A Change of Plans [PRIVATE: AC & The Whistlerify]

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba sighed a sigh of impatience. "Mom this is Tanga we're talking about. He didn't mean to and you know it."

--------

Marini entered the nook Tanga was at without saying anything or asking permission. She went slowly and sat hersef down next to Tanga, not sure of what to say

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi whipped around to face her son. "How do you know?" she asked, her protective mind throwing out all rational thought. "He threw his whole body at your paws when that happened...if he wanted to trip you up he could have just used a paw...it was just a wrestle, after all!"

----------

Tanga jumped, releasing a strangled cry of terror when Marini's side touched his. He had not been paying attention, and for a brief moment feared Sarabi was after him. But when he saw that it was Marini and not Sarabi, he practically pounced at her, hugging her tight and burying his head in her side, as if hiding his face from view would protect him. Seeing someone who he thought he had known so well, and who he thought loved him like an unofficial son, turn on him like that had shaken him up badly, and as always, Marini proved once more to be the lioness he could always turn to.

[TheWhistlerify]

"Tanga?" Simba asked, "Tanga? Do you seriously think he meant to do that?"

----

Marini nearly jumped when she heard Tanga's cry all of a sudden, and was even more confused when he suddenly pounced at her and hugged her even tighter than he usually did. She was about to ask what was the matter, but it was qute pointless. She knew Tanga saw Sarabi as a mother, and to have her turn on him like that all of a sudden probably felt horrible.

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi once more avoided Simba's question. "But you're okay for now...and that's what matters," she said, giving Simba a lick across his cheek. "But what can we do about your preparation and training now?"

----------

Tanga similarly said nothing, just hung on to Marini and kept her face buried in her side, still shaking violently. He could still hear Sarabi's voice drifting down the cave, and his fear of her was still frighteningly high, but Marini's presence was giving him some comfort.

[TheWhistlerify]

As she licked his cheek, Simba wanted to push his mother away from him, or move away by himself and probably would have done so if he could. "I don't believe this." he said, ignoring her question like she again ignored his

---

Marini tried to unerstand what Sarabi and Simba were saying, but she couldn't really catch onto their words

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi looked at Simba curiously, confused by his behaviour. "What do you mean?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba was already tired of how his mother wasn't getting it. "How can you even think Tanga did that on purpose?" he said, this time he wanted ananswer

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi frowned. "Calm down, Simba...I'm just looking out for you, that's all. Tanga could have permanently crippled you today. It might have been an accident, but I still don't like it...and he's already back, after he ran away like that? It doesn't make sense Simba, even you should be able to see that."

[TheWhistlerify]

"Marini probably talked to him, like she always does." he said, before deciding to listen to his mother and calm down. She was eventually just looking after him and his well-being. But it still didn't make sense to him that Tanga would hurt him like that on purpose.

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi nodded. "I certainly hope so," she said softly.

----------

Outside, Nala was wandering around, thinking about everything. She understood that what Tanga had done had been nothing more than an accident, but she still could not help but be mad at him for it, even if he did not mean it.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she barely noticed when she very nearly ran into Uhuru...but managed to stop herself just before the two of them collided. "Oh, sorry, Uhuru," she said. "What are you doing out here?"