*Prides Of The Savannah*

[Kirsui]

A weak smile appeared to Tef's face when she listened to Fire. After he had finished, she just laid there, not saying anything for a while. Then her smile faded away again.
"I'm afraid" Tef spoke quietly.
"I'm so afraid of what I might become. I..."

Tef let out a sigh, closing her eyes before she continued.
"I'm not like I used to be, I haven't been myself in a long time. This... war is tearing me apart. I don't know what to do. Every moment I spend alone is filling me with questions... questions that I can not answer myself."

Tef paused for a moment to gather her thoughts. When she continued, her voice was shaking a little.
"I keep asking myself what to do. Leave this place... Join the Otana... Go back to Jahina... And with each of them... I understand there's nothing I could do. Each option seems as bad as the others. And knowing this makes me depressed."

Tef opened her eyes and lifted her head up, looking at Fire with a sad expression.
"That is what I am afraid of... depression. It blinds my mind from other feelings, changing me into nothing else than a shadow of myself."
Tef turned to look away when she remembered what Akida had said earlier.
"And also..." she said on a low tone of voice. "I've become more like my father, as your brother mentioned to me... And I... I'm afraid of that too..."

Tef closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting out yet another sigh. Then she turned to look at Fire again.
"Who am I?" she asked on a voice that was only a bit louder than a whisper.

[Fire]

Fire just listened to Tef's words.. Her emotions. It rung a bell in Fire's head for the first time. He felt so stupid that his stubborness got the best of him and shielded him from everyone around him that cared. And as Tef asked her question at the end, Fire was taken by suprise. Even though that he knew it was coming, it felt like he hadn't had enough time to come up with an answer.

Fire had a moment of silence when he gathered an answer that seemed right to him. "You.. are Tefnut. A lioness that has a heart bigger than anyone else's. Empathetic in such a way that even I would be jealous of. You have the looks that make yourself stand out with beauty and also with confidence. A lioness that anyone wouldn't dare consider not having a friend.. Maybe even more.."

Fire smiled more as his talk with her grew in moments. "And for those times when you feel angry, or depressed, or sad.. Also confused for that matter... Always remember that there are others that care for you... Because... They also know that you can't change the past... But, how your attitude towards it makes all the difference for when you are defining yourself... You could have the worst life that anyone has seen.. Or the most spoiled of all lives... No one cares about that... All they see is you... And for whatever you become in this experience we call life... If you are with others that accept you this way.. and also love you for who you are.." He squeezes her paw firmly this time. "And I promise you this... This sadness.. This doubt.. I give you my full promise that it will go away, Tef..."

Fire sighed happily after finally getting out the words that he had longed to give out, now reaching out for the other paw that she had and putting them together, placing his own ontop of them and smiling happily.

[Kirsui]

Tef looked Fire in the eyes all the time he was speaking. When he finished, she felt sort of relieved. But it still wasn't enough to make her depression dissappear. It was still inside her, waiting for a moment to take control of her mind.
"You said it'll go away" she said after a moment. "But when?"
She closed her eyes and let her head lower a bit.
"I don't know how long I'm able to go on. I'm afraid to be alone, but... There's no other option."
Tef stopped speaking. There were other options, but she didn't want to choose between them. She remembered what her father had said, that one day she would have to make a choise.
But Tef didn't want to. And she knew it would sooner or later change her. It had changed her already, and she was afraid of how much more she would change into that depressed shadow.

[Fire]

Fire nodded his head in sympathy. "No one knows how much they can take until they have actually broken down from it, Tef... I wish I could say that you can choose this and everything will be all right immediately after, but... Reality kicks in again.... Can you tell me the negative things about the choices that you have right now?... Maybe we can balance them out and see what looks sensible.."

