[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[Mike]

Kovu laughed aloud at Taraji's excitement and finished the wash, adding a few affectionate licks for good measure. "All right little one, you're ready to go." He said to the little bundle of happiness in his arms. Then to his mate he continued. "I shouldn't be too long Kiara, I'll be able to sort this out without any problems. I'll see you soon okay?" Kovu got up, scooting Taraji gently off his paws and gave Kiara a nuzzle goodbye. Then he turned and headed out the den, his head over his shoulder and his eyes inviting Taraji to follow. "Don't be afraid to tell me if you get tired and want a ride." he said to the little cub.

Moving into the sunlight, Kovu headed slowly down Pride Rock, being sure to pause and wait with a watchful eye at some of the steeper sections to make sure that Taraji could keep up and stay out of trouble. Young cubs were fully capable of navigating most of Pride Rock, but that didn't mean that good old fashioned watchful parents were not needed. When they reached the grasslands Kovu headed off to Laini's new and improved den, glad that he wouldn't have to cross the entire pridelands to reach her and Daxis. As they walked through the lovely land under the sun Kovu spoke to Taraji. "So what have you been doing these last few days Taraji? Go on any adventures with your mum?"

----------------

"I work fine alone." Shani said with a tight grin, which was perfectly true. Before meeting Cain he had never even considered a true relationship of any sort with a lion his own age. His parents were different of course, but even there, it had only been his mother that he was really close to. "Of course, I'm sure I'd work equally well with a partner. Someone who understands my ambitions and has the brains to be useful. Unfortunately this pride seems to be enormously short on brains. The only exceptions I've noticed are Vitani, a firey young huntress, and Cain, a somewhat solitary male."

"Yes, this pride is certainly living comfortably to be able to leave such dens for passers by like you and I." Shani said almost bitterly. "It's this blasted state of plenty that the pride lives in that leeches their colour and life like the desert devours water." He moved along at Zina's prompting, but tossed his head at her next comments. "Please him?" Shani snorted, "Please, at this rate I'll make him pop a blood vessel in his brain out of sheer frustration. Just give it a few moons."

"He really is different than us though... like you said." Shani mused. "They all are. And there's no way I want to turn into them. It's not easy to stay focused out here. This isn't the place for us. Sooner or later it'll change us. I've seen it happen to that hulking fool Kivuli. He came here as a warrior, and now he's tame as a pussycat. Granted there's not much room for willpower in a mind like his, but it's still unnerving to see how fast the transformation can be."

----------------

More or less ready to return to Pride Rock herself, Vitani flipped herself upright at Rahina's words and took up a position a bit further down the body where she could help to pull without getting in the way. "All right." she said, "I'm ready, let's get going." That said, Vitani sank her teeth into the animal, and they were off. Vitani coordinated her movements with Rahina's to make their effort as efficient as possible. Even so, it was hot and tedious work. They couldn't speak on the trip to Pride Rock seeing as their jaws were occupied, so there was not much distraction from the sun. By the time the two huntresses arrived at the foot of Pride Rock Vitani's mind was pretty solidly fixed on the waterhole.

Finally entering the den, Vitani dropped her end of their kill, glad to be rid of it. She was somewhat hungry, but decided to hold off on eating to go for a quick dip first. Looking around she was surprised by Kovu's absance. She would have thought that he would be waiting, drooling all over the den for his share of the day's catch. Instead she went over to Kiara. "Did Kovu leave?" she asked curiously, not bothering to take a seat, planning instead to head right back out after their conversation. "I'd have thought he'd put lunch before some silly pride business with Daxis."

[Lodrill]

Rahina was happy as they reached the main den and she got rid of the weight.
She was hungry after this hunt but she remembered Kopa. She could not allow herself to start eating without him and... she had to talk with him again. Or maybe he did not want to talk with her but she had to tell him that he could grab something to eat at least.

