A Shadowed Past

[Sarafina]

Nadayshanas look was priceless. She just stared at him then down at her mother. "What?" She was really confused. "Mother. A little help please?!" She said saying it into her ear.
Sereana laughed and looked at Shana from the corner of her eye. "Lets just say. He is fine." She said looking back at him. "So... Anything exciting happen lately?" Sereana said Wow. He is perfect she said thinking to herself. She felt something on her back. It was Nadayshana getting ready to jump off.
Nadayshana jumped off and walked underneath her mothers legs. She stayed to her right leg like she always did.

[Deleted]

Amaiza looked around for where Fire had gone too. He seemed to be talking to the new pair.

"Oh Fire!"

She walked up to him from her place next to Zander.

"Are you just going to sit there all day, or are you actually going to start walking in the direction of our adventure?"

The grey lioness looked at the male with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk on her face.

[Sarafina]

Sereana heard a lioness talking to fire. "Oh hi." She said kinda stepping back. "Well i guess i will follow them." She said turning. "Nice talking to you Fire. Come on Shana." She said nudging Nadayshana with her muzzle. She walked away and walked slowly towards Zander. "So Shana what do you wanna talk about?"

"I dont know? Anything i guess." She said walking and keeping her head up against her mothers leg. She yawned.

"Tired?" She said laughing. She picked her up and put her on her back. "Same old Nadayshana"

[Fire]

Fire felt something inside of him and he couldn't really describe it. It was like bubbles almost. And it always occurred whenever he opened his mouth or whenever he perked his ears to hear her voice. It... never felt so riveting.

When Amaiza came up to them, Fire winced a little without her seeing him before she got there. Noooo.. Why, Amaiza?... I.. Grrr. He rolled his eyes as he thought this, turning to face her with a smirk and then sat down to respond to her. "Weeell... I was interacting with friends. And yes, I am coming alo.." He stopped himself in mid-gaze to see Sereana walking behind Zander and following him, probably without Zander's knowhow.

Fire smiled at Amaiza and then poked her lightly and playfully. "Come on, then!" He said as he jumped over to where Serena and Shana were, walking beside them with that ever-present smile and the glimmer in his eye. The glimmer gave the lion a glow that displayed confidence, yet a handsomeness that could show a sensitive side.

"So.. I see you've decided to join us. Tell me... What's a pair of cute lionesses doing around here?" He said with a wink to the two of them, giving a more evident one to Sereana.

[Sarafina]

Sereana was startled as she saw Fire come after her and talk to them. "Well... my mate...he was killed. And after that they wouldnt let us back in the pride. Nadayshana was only about 2 months old when he was killed." Sereana was studdering a little bit. She hadnt talked about him in a while.
Nadayshana saw her mother struggle. "We have been spending the past 6 months about in the Savanah. Then we met you guys. "
Sereana heard Shana talking and she let her go. "Thats it. What she said. What a handsome lion like you, doing around here??" She said laughing and winking back at him.
Sereana hadnt felt this way in a while. She loved that feeling. She wish it would never go away. And so far.. it hadnt.

[Fire]

Fire lowered his ears as he heard Sereana's story. He felt sorry for the two of them as he could relate to them in some way. Fire didn't have much of a family as he was growing up. Amaiza really was the only thing that was close to him as family. "I... I'm sorry."

But, he get lightened up when Serena spoke again and he couldn't help but laugh as well. He then tripped a little on a rock, not falling flat on his face, but enough to stumble a little. This caused him to lower his head a little, when raising it up he was rubbing himself up and under Sereana's neck. He didn't mean to do this. He wasn't blushing, but he did feel a little embarrassed after that. He just smiled down at Serena and purred a little. "My mistake..." He said as his tail flickered about, this time doing it a little bit of purpose and brushing up against her own.

[Sarafina]

Nadayshana giggled when she saw him trip. When she saw him rub up against her. She was sooo excited. she ran in front of sereana and left them alone.
Sereana watched his trip a little. She felt him brush up against her. Her eyes opened wide and then they were fine. "Thats ok..." she said while she hoped her face wasnt turning red. She felt him rub up against her again. But this time she thought he did it a little on purpose. Then she realised that Shana was infront of her laughing to herself and singing. "So...umm.. Fire... How come a lion like you...doesnt have a stunning lioness....?? " She wondered. he was fine and he had a GREAT smile. She loved it when he smiled. His eyes twinkled when he turned the right way. She looked at him and just stared. When she realised this, she shook her head a little and waite for him to talk. She grabbed Shanas tail and grabbed her by the neck gently and put her on her back.
Shana felt something on her tail. Then she was in the air and on her mothers back. There she whispred something into Sereanas ear. "Mother. I like Fire. But i think YOU like him more" She giggled and rolled on her back but was still on her mothers back.

