A Shadowed Past

[Lorien]

The pain in his head was still there, but Zander was beginning to hear the voices around him. He opened his eyes and could just make out the figure of Meri, and heard her voice asking if he heard her voice. "...Yes..." He lifted his head slightly, the pain swelling even more as he did so. He blinked a couple of times, looking around at the group of lions about him. His vision was finally coming back, and as he stopped on Meri, his eyes widened a bit. He closed his eyes again and rested his head back down, the pain almost unbearable.

"Meri..." He coughed a bit. "Where...What happened..." Suddenly, as his eyes opened again, vision completely restored, out of the corner of his eye, he saw blue in his mane, and also a puddle of his own blood on the ground. Looking back up at the group, his eyes softened and stopped on the white lioness. "You..." He couldn't bring himself to say it. He looked away, ashamed at what he had put his friends through. What was he getting all of them into?

[Kirsui]

Meri flattened her ears momentarily when Zander looked away. But then, a smile appeared to her muzzle.
"You got quite a wound on your head, Zander..." the white lioness said. "We had to tie it with something to stop the bleeding."
She poked his side gently with her paw.
"Now, stop looking like you've done something bad" she said, chuckling slightly. It seemed that her mood had become a whole lot happier than a moment ago when Zander had still been unconscious.
"That's what friends are for... to support."

[Lorien]

Zander looked back up at the white lioness, her long hair that had once been so flowing and beautiful now chopped. She had given it up for him, and for that he was extremely grateful. "Thank you...Meri." He smiled softly, not really knowing what to say. "I don't know what I can ever do to repay this act of kindness." Slowly, he tried to bring himself up, succeeding in pulling his front half up into a sitting position.

Zander looked around at the rest of the group. "I'm sorry that you all had to witness this all...and I'm sorry for any danger I have put you in." He sighed deeply, closing his eyes a second. "But..I thank you from the depths of my soul that you have stuck with me, as my friends. I would have been dead long before now if it had not been for you all." He bowed his head slightly, the action making him a bit dizzy. "I owe you all my life."

[Fire]

Fire was just listening to Meri speak and all he could do was nod to what the lioness was saying. She literally took the words right out of his mouth. He was happy that Zander was ever so thankful. His heart had felt so warm knowing that Zander was so apprecative of mostly Kirsui actions, but everyone had pitched in to do their part.

He looked over to Meri and then chuckled as he felt the feeling of happiness through him. He got into his bouncy, yet playful nature and then looked at Meri with a smirk. "My gosh.. Is that a 'smile' from you, Meri?... This.. This is not like Meri!" He laughs heartily and then shakes his head slightly to get the fuzzy feeling from his mane.

[Kirsui]

"Thank you...Meri I don't know what I can ever do to repay this act of kindness."

Meri's smile seemed to widen slightly at what Zander said.
"You don't have to..." she said quietly, watching then closely as Zander got up to a sitting position, pointing his words to the whole group. A slight hint of worry was precence on the white lioness' gaze.

Meri, however, had no time to do or say anything when Fire suddenly spoke up. Slightly startled of the red maned lion's words she turned her gaze from Zander to him.
However, the slight smile she had had a moment ago seemed to have dissappeared.
"I have feelings too, you know..."
Her voice was quiet, yet she didn't really mean to sound rude. She opened her mouth to continue, but decided against it and turned her head away. Apparently, she was examining closely a dead tree not far from the group, as if it suddenly had become a very interesting object.

[Sarafina]

Nadayshana looked at Sereana. "Zanders awake mommy...." She said happily. Nadayshana walked over next to Fire. Well under him really. Nadayshana had talked to Zander once. He seemed very nice. Nady looked up at Fire and swallowed she was still a little nervous. She rested her head on his leg and didnt say anything.

Sereana smiled at Nadayshana. "Thats great!" she said whispereing a little. She didnt know what to do. She didnt want to intrude in the conversation that Zander, Meri and Fire were having. She stayed away and watched as Nady went over to Fire. She smiled and layed down and placed her head on her paws. She breathed pretty heavily. Was she nervous? She didnt know...It just was hard to keep focus and to keep a steady breathing rhythym. Oh well....hopefully it would pass.

