Grassland

[Deleted]

Like what?" Wasana asked Zeke. She was fishing for compliments, she knew, but was too excited to hear to be embarrassed. His words made her melt, and so she grabbed his paw and pulled it across her broad middle - as far as it would go anyway - before she stuck her nose into the gazelle and started eating (she figured the others had had ample time to eat, and it WAS her kill).

[mane6]

She nodded towards Wasana with a smile. "That would mean alot to me, thankyou." She says happily. She then slightly blushes at Ezekiel`s comment. "Probably.. i don`t really know.." She mumbles looking to the floor. "I think i would be willing to do all those tests to join." She then turns to Lailah. "I would really love to join. It sounds like such a great place!"

[Jetstar]

"Hmm, well I can hunt well I guess, I've had to since I came here. Ive lived in trees for as long as I can remember so that's ok. I can't roar to save my life, it just comes out more like a male scream. An obedience test? What, you guys want me to sit or play dead when you tell me? And ok swimming, last time I did that I nearly died. And I have to become friends with people. Oh yay I'm so going to get in" Tare said sarcastically, lying on the cave floor and putting his head Onto his paws.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel

The large lion gave Wasana a broad smile, "Your smile for one, you make me laugh, you're talented." He named the three straight away, still smiling down at her before she started eating and so he lay beside her, she placed his paw so it was over her before he shuffle a little and placed both paws along her stomach as she ate, resting his head on his paws and gazing up at Tare, "I can help you with all of them." He replied before Lailah could offer - which he knew she would do.


Lailah

"Nice try Zeke." The younger and more lithe lioness replied, "You and I both know you hate swimming, Wasana can vouch for me on that one." She turned to Tare and smiled. "I can help you with the swimming. The obedience is more to prove that you can take orders when it's important to. And for the roaring, Ezekiel and I are evenly matched; one of us could help you or even Wasana. It's up to you." She smiled.

[Deleted]

Wasana revelled in the sensation of Zeke's hands on her large belly. "Comfy down there?" she said, then swallowed her food and whispered in his ear, "am I dreaming? Or are you really doing this?" Then nuzzled him behind the ear. It was hard to keep her wits about herself. Nevertheless, after Tare's expression of dismay, she managed to say,"Oh, oh, and we forgot about the Big One. Oh... But we shouldn't tell you about that. The less you know, the better. We don't want to put you off." She winked at Tare, grinning mischievously.
To the newly orphaned lioness she said, "If you want a date, I can introduce you to my brothers, when you feel the time is right. I have two. Wawindaji is very tall and muscly and a great hunter." She rolled her eyes. "That's what envy one says anyway. Ufikiraji is... Well, nicer than Wawi anyway.... Come to think of it I don't think either would make great Life Partners. But still, you might think differently." She smiled.

[Jetstar]

Tare smilled truely for the first time in forever. This was the happiest he had ever been in others company. After everything that had happened, he had closed himself off to others, but something about these select few made him feel comfortable. "Thanks, sorry" he laughed then lay down. "Ok so the physical stuff I can practise at but what about that friendship one? Do you think they'll like me?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

"Well Ezekiel likes you. So more than likely yes! Just be friendly and polite." Lailah chirped, "And use our nicknames to show you are genuinely friends with us. I'm little birdy like Zeke said earlier and he's rough 'n' tumble. The Pride refer to us as that sometimes." She continued; grinning at him.


Ezekiel

"I am comfortable indeed." He purred before turning to Tare, "You'll be popular with the lionesses anyway so you don't need to worry about them, the lions just be nice." He said reassuringly to the lion.

[Jetstar]

Tare laughed "Thank god" he sat up, went quiet for a while then spoke "Why will the lionesses like me now?" he joked. The sun sent amazing colours across the room. "Be right back" Tare said as he trotted to the cave entrance. The sun was setting outside and soon it would be black. He returned to the group "Guys it's nearly night, should we split up or sleep here or what?"

[Deleted]

"Is it far back?" Wasana said. She shrugged uncomfortably on the hard stone. "I'm much more comfortable in my own sleeping place."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel

"We can split up; I'll go with you Wasana." He said, stretching a little. "Lailah. I want you to stay here; it's safer." He turned to the others, "Where do you two want to stay?"


Lailah

"I'm safe anywhere. I can look after myself." Lailah replied with slight annoyance.

[Deleted]

Wasana relished the idea of spending time alone with Zeke. She bolted upright. "Well, we'll be off then," she said. "Enjoy the rest of the gazelle!" She looked to Zeke, waiting for him to leave.

[Jetstar]

Tare laughed slightly at Wasana's urgance. "I don't mind. I'll sleep wherever I do greatly have a place" he said, rolling into his back and resting his paws onto his wooden brown mane.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

"I'm not that bothered either." She told her brother easily, laying down where she stood and smiling up at him. "You two just go, we'll see you in the morning."


Ezekiel

He frowned a little before turning to Tare. "Can we talk Tare?" He asked calmly, stepping away from Wasana.

[mane6]

"Im not really that bothered. As long as im not alone, thats fine.. unless you want to be alone that is." She said with a small smirk, before stretching and yawning.

[Jetstar]

Tare looked towards Ezekial "Yeah sure" he said as he got up and walked over to him. He kinda already had an idea of what this was about, but gave Zeke the curtsy of asking "Whats up, Rough?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

"Stay with us!" She chirped to Mura, going over to the lioness and grinning. "It's warm, safe and comfortable-ish."