[Fire]

"Well... I haven't been around others much. Which is probably due to my nomadic lifestyle. Amaiza and I have not had much time to talk to other lions and lionesses. She's my best friend.. and probably the best one a guy could ever have." He nods after he says this, looking up at Shana with a smile. "And judging by that blush, I'd say I would have to agree with you, Shana."

He then leaned up to Shana and made it so he was whispering a secret into her ear, although cupping his paw so that his voice would carry out down to Sereana's ear. "I think that she is the most beautiful thing I have seen.. And I have seen many beautiful things in my travels.. And that her voice reminds me of the birds that awake me in the morning.." He whispered it to both Shana and Serena-in a kinda 'accidentall' way.

[Sarafina]

Shana giggled. She leaned up against Fire and whispred into his ear. "I think she thinks your cute! i know i do!" Shana said laughing hard. So hard that she fell off of Sereanas back. She got up and kept walking.

Sereana heard his whole conversation with her. Her ears twitched as she listened. Her face turned a little red. She tried to hide it. buut that didnt really work out as well as planned. She smiled and laughed. She felt Nadayshana fall off the back. Then she felt her under her arm. She bent down making sure Fire was close enough to hear her. "Fire is the most cutest thing then your father. I still love him too dont worry." Making sure she doesnt get the wrong idea. "he reminds me of the sunset on a nice night. he also reminds me of the river. The nice peaceful river that you can hear when your really quiet." She picked her head up and bumped him accidentally yet porpuosely. Sereana laughed. " My bad!"

[Fire]

Fire chuckled when he leaned in and listened to Shana. It was cute to watch the cub's antics because she didn't care if she fell off her mother's back or was not the center of attention. She always got back up and then got herself rolling again.

He then heard Sereana's voice whispering back to Shana, smiling to himself as the lioness used the same ploy of getting his attention. And he certainly was listening, too. As they were walking and when Sereana was finished, he kept his head near Sereana's as they were walking with Zander and the rest of them, smiling as he did this. "Heh heh. A sunset's nice... Just watching it fall and the colours that come from it.. It's even ore fun though when you have someone else watching it with you." He said with a purr, giving a very gentle nuzzle of his nose to Sereana's cheek.

((We'd better hold up, Sarafina... Gotta let others post. x.x))

[Deleted]

(OOC: Thankyou Fire.)

As Bahreeka walked along in silence, for once, a dark, black mist came down over the group. The cheetah raced over to what she could see of Zander and stood close to him.

"Zander... is... is this.. normal?"

Just then she felt something land on the ground next to her. She looked directly next to her and didn't see anything until Amaiza's head popped up.

"I'm fine! Everything's okay! No need to panic!"

Amaiza exclaimed as she stood up off the ground, after tripping over a rock. She couldn't see where she walking in all the black mist.

[Lorien]

Zander looked around as it seemed they had passed into a storm cloud. He then looked down at Bahreeka who had come up beside him and shook his head, even though he knew she wouldn't be able to see it. "I don't think so..." He looked around at the dark figures that were his group. "Everyone, I think we should stop a while until this...fog clears." He looked over then to where Amaiza had fallen. He didn't want anyone getting seriously hurt.

Zander glanced over at Meri, wondering if she was alright. "Were there any stories of black mists in your pride's folklore?"

[Deleted]

Bahreeka saw a movement from Zander, but she couldn't make out what exactly it was he was doing. He then replied to her question. Bahreeka nodded in reply.

"Ohh..."

Then the male lion asked Meri something about folklore. It sounded quite interesting so the cheetah decided to listen in on the conversation.

[Kirsui]

Meri sat down as Zander called a stop. She glanced around at the black mist, a slightly nervous look appearing to her left eye.
"There was this... continuation to the story.." she spoke.
"It was said that when the black one died, he became a spirit, guarding the pathway to the mountains, to the pride of his grey brother. Everyone with a pure heart would be let through unharmed, but the ones having as dark thoughts as the black one's white brother, would get lost to the black mist, and slowly die to starvation if they didn't happen to get lost on some pathway leading up to a cliff and fall down from there."
She flattened her ears, the nervousness making it's way to her expression too.
"I never thought that this spirit part of the story was real... but this mist is just.. not normal."

