Release (Private saraiya & Lyonize)

[saraiya]

The next morning, Kela wakes up trapped in Zoba's grip again. And he loons to be in a deep sleep, too.

"Zoba? Can you hear me? Time to wake up." She says, slightly nudging him with her paw. "We gotta head back soon."

[Lyonize]

The sound of Kela's voice gently lifted Zoba out of his sleep. He yawned and as he did, his arms tightened around Kela, then he released her.

"Good morning." From behind the waterfall, Zoba could hear the muffled sound of birds. He lifted himself to his feet and walked over to the spring. His tongue lapped up the water as his eyes blinked the sleep out. After he had quenched his thirst, Zoba walked towards the waterfall and stretched before making his way out.

[saraiya]

"Good morning." Kela says, following Zoba out the cave. The warm sunlight feels good on her fur.

"Father is probably gonna be ups-" Her words are interrupted by a loud roar echoing through the trees. Tilting her head in confusion, Kela looks off into the distance.

"Dadan? They shouldn't be coming through here yet." She says, then starts walking towards the noise.

[Lyonize]

Zoba followed Kela as she walked toward the sound of the roar.

"Dadan? Who is that?" He asked as he caught up and came up next to her.

[saraiya]

"A gorilla and a silver back, at that. He's the leader of his troop and they pass through every year for migration. We're supposed to be allies. But, that roar didn't sound too happy. And with him so close when he's not due to come through is bad." She explains, flinching slightly as another, enraged roar sounded.

Kela leads them to a cliff. She's hardly surprised to see Razu already there, looking over the edge. As soon as he hears them, he turns and glares. "You're late."

"Whatever. Just explain what's going on."

Scoffing, Razu gestures down below. Dadan showed up a while ago, demanding to see Tuuma. I came ahead, but your father should be here soon."

Looking over the edge, down the 40-50 ft steep slope of rocks, is a troop of gorillas, all looking angry, but none more so than the largest known as Dadan. Razu turns to give Kela a stern look. "Don't you dare." He warns.

Kela gives him a challenging smirk, then runs head first down the slope.

"She's insane!" With a frustrated growl, the lion turns to Zoba. "Would you please go get her before she does something stupid." He demands more than asks, then runs off back towards the pride.

[Lyonize]

"Why don't you come with me?" Zoba said without looking at Razu. "Or are you too scared?" With that, Zoba leaped over the edge and landed ten or so feet down, digging his claws into the dirt and rock. He slid down a little faster than Kela. Fast enough to land only a moment after she did. He stood behind her with his side facing her. He knew she was going to be doing the talking but he was there to back her up in her negotiations, and, if it came to it, a fight.

[saraiya]

"Haven't seen you in these parts for a while, cub." Dadan says, then eyes Zoba. "Who's the lion?"

Kela steps in front of Zoba. "I know you didn't come for small talk. Why are you here?"

Growling, Dadan glares down at Kela. He's a massive gorilla. Possibly as big as Zoba, with various scars on his body. "I assume your father didn't mention how he left us to die, then?"

"No..." Kela shrinks down slightly, feeling herself become intimidated. She has known all her life to fear and respect the strength of gorillas. "He hasn't said a word. Are you sure it's not a misunderstanding?"

He growls and grabs her by the scruff of her neck, pulling her forward and forcing her to the ground, facing the gorillas. "Look at them! These are all that's left! I came a full moon ago, asking for help against the jaguars invading my land, and only get an empty promise to send reinforcements. None came and we was forced from our home, after most of us were slaughtered. Is that a misunderstanding to you?!"

"Oww..." As strong as she is, Kela knows she can do very little in such a position.

[Lyonize]

Zoba's eyes widened and a pulse of adrenaline rushed through his veins as he saw the gorilla grab Kela. His instincts told him to rush the gorilla but his better judgement made him wait.

"Dadan!" Zoba stepped forward. "My name is Zoba. I'm not part of this pride but I can help you. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to set things right." Zoba's eyes narrowed as he continued. "But if you hurt Kela, you forfeit any chance of having my help."