[Kirsui]

Tef nodded slightly, still keeping her eyes closed.
"I... could try and leave these lands for ever" she started. "But I alreasy tried that once. I was seen as a half breeded being - to leopards I was half lion, to lions half leopard. No one there was willing to accept me the way I am. And also... I didn't want to stay away from the area I spent all my childhood and where I last... saw my mother."
She let out a sigh.
"Then, I could go back to my family at the Jahina pride. But... I don't want to fight all of you who belong to the Otana and are my friends."
Tef opened her eyes and looked at Fire.
"And also, I could join the Otana. But what would wait for me? I would have to fight the members of Jahina pride, including my father. And I... just can't do that..."
Tef's expression turned sad.
"And when I stay alone in the middle of the prides, I keep questioning myself... I should do something, but I can't."
She flattened her ears.
"And now I've met this odd lioness, who..."
Tef paused for a moment.
"She wanted information... and was about to kill me..."
She let her head fall again and stared at the ground in sadness.

[Fire]

As Fire listened to Tef talk, his ears perked of what Tef mentioned as a 'odd lioness'. He knew that Tef was talking about Kata, the lioness with an attitude problem. And Tef also had a very good point as well with each of the options she described to him. He hated to see any of his friends in pain, especially Tef. Probably the reason why he was acting so arrogant. "Okay.... Well.. I suggest to you that you go with the either of the prides... That lioness has fighting skills that I have never heard of... At least now we've narrowed it down, right?.." He smiles very softly.

[Kirsui]

Tef smiled slightly and lifted her head to look at Fire.
"Yea..." she whispered. "I suppose so..."
Then she turned to look at the tree tops. Which pride would she choose? She didn't want to choose between them, but it seemed there was no other option.
"I..." she started, not sure of what she was saying. With a sigh she turned to look back at Fire.
"I'll come to the Otana" she said on a quiet tone of voice.
"Atleast so that I'll... regain my self..."
Tef closed her eyes. She didn't know how long it would take from her to regain the balance inside her. Maybe she never would be able to do so. But it surely would be better to be with someone instead of being alone.

[Fire]

Fire nods in acknowledgement from Tef's choice. Deep inside, he cheered for joy that not only did she choose the Otana, but also because he was glad that she had at least some place to go for saftey. Fire didn't like the idea of having Tef wander around with no one to know where she was, much less anybody at this moment in time. Including Legacy... oddly enough... Fire was starting to feel sympathy for Tef's father when he thought about it. Legacy had been through a lot through his lifetime, and somehow it felt that he felt sorry for him. It was still no excuse for him to act the way he is now, but. It was something that Fire probably couldn't figure out even if he tried.

"Tef.. Take as much time as you like to be with us.. If you feel you want to be alone or join Jahina to regain yourself, I won't stop you... I will try to make your stay with us as enjoyable as possible, okay?"

[Pulsar]

(Sorry the post is so stupidly long guys, would have made it shorter, but then i would have had to cut out some interesting parts >< Figured I'd make a nice post since i haven't done so in quite a while =P )

It had been some time since Kiala had left the cave after Fire. Mino had been pacing back and forth impatiently waiting for them to return. He frowned as he turned around to walk back once more, then turning around again and pacing back.
He let out an annoyed grunt as he continued to pace, every so often looking up at the entrance.
"This is idiotic, I'm not going to stand by any longer...."
With that he bolted outside the cave before Akida could stop him, he continued running till he reached a hill which overlooked the Jahina land.
Guess what Legacy? I'm back for round two, and this time, we end it...
He thought as his eyes scanned the land. Quickly they fell on his target, a Black and white lion with a purple mane. Oddly enough, just sitting there in the open.
He frowned before darting down the hill. As he got closer he could see Legacy had his head hung low to the ground, which made his mane cover his face.
As he drew ever closer, Mino slowed to a like jog then down to a walk, before finally stopping a few meters from Legacy.

"I was wondering what would take you so long..."
Came a faint noise from Legacy as he lifted his head up and with one paw combed his mane back out of his face.
Mino just glared at the lion, not replying to what was said.
"I know why you are here.... Mino..."
Legacy said in an eerily voice as he rose to his feet before straightening himself out, but leaning more on one side then the other.
"Come, let us end this... I grow tired of this illusion of life..."
He continued as he stared at Mino.

