than she had bargained for.
/.\./.\./.\./.\./.\
With a deep breath and a yawn, Nala opened her eyes to the sight of the afternoon sky. She looked to her right to see her husband snoozing in quite an awward position, and the sight made her giggle. Apparently they had unintentionally dozed off and let the day roll on by, still laying beside he pool of water they had played in earlier.

Feeling naughty and teasing, Nala grabbed a nut from next to her. She rolled over on her back with a playful grin upon her face and tossed the nut, which hit squarely on Simba's right cheek. Nala giggled to herself, feeling quite confident from the successful shot.

[Sarafina]

Sarafina stood up and stared at Malka. She smiled as Sarabi stopped him to talk. Sarafina shook her head. "Cant think of anything...But we know him...." she said sadly. She stared at him and then stared Sarabi. "This is bugging me..." she said annoyed. She looked at Vitani and sighed a little. she sat back down and stared back at Malka. "Heres a question....Do any of us look familiar?" she asked smiling. She knew it sounded awkward but she had to.

````````````````````````````

Simba was in a very comfortable sleep when something was chucked in his direction. "Wah...huh..." he mumbled opening his eyes and yawning.

He saw the nut in front of him and turned to Nala. She was smiling. He took the nut and threw it back at her. He had to laugh as he totally missed Nala. "Wow...I have bad aim.." he said still sleeping a little. He got into a regular laying position and smiled at Nala. He yawned agian and shook his mane. "How did you sleep Nala?" he asked smiling at her totally acting like the nut never hit him. He smiled and chuckled slightly.

[Dakota]

(ooc..Most of you know I've been posting for Lion as Kopa, from now on it will be on my account as Dakota..)

Kopa broke into a wild run, his paws pounded down on the hard firm surface, pushing him along with the wind running over his face and brushing at his mane, it felt exhilarating and free..

Veering sharply to the right as he turned towards the river, his paws left a small cloud of dust in his wake, while small rodents ran out of harms way as he passed where they rested.

Looking ahead he could see Scruffy sitting by the river bank, not moving just fixated on across the river, swinging his gaze over, there was nothing that caught his attention. Moving on he came closer to where his friend sat alone deep on thought, thats funny she should have heard me by now, and at least turned to see that there was no danger

Slowing down he was nearly upon her. Swinging his head around had helped move some fur from his mane that had got stuck on his eye, blinking rapidly it was starting to annoy him further. Moving past Scruffy he looked at her curiously then plunged his head under the water,then throwing his head back, water droplets flew in every direction landing in the mudy dirt making little indents of their own.

Feeling refreshed and his eye clean once again he backed up leaving large paw prints in his wake. Sitting quietly down in front of the lioness he waited, for now it was upto her to speak as she could tell from the expression on her face something was causing her great confusion.

[Kirsui]

Scruffy was paralyzed by confusion. At some point she had sat down, not able to keep herself standing anymore. She just... stared... stared at where the old lioness looking so much like Zira had gone.

Faintly, she heard someone approach her. However, she paid no attention. It was so unlike her, not to pay attention. Normally she would've been on her feet, her claws ready to be extented, her body in a defence position... But now she just sat, unable to move herself.

Then, she finally saw who it was that had approached her. She watched as Kopa stepped down to the river, cleaning up his face in the water. She examined his movements in silence, and had now finally turned her gaze away from the other side of the river, and was looking directly at her King with those reddish-brown eyes of hers. He was looking at her, apparently waiting for her to speak.

She didn't know what to say. Could she tell what she had seen? She had to tell someone, and normally it would been her best friend Vitani...

Now, though, she wouldn't be able to tell her friend. And it hurt.
"M'Lord..." she begun, hesitating momentarily.
"If I said I saw... someone that I thought I'd never see again... Would ya believe me?"

[Nadira]

Malka looked at the lionness he presumed was Sarafina according to what the other lions named her. "Do any of us look familiar" She asked.

Malka looked up at her and stood up on his pained hind leg. He looked the lioness striaght in the eye. Most of the other lions were gone; run off somewhere. "I..." He needed to regain his courage. The younger lion wasn't here anymore. "I...don't know you." He sniffed the lionness carefully. "N... A name does sound familiar to your scent. Starts with an N, I'm sure. I haven't thought about Mufasa's pride in such a long...SIMBA!" He yelled and quickly twitched his ears. "Simba! I know him! I was lost a long time ago away from my mother and I wondered into a pride...Mufasa's pride. And I chased a hyena and Nnn..Nnn..someone, was impressed and Simba was jealous! He led me to a...me and him became friends! Where is Simba? I'll talk to him about this mess! I KNEW this pride smelled familiar!"

