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

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba looked around at his girl-friend with a confused expression. He was eager to know what Nala's plan was, but she said that it was also risky, so he had to hear it first before he got to excited. "Okay... what's on your mind?" he asked, slightly hesitating

--

Marini slowly nodded, wondering where have Kali and Busara went to during this time, "Yeah... of course." she said slightly relieved, though she was still worried about him. Sarabi wasn't going to stop, probably never, and that left her very thoughtful and concerned. What about Pride Rock? How exactly were they going to go back and live there if Sarabi hated Tanga that much?

[AustralianChaos]

Nala resitated, before finally going on. "Well...Sarabi keeps going on about how you're going to be the next king of Pride Rock. When...when Mufasa died, Sarabi technically lost her status as queen, while you are still the prince. If you really think about it, you would have more power than her, and could overrule any decision she makes regarding Tanga."

"You won't be able to make Sarabi forgive Tanga...but you can stop her from keeping him away from you. But Simba, the reason I said you won't like it is because you'll have to stand up to your mother. If the way she's acted today as anything, she'll do everything she can to convince you that staying away from Tanga is the right thing to do. You'll have to stand up to her, and pretty much completely disobey her. It could very easily make Sarabi act distant towards you, too."

Nala sighed, before turning back, looking Simba directly in the eyes. "Simba...the reason this plan is so risky is because you're going to have to turn everything Sarabi taught you against her...I hate to do this, but unless you have a better idea, my plan could very easily mean sacrificing some of your mother's love for Tanga."

She sighed once more, before turning away, realising just what her plan was risking. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have brought it up...it's not fair on you..."

----------

Tanga nodded. "Thank you..." he said, before drifting off as he noticed Kali and Busara, a short distance from the hill. It looked like they had brought down some food for the evening. But Tanga was in no way hungry. "It looks like mum and dad have caught dinner..." he said matter-of-factly, before turning to his girlfriend and sister.

"Rini, why don't you head out to where we always eat, just outside the ravine, so you can get something. I think I might talk with Uhuru for a little bit before I head to mum and dad's den...if you want to, sis."

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba listened to every single word Nala said, and was quiet for a few moment as he thought it all over. This wasn't something he could decide so lightly. Sarabi was his mother, and the only familly he had left after all. "Yeah, you're right... It isn't." he said and sighed. This would probably get Sarabi to become really distant from him, maybe even for ever. "I need to think about this..." he added finally after another short silence

--

Marini nodded, deciding that she could leave Tanga un-attended for a while at least before she finally walked over to where Kali and Busara were carrying their catch. On her way she wondered whether she should tell them or not. They would find out sooner or later once they saw Tanga and the claw-marks on his jaw.

[AustralianChaos]

Nala just nodded, feeling terrible for voicing her plan without properly thinking the consequences through. "I'm sorry, Simba...I shouldn't have said anything. I've just made this all so much harder for you."

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As Marini left, Tanga turned to his sister. "So...can I talk for a second?" he asked.

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Kali pulled the catch she and Busara had caught to their usual eating place, before giving off a loud roar to get everyone's attention, and let them know food was here. She turned to Busara as she did this. "Just remember that we'll all need to save something for Simba, okay?" she said, sitting back and waiting politely for the others to arrive.

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Sarabi heard Kali's call for food, and got to her feet, walking silently through the cave system, her muzzle an emotionless mask after her confrontation with Tanga.

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba knew Nala probably haven't meant to make things harder for him, and didn't want her to feel so bad with herself. "It's okay Nala, you were trying to help." he said, and then heard Kali's roar as well. He was now also able to smell the fresh kill she had probably caught a few moments ago. "You can go if you want to." he said, looking at Nala again.

-

Busara simply nodded at his mate, he already knew that, though he couldn't blame her for reminding him things sometimes, as he sometimes manage to forget things very often. "Yes, of course." he said and sat himself down besides her, waiting for the others to show up.


-

Uhuru was still busy in her thoughts as she watched Marini go. She didn't mind having her and Tanga to stay with them in the den, that wasn't what was bothering her. What was bothering her was Sarabi, and the way she jsut threatened her brother's life. She shook her head, and turn to face Tanga as he adressed her, "Yeah, sure..." she said, still a little shocked by what she witnessed

[AustralianChaos]

Nala looked up as she heard Kali's roar, before looking back at Simba. She didn't want to leave him, but after today, she was hungry. Sighing, she quickly made a decision. "I'll go," she said reluctantly, getting to her feet. "But I'll bring you back something when I'm done, okay?"