[Fire]

Fire was chuckling softly until he felt something go underneath him and rest on his leg. He looked below and smiled as he saw the little cub resting herself on him. It was a shame that someone so little had to experience something like this. But yet, it felt nice to have the little cub resting on his leg and then his head leaning to give the top of her head a gentle nuzzle with his nose. "Where have you been, little one? Was gettin' worried about you."

[Deleted]

Bahreeka let out a sigh of relief when Zander started to speak. Even if it wasn't in reply to her. The male started having a conversation with Meri, so she took a few steps back and plonked her rump gently on the ground next to Amaiza.

The grey lioness turned to look at Bahreeka as she she sat next to her and a slight smile forced itself onto her face.

[Sarafina]

Nadayshana was a little shocked to feel Fires nose on her. She smiled and looked up at him. "Ive been with mommy....near the little lake. And all of the big trees. Shes over there now. " She pointed ehr little paw in her direction. She nuzzled him back. She rested her head back on his leg. She was glad that Zander was ok. She sighed and layed down under him. She back ed so she culd feel his warm fur. He was so comfy and warm.

[Fire]

He looked over to Sereana and noticed that she was in deed, feeling a little blue. He sighed a little and then looked down at the resting cub, chuckling as he thought of an idea.

"Hey, Shana." He leaned down to pick the cub up by the scruff of her neck gently and sit her up. "Let's go pay a visit to your mom. I bet that she'd like that. Seeing you all happy and stuff." He smiles down at the little one and then picked her up again so that he could tilt his head to the side and place her onto his back. "What do ya say?"

[Deleted]

Amaiza looked over at Zander and opended her mouth to speak.

"Do you think you're right now Zander? Because we really should keep moving. At least until we find a shelter closer to our final destination... or something. But if you aren't okay then we'll manage staying here."

The grey furred lioness looked down at him with a raised brow.

[Sarafina]

Naydayshana nodded and sighed a little. "Ok..."Vshe said standing up. "This should be fun..." she thought to herself. She walked over to Sereana and nudged her. She licked her cheek. "Hey mommy..." she said softly.

Sereana looked up and nuzzled Nadayshana. She smiled. "Hey baby.." she sat up and saw Fire. She gave him a smile. "Im glad Zanders doing better.." she said softly. She looked down at Nadashayna who was smiling up at Fire. She smiled and giggled a little. She shook her head and smiled again at Fire. She was trying to convince him as much as possible tha she was Super.

[Fire]

When Fire followed Naydayshana over to where Sereana was, he smiled back as she greeted herself to him. "It certainly is a relief, now isn't it?" He nods to Sereana and walked up close to her so that he could sit himself down with Nadayshana underneath him, giving her a little noogie with his paw after he sat down.

[Sarafina]

Sereana smiled at Fire. "It really is. Im just glad that no one had to watch him go." she said looking at him. SHe looked at Shana who was laughing and rubbing up against Fire. She smiled at Fire. "So... how are you holding up?" she asked softly looking into his eyes. Sher smiled.

Nadayshana laughed as Fire placed his paw on her head. She giggled and rubbed up against his paw and then across his leg. She sat down in front of Fire and looked around. She sighed and layed down and rested her head on her paws.

[Lorien]

Zander watched as Meri and Fire spoke to each other, however brief it was. His eyes lingered a bit on Meri. She seemed disappointed in what Fire had said to her. However, the brown lion couldn't ponder on it too long, because he was being spoken to by another member of their group.

The male turned his head toward Amaiza and nodded slowly, still trying to stop the swaying of his head. "That is a very good idea, Amaiza." Zander looked toward the sky, seeing where the position of the sun was. It was only mid-day. He then looked to the mountains in the not too far distance. "I think if we travel until nightfall, we will be able to reach the mountains. Then, we can try to find a cave of some sort in the rock wall...and try to find a way up in the morning." He looked back to the members of the group, waiting for their approval or rejection of his plan. He was almost certain that someone would oppose due to his own health...but they didn't have time to waste resting. He would rest that evening and tend to his wounds then.

[Deleted]

Amaiza smiled at Zander gently.