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

Kovu knew that Kiara wasn't the best huntress in her pride. That was the amusing part. He crouched down behind her and slowly, without alerting her snuck up closer, and closer, and WHAM!" He pounced on her back and dragged her to the ground. He instinctivly grabbed her ear and tugged on it. Realizing what he was doing, he let go of her and ran away laughing, tempting her to catch him.

[Sarafina]

Sarafina smiled as he spoke. She let him finish and she giggled. "Simba and my daughter... Nala are on a little afternoon rest. Their Daughter Kiara is out with her mate and their son is Kopa...the one your not fond with." she said smiling softly. She looked at Sarabi like 'wow....small lands.' She then smiled at Malka. "I remember you..Nala talked about you. Only once in a while when her and Simba got into a little arguement." she said smiling. she then turned to Sarabi and would let her talk...she was talking to much.

[Dakota]

Kopa watched as his friend struggled with whatever thoughts that seemed to be confusing her ,he could see conflicting emotions passing over her face, Kopa was beginnng to worry what it could be, was she ill, was something seriously wrong with Vitani, his mate .

When Seleter spoke, it almost puzzled him as he wasn't expecting that question to come from her.

" You are a dear and loyal friend of mine and Tani's, of course I would believe you Scruffy, you should know I trust you with my life, just who exactly is it you think you have seen, out here in the middle of no where."

Kopa didn't move, he waited for her reply, knowing that he had to let her take her own time, what ever it was, was very disturbing to her.

[Tamber]

Vitani sat and watched as Kopa left angrily. Now she was left with Malka and Sarafina, and wasn't sure what to think of it. Should she follow her good friends and spend some time with them once again, or stay and figure out exactly what this stranger's problem was.

Her attention was fading and she started looking away, wondering whether this lion actually knew the members of the pride, but seeming to concentrate her bored mind on a rock at the same time. Then something caught her ear...

"Simba!"

Tani's ears shot up as Malka told of his past with the group, and Sarafina acknowledged. Great...now I will hae to put up with this guy.

She stood and approached him. "We haven't seen Simba all day. He may be back at Pride Rock, but there's no telling. Do...you think he'll remember you?"
/.\./.\./.\./.\./.\
Nala rolled over and laughed out loud at seeing the nut fly clear past her. She then calmed down and rolled back over onto her belly, looking into the water. She dipped her paw in and stirred it around a bit. "I slept well, but I'm ready to get up and move again. We've been lounging all day, and it will be dusk soon."

[Kirsui]

Scruffy cringed slightly. She looked at Kopa, her eyes holding a gaze of faint suspicion and thoughtfulness. She glanced at the other side of the river yet again, apparently hesitating to tell Kopa what her question had meant...

"Twice today, M'Lord..." she begun.
"Twice I've seen an older lioness who looks disturbingly familiar."
The gaze of her reddish-brown eyes turned back to Kopa.
"I didn't mention her earlier with others around, 'cos I thought it wasn't important. Now, though, I saw her again, just a moment ago before ya came, M'Lord."
She sighed, her ears falling slightly.
"Kopa..." she continued, this time using his name instead of the formal title she usually preferred.
"I think... I think Zira ain't as dead as we thought she was..."

[Deleted]

Sarabi looked on with amazement as she listened to his and Sarafinas words.

" Is it really you, little Malka from all those years ago ? You and Simba loved each other like brothers and had such fun together, then one day Zazu found your mother andthey came and got you, we never saw again, What happened, and why are you here now "

Sarabi nudged Vitani as they were both practically still leaning over him, cocking her head she gave the signal to move back and away and give him some much needed breathing space.

[Nadira]

Malka looked up to the lionesses. "Y-yes. Nala. How is she? I know I forgot her name and all, but I really did think about her over the years. She and Simba are mates now? and they have a litter?" His expression went down. "Oh." His expression risen. "Well, I'm glad Simba is with someone he loves. I knew those two would hit it off one day," He giggled. "Wow. Is Simba here? I'd like to see him and Nala again.. I knew his son could be that Kopa guy. He reminded me so much of Simba and sort of looks like him in the eyes. I thought that he'd be more sympathetic then THAT." He growled to himself.

