The Aftermath [Repost]

[Baya]

The sun shone down on the great jungle some distances away from the mighty pride lands. Morning dew dripped off of many forms of foliage, and jungle animals began to stir. Among these creatures was a young gray furred lion cub by the name of Shwari. His green eyes popped awake and he peeked around the dark cave he called home. Many cubs would wake up alongside their parents, but Shwari did not have this privilege.

When Shwari was a bit younger, both his parents were killed during a massive fight against rogues. Shwari's father happened to be the leader of the pride that lived in the Jungle, and thus he was executed. Once his father was killed, many of the members of the pride turned their backs on the jungle and found themselves being rogues. Shwari's mother died after losing her will to love when she lost her mate. Shwari was living alone in the jungle ever since, living off of fruits, bugs and some times scavenging the remains that larger predators left behind.

Shwari found himself occasionally getting in trouble with other predators, and the fact that he was still alive was quite the feat. There were many days Shwari wished his parents were still alive to protect him, and to love him as well as reassure that it will all be okay. There were days where Shwari hated the jungle, and days where he hated the creatures living in it.

Today was one of those neutral days, Shwari already knew as he stepped out into the shaded but still bright jungle. Fruits were dangled around trees, as well as ripe on the jungle floor. The cub scanned the fruits with his green eyes, and began to eat several of them. Once he had his fill of the fruit, he made his way towards the gentle sound of the river's flow for a quick drink. When he got there, he was not expecting what he found at all.

The river was one that flowed very slowly, and then it got into the rapids. Shwari occasionally jumped into the slow moving parts of the river and swam around for fun, but there was the constant threat of crocodiles so he had to get out quickly. His green eyes were locked upon a furry mess flowing down the river. Judging by the thrashed looks of the lioness, she had been through much down the river. Shwari had to make sure she was dead if he was to let her flow any further down the river. He quickly jumped into the river and paddled his way towards the floating body.

Shwari did not know if he had the strength to drag this female to shore, but he was determined to try. One thing his father told him was to never deny a creature help, because one day it would catch up with him. Maybe this female had cubs, and they needed taking care of! He grunted in strain as he slowly made his way to shore while gently biting on the female's paw. Once he got near shore, he pulled the female onto the dry land with all his might. After he had done that he laid on his side for a moment to rest, and then stood once more to check for life in the female's chest. He placed his ear next to where her heart would be and listened. There was sound! The gentle lub and dub of a living lioness's heart.

Shwari smiled as he quickly ran off into the jungle to gather some food for the unconscious lioness. It didn't take him very long, and he was hoping the lioness was still there when he got back. He placed several fruits and bugs on a rather large leaf and dragged it in front of the lioness whom he noticed was beginning to stir.

[See, now this is where Zira comes in. I will bring in the other characters later on in the rp.]

[Harvs]

The wet lioness twitched under the hot Africa sun. Zira's mind raced and attempted to awaken the unconscious lioness. Her 'little' fall back in the Pride Lands left her drifting down an unforgiving river. She was cut and bruised all over her body, but she was in more than just physical distress. She had first been betrayed by Kovu. Then Kovu killed Nuka right in-front of her. Then Vitani, as well as Zira's entire pride, had crossed over to Simba's side. Zira didn't cry on the outside, for she was stronger than that. Though on the inside, she wept a thousand tears. Zira was truly alone in this big empty world.

Finally, Zira's eyes creaked open. Where was she? What was this unfamiliar territory that she had silently drifted to? Well, wherever it was, someone appeared to be waiting for her. a gray furred cub sat not far from Zira, his green eyes shining in the sunlight. and just in-front of Zira was a leaf with... food? Zira had seen animals eating fruits before... but bugs? She grimaced at the tray of assorted foods at first. Then her disgusting look transferred from the leaf to the cub. "Is this some kind of joke?!" Zira shouted at the cub in a horse yell. She slapped the leaf away, sending bugs and fruit scattering through the air and spatting onto the ground.

Zira had been hurt enough. And now, as if to add insult to injury, some cub that she had never even met before was treating her like a herbivore? Zira growled lowly as she crept closer to the cub, teeth and claws drawn... not like she would need to use them. Zira had no personal space problems, as she just kept coming closer and closer to the cub. Face to face with the frightened lion, Zira whispered into his ear "How dare you. how dare you have the audacity to shove this garbage in my face."

[Baya]

The cub's eyes widened at the lioness's furious out burst after being awakened. His ears flattened against his head as he stepped back, while the lioness advanced upon him. It was clear that this lioness was either a rogue, or has been through alot more then Shwari had in his life time. He could no longer step back as he hit a tree trunk. "I-I meant no offense. There were no scraps in the forest." Shwari croaked with his infant voice.