"But of course we'll have pit stops every 5-10 minutes, especially the way your health is..."

The lioness said and looked around at everyone else.

"We all rearing to go then?"

=====================

Bahreeka's ears pricked up at the mention of leaving.

"Are we leaving again?"

The cheetah stood there looking as excited as ever, but her facial expressions faded slightly when she thought more about it.

"Will Zander be alright?"

[Kirsui]

Meri turned her gaze at Zander from the dead tree. She had a slightly thoughtful shine in her eye, apparently thinking each word Zander had spoken carefully. The white lioness was clearly worried, even though she didn't speak her thoughts out loud.
"If you have strenght to continue our travel..." she said, her voice very quiet. "Then we should continue..."
She rose to her feet again, ready to follow where ever the gorup would go.
"Just promise me, Zander... that if you feel you need to rest, say it and we'll stop... all right?"
She managed to smile faintly as she looked at Zander, but the smile remained on her lips only momentarily before that slightly worried expression took its place again.

[Lorien]

Zander's face soon had a smile on it. "I'll be fine, Meri. No worries." As he said this he, slowly, got to his feet. "I won't push myself too hard." Turning his gaze once again to the mountains...he wondered where his father had gotten off to. Hopefully, they wouldn't be seeing anymore of him in the near future. He wanted to find out what this was all about, the visions, the silloueted lion, the flashbacks...it was all confusing to him.

Taking a deep breath, he returned his focus on the group. "Are we all ready to go?"

[Fire]

Fire looked over to the group and saw that they were rearing to go, looking at Sereana and then down to Nadyshana. He leaned his head down to pick Nadyshana up by the nape of her neck and place him up onto his back and looked over to Sereana again with a smile. "Come on, Sereana. They're waiting for us."

He then leaned over to lick her cheek friendly and started walking over to Lorien and the rest, looking over to Amaiza and then Meri with the little one on his back. "Both of us are ready, right Sereana?" He smiled to her.

[Sarafina]

Sereana smiled as he took Nadayshana. When he licked her cheek she purred lightly. She walked with him and nodded. "Im ready to go." she said smiling at Fire. He was really sweet. She gave him a simple lick on the cheek. She smiled at Naday and nuzzled her.

Nadayshana made a little grunting noise as Fire picked her up. She snuggled into Fires back and smiled. She nuzzled her mother in return and yawned a little. She rested ehr head into Fires shoulders and reted her eyes for the time being. His fur was really soft and easy to get comfortable in. She giggled a little and purred softly.

[Deleted]

Amaiza walked over and stood beside Bahreeka, they waited for the others to rise and follow Zander and Meri, all walking slowly as to benefit the lion.

Staying at the back of the group, Amaiza tilted her head, gazing up at the mountains,standing there proudly silhouetted against the sky.

She wondered what else would befall them as they made their way, she also thought about whether the others realised as well, how close they had come to loosing Zander.

Sighing she pushed away the negativity creeping in and focused on those in front. Making sure she had Zander in view at all times, she realised that they should have stayed for`a while longer, he was still weak after the blood loss, but for now it was going to have to be slow but steady.

[Lorien]

Seeing that everyone else was ready to go, the brown lion made his way toward the majestic peaks that were to get closer by the minute. He was dizzy when he first started moving, but closing his eyes, he made his way through the dizziness. Taking the lead in the group of walking lions, Zander made his way very slowly so as to not overwork his weak body. He knew that this must be hard for the rest of the group to follow at such a slow pace, but he knew that it was all for the best.

After walking for a bit, Zander slowed down so that he could talk to some of the other members, mainly Meri. He looked over to the white lioness when he was directly beside her and gave a reassuring smile. "No worries, Meri. We're going to make it there by the time the moon rolls around, and then we'll get plenty of rest."

OOC: Wow...I've really neglected my RPs Thought I'd bring this one back to life now that I think I might have time and motivation to write something.

[Deleted]

(ooc. Bahreeka is out of Shadowed Past now - only Amaiza will be rp)

As Amaiza walked along, she watched Zander talk with the white lioness, they seemed to get closer each day they were all together.

Looking over her shoulder she saw Fire walking beside Sereana while he had Nadayshana the cub on his back, sighing a little she thought to herself that they looked like a family.