"I'm sorry for my past behavior. I just...I just get so scared to be alone and I thougth that if I could just...try to...introduce myself, that you would take me in. It's scary out there alone. A rogue lion came and killed our leader, my father, killed half the queens including my mother and killed all of the males, even the cubs!" I didn't know what to do! I can't fight well, so I left, and I ran. I'm so ashamed! I wanted to find help...and I found you." He sighed. "Please take me to Simba. I need to speak with him." He sat down painfully and looked around. "Pride Rock Lands look so diffrent after years and years."

[Dakota]

Kopa sat there taking it all in that Scruffy was telling him, disbelief passed over his features, but he knew Scruffy wouldn't lie, it had to be true, but how..

" If you are absolutely positive it was Zira, it must be her then, we all thought she was dead and long gone from our lives, she was such a nasty evil creature".

Kopa looked away from his friend and cast his eyes all around and to the other side of the river, he couldn't see anything moving let alone an old lioness. Meeting Scruffys eyes once again, he lowered his voice, hoping it would calm her down and reassure her.

" Tell me all you can, when did you see her and more importantly what did she say to you?"

Giving a gasp, he suddenly thought of his mate " Vitani, what about Vitani..."

[Kirsui]

Scruffy took in Kopa's expressions after she had revealed what was troubling her so... The expression of not believing made her feel slightly dissapointed at her King, but this feeling disappeared when Kopa spoke that he believed her.

Scruffy sighed deeply.
"Yes, M'Lord..." she said, slipping back to her habit of formal adressing.
"After I... survived from the river, I thought to give a quick look at our former Den. Ya know, the termite nests in which we lived over the years of exile."
She took a deep breath, her gaze focusing at the distance on the other side of the river...

At the direction where the former Outlanders' Den was.

"I was greeted with a flow of memories, and curiosity took over. Checking the main cave wasn't a bad thing to do now, was it? I went in, and then she.... She came in there... At first I didn't know who she was, and I still aren't sure if it really is her..."
Sighing, she turned to look at Kopa.
"Truth is... she looked horrible, M'Lord... Her fur has grown thin, her previously thick tail tuft has barely only few of those dark brown furs left. Her pale brown colour is dirty, and the stripe on her head is barely there to be seen..."
She shivered.
"But it had to be her... She had the damaged ear.. Just like before. But she was so different... She has more scars on her body than I thought was possible for a lion to have!"

Her speech had become faster at the end of her sentence, and she had to take deep breaths to calm herself. She was losing the control of what she was doing...
...something she rarely did.
"I couldn't scent her... I just.. couldn't... I ran from the Den, returned to Pride Lands, met Sarabi and Sarafina and came looking for ya and Tani."
She shivered again.
"Then just a moment ago she was there, right on the other side of the river. She asked if I know who she is, and... I said I didn't know... Then she asked me who Zira is. And..."
She sighed, turning the gaze of her reddish-brown eyes at Kopa again.
"I think that... if she indeed is Zira, she has lost her memory..."

[Dakota]

Kopa couldn't take his eyes off Scruffy as she relayed her story, , there were so many possibilities to outcomes of having Zira still alive.

"You say she doesn't know who she is and you saw her right here across from us?"

Turning slightly, again Kopa scanned the immediate area, "where did she go , I can't see anything".

Sitting there, thinking over all Scruffy had told him, it was pulling him in different directions all these unanswered questions. Sighly softly he looked at her.

"You know we have to go and tell Vitani, don't you, that we can't keep this from her and she has a right to know. If we were by ourselves, I'd go looking for this lioness you say is Zira, but.....well..."

Trailing off, Kopa pushed himself up and waited for scruffy "I suppose we'd better get this over and done with and see what Tani wants to do, ooh and by the way, enough of the M'Lord ok," grinning at her .

[Sarafina]

Sarafina smiled as Sarabi spoke in shock. She looke at Priderock seeing the Sight of Simba running. Nala right with him. She smiled to the otheres. "Ill be right back." she looked at Sarabi and smiling pointing her head to what she had saw. She turned and bounded off to Priderock to see if Simba and Nala could just take some time to see Malka. She smiled as Simba turned first. He was smiling broadly as usual. "Hey Simba, Nala." she said smiling at her daughter and son-in-law. "I have someone you might want to see. I know he wants to see you." she said smiling.
`````````````````````````````````````
Simba nodded and licked her ehad. He stood up and sighed. He waited for Nala and head back. He looked at her and then bolted. Of course he was slow...so Nala was with him the whole time...also in front of him some of the way. When he got there he was laughing. When they stopped and nuzzled Nala and licked her cheek. "We need to do that more often. " he giggled and then turned hearing up soming paws.