Zoba looked at Kela, then at Dadans arm, then back at Dadans face. "Give us until noon to speak with Tuuma."

[saraiya]

With a huff, the gorilla releases his hold on Kela. "Noon. You have until noon." Dadan growls, and orders his remaining gorillas to retreat to the trees.

Kela shakily stands and walks over by Zoba. "Thanks." She breathes out, nudging his shoulder.

[Lyonize]

Zoba kept his face and his posture stern until Dadan released Kela and the gorillas had left.

Kela nudged his shoulder but he kept his eye on the gorillas until the last one was out of sight. "Thanks."

Zoba let out a shaky sigh of relief and his strong posture melted away as he threw his head over Kela's neck. He rubbed his head over hers and wrapped a paw around her leg. "You scared me to death."

[saraiya]

"Yeah, I'm sorry." Kela apologizes. She forgot how quick tempered Dadan is. She should have been more wary. "I'm fine now."

Then, she looks up the cliff side and narrows her eyes. Above if her pride, staring down at them. Including her parents.

"I'd rather you'd speak to them. I feel more inclined to clawing Father's eye out for putting me in that situation." She snarls, returning the glare from her father.

[Lyonize]

"Keep in mind, we rushed into that headlong. We probably didn't make the smartest move but at least we gave the pride some breathing room." Zoba said as he glanced at the pride then back down at Kela. "All's well that ends well... Let's go."

Zoba began to make his way up the steep cliff, taking a zig-zag path upwards, making sure Kela was behind him. Within a couple minutes, the two had made it to the top and now faced Kela's parents.

[saraiya]

"What were you thinking, running into danger like that?" Tuuma growls.

"I was thinking of trying to figure out why the gorillas we once called our friends were practically calling for war at our borders." Kela growls back. "Why would you leave them to die?!"

Tuuma narrows his eyes. "I couldn't send lionesses to help and leave our pride defenseless. What kind of king would that make me with a weakened pride?"

"One with honor."

Nyota steps in between. "That's enough out of both of you. Can't we talk like we're civilized?"

"This is the jungle, Mother. Nothing 'civilized' about it." Kela mutters, but backs down.

[Lyonize]

Zoba looked concernedly at Kela. She was obviously upset. "Kela. It's alright. Let's just think this through. We can figure this out." Zoba turned to Tuuma. "I understand that your intentions were to protect your own pride. But you've made new enemies and your pride is in danger now. What's in the past is has been done. Now we need to figure out how to keep this war from happening." Zoba looked at the rest of the pride, then to Nyota, then back to Tuuma.

[saraiya]

Razu steps forward. "As much as I absolutely loathe it, Zoba has a point. How are we to make amends to Dadan and his troop? The last thing we want or need is a war with them."

"He's right." Kela agrees. "You know you did wrong by them, and this level of treachery won't be forgiven by a simple apology. They are going to want blood."

"And you suppose we offer our own blood to compensate?" Tuuma asks.

"More like we find a way to avoid needless bloodshed, like you should have done from the beginning." Kela says, then turns to Zoba. "Any ideas? Any input would help."

[Lyonize]

"I suggest we offer to help them take back their home. It won't bring back the families they lost but if they're seeking vengeance, maybe we can redirect it towards the jaguars. If that doesn't work, I'm afraid war with the gorillas is inevitable." Zoba said.

[saraiya]

"It's worth a shot..." Nyota says, brushing against Tuuma. "If you cast your pride aside and apologize, that would help, too."

Finding himself in a corner, Tuuma relents. "Fine. We'll offer assistance to them. You're in charge of the lionesses, should this plan work. Don't do anything reckless." He scowls, then turns to walk away, leading the other lionesses into the jungle after the gorillas.

Rolling her eyes, Kela turns to Razu. "And where did you run off to?"

"Went to see what was taking your old man so long to get here. I may hate you," He says, turning to Zoba. "But I do trust you to keep her safe and alive. Even if she does do stupidly reckless things and gets manhandled by a gorilla."