"The only illusion is that you ever thought that you made any impact on this world Legacy...."
Mino finally replied.
"I am here to end your life, so you bes-t...."
"Let your actions do your talking Mino..."
Legacy interrupted before Mino could finish his sentence. Letting out a growl, Mino extended his claws and slowly made his way toward Legacy, his body in an attack posture, ready for anything the old lion might try.
He stopped a mere few feet away, and everything went silent. The wind blew past the lions making their manes sway. Then suddenly Mino pounced!
Lunging at Legacy he swung taking a chunk out of Legacy's face.
The old lion let out a tremendous roar as his head flung to the side from the force of them blow. As Mino leaned on his back legs and raised his arm for a second swing, Legacy paw quickly reached up and grabbed it, in what seemed the blink of an eye.
"You will have to do.... better then that..."
Legacy said in a low evil voice between a breath as he brought his face close to Mino's. And at that distance Mino could see the damage he had done, it was extensive, a lucky first shot probably. Four deep cuts ran from left to right across Legacy's face, and a piece of his jaw was missing, but only a small fragment.
Mino growled, he knew what was going to happen next. Legacy flung him through the air, but Mino had learned from their last encounter. Doing a flip in the air, he landed on his feet, wobbling on the landing slightly.
"Let me show you how a proper lion fights..."
Legacy said with a grin as he rushed at Mino and with one paw straight out, hit the lion sending him flying backward only to tumble along the ground.

It would take more then that to get Mino this time however. The lion forced himself to his feet, his determination to rid the prides and world of Legacy was keeping him going.
"That the best you got?"
He mocked as he spat some blood out of his mouth. Then in a brief second, he charged the old lion. This time they collided in a flurry of swings and roars. For each deadly blow one received, they returned it two fold back at the other.
As they fought, Mino pined Legacy tot he ground, then grabbing his mane, lifted the lions upper part of the ground and bit then slammed it back down. He did this repeatedly before Legacy broke free, punching Mino and then grabbing him, and while getting up off the ground, dragged Mino along before flinging him along the ground in a roll.

Mino quickly jumped up however and charged right back into the fight. He knew he was on the offensive, which was a good sign of him winning the fight. He wasn't just fighting to get revenge, he was fighting for his pride, those he cared about and loved. He was sick of Legacy and everything he stood for, and Mino was ready to lay his life and give it to end the pain of the others who would have to deal with Legacy.

Another flurry of swings were exchanged between the lions, blood splattering everywhere as the two duked it out in the live or die situation. Then was till legacy got a lucky upper shot in and sent Mino flying back through the air, only to land on the ground a few feet away.

Legacy stood there in a lowered position, looking at the lion on the ground. Slowly getting back up, Mino got back into a fighting form. At this point the two lions stared each other down. Both were badly hurt, with cuts and wounds covering their entire bodies, even pieces of flesh were missing. They could tell from looking at one another that the amount of blood loss they were suffering left them little time to pummel each other out of existence....
But neither cared that they could die, just as long as that if they went to hell, that they would take the other one with them.
"You aren't going to survive this Mino..."
Said Legacy with a grin on his face.
"Then I'll see you in hell Legacy, if anything you'll be only a few moments behind me..."
Mino replied with an equal grin on his face.

At that moment Legacy picked up some nearby rock as flung them at Mino, the first one hitting right on target, it nailed Mino in the head sending the lion tot he ground.
"ARGH! Son ova!"
Mino groaned as he forced himself to his feet once more, as yet another flurry of rocks came his way, this time he put his arm in the way of his face, but the rocks just gashed his arm.
Given a now or never situation, Mino darted at Legacy avoiding the last few rocks, then lunged at the giant lion, grabbing him by one arm, then giving a twist and breaking it.
"Lets see how you like having your legs broke!"
Mino said angrily as Legacy let out a roar.
Legacy didn't reply, he head butted Mino then used his one good arm and back swung, hitting Mino with he back of his paw, but with enough force to knock Mino back a few feet.
"What's wrong Legacy? Am I too good for you?"
Mino said in a confident voice as he lunged at Legacy again. But a loud crunching noise was heard....