Meri bit her lip, thoughts running through her mind. If the story about the spirit was true... would she be let through? She had done nothing wrong, but perhaps the fact that she came from the white lion's pride...?
"I feel... Nervous..." she spoke, more to herself than the others.

[Deleted]

Bahreeka listened intently to what the white lioness spoke of.

"A spirit? That's.. odd."

The cheetah didn't really believe in ghosts or anything. But it was pretty much the only explanation for the mist. Then Meri spoke about being nervous.

"Nervous? Why on earth should you be nervous? You haven't done anything wrong. You're not evil! Infact, you are one of the nicest lions I have ever met. Although you are... much more quieter than I."

Bahreeka chuckled slightly at her last words.

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

[Sarafina]

Sereana felt Fire nuzzle her cheek. She turned and looked at him. She nuzzled him back. She laughed.

Nadayshana ran under him and walked as if she were under Sereana. She giggled and giggled.

Sereana watched ehr and laughed. "I think she likes you. And shes not the only one. " Sereana said. She didnt mean to blush it just kind of happened. She laughed.

[Fire]

Fire smiled as now Shana was walking underneath him as if he was his parent. He actually was quite proud of this fact because if he had been nice enough to be liked by Shana, then he must have done something right... right?

He then watched as the mist of the land got swept through, leaving himself with Nadayshana under him and Sereana beside him. He held onto Sereana's tail with his own as to make sure that Sereana didn't accidentally wander off somewhere in the opposite direction. When he lead both Nadayshana and Sereana to the group, he sat down close to them, although, he didn't let go of Sereana's tail. Instead, he binded it tighter by coiling it around hers and smiling at her. "Heh heh. Oh my.. Someone's got your tail.. Whatcha gonna do now?" He says with a grin before he nuzzles his nose to her neck.

[Sarafina]

She watched the mist get thicker and harder too see through. She then felt someone hold her tail. in her mind, she was laughing. They sat down, and Sereana could feel his fur on hers. "Umm.. Idk what about this.." She wrapped her tail around his more and laughed. She then rested her head on his shoulder.

Nadayshana got closer to Fire. She close enough so she could hit her head on his stomache. She sat there and rested her head on his front leg. "Thanks for letting me sit under you Fire. " She said as she peeked her head around him to see that her mother liked him as much as she did.

Sereana saw her peek her head around him and looked at her. She laughed. "Yeah... And thanks for letting me put my head on your shoulder." She said as she nuzzled his neck. "Your a nice lion."

"Actually mother. Hes a GREAT lion." Nadayshana said putting her head back on his leg.

[Fire]

Fire was enjoying the affection of the two felines, nuzzling back to Sereana when she nuzzled herself into his red mane. He purred slightly more when he felt the lioness curl her tail around his more, giving a nuzzle of his nose to Sereana's cheek. "Heh heh. Well... I can only be as great as those around me."

He says with a smile and surprisingly, gives a lick to Sereana's cheek. He then guided her head over so that he could touch noses with Sereana, placing his front paws ontop of her own gently and smiling even more as he does this. He made sure that Nadayshana could rest up against his leg as he held noses with Sereana. "I can't believe I met you two today... You two are quite cool despite the things that have happened.. Especially you, Sereana."

[Sarafina]

Sereana felt him nuzzle her. He then licked her cheek. Sereana blushed. She hadnt felt this way in a while. Fire took her head and put his nose on hers. She didnt really care.

"I can't believe I met you two today... You two are quite cool despite the things that have happened.. Especially you, Sereana."

She listened as Fire talked. "I just had to remember something that my old mate told me before it all happened. He said... As long as you love someone....They will always be with you.....in here.." Sereana said the last point taking her other paw and point to Fires chest. ".. And you will always be with me." She said licking his cheek and resting her head on his shoulder.
Nadayshana hasnt seen her mother this happy before. She looked at them talk and nuzzle...then talk...and then another nuzzle. She giggled. She layed down and put her head on Fires paw. Then she remembered she forgot somethng. She stood up and walked over to her mother. She looked at her. "I love you mother." She said as she nuzzled her.
Sereana looked at Nadayshana. "I love you too Shana." She bent down nuzzled her, then licked her cheek.
Nadayshana nuzzled her mother back and smiled when she got licked. She then thought of something else. She stopped in front of Fire. "Hey... i cant forget about you.. I love you too Fire.." She nuzzled him. Nadayshana then walked back under him and layed down. She put her head on his paw and fell asleep. She only wanted to lay there. But i guess her eyes had other plans.
Sereana watched her. "Well..thats a good thing.. She doesnt hate you like i hated my fathers second lioness. " She smiled. Sereana put her head back on Fire. "I really dont mean to be boring. it just kinda...happens." She laughed. She nuzzled him and licked his cheek.