"Your wit is always appreciated." Kela deadpans, then turns to follow the others into the jungle.

Razu shakes his head once she was out of sight. "I swear, she's so much trouble. You must really love her to be this patient with her after almost getting herself killed."

[Lyonize]

Zoba remained silent while the others mulled his idea over. FInally, Razu spoke to him again when nobody was around to hear him.

"I swear, she's so much trouble. You must really love her to be this patient with her after almost getting herself killed."

He replied simply and calmly. "I stay by her because she loves me." While it was also true that he loved her, it was her love for him that kept him going. He walked away, following the rest of the group, leaving Razu with the implications of his statement.

[saraiya]

"Trust me, I can tell she loves you." Razu says, easily catching up to Zoba. "The fact that she allows herself to depend on you is enough proof, once you know her well enough.

"As much as I hate to admit this, and don't you dare tell her, her independence made it hard for me to see eye to eye with her. As a lion, I was taught to always take care of my lioness. It's kinda hard when she can do everything for herself, by herself. Really hurt my pride, ya know." He lets out a dry laugh. "If only she'd relax and let someone take care of her, then maybe..." He shakes his head, then looks back at Zoba.

"Just promise me you can keep her happy and safe. She had put up with a lot of her father's crap, and deserves the freedom you give her."

[Lyonize]

"Hm." Zoba cracked a grin. "You're alright, Razu." The two continued walking a good distance behind the others. "And there's nothing wrong with being a protector and a provider. That's normal. It's what lions do. Kela and I are just the two anomalies that found each other. I do protect her, but she also protects me. I know, Kela has a rebellious nature. It's what made her choose the life she chose and it makes her a bit of a handful. I was born into a life of solitude. My parents didn't belong to a pride so we lived a nomadic life. After our parents died, my brother and I continued the same lifestyle." Zoba chuckled a bit. "It's a bit of an oxymoron. Our independence is what brought Kela and I together."

[saraiya]

"Is that what you plan to do with her? Get married and raise a family on the road? Like your parents did?" Razu asks curiously.

Catching sight of Kela laughing at something Nuella possibly said, Razu nods. "Yeah. I see her being happy with that."

[Lyonize]

"I guess that is the plan." Zoba said as his thoughts drifted on what the future might be like for Kela and him. He hadn't really thought about it before. He hadn't ever really put much thought into the future. It was always just one step after the next.

[saraiya]

After a while, Kela turns back and sees the lions conversating in a normal fashion. With a confused look, she turns back and starts walking with them.

"What are you guys talking about?" She asks, looking between them.

Razu rolls his eyes. "Can't lions have a private conversation?" He says withat a sigh. "If you absolutely must know, I was asking him how he got his mane so shiny and nice, and if he'd share some tips."

Kela laughs and shakes her head. "Your sarcasm is probably the only thing that I like about you, Razu."

Razu smirks at her. "Whatever. I am curious about how a witch like you landed a nice guy like him. You actually have a nice personality when he's around, so I wasn't sure if it was actually you when you came back."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're intolerable?"

"You, actually. Every time that you laid eyes on me, you said something like that."

Nuella joins their group. "I swear, you two act like siblings. It's ridiculous." She laughs. "By the way, we're almost there, so time to put on our game faces."

"Yay. Another war." Kela mutters to herself, not eager for another fight. Especially between her family and her friends.

[Lyonize]

"Can't lions have a private conversation? If you absolutely must know, I was asking him how he got his mane so shiny and nice, and if he'd share some tips."

Zoba leaned his head back and shook his mane back and forth, sarcastically feigning the most majestic look he could muster. When his mane had thoroughly been shaken, he looked down at Kela with the best dreamy-eyed, smug look he could muster.

The banter between Razu and Kela was interesting. They almost seemed to enjoy dishing out their backhanded comments. The fight was over when Nuella came in to break it up and mentioned that they were almost at the meeting place.