Simba smiled. "Hey Sarafina." he listened and looked at Nala confused. He then turned back to Sarafina" Uh...sure. Why not." he said smiling softly. He then looked at Nala and smiled a little more licking her cheek.

[Tamber]

Nala smiled as Simba licked her head. Suddenly he started running back to Pride Rock, and she followed after him happily. She was anxious as Sarafina mentioned there was someone there to visit them. Who on earth is here to visit us that doesn't live with us? she thought.
/.\./.\./.\./.\
Vitani listened to the story that was unfolding between Malka and the older ladies. Only half listening and looking around boredly, she got the basic story of Malka's past, why they had known him, and why he was here today. But frankly she wanted to be with her closest friends, who had left her. Tani finally stopped listening all together and loked behind her, in the direction her mate and her friend had run off.

She decided that both Scruffy and Kopa had had plenty of alone time to think about anything they needed to think about. Looking back once to Sarabi and Malka, she turned and trotted off in the direction of her lifelong friends, hoping to find them somewhere along the road.

[Deleted]

Sarabi sat down waiting patiently, while Sarafina ran off back towards Priderock to collect Simba and Nala.

Looking up she saw Vitani, with that look on her face, smiling to herself, she knew this reunion of sorts wasn't going to go down very well with her, just by looking at the way she stomped her paws as she moved away.

Eyeing up Malka, as he lay in the shade, Sarabi knew somewhere in her subconscious he seemed familiar. It would be all sorted out when simba turned up, but she could also see certain problems arising and jealousy rearing its ugly head.

Malka was certainly different, he had a certain charm about him that he could turn off and on by the looks, yet he had an air of uncertainess and vulnerability about him, sort of wanting you to take care of him.. well this should stir things up...grinning Sarabi turned away and watched Vitani as she walked slowly towards where they last saw Kopa go after Scruffy.

[Nadira]

Malka looked up at Sarafina with an uncertainty. (I wonder if Simba and Nala will remember me?) He thought.. It had certainly been a long time and Malka had grown alot since his last encounter with his big brother. Also, his masculenity certainly changed. He was barely nothing but flesh and bone. Surely the great King wouldn't want to turn down his old friend because he looked weak. But, alot had changed.. and Malka didn't know if he was going to deal with the Simba he met, or the Simba he left. Both were alot diffrent from each other. He lowered his ears and quietly waited with the lioness, hopeing she wouldn't leave him alone like the others did.

[Kirsui]

Scruffy glanced around the area before turning her attention to Kopa. She didn't like the idea of telling about her... encounter with the old lioness to her best friend. They all had seen Zira fall into a certain death. Even Scuffy herself had been shocked to see the old lioness who she assumed was Zira, and thinking how Vitani would react...

"-- ooh and by the way, enough of the M'Lord ok,"

Scruffy chuckled slightly, even though the amusement didn't quite reach her eyes.
"As ya wish, Yer Highness..."
She flashed a slight smirk at her King. She knew she wouldn't need to use the formal titles... She just felt like using them.

The smirk faded away.
"Ya know, Kopa..." she said quietly.
"I dunno if it's a good idea to tell Tani about what I saw. I could be wrong, ya know... I don wanna stress her, 'cos I really don believe what I saw either. What if I was wrong and the lioness wasn't Zira?"
She sighed, turning to look away from Kopa.
"I could keep an eye for that lioness and see if I get some more information of her... sure, she looks a great deal like Zira, but.. I haven't managed to catch her scent yet, 'cos she's just so dirty."
She glanced at Kopa from her eyecorner, keeping her head turned away.
"Lemme be sure it's her, and then we can tell Tani... ok?"

[Dakota]

"I'm not sure Scruffy, things always kept hidden seem to have a disasturous ending to them instead of telling the truth first off, yet I don't want Tani getting hurt".

"how about......" trailing off Kopa looked past his friend and fixing a smile on his face turned to greet his mate "there you are, we were just coming back to get you".

Turning Vitani around so her back was facing the river, Kopa moved to stand in front of her hoping Scruffy wouldn't say anything, as he hadn't decided what was for the best.

"So how were things with the others and that flea bitten excuse of a lion ? " glancing over her shoulder his eyes scanned the area while waiting for her answer. He couldn't see anything but termite nests dust and dirt, where on earth could this lioness be that Scruffy was sure was Zira.