[Fire]

Fire smiled a warm smile as Sereana said those words. When she mentioned the word love, he didn't think that it would be this. Love, he imagined, was a lot less subtle than this. But.. Those words had never felt so right coming from Sereana's muzzle. .. And you will always be with me.

He shook his head for a moment to think of what was going on. I just met them and they already are loving me... I like Sereana.. and Nadayshana was certainly cute, but... Maybe I am rushing things to..
He was cut short by the little one trying to get his attention. When she said "I love you too, Fire" and nuzzled him, he couldn't help but smile as he watched her curl up on the ground near him. He then focused his eyes on Sereana and purred as she rested her head on him, moving one paw to stroke her body gently in almost like a hug. "This is far from boring... I have met someone that I can love... And that... is far boring.."

[Sarafina]

Sereana felt Fire rubbing her body with his paw. She purred. She smiled. Sereana looked deep in his eyes. "Their beautiful..." she said softly and just staring at him. She was getting tired but she wanted to stay up and talk and just look at Fire. "You..make me feel happy...better with my life.... To tell you the truth... I thougt i was going to be alone with no firneds and no one other then Shana for the rest of my life. " She looked up. She looked at the stars and just stared, Thinking about jer old life, a tear came to her eye. She tried to hide it but it didnt work. She looked at fire again. His mane was blowing in the wind, his eyes were beautiful, his smile was gorgous and he was soo great. Everytime she looked at him, she smiled. She rested her head back on him. "Thanks.... for being here for me when i needed someone. When i wanted someone. " She said. The Sereana nuzzled him under his neck.

[Lorien]

Zander looked down at her, a bit of smile on his face. "It'll be alright, Meri." He then looked around, the smile gone and a now stern expression on his face. He knew that if the story were true, that none (that he knew of) would be the cause of the mist. His eyes glanced at Meri a moment...it could be because of her heritage...but then again, she was harmless as a fly.

Zander's mind flashed suddenly, and out of the darkness he saw two eyes. Quickly, before he even realized it had happened, he was brough back to reality. He felt himself break into a cold sweat, his breathing and heartrate elevated from that brief period inside his own mind. Shaking his head slowly, he took a deep breath. He knew why the mist was around them. They had stalled to long, and it was too late.

He was here.

Zander stood and narrowed his eyes, searching through the mist for the danger that was, he though, already upon them. He didn't say anything, not wanting to alarm the others incase it was a false feeling. But...he knew that had to be the reason for the black mist...he just knew it. The time had finally come.

[Fire]

Fire just smiled as Sereana gazed up at him, his eyes locking onto her own as they gazed into each other eyes. He also listened to Sereana speak to him. His thoughts were similar to her own. He would have to be with Amaiza as a travelling buddy for a very long while. But.. Sereana was so much more. Her voice felt like an angel to his ears and when he was nuzzled into her neck and Sereana rested up against him, he swore that he could hear her heart beating very slightly against his chest.

"Sereana... I had my doubts when I thought of this concept called 'love'... Nut there is nothing in this world right now that I love more.. than you." He said as the wind continuously blew into his mane, making it all the more appealing as he raised a paw up to brush away the tear that was on Sereana's cheek. "My heart wants to jump out of my body and unite with your own... My eyes just want to gaze into those stars you call eyes.. I... I... " Fire was getting closer and closer as he was speaking to her, when getting to his nose touching your own, her licked your lips affectionately. "I want you to be mine... I know this sounds so sudden, but... I've never felt so right in my life to say that... I want you to be mine..." He looked down at her with his gaze locking with your own again, his smile radiating out to her and his paw stroking her cheek gently,

[Sarafina]

Sereana listened to Fire about the whole love concept.
I want you to be mine...