Mino stopped, front body still in the air. He looked down in horror as Legacy had his one good paw embedded in his chest.
"On the contrary Mino, I was holding back.... I wanted you to beat me... But now it is time to say goodbye!"
legacy gave a roar as he ungodly pulled Mino's heart out.
"You..."
Was all Mino said with his last breath as he fell like a rag doll to the ground. A loud thumping noise echoed as dust rose around the fallen lion.

Legacy stood there breathing heavily, the heart of his enemy still in his paw.
"Till we meet again Mino..."
he said in a low voice as he glared at the motionless lion. Then dropping the heart, he stumbled backward into a seated position.
It was only then, that the true condition he was in, stuck him. His breathing was near impossible, blood had made most of his fur red. His vision was fading rapidly.
Head lowered facing the ground, a grin appeared on Legacy's face.
Then a slow laugh worked it's way up his throat, from a chuck, he then flung his head back as his demonic laugh echoed thought the land. He continued to laugh for a brief few moments, then finally he stopped, and brought his head back to facing forward.
Eyes closed, and grin still on his face, Legacy rose to his feet, wobbling as he did.
Then he simply turned around and began walking away from the body toward the direction of land that would not be owned by Jahina or Otana.
And as he walked he trembled before collapsing on his side, and remaining perfectly motionless.

[Fire]

(Wow... How horrible... and very interesting at the same time....XD)

Akida had been gazing out into the sky and wondering what he was going to do after he had helped Fire with the war. He hadn't thought about it much since he was having concentration on building a life within the pride. He had turned his head around only to see a tail tip disappear within a ruffling of leaves. And that's when he found only himself in the cave. DAMN!!... Akida cursed another word, but he was quiet enough to not let it out very loudly. Making his way to find what he could of Mino, Akida didn't expect for him to be so idiotic. There was him and Legacy. Battling it out and all Akida could do was watch. The breaking of bones, the screams that followed, it all could be summed up in a couple of words for the sight.. Heaven and hell on earth... If he didn't do something soon, one of them may not see any light for the rest of their life...

Akida dashed right into a familiar path where he could see the fire-red mane of his brother. Coming now to a skidding stop with battle-scarred eyes, he had trouble regaining his breath for a moment. "Fire... M-Mino.. and Legacy... are fighting... come quick..."

It didn't take long for Fire to figure out what was going on, his head turning to Tef and saying "Stay here... I'll be right back..."

When Akida and Fire reached the sight, it was all over.. The carnage... The bloody carnage. All it took was for Fire to see the heart near Legacy's paw to turn his head and vomit out what he had for breakfast this morning. Akida barely flinched, although a little part of him made his heart squelch. "Damn.... All the goddamn things that had to happen..."

As Akida was saying this, Fire was walking over to Mino's carcass, his eyes shedding the slightest hint of a tear. His friend... his comrade in arms... His buddy for life... Gone. Gone from being a casualty of a hatred, fueled by a past event that happened years and years ago... All from one lion... Legacy... He turned his body to Legacy's dead body, growling loudly and raising a paw to strike it. Akida caught his paw in mid-air as Fire was about to swing. "No, Fire!... He's going to a worse place, now... Your revenge is not necessary..."

[Lorien]

Kiala heard the roars and when Akida came rushing into the forest after Fire, she stayed behind to linger for just a few moments. She didn't want to watch, but then again, she didn't want to just stay there and do nothing. She looked to the cub who had been talking to her and then glanced at Tefnut before bolting after them.

Coming out of the forest, she stopped dead in her tracks. She saw the bodies of both Mino and Legacy, lifeless on the ground. She saw the look on Fire's face and knew that it was too late. She slowly walked up to the scene, tears already streaming down her face. She took one look at Mino, his damaged and bloody body before her, and she quickly turned away. She hadn't known him long, but she felt the closest to him that she ever felt to any other.