Rahina rushed to their den but she did not enter it due she spotted Kopa near the private waterhole. He was sunbathing. If the situation was different and she wouldn't have left him in a fight she would have pushed him into the water and they would play around in the water giggling and laughing. But Rahina was sure that he still was angry with her and so she did not want to add oil into the fire.

Silently Rahina closed in to the lying lion. The excitement and tension of the hunt had vanished right after she had left the main den. Her mood had changed to being down again as she was before the hunt. She did not know how to encounter Kopa or what to say. She stood behind him for some time before she picked up the courage to raise her voice. She sighed loud and closed the gap in one step.
Her muzzle softly nudged Kopas head and her rough tongue went over his cheeks. "I am back darlig." she said with a voice that was clearly showing her uncertaincy and sadness about their fight. "If you want to eat you can get it in the main den or if you... well want to chop of my head... well whatever you want to do first." her joke was not so funny due her voice did not have her usual giggling she had at those jokes but rather a very sad tone.
Rahina wanted to tell him why she did not tell him before. She wanted him to understand that she did not do it because she did not love or trust him but only because she did not want to add more worries for him...

Rahina ran her cheeks against Kopa's and her tongue licked his muzzle while her paws where dearly massaging his shoulders. It was clear that she wanted to make up with her mate. The fight with him and his reactions as well as his reprovals were really hard on Rahina. She had ever been very hard on the outside but in the inside she still was the sensitive female cub. If it came to those Rahina held dear she was very sensitive. Also she never really had fought with Kopa since their first encounter. As much harder it was for her to now know that he was cross with her. Since her childhood she had worries about loosing those dear to her. First she had lost her brother and mother, then all the friends she had grown up with... now she was worried to lose Kopa.

---

Taraji jumped to her paws as Kovu turned to the entrance of the den. She nuzzled the paw of Kiara and smiled up to her. "We back soon!" she declared to Kiara. As she ran after Kovu. She was very energetic today. As she reached Kovu she ran her body against his paws and purred.
"Where we going?" she asked and looked up from between his forepaws to the head of her father.
Taraji felt safe as long as she was close to Kovu or Kiara. She still was extremely shy about everything around and so she ran under Kovu to be shielded and protected.

[KiarasMate]

Smiling happily, kiara gave one last loving departing gesture towards her beloved mate and daughter as she watched the two of them exiting the main den, calling after the pair as they left.

”Have fun Cutie and be a good cubby for Daddy. See you two later this afternoon.”

Turning her focus now towards her own duties, Kiara went about the task of removing the uneaten wildebeest to make room for the potential prey that Vitani and company would most likely be bringing back within a few hours time. Once the main den was neat and tidy, the golden furred lioness took a few moments to relax, only to be joined by Vitani shortly there after. Watching as both Rahina and Vitani maneuvered their rather large kill towards the entrance of the den and watching as Rahina darted off, Kiara’s ears perked up to hear Vitani’s inquiry, causing Kiara to smirk as she responded in a casual manner.

”Maybe you don’t give him enough credit Vitani. He’s actually taking his new found role as King quite seriously. Yes, he’s still off dealing with Daxis and Laini but I’m sure he’ll be back in time for dinner, especially once he catches wind of this huge kill of yours.” Kiara stated, circling the large carcass of the fallen buffalo, a look of awe clearly present upon her face. ”You and Rahina brought this one down on your own? That’s quite impressive Vitani. You sure came back to The Hunting Party with a vengeance.”

Flashing Vitani an admirable smile, Kiara took a seat a few paces away from where the buffalo lay, not feeling very hungry at the moment herself, as she was still content from the wildebeest she had eaten earlier. Taking this time to converse with her fellow lioness now however, Kiara addressed Vitani in a mischievous tone.

”So, where’s that Santiago lion at Vitani? You two seemed really close at the Pride Meeting last night. Care to dish?”