Ezekiel

"Seeing as Lai is staying with you I'm warning you now anything funny and you'll regret it. Any harm comes of her - you'll regret it. I catch you anywhere near her - you'll regret it. I only want you near her if she needs protection. This area is normally safe but what with one death already. I don't want another, especially not if it's my little sister, you understand?" He asked sharply, his eyes narrowed, he knew he was being overprotective and the Lailah probably would be furious if she knew. But he didn't care.

[Jetstar]

Tare's assumptions were true. He knew it was coming and he was right. Usually he would've just nodded, trying to avoid the fight be this any other lion but for some reason, hearing those words hurt. Tare didn't know why and he didn't like it. "Do you actually think that I'd ever hurt her? Look at her, I've lost a mother, a father, three brothers; one older who died saving us and two younger who I couldn't do the same for, and one sister. One sister, who do you think reminds me of her? I've spent practically my whole life here and then your pride show up and change that. You show up with her and you change what I changed in a year, in a few seconds. I thought I finally got rid of my past and then the brother sister duo apears." he told him, getting slightly angry but suppressing it as much as possible. "Me and you are the same Ezekial. I wouldn't let any lion near my sister and ya know what? She began to think it was because she was ugly. Then she found out why none would go near her and she never talked to me again." he said, more solemnly than angry at this point. "Our family were walking one day and she disappeared. We all split up and went off to find her. I did. I found her with a lion. He was doing the extreme of what you're trying to prevent. Just as I appeared, he kills her, gone. You know what I did? I savaged that lion and draped his body over a branch. I walked to my sister and just nuzzled her and she just looked at me with teary eyes. She died there. And I watched it. I couldn't do anything. She died and her last words to me were "I wish you would just go find a girl and leave here. Maybe then you can smother her instead of me"." tears were building behind Tare's eyes but he kept them down. "So if you think I'd ever hurt Lai, then you are mistaken. Cause if I ever did what that lion did to my sister to Lai, then I wouldn't blame you if you did what I did." the tears were forcing themselves out now as he walked away from Ezekial. "Three years" he muttered as he came to the far wall of the cave. He lay down facing it, put his head down and forced himself to stop crying.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel was taken aback by Tare's history; wincing guiltily he slipped into the cave and padded to Tare, passing Lailah very quietly seeing as she was sound asleep. "I lost my parents too. And my baby siblings there was five of them. Lai and I were the oldest. They would only be about half a year now, they were killed by hunters. I'm sorry but I just can't bare to lose Lailah too; she is my everything. My little birdy." He laughed bitterly. "I'm going to go with Wasana. Lailah may have a nightmare, if she does you can get her back to sleep nuzzling her cheek. If she cries offer to let her rant to you. She probably won't but so she knows she's safe." He began to walk away before stopping beside his sister. "I'll see you three in the morning." He licked the top of his sister's head before going off to find Wasana; when he did in he exhaled sharply and nibbled on her scruff affectionately, "Let's go."

[Jetstar]

Tare was quite surprised at Ezekial. He hopped up slowly and trotted quietly towards him before he left. "Hey..." Tare began "....thanks." he smiled "I don't know what your customers are in your pride but it mine well..." he paused, crossed his front right leg over his left and lowered his head into a bow. "We bowed as a sign of trust"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel

He tilted his head and watched Tare with interest before copying him carefully with a small smile. "Like that?" He asked.


Lailah

She rolled over a little in her sleep alerting Ezekiel before she stopped turning and seemed to relax again.

[Jetstar]

Tare laughed quietly "Yeah exactly." he told him, them looked to Lai "Ok you two have fun" he winked childishly

[Deleted]

Wasana returned his affection with a nip on the ear.
Once they were out of the cave, she walked close to him, brushing against him with her body, and said, "It's nice to be spending time with such a protective lion." She looked at him, and still couldn't believe he was really here beside her.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel

He rolled his eyes at Tare and laughed a little, "Remember a nuzzle and an offer to rant." He said before turning to Wasana and following her as she walked away. "Suck up." He said teasingly to her but nuzzled her regardless. "I always protect those I care about."


Lailah

She lay in a seemingly peaceful sleep when in reality, just as her brother had warned it was filled with nightmares.

[Jetstar]

Tare plodded back into the cave and to the girls. He lay down near them and watched, unable to fall asleep.

[mane6]

Mura soon fell asleep, in the corner of the cave, curled in a small ball. She smiled, she was quite excited for the morning.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

She began to unwillingly toss in her sleep, swiping at the air in a small panic, the occasional cry of fear passing her lips.

[mane6]

Mura woke up slowly, she lifted herself up and slowly padded over to Lailah. She carefully nudged her head ever so slightly, hoping to wake her. She offered a small smike. "Are you okay? You seemed to be having a bad dream."

[Jetstar]

Tare didn't sleep. The moment he heard Lai's cry's, he was there beside her. Just waiting incase she wanted comfort. He rubber his cheek into hers just as Mura got up. He didn't stop when Mura asked the question.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

She looked around her eyes wide and slightly panicked; like Ezekiel had also explained she did seem to calm a little but a shiver kept going through her, "I'm fine." She stammered, looking to Mura and then Tare. "Just a nightmare. It's nothing. I'll be fine." She began to waffle on with herself. "I'm thirsty. I want a drink." She stood up quickly and moved from Tare and Mura. "I'm fine. Sorry for waking you." With that she turned and walked out of the cave hurriedly.

[Deleted]

The grasslands were quiet at night. Stars wheeled overhead and the only sound was the wind through the occasional tree. "How long will it take to get home?" Wasana said. She could see the big rock up ahead, but was never so good at telling distances.