The grief began to overcome her, she couldn't stand to be there any longer. With a sob, she darted for the Otana cave, tears flying behind her as she did. They were uncontrollable, and when she reached the cave, she went straight to a dark corner and buried her head in her paws, lying, sobbing on the cold stone ground.

[Deleted]

Kisima sighed and started sobbing. 'Why doesn't any one seem to like me?' She thought sadly to herself as she plonked down on the ground.

[Kirsui]

Tef laid still in shock as Fire left with Akida. She didn't even notice when Kiala also left.
Now it was happening, her father was fighting with a friend of hers. She should have seen it coming, she had known that one day it would happen. But was it only bad luck that it happened right now, when she had choosen to go to stay with Otana pride?

Tef snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Kisima. She would have wanted to go after the others, to see what was happening...
But she couldn't. Not with that hurt paw of hers, and not with Kisima being around.
"Sorry, little one" she said on a nice tone of voice, turning to look at the cub. She smiled slightly.
"Sorry if none of us seemed to pay no attention to you, little one. It's just that... There are some bad things happening around this area at the moment."
She let out a sigh and reached her paw to Kisima, lifting her gently and placing her between her front paws.
"Now.. Tell me... Where do you come from?"

[Deleted]

Kisima stopped crying when she heard a voice. She wiped her tears away and turned around. "Oh.. thats why.." She mumbled. When she was placed between Seleeters paws and asked where she came from she looked up at her. I come from a faaaaaaaaaar away place. I think mother said it was called inia." She said stopping to think about the name of the place. "Anyway.. one day father brought me to somewhere called afica. And i think that's where i am now. He dissapeared after that i just wonder around from here to there." She said and smiled as if concluding her story.

[Kirsui]

Tef listened to the cub as she told her story. It was rather sad to hear that the small cub's father had just 'dissappeared', as Kisima had said it.
But Tef had her own ideas of what had happened.
"Well, little one..." she started, not really sure of what to say to the small cub.
"I suppose I didn't tell you my name" she said with a weak smile.
"I'm Tefnut, but mostly I'm being called Tef."

[Deleted]

"Hi.." Kisima said waving her paw. " I'm Kisima." She then added on. "So teffy, do you live around here??" She asked as she stood up and looked around.

(eek short)

[Kirsui]

Tef smiled. No one had ever called her 'Teffy' before. It sounded funny, and it made her smile.
"Yes, I do live here" she replied, thinking for a moment before she continued.
"There are two prodes, Jahina and Otana" she explained. "These two have been at war for a long time. No one wants to stop the war... Or maybe wants but they are un able to do so."

She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts.
"I was born to the Jahina pride" she said. "My mom was a clouded leopard, named Pilvi. She lived in the jungle, at the area that belonged to the Jahina. From time to time I was in the jungle with her, or at the den of the Jahina pride with her and my father."

She flinched slightly, deciding to continue before she could think more about it.
"Anyways... After I grew old enough to survive by myself... I left my pride, and these lands to seek a place where nothing would remind me of this war."
She sighed.
"However, every time I found myself thinking of my homelands... And after some time I came back. It was not a very long time ago when that happened. And now... I've found myself wandering between the two prides, unsure of what do do. My family is in the Jahina, my friends at the Otana."

Tef looked down at Kisima.
"And, as you propably heard when I was talking to that red maned lion called Fire... I've decided to go to the Otana for a moment, to regain myself and see if there is anything I could do to get the two prides united."

She smiled faintly.
I don't know if she understood... she thought. But it doesn't matter, really...

[Deleted]

"ooooooooooooooooooooh" Kisima let out the long word. "I think i get..." She said scratching her head. "Can i come with you and meet your friends in.." She paused for a moment. "..In Otana??" She smiled as she found the word she was looking for then looked up at Tef for a reply.