Yawning a little, Amaiza stretched her dark grey neck, getting a few kinks out of it, while glancing up at the sky. ooh I wish it would rain, I need to feel good about things again,

[genie]

Cheabosa walked along at the back of the group looking around and sniffing the air - it smelt wrong, he had smelt this before, a unsettling sense in the air.

Sniffing more he was sure of it, this was what it was like when there had been a storm, rain and wind had nearly killed him then, on a dark night, and a huge snake of water had come crashing at him with a noise like thunder. He had been lucky that night and avoided death, maybe death was coming again... yet the air was still, he saw no signs of rain or wind yet.

[Kirsui]

Meri walked along with the group, every now and then glancing around the area. She really didn't like these mountains... There was just something wrong with them, and the white lioness just couldn't figure out what it was. Maybe she was still slightly nervous of the meeting they had had with Zader's father, or maybe she was still worried of Zander's wounds...

She blinked. How was it that she was all of a sudden so interested in Zander? Sure, he was very nice, and she had spoken with him more than with others from this small group... But...

"No worries, Meri. We're going to make it there by the time the moon rolls around, and then we'll get plenty of rest."

Zander's voice interrupted her line of thoughts as she turned to look at the male beside her, a faint smile playing on her muzzle.
"I'm in no hurry", she replied, her voice quiet yet loud enough for him to hear what she said.
"Just be careful with your wounds... I wouldn't want to see you in any worse condition."
She smiled, shyly this time as she turned to gaze forward, trying to hide the slight blush on her cheeks.

[Deleted]

Amaiza had turned back from looking at Fire and Sereana, when she realised she had forgotten all about Cheabosa. Stretching her neck again she turned, she could just see his head come into view,it was pointed up sniffing all around him and he had a worried look on his face as well.

' maybe he doesn't like being in the mountains'

Further on they walked, but slowly, Zander wasn't in any position to do anything other than that.

Amaiza felt little drops of rain fall on her, a smile broke out on her face. Lifting her head holding it up towards the sky, she welcomed what was to come. A few more drips landed on her dark grey fur, leaving small patterns on her body. Shaking her head, her brown hair tuft started to glisten with the water and she moved along.

[genie]

Cheabosa carried on behind the group and saw Amaiza turn and look at him and he smiled in her direction and then he felt some spots falling he could see them catching on Amaiza's fur, somehow the drops glistened in the light in a way that looked remarkably good on her. He smiled to herself a moment before returning to looking worried, if it started raining it would be bad... real bad, but what to do... he couldn't even be sure the same thing would happen again.

[Fire]

"Gah, it's raaaaining"

This came from the red-maned lion that was quickly catching up to the group, chuckling and then looking at Amaiza with a brand of smile all to his own. The smile on her face made him only smile brighter as he now was walking alongside her. "So... I hear someone likes the rain, hmm?" He said with a wink afterwards.

[Sarafina]

Sereana had picked Nadayshana up. She was getting tired and she wanted to sleep. She nuzzled her daughter and only stayed a little in front of Cheabosa. She sighed and looked at the sky as it began to rain. She smiled softly. She looked at Nadayshana who was fast asleep. She didnt move when the rain hit her fur gently. Sereana licked her head and continued forward. She thought maybe stopping in this group could have been a bad idea. She was concidering giving the group two less people. Everyone knew eachother...she was a necomer....and knew hardly anything about anyone. She felt left out. Sereana liked Fire...but he was popular and she wasnt. She had a feeling it wasnt going to work.

[Deleted]

Amaiza gave a little jump, when Fire spoke to her, she was in her own world and hadn't even heard him come up beside her.

Looking at him with the smile still on her face, her eyes shining with anticipation.

"How can you not love it when it rains, everything smells so clean and fresh, and the feel of rain on your fur gives you goosebumps, and then you stick your tongue out and let the drops land....it's just..mmm... magic...I love it ."

Feeling a bit embarassed after her little speech about rain, Amaiza turned her head away so hopefully he couldn't see she was about to poke out her tongue and let the drops find a new home. Her tail started swinging from side to side and her paws were just about doing a little dance all by themselves.