----------

Kali looked up as Sarabi was the first one out. But she frowned in worry when she saw the blank mask the mother had on her muzzle. Her face was usually a picture of restrained anger towards Tanga...the fact that it was gone, and had not been replaced, left Kali worried. "Something's not right," she whispered to Busara, as Sarabi was still a distance away, and seemed to be taking her time.

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As Tanga began to make his way towards his family's den, he heard Kali's roar, but ignored it, in no way hungry. He hoped Uhuru would at least talk with him a little before she went off, too. "Are you alright, sis? Exactly how much did you see of...that?" he asked, taking a few more deep breaths to suppress the wave of fear merely thinking of the incident started up.

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba didn't mind if Nala went for a while to get herself some food, she was probably hungry after today's events. "Sounds fair enough." he said, smiling reassuringly at her to tell her that she could go and that he didn't mind

-

Busara also noticed Sarabi come out, with a rather odd blank expression on her muzzle, but put it down to the fact that she was probably just being thoughtful about everything that happened today. Though when Kali spoke up, he began to feel the same thing, "You're right..." he said, all of a sudden feeling like Sarabi should be carrying a frown for Tanga or something like that, but her expression was just empty.

-

Uhuru became very thoughtful at Tanga's question as she brought up the un-pleasent view back into her mind. "Pretty much from the part she hit you and began to threaten your life..."

[AustralianChaos]

Kali's uneasy feeling was heightened even further when Sarabi reached the fallen animal that was their meal, and dug into it, never once acknowledging Kali and Busara's presence, nor the fact that they were trying to wait politely for everyone to dig in.

She tried to ignore it, though, as Nala appeared, having just left Simba to get herself something to eat, and bring him something back. "Hey, Nala," she greeted politely, giving her a warm smile. "How's Simba?"

Nala managed to smile back as Kali greeted her. "He's okay for now...just a little bored I think. I'll be taking part of this back for him, okay?" she asked, getting a nod from Kali. Nala frowned as Sarabi ignored the entire thing, and noticed that, even as she was eating, her muzzle was emotionless. It made her uneasy seeing such an unnatural absence of emotion from Simba's mother like that...something was wrong, and she knew it now.

----------

Tanga winced as Uhuru mentioned that she had seen pretty much the whole thing. "Are you alright, though?" he asked, concerned for his sister. "Just seeing that could have scared many of us, even the adults...I just hope it's alright that I stay with you for now, just until I figure out what I'm going to do."

[TheWhistlerify]

Busara always turned his attention from Sarabi to Nala, and was about to say something as well when Marini arrived. "Ah, Marini, you're right on time." Basically he planned on waiting for everyone to arrive, well, everyone besides Simba. But since Sarabi just dug in, he felt like i would be rude to force Nala or Marini to wait asw ell. "Feel free to dig in."

Marini just smiled slightly at Busara, but it was difficult for her to keep her gaze off Sarabi, now that she knew what the mother had done.

--

"I'm fine." Uhuru sighed, it was somehow wrong. Physically, she was fine, but she was still shocked of what she witnessed. "I'm sure mom and dad wouldn't mind if you stayed..." Then Uhuru was reminded that besides her and Marini, no one knew anything about what happend. "So... how are we going to tell them what happend?"

[AustralianChaos]

Nala smiled at Marini. "Hey, Rini...did you go with Tanga after he left? How is he?" While waiting for her answer, she took Busara up on his offer, her hunger taking over as she tore into the meal.

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Kali smiled at Marini, but otherwise said nothing. She kept her ears up, though, listening to the conversation between Nala and Marini...maybe Tanga's girlfriend could explain Sarabi's emotionless, silent nature.

But she was soon distracted as she looked around, and realised something. "Dear, where's Uhuru?" she asked her mate, suddenly worried. "I thought she would be here by now."

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Tanga sighed, running a paw through his mane. "I don't know, sis...somehow, I don't think they'd believe me if I told them. I mean, Sarabi's angry, but I don't think even Simba would believe she outright threatened me, and hurt me."

He sighed again, looking up as they got close to the den. "Look, I'll think on it for tonight, sis. I heard Kali call everyone for dinner just a minute ago, you can go ahead, I'll be fine for now."

Inside, Tanga seriously doubted that he would be fine alone this evening, but his conscience would not allow him to ask his little sister to miss a meal for him. Besides, he silently reasoned, he head to learn to be braver on his own...he was fast approaching adulthood, and he still acted like a scared cub every second day.