What was he to do? Was he to run and let this female fend for herself near a jungle full of predators that would take glee in slaughtering an injured lioness? Would he explain himself, and the situation and hope that he would be spared the attack that he knew was coming? What would his father have done? "That food is all that's available here. If I was bigger or stronger, I would've brought you som-something better." Shwari whimpered his ears flat, and his eyes not meeting that of the upset lioness. All of his life's problems stemmed from his young weakness.

He finally met eyes with the lioness, hoping for mercy or maybe even pity. Though all he saw was hatred and loathing. Someone hurt her in a way Shwari could never imagine. She was too dangerous to have been saved. Had he made the wrong choice?

[Harvs]

Zira had been out cold for a long time. She was hurt from the fall and her pride's actions against her. And now some cub had offered her a vegetarian's diet. Zira felt degraded. As if she had died and this was her eternal punishment. To be mocked by such impudence. It made Zira sick to her stomach. She encroached upon the cub, eyes ablaze, as he tried to apologize. The sympathetic words went in one torn ear and out the other. The menacing lioness just kept at the little cub until he was stuck in-between a rock and a hard place with nowhere else to go. She didn't even know this animal's name, and she was about to smack some sense into him to let him know just who he was dealing with.

And just as Zira rose her paw to strike down on the infant lion, something caught her attention. 'If I was bigger or stronger?' Zira thought, repeating the cub's words in her mind. Her paw remained in the air for a good time as she pondered these words. Bigger or stronger? Bigger... or stronger... The scene replayed in Zira's mind over and over until it was imprinted in her skull for eternity. She smiled at the cub as she lowered her paw.

Why didn't she think of this sooner? This cub was just like Kovu. He was somewhat open to strangers, he wanted to become stronger, and he seemed to want to please Zira. As mediocre as his attempt was, Zira felt sympathetic for the small cub who could not do any better than fruits and bugs. Her smile was half of love that she might have found a replacement for the hole in her heart that Kovu had left. and the other half from her evil ambitions to get even with Simba. This could be the perfect opportunity if she played her cards right.

As compassionately as she could muster, Zira grabbed the cub from behind and pulled him closer to her body. Though he was probably expecting an attack, the motions that Zira made turned into what appeared to be... a hug. "Oh, you poor dear." Zira said very maternally. She had, after all, had years of practice, raising three cubs... two of which were ungrateful traitors. "I'm sorry little one. I didn't mean those things that I said." She held the cub tightly so he couldn't run away if he wanted to. But her grasp was also gentle and loving. Like a loving mother afraid that her cub would run if given the chance.

[Baya]

As he closed his eyes and braced for the impact he felt the anguish of having left the world so early with nothing. He had lost his parents, lost his land and now he would lose his life. Shwari hoped with all his might that it would be painless. When the impact didn't come, and instead he felt himself being dragged into an embrace by the female his eyes shot open in surprise. He was being spared? He had no idea why this lioness had a quick change of mind.

The feeling that shot through him in the warm embrace didn't let him resist it. The touch of a mother is something Shwari had missed a great deal, and just the way she was talking with him made him purr. Shwari wanted to cry more then anything, but how odd would that be? To hear such words, and to feel so...loved made him want to just bawl. Though he held his tears in, and only looked up to the lioness with glistening eyes.

"W-Why did you stop?" Shwari asked with a look of confusion, his ears still flat. He was curious to know why he was spared. Did the lioness actually pity him?

[Sorry for the horrible posts by me. Kinda hard to be descriptive for Shwari right now >_<]

[Harvs]

Zira spoke to the cub just as she had spoken to Kovu as a cub. She could feel his impulse to cry building inside him. From his reactions toward Zira's embrace, she could infer that he had lost his mother. She couldn't jump to conclusions though. First she had to win his heart, no matter what it took.

As the embrace continued, Zira thought about Simba's downfall. She could taste his blood already. The cries from Kiara and Nala sounded just like music to her ears. A symphony from the deaths of the Pride Landers. Her traitorous children begging for forgiveness. And Zira would just laugh and laugh. She could see it now: the Pride Lands would be hers. A new pride of loyal lions and lionesses and not a trace of Simba's rule.
The landscape would be scarred, the river would dry,
The trees would wilt and the animals would die.
As Zira ruled, from the sky Scar would see,
That Zira was twice as powerful as he.