[Fire]

Fire sighed heavily as he turned to Akida with a serious look. "At least we can concentrate more on Kata... Legacy is probably nothing compared to her... He may have caused terror in our hearts, but she... she wiped out an entire pride by herself..."

Akida lifted his head as Fire mentioned of Kata, nodding. "Mhmm.. It's a good notion. Go speak with Tef, Fire..."

Fire nodded back to Akida and started walking towards where he last saw her, seeing her with a small cub and smiling just a little as he thought it was a little comical to see the cub being so bouncy around Tef.

[Kirsui]

Tefsmiled at Kisima. The small cub was so adorable. She had never really thought about having cubs of her own, partly because the war had been in her mind almost all the time.

"I don't see why not" she said to Kisima, still having the smile on her face.
Then her ears turned a bit as she heard someone coming closer. She turned to look and saw Fire. Her smile grew a bit wider and she motioned him to come closer.

"Kisima, may I introduce you a good friend of mine" she said, turning to look at the cub, and then back at Fire, waiting for him to come closer and introduce himself to Kisima.

[Deleted]

"You have lots of friends don't you??" SHe asked as Tefnut was about to introduce her to one of her good friends. She peered behing Tefnut and saw a male lion with a reddy mane walking towards them. "Is that your good friend?"

[Fire]

Fire smiled at the cub when she talked to him. He was having a conflict in his mind right now. Either he tells Tef that her father is dead along with Mino, or he tells him later when she is in a better mood for it. When he spoke the words out of his mouth, they were exactly opposite to what he was going to say. "Hullo there, Kisima. My name's Fire... I saw ya from a little ways away and you seem like a really nice cub." He was saying all of this as he sat down near the group.

[Deleted]

"oh..." She said as Fire said she seemed like a nice cub. "...Um.. thanks!" She said and grinned. She walked up to him and sat down. "Are you going to see tef's friends in otana aswell?" She asked him curiously. "Or are you one of the friends from otana??" She then added on.

[Kirsui]

Tef chuckled slightly.
"He is one of my friends from Otana" she told to Kisima, having a smile on her face.
It was amazing how thiscub made Tef forget everything that she had had in mind just a few moments ago, everything that had made her feel depressed.
But, obviously... Tef didn't notice this herself.

[Fire]

"Heh heh. I am one of her friends from Otana, little one." He said with a chuckle and a friendly smile. He turned his head from side-to-side to look for something. "Kisima.. Are you lost? Do you know where your parents are?" He suddenly had a lump in his throat with the mentioning of the word 'parents' and really had a difficult time swallowing it down, especially when he was trying to hide it from Tef.

[Deleted]

"They're probalby back in Inia." She said nodding. "That's where i come from.. but one day father took me to somewhere called Afica and left me there to find a new home." She said and stared up at him. "Why?"

[Fire]

"Just wondering, Kisima..." He said with a smile that looked happy on the outside, but anyone with a sense of emotion could tell that there was a grave feeling deep inside the smile. He looked down at her with his tail flickering idily on the ground. "What do you do for fun, Kisima? I personally like to play tag..." He says with a chuckle as his mood lightens.

[Deleted]

"We'll... fun i normally chase bugs.... and chase my tail.. or draw in the dirt..." She said and looked up at him. Just then a smirk came onto her face. "But... tag sounds good..." She put out a paw and tagged his foot then ran off laughing. "TAG!! you're it!"

[Kirsui]

Tef chuckled, looking teasingly up at Fire.
"Well? Go on and chase her!" she said with a slight smirk.
She would have joined the tag herself too, but her hurt leg wouldn't let her do that. Instead, she would just have to watch as the others played.

[Fire]

Fire's eyes widened as Kisima tagged him, looking over at Tef with a smirk of his own. "Don't think I won't!" He said after Kismia, having a hard time finding her since she already had a head start on him. But, he heard sticks breaking and smiled as he followed the noises. Soon, he saw a little lion tail while catching up to her, chuckling as he pounced on the tail. "Ha! You're it...."