"Yay. Another war."

"Hey. We did alright last time." Zoba said reassuringly.

[saraiya]

"Doesn't mean I have to like it." Kela responds solemnly. "I mean, who wants a possible war with the ones you once called friends?"

Once they arrived to the gorillas, Kela joined her parents up front just as they made the proposal.

"Let me get this straight. You want to help us reclaim our land from the jaguars after you left us?" Dadan asks suspiciously. "How do we know you won't lie again?"

"Because I keep my promises." Kela says, before her father can. "And you need all the help you can get."

[Lyonize]

"Kela is still your friend, and any friend of hers is a friend of mine. We have made our decision to help you take back your home if you will let us. The pride will be accompanying us." Zoba looked back at Nuella and the other lionesses, then turned back to Dadan. "Kela and I want what you want. We want you to have your home back. If you accept our offer, you'll have this pride as allies to take your home. If not, you risk war with the jaguars and this pride. None of us want that." Zoba's expression was solemn and sincere. It was not a threat. It was a forewarning. "And if that happens," Zoa turned to look at Kelas father. "Kela and I cannot, in good conscience, be involved." He looked back at Dadan. Awaiting a response.

[saraiya]

"It's more like we will not be involved." Kela agrees. "My father made a mistake, but I refuse to make the same one." She says, ignoring her father's snarl. "What will it be?"

Dadan looks at Kela, then at Zoba, then at the rest of the pride. "I will accept this, but know if I'm betrayed again..."

"With my life as my word, you won't be." Kela declares.

[Lyonize]

"Then we should probably leave tomorrow." Zoba said, trying to wrap things up before anything could be ruined. He was getting the feeling that Kela's father liked to be the one to make decisions. While he didn't feel the need to impress Kela's father, he didn't want to make him angry either. Keeping Tuuma and his pride alive was also within the realm of Zoba's goals, so hopefully, Kela would forgive him for making Tuuma angry as long as he and the rest of Kela's family were alive.

[saraiya]

"Tomorrow then. We'll meet up back here at the same time." Dadan says, then looks at Kela. "Also, sorry about earlier."

Kela smiles and shakes her head. "We're good, Dadan. I hardly even feel it anymore." She lies easily. There's still a somewhat painful throb from where he grabbed her, but she can endure it.

With a nod, Dadan says his goodbyes, and the pride retreats. Once back at the den, Tuuma turns towards Kela. "What did you mean by you would not have fought? Whatever the outcome of that meeting, you would fight who I tell you to fight."

Kela glares at him. "I refuse to fight old friends due to your foolish pride."

"As long as you are a part of this pride, you will do as I say!"

"I have never been a part of this pride!" Kela snaps back. "I'm more of your prisoner than your daughter. The only reason I haven't left again is because I'm stuck cleaning up your mistakes."

Nyota steps in between them. "Both of you need to calm down."

"I'm perfectly calm, Mother." Kela scowls, then starts walking away. "I'm going hunting!" She announces before disappearing in the trees.

Nyota sighs and turns to Zoba. "Please, speak with her. She listens to you far better than any of us, I'm afraid."

[Lyonize]

Zoba nodded. "I will." Still, he wasn't sure what he was going to say to her. Zoba agreed with everything Kela was saying. Though he would not say it, Kela's father made poor decisions. This pride deserved better leadership.

As he followed Kela into the jungle, he found that he was getting slightly better at traversing the terrain. He still tripped a bit here and there but he caught himself every time.

Kela seems to like hunting when she's upset... Zoba thought to himself. Why don't I give her something to track.

Zoba began traveling further out into the jungle, leaving broken branches. He dragged his paws with each step to keep his pawprints from being recognizable as his own. Finally, Zoba came to a small clearing with a single tree in the middle. It's trunk wide enough that it wasn't easy to see past. He smiled and reminisced as he unsheathed his claws and dragged them across the bark, leaving the mark he had made when he and Kela first met. With that, he hid, and awaited her arrival.