Sereana thought the whole world had stopped and it was just me, Fire and of course Nadayshana. She felt his paw against her cheek. That didnt really matter. She knew that he loved her. And she felt the same about him. She looked up into his eyes. " Fire, i havemnt felt this way in a long time. The only thing i can say is. Of course i will be yours. " She nuzzled him and licked him back.
Nadayshana heard the WHOLE thing. She could stand it anymore. "YYYYYES!!! " Nadayshana jumped up and ran around Sereana and Fire. When she got about in front of Sereana she tripped over her own tail. She looked up at them.. "Heehee. My bad."
Sereana was shocked to see that Nadayshana was listening. She watched her run around. She tripped. So Sereana picked her up and put her between her legs. Sereana gave her pretty much a 1 min bath. Sereana licked her a nuzzled her. Then Sereana looked at Fire and laughed at Nadayshana. She put her head back on Fire.
Nadayshana was picked up and given a bath. She just sat there. She loved her mother and her new dad. Nadayshana saw that her mother was happy with Fire and saw that Fire was happy with Sereana. She watched as the two talked and laughed. She stayed under sereana and layed down. She put her head on her leg and watched them. It was like a movie.

[Fire]

Just as Fire was about to lean in and kiss Sereana, he heard heard Nadayshana yell ot her joy for the whole situation. He almost jumped on the spot when she did since he thought that the cub had gone to sleep. But, Nadayshana was racing around and doing what cubs normally did. Be their hyperactive selves. He chuckles softly when Sereana picked her up and started giving her a tounge bath. He purred softly awhen Sereana rested her head on him, wrapping a paw around the lioness's body as he nuzzled her close.

But, when Fire perked his head up, he could see that the mist had thickened. Very much so.... He actually couldn't see the others and where they were because it was so thick, yet Sereana and Nadayshana were as clear as day itself. He held Sereana tightly to his warm body to make sure she was safe and bent down to pick up Nadayshana and rest her near Sereana's stomach. He could feel something evil around them... "My love, stay close.. we lost track of the others... And I have a feeling that this is no ordinary mist..."

[Sarafina]

Sereana agreed with Fire. She lifted a paw and wrapped it around Nadayshana. She picked her head off of Fire for a second. Her ears twitched. They only twitched when she heard or felt something. She looked around where she was. She feltm that the other lions were up ahead. She didnt want to take chances so she stayed there. She put her head back on Fire scared and closed her eyes. She made sure that Nadayshana couldnt really be seen. She felt her tuck her body in a ball and hid under Sereanas paw. Sereana stayed close to Fire. She nuzzled him to tell him that she was alright and that she was staying close. She knew that there was something around. She didnt want to do anythign until they knew.

[Kirsui]

Meri didn't reply at Bahreeka or Zander, she simply didn't know what to say. The mist itself was scaring her... If the story was true... Was the black lions hate really so strong towards all from the white lion's pride?

Meri turned her eyes away from the mist, and was about to say something when she noticed Zander's behaviour.
"Zander?"
The white lioness rose to her feet faster than anyone could notice.
"Zander.. what is it?"
She glanced around. Was it only her imagination or was the mist thickening...?
"You had one of those visions again, didn't you..."
Meri turned her head so that she could see Zander with her only eye.
"What was it that you saw?"

[Sarafina]

Sereana heard voices. But she didnt know whos voice it was . She got closer to Fire and made sure Nadayshana was still close to her. She stuck her head into Fires mane. She has never been scared like this in a while. She didnt know what to do. She started sobbing a little but not much. Her body would shake everytime she would breathe in and try not to make a sound.

Nadayshana could feel her mothers body shake. She got closer to tell her that shes ok. She nuzzled her mothers stomache and put her paw more over her. she licked her moms stomache trying to make her feel better.

Tears starting coming down her face getting Fires fur wet. Sereana looked up at him and laughed a little. "Oh.. Sorry I...I am just realy scared right now. " She said moving in a little closer and putting the right side of her face on him. She felt a little bit more comfortable knowing that her love was there. But she was still a little nervous.

[Fire]

When Sereana snuggled up to Fire, he just smiled and held her even tighter to him. He knew what it was like to be scared. He always had wanted to snuggle someone up in their time when they became frightened. He saw Nadayshana snuggle up closer to her and he leaned down to nuzzle Sereana. But, when he did, he found that his mane was wet from the tears. All he did was smile that wonderful and comfortable smile that his lioness loved, and stroked away the tears while holding her close to him. "There, there... It's all right. This will be gone soon enough, hun. Your big lion is here to protect you."

But, when Fire glanced up around them, he caught a pair of eyes glaring at him, not reacting to them nor responding as he didn't want to worry Sereana or Nadayshana anymore than they already were. He just hoped that Zander would see the eyes before something happened..