[HIATUS] Prideland's Hope

[KionScar]

"Maybe, but it seems they are still functional" She answered to Idir on his questions, "Figures. Hurts too much to move… Hyena halfbreed, Kuumiza. The second in command to Machukio."
Mlezi turned her head in the general direction of the cubs, "My mother's name was Bashiri, which means Announce or Foretell. She was a Red-Strawberry Leopard, and something of a painter as well a medicine cat. She had told me at a young age that my father did indeed have good intentions for the Pridelands, however she had noted him acting strange one day, confirming her suspicions that the Shadow Council was behind it…"

[Braveheart]

"Maybe, but it seems they are still functional" She answered to Idir on his questions, "Figures. Hurts too much to move… Hyena halfbreed, Kuumiza. The second in command to Machukio."
Mlezi turned her head in the general direction of the cubs, "My mother's name was Bashiri, which means Announce or Foretell. She was a Red-Strawberry Leopard, and something of a painter as well a medicine cat. She had told me at a young age that my father did indeed have good intentions for the Pridelands, however she had noted him acting strange one day, confirming her suspicions that the Shadow Council was behind it…"

"It's hard to say why are they still functional, but that means someone has employed their service once again. For what purpose, we do not know. Either Otieno employed them to do his bidding or my sister recruited them again. Either way, it is not good. They are expected to follow orders, never to retreat, never to surrender, just like my personal guard. Until your mission is complete." Idir gave another shrug as he attached a branch, strapped with vines. "Your family probably made too many enemies. Maybe you included?"

[KionScar]

Mlezi's ears flattened sheepishly, "I, uh… May have beat him when he was younger, not fully grown in his mane yet." She smirked, "In-front of his friends, no less."
"But he was bullying mother, so…" She pondered, "I believe that's a yes, any way you look at it"

Sighing she crossed her paws, resting her chin on them. Looking, staring, at a corner of the den that was covered in shadows.

[Braveheart]

"Then what happened next? But that was so long time ago. Maybe he has a deep grudge afterall. If it was a isolated incident, then it wasn't so bad..." Idir said, now applying pressure on Mlezi's leg. "I do not like to think one get work up over a petty accident. It was only one time. Probably before he was recruited into the Shadows. Now he has become a monster."

[KionScar]

"Actually…" She glanced to Kion, "You remember what he said? Yes, my mother broke his Pride's Royal Traditions that grandmother had agreed to. For Scar. Even though he was betrothed to Bashiri… No one knows if any of his pride still lives or not, doubt it matters now.."

"Ow, careful please" Mlezi winced at the pressure on her leg. "Still, I must thank you two…"

[Braveheart]

"You should have been dead. I wonder did he let you leave..." Idir gives a shrug before applying less force and massage her leg."This table will be your bed for a while. But food you need to consume outside. Rafiki do not like his place to be dirty. And now it's your turn, Kion." The cub touches the latter forehead and starts rubbing with a oily oilment.

"Yes, I do. What do you plan to do now, Mlezi? Eventually you need to tell my dad the truth about Scar." Kion said.

[KionScar]

"That's what he said… ..Because it wasn't up to him, as neither of my parents still live" She looked back to the entrance of the den, "I really don't want to be a bother, but… I'm not sure I can, for a few days at least" She said looking at her wrapped leg.

"Quite honestly, I don't know" Mlezi sighed at Kion's response, her black tail tuft twitching in agitation "I want to, but… I fear he now may be more likely to not listen to me…" Her face had a rather sad expression.

[Simba_Lion]

"For starters, there were quite a few factors from betrayal, a weakened army and the death of the previous Empress, Sade II. Emperor Idir and the remants of the army fled after the capital fell. Kula was killed protecting the cubs and her head looped off. Simba! I picked up her head and and---it was terrible. The one who attacked them was 'Otieno The Terrible'. He came from another branch of the family and had a strong hatred towards the family. Otieno is a brutal & deraged warlord and well known for mass killings. The old ways. He never respects any former treaties. The worst thing is, he might set his sights on here..." Tama said, hanging her head.

Simba was listening to Tama shocked. He couldn't speak for a while. His friends... were gone. And as Tama said; what if they come here? What if they will attack this land too? And what if he will not be able to protect his family and kingdom? This thoughts really made Simba sad and worried.
"This is terrible." Said Simba finally, almost in a whisper. He couldn't say more, he was still shocked.

***

"I admit I do not know. We will need to speak to this Mlezi more. The cubs are at Rafiki's den. But Rafiki's away on a field trip."
Nala frowned, looking at Rafiki's lair before going there. "Come, Tama & Simba. Let's visit our son. Maybe they tell you the answers you seek."

"Where's Zazu? I need him to send him to Rafiki. My son got hurt and I don't want him to suffer." Simba said and looked around.

[Braveheart]

"That's what he said… ..Because it wasn't up to him, as neither of my parents still live" She looked back to the entrance of the den, "I really don't want to be a bother, but… I'm not sure I can, for a few days at least" She said looking at her wrapped leg.

"Quite honestly, I don't know" Mlezi sighed at Kion's response, her black tail tuft twitching in agitation "I want to, but… I fear he now may be more likely to not listen to me…" Her face had a rather sad expression.

"Okay, then until we get more clues, we gotta prepare for a possible maelstorm. Why do you two love birds enjoy some company while I collect more herbs? Kion can help you around. See you later, Mlezi." Idir walked out of the cave, humming a tune after punching Kion half- heartedly.

"We aren't love birds!" Kion sighed as he turned back to Mlezi. "Until our parents returned, we are alone. We still have to. We will show him the secret cave because he has the right to know." He just touched her paw gently and occasionally glance out of the cave. Waiting for the rest, wherever they might be.

"They will be here soon."

[Braveheart]

Simba was listening to Tama shocked. He couldn't speak for a while. His friends... were gone. And as Tama said; what if they come here? What if they will attack this land too? And what if he will not be able to protect his family and kingdom? This thoughts really made Simba sad and worried.
"This is terrible." Said Simba finally, almost in a whisper. He couldn't say more, he was still shocked.

"Wasn't the purpose of the empire was to hold most of the prides together and the peace? Wasn't that Sade's job?"
Nala asked as she stared upwards.

"Yes, but the cute teenage lioness has been dead for quite some time. Now it's Kula's turn and that's why there are so much bloodshed in the neighboring lands. If Otieno came here and take over this land, there will be chaos, destruction and death. It will most likely be worst than Scar."

"I'm sure Otieno will forget about this place..." Nala gave an assuring look, touching Simba's paws.

"I don't know, Nala. I really don't know." Tama shook her head. "Besides, don't you have the Lion guard, Simba? I heard they are supposed to be powerful with the Roar."

***

"Where's Zazu? I need him to send him to Rafiki. My son got hurt and I don't want him to suffer." Simba said and looked around.

"Zazu's sleeping in the tree." Nala pointed upwards.

"Don't worry, Simba. Kula's son has been trained in medicine. We should hurry there." Tama said with an assuring smile.
"I'm so proud of my son-in-law."

"He's only a cub, Tama..." The other lioness now looked back at Simba. "Either we hurry there or we have to wake up the bird... in the high tree."