... And yet... something else flooded Zira's mind. Some odd feeling that she hadn't felt in ages. As much as she knew that she needed to manipulate this young cub, to train him, to raise him to become a killer... she also felt love. At first, she had faked her affection to gain his trust, but... now there was something more. If her assumption about his mother was correct, then was it fate that led him to her? Zira gently patted the cub on his back and said "Shh... there, there, little one. There's no need to be frightened anymore." Her words had entered her mind with a tricky, deceiving tone... but left her mouth in a compassionate and caring tone. Was she really this good of an actress? Or did she really feel love towards this cub whom she had feelings of spite for not but a minute ago?

Zira looked down into his glistening green eyes and spoke once more "Now, now. Don't cry my dear." Pulling him closer into her paws, she asked the cub "Do you have a name?"

[It's all good. Sorry that it's taking so long for me to post back. I had tons of homework and I was tryin' to juggle this RP and school]

[Baya]

[It's alright . I don't mind. I mean, at least you post XD]

The urge came to cry, but again he restrained himself. Would it be wise to look weaker than he already was? He refused. Shwari had shed enough tears, and nothing was made right. He had to stop crying, and start acting. It seemed as though things that other cubs would enjoy would not be something he would ever experience. The caring words of the lioness embracing him, made him relax and almost completely stop fearing her. Perhaps she was not dangerous. Perhaps finding her and saving her from death was one of the best decisions he had made by far!

She asked for his name. He pondered whether telling her was a good idea or not, and came to the conclusion that it did not really matter. His father told him when he was much younger that once someone had your name, they had power over you. Though what was so wrong in giving this mysterious lioness power over him? She spoke such soothing words, and gave Shwari so much comfort. Comfort that he was in desperate need of. "My name is Shwari." He said quietly.

Within seconds of Shwari telling Zira his name, a low growl rumbled from the large jungle ferns nearby. Leering at the two were two glowing yellow eyes, and eventually a black jaguar made itself visible. Shwari recognized this jaguar as she had her sights set on him as a meal for quite some time. It was more to make a statement that lions are the most vulnerable creatures when you catch them off guard, or when they are young. "My, my, my. Little Shwari in the arms of a new mother? I don't think you should get attached you scrappy filth. I'll be killing the cub for his family's wrong doings upon the jungle, and then you for stepping foot in my jungle." The Jaguar said in a seductive feminine tone.

Shwari gazed at Zira, wondering what the older lioness would do. This jaguar was not one to be trifled with, Shwari knew. However, he had a feeling Zira was being underestimated by the jungle creature. "What would your poor late mother think of you, flinging yourself into the arms of another mother?" The jaguar jibed as she circled the two slowly. "Such miserable things you lions are. You care nothing for anyone but your selves." The jaguar murmured.

Shwari could feel his eyes water and the jaguar's verbal bombardment. The tears came, but he made no sounds to indicate his sorrow. His tears dripped from his face, onto the protective paws of the gentle lioness that still held him in her care.

[Harvs]

Such an innocent cub, and yet so strong. His will to not show Zira his tears was impressive. It was almost as if Kovu had been reincarnated into another cub and given to Zira as a second chance. As hope for a newly reforged love and a new era of the Pride Lands. But for now, Zira would focus on the task at paw: earning his honest love.

Shwari was the cub's name. Just as Zira was about to reply with her own name, a low growl broke the emotional moment. from the jungle brush emerged a sleek black jaguar. She fired insults at the two lions like she was queen of the jungle. Zira didn't growl, grimace, or even frown. Rather, she held her ground with a neutral look on her muzzle, staring down the black cat while still protecting Shwari. As the insults continued, Zira discovered that she had been right about her assumption. Shwari had lost his mother. For whatever reason, Zira found it quite funny that a jaguar thought she could kill a lion. Let alone Zira. Her anger alone was enough to fuel her desire to live. And no one, not even this trash-talking kitty was going to get the best of Zira.

"Are you done yet?" Zira said, lifting up her free paw to her ear. She drew one claw and felt around the hole in her ear. After a moment of silence, Zira continued "Good. I just woke up, so I'll give you until the count of three to get out of my sight, before I tear you to shreds." Zira said with a glimmer in her eye, and a small smile upon her muzzle. Her claw still feeling around her holey ear for no particular reason? To intimidate? Was she bored? She honestly didn't know. Zira put her paw down for a moment and looked down to make sure that Shwari was OK. She was somewhat surprised to see his eyes watering. He was a fortified dam. No words of kindness could penetrate his stronghold... though words of sorrow seemed to be a spear to his heart. Zira shifted her attention back to the jaguar with a glare and lifted her free paw in-front of her, unsheathing one claw. No more stalling. It was time to get this conceited cat out of her sight. "One..."

[Baya]

The Jaguar snorted and shook her head with an amused chuckle. "Such pride will be your folly dear lady." The jaguar snarled as she jumped towards Zira. It was obvious that this jaguar meant business, and had completely disregarded the fact that Zira could be a rogue with fighting experience. Shwari's eyes widened at the attack, hoping with all his might the jaguar would just drop dead. Zira seemed to care for him, as she was not just going to leave him to die at the jaguar's hands, and thus Shwari did not wish harm upon her. He wished he was older and stronger, so he could fight off the jaguar and protect Zira in this harsh jungle. Alas, he could not.

Shwari watched in horror as the two felines tumbled together, scratching, tearing, biting and drawing blood. In the end it seemed as though the jaguar would be the victor as she was on top of Zira, having her pinned down. "Like all lions, your pride has blinded you. Let my paw fall down on your throat, and on the throats of every single lion that dares show their face in my jungle!" The jaguar snarled as she was about to slash at Zira's throat. The jaguar's eyes widened as her tail was bitten hard, and she hollered in pain. She released Zira, and swiftly turned around and glared at Shwari.

Shwari had never ever attacked another living creature before. He was only a cub after all, and saw no point in attacking something far bigger and stronger than him. However, seeing Zira almost die made him want to attack. Made him WANT to kill this enemy of his. It wasn't a wise move, he knew, but at least Shwari drew the attention of the jaguar away from the rogue lioness that had embraced him only moments before. No one would take that feeling of security and love from him again! Not this jaguar, and not even the great kings above!

"You damaged my perfect tail you little pest. I should have killed you a long time ago!" The jaguar roared as she raised her paw to strike at the now defenseless Shwari.

[Just so you know, Zira's not unconscious or anything. Shwari provided a distraction for Zira ]

[Harvs]

Zira anticipated the attack and placed herself in-front of Shwari to protect him from any harm. She was able to counterattack with a few swipes of her own, but she was unable to get a clean hit. Clawing and biting through the jungle, the two large cats seemed evenly matched. The jaguar's ambitions to kill Shwari and Zira fueled her anger and desire to win this fight. But the jaguar couldn't have possibly had an even stronger fire burning inside her soul. The burning desire to avenge Scar, to overthrow Simba, to protect Shwari... and to defeat this impudent brat who thought so highly of herself. That was why Zira would win.

The two females had been at it for a while now. Both cats appeared to be getting tired, as their attacks came at a slower pace and they were moving around less. This was exactly what Zira had been waiting for. The jaguar was fatigued, and Zira still had strength to spare. As she readied herself for a powerful vertical slash down the jaguar's muzzle, something unexpected happened. Her raised paw tensed up and was unable to move. Zira's expression expressed immense pain as the jaguar took advantage of her moment of weakness and pinned her to the ground. It seemed that Zira had had more pain inflicted upon her body than just cuts and bruises. It felt like a sprain... possibly a broken bone. Whatever it was, it had cost Zira her victory... and quite possibly her life.

No matter how hard she struggled, Zira couldn't get to her feet. And even if she could, where would she go with a sprained paw? She looked into the eyes of the jaguar with spite and hatred, and mentally prepared herself for the attack. Until the jaguar let out a yell of pain. And who was responsible for her action? None other than Shwari, who had bitten the tail of the black cat with significant force.

The jaguar let go of Zira to advance upon Shwari. Zira stood, putting as little pressure on her sprain as possible. She then looked up at the frightened cub being threatened by the jaguar. Without a single thought, Zira glared at the carnivore and rushed at her. She built up as much speed as she could and rammed her head right into the jaguar's ribs and then kept pushing. Zira didn't let up on her unorthodox assault until she hit the stump of a tree with a loud thud. Zira stood there for a few more seconds to make sure she had made her point.

Finally, Zira backed up from the jaguar and let her moderately limp body fall to the ground. Zira shifted her attention to Shwari to make sure he was alright. She could tell herself that she had retaliated out of sheer will to live. She could tell herself that she attacked because she had a score to settle with Simba. But she couldn't make herself believe those thoughts. In her heart, Zira knew that she had retaliated to protect Shwari. She simply wouldn't allow him to be hurt. not while she still had strength left. Zira gave a loving smile to Shwari seeing that there wasn't a scratch on his body. But the job was not done yet. Zira looked down at the pitiful creature and put her uninjured paw on the jaguar's neck. As she pressed down, Zira said, almost sarcastically "Two..."