==========

Lost in his own thoughts, it wasn’t until the gentle touch from his precious lioness reached him, did Kopa come back to reality as his eyes snapped open and his body shifted so that he could face Rahina. He had had plenty of time to think things over and after hearing the sadness and despair within her usually angelic voice, Kopa knew what he had to do. Carefully rolling himself off the flat surfaced sunning rock that he had been lounging on top of, the large male made his way over to where his mate stood in the tall grass, meeting with her gaze as his muzzle hovered close to hers for a moment, before he pressed forward and locked their lips together in a very loving display of affection. Softly caressing his fore paws along the side of Rahina’s body as they shared a sensual moment together, Kopa could feel his heart beginning to pound as it always did whenever he was near his precious mate. Pulling back to depart their muzzle lips from one another, Kopa finally spoke up in an apologetic voice.

”I’d never do such a thing to you Hina. I owe you the world’s biggest apology for the way I reacted when you told me the news earlier. I am so sorry my precious. I didn’t want to give you the wrong impression. I am overjoyed that we are going to be having a cub together and I can understand why you might not have told me this earlier.”

Moving in much closer to his beloved lioness, Kopa nuzzled her tenderly as his fore paw lightly brushed over Rahina’s tummy, bringing a new found sense of wonder to Kopa’s being as he imagined the new life that was securely tucked within there. Purring quietly and keeping his frame close to his mate’s to show her that he held no ill feelings towards her, Kopa murmured softly as he licked over one of Rahina’s furry cheeks.

”I had no right to act the way I did earlier Hina and I hope you can forgive me. I will try my hardest to be the best father to our cub and I know you will be the world’s best mother, because you’re the most caring and loving creature that I know. If you can put up with everything that I do, and still find it in your heart to love me, than having a cub is going to be a breeze for you my precious.”

As if to signify his bond between himself, his mate and their future kin, Kopa leaned his head down and ever so gently, nuzzled Rahina’s belly, giving her soft fur there, a few loving licks before returning his gaze back to his one and only love in life.

==========

Only partially paying attention to what Shani was saying, as Zina herself was distracted with each den they passed, giving each and every one, a thorough investigation before the pair moved onwards. It wasn’t until the two of them had reached the vacant den to the left of Rahina’s and Kopa’s den, did the white furred Shaman speak up in a pleased fashion.

”This one here. This will do just fine Shani.” Zina stated, giving a nod to the quaint little den that had nothing more than a lonely looking sleeping pelt curled in the corner of the den.

Taking a moment to reflect upon what Shani had stated while she was preoccupied, Zina did her best to piece what he had said, together, before she thought for a moment and exclaimed in a suggestive manner.

”Well, you’re not alone anymore Shani. I share your outlook on life and seeing as I will have nothing better to do while I’m here, unless that sorry excuse for a king of theirs calls upon my services, I’m here if you ever want to talk…or do something else.” Zina stated, giving a playful flick of her tail to punctuate her last words before she turned and made her way inside the small abode, taking a minute to examine the structuring of her new confines before she turned back to Shani and piped up once more.

”So, this Vitani that you made mention to earlier. You got any feelings towards her, hmm?” zina stated as she gently slipped out from around her herb pouch, letting the small case flop to the ground as she gave her slender white frame a much needed shake, her scar along her neck now openly visible as she waited for Shani’s response.

[Lodrill]

Rahina was felt a lot better once Kopa had told her that he was not cross with her anymore. She purred as Kopa nuzzled her belly and leaned back. "Well, you know darling... I did not tell you because I did not want you to worry about me while we were on our escape. I wanted to tell you the day our home got raided but we had other problems after that and..." Rahina bent ner neck and licked the cheeks of Kopa. "So much happened here and I never found the time to talk to you alone... well you know... but finally I was able to tell you. I am so sorry that I did not tell you before and I am glad that you are as happy as I am."

Rahina purred and lay her head on the ground. "So are you hungry? We brought back a buffalo. Or do you want to cuddle with me here instead?" Rahina giggled. She was back to her old self. Her stomach was talking for going to eat instead of cuddeling and made a loud noice to tell Rahina so but she would let Kopa decide what he wants to do. She could go and eat any time.

[KiarasMate]

Carefully reaching out a fore paw, Kopa lightly covered Rahina’s muzzle with a paw toe to stop her from talking as he smiled fondly towards her. Leaning upwards and removing his fore paw, Kopa quickly replaced his paw toe with his muzzle as he kissed his beloved lioness passionately once more before speaking to her in a loving tone.

”Shhh. There’s no need to apologize to me Hina. I know you must have really wanted to tell me this news and it’s fine that it took you this long to tell me my precious. I don’t know how I might have reacted if you would have told me right after we had left our home anyways, so maybe it’s for the best that you waited until now.”

Hearing Rahina’s next question, along with her overly vocal belly, Kopa stifled a chuckle as he slowly rose to all fours before nuzzling his beloved mate once more and replying in a sweet voice.

”Well, it sounds like you’re hungry my precious so let’s get you fed first. There will be plenty of time for snuggling later on, and besides, you’re eating for two now.”

Giving Rahina’s hind quarters a gentle nudge with his nose, just to get her to move, Kopa walked alongside her as the two felines made their way back towards pride Rock, all the while, a look of happiness was clearly visible upon Kopa’s face now that he and his precious lioness were once again, in good standings with one another. While they walked, Kopa recalled the matter that he was going to discuss with his mate about her new status, prompting the concerned male to inquire in a curious manner.

”So, how did you feel on the hunt Hina? Did it tire you out too much? Now that you’re carrying our cub, do you think hunting is such a good idea? It worries me a little, to be honest. Not that I don’t think you can’t handle your own my precious, but having such a delicate life in your belly, we can’t be too careful now, can we?”

[Lodrill]

Rahina was a bit embarrased by her own stomach noises. She raised to her paws with a grin as Kopa nudged her hind.
"Isn't it you who is starving even moe?" Rahinas voice had a joking tone. She enjoyed it to be on good terms with her loved Kopa. This was like it used to be and as it should. Her face changed a bit as Kopa asked her to stop hunting.
She has been expecting him to be like that if he found out about her pregnancy.

"I am pregnant, not injured darling." she replied in a artificial hurt tone. [b]"Well I am a bit exhausted from time to time but I was fine today. No need to worry. If you see what we brought down with only Vitani and me you will understand that I can manage to hunt. Also who should get your food if not me?" Rahina pushed her hibs against Kopas flank in a joking manner.

"Nala said me that I will get mood swings because of my pregnancy. So I am sorry if I will be a bit... difficult for you in the next time." Rahina placed a small kiss on the edge of his muzzle. She wanted to tell him before she would yell at him or so. Nala meant that she maybe will have big mood swings and Rahina did not want Kopa to be cross with her again.

"But something completely different darling. I don't know how much longer it will take until our cub is born but... I think we should think about a name soon too or not?" Rahina put her head on Kopas neck while running side by side with him. She wanted to be near him as much as possible. She was that happy to have him back in their old relationship. Forgotten were the last weeks where she worried about him to find out and felt guilty for not telling him.

"Would you prefer a boy or a girl Kopa?" Rahina still had her head on his neck and her muzzle was directly at his ear as she wispered these words accompanied with a soft purr.

[KiarasMate]

Kopa purred happily and smiled warmly at his mate as he heard her comment. She knew him better than anyone and as if on cue, Kopa’s stomach let out a rumble to match the size of his hunger that he was feeling. Grinning sheepishly from his talkative belly, Kopa nodded as he spoke in an embarrassed fashion.

”Well, I could use a good meal Hina. Haven’t eaten since yesterday.”

Feeling Rahina resting her head upon his shoulder as they walked, Kopa felt more relaxed then he had been in ages it seemed. Now that there was nothing coming between himself and his beloved mate, things just seemed better. Hearing her response to what he had stated about her hunting, Kopa knew that there was no point in trying to talk her out of it, especially since they were close once again and keeping in mind what Rahina had told him about her potential mood swings, Kopa opted to leave things at that, simply replying in an understanding manner.

”Okay my precious. Just as long as you don’t over do it, okay? I want our cub to be as healthy as possible after all.”

Pausing in mid stride to give his beloved lioness a loving nuzzle, Kopa twitched his ear from his mate’s hot breath tickling the sensitive fur there. Listening to what was being asked of him, Kopa thought for a moment before stating in a confident voice.

”I’d be happy either way Hina, just as long as our cub is healthy and happy. I will love it regardless of what gender it is, because it’s a special part of both you and I.” Thinking for a moment, Kopa added in. ”Are you hoping for a girl or boy Hina? You know, if it was a girl, I know she’d be just as beautiful and breathtaking as her mother is. If it’s a boy, well, I think we’ll have our paws full if he’s anything like myself.”

Melding over the possibilities of names, Kopa resumed walking once more as the pair continued along their way towards Pride Rock. The thought of being a father had never really crossed his mind and having to name a cub, to which he didn’t even know the gender of yet, left Kopa a bit ruffled as he didn’t want to choose a name that wouldn’t be to his mate’s likings. Saving this topic for another time, mostly to give himself a bit of time to think of a few suggestions, Kopa skirted the issue as he continued to show his affection towards his one and only lioness in life, playfully nipping at her ears as they strolled through The Grasslands together.

[Mike]

”I was feeling a little spunky.” Vitani said modestly, but with a tight grin and a little nod of appreciation for Kiara’s compliment. ”Anyway, I have no intention for the pride to go hungry my first day on the job.” Vitani was on the point of taking her leave, when she heard Kiara’s next remark. Like father like son. the saying sprang wryly to her mind. In truth though she had no problems discussing such matters, unlike some pride members she knew who would rather eat a toad than talk openly about their personal lives.

”You’re telling me you didn’t find him a handsome lion?” she replied with a quirked eyebrow, plopping her hindquarters down for the duration of the chat. ”I mean I know you love Kovu to death, and not without reason, but this Santiago seems to be pretty sharp in more ways than one. He’s a little quiet though, and we didn’t have much to say to each other this morning. Maybe he was just passing through after all.” Vitani spoke comfortably, knowing that Kiara wasn’t the type to gossip pointlessly when it could hurt someone.

You never could tell with males, Vitani mused. They were unpredictable, that was for sure. Vitani had had a good first impression of Santiago, thinking him to be an interesting and reliable kind of guy, but it wouldn’t be beyond the realm of imagination to see him walking away just as suddenly as he had come into the lives of the pridelanders.

-------------------

Shani smiled, almost bemused by Zina’s suddenly more energetic mood. As always however, Shani was fully capable of rolling with the situation. ”I’m not sure how welcome I’ll be with your new neighbours. The den beside you belongs to a singularly uptight lioness. She’s high strung that one, and I’m not sure exactly how sound her mind is. She nearly bit my head off when I introduced myself to her if you can believe that.” Shani raised an eyebrow to pre-empt the obvious comeback and continued.

”But after all, who cares? A grumpy old lioness won’t stop me visiting who I choose. The waterhole and dens around it are as much ours as they are theirs. You know that my first concern isn’t always my popularity among those I don’t consider interesting or useful.” Shani gave Zina a grin and a very slight wink, letting herknow that she at least hadn’t been written off as boring and useless.

"Now Vitani, there’s an interesting young lioness.” Shani continued, seeming to chew her over in his thoughts. ”I had to beat her half to death on the evening I met her, and her brother only just stepped in on time. Not a very sound foundation for a long-term relationship wouldn’t you say? She gave me this.” Shani said, baring the now faded and healed gash in his side, only a trail through his otherwise sleek coat remaining. ”But tell me about your own battle wounds.” He said, referencing the newly visible scar on Zina’s neck.

----------------

Kovu gave a little inwards sigh of resignation. He’d known when he allowed Taraji to accompany him that she would be curious, and that it would be impossible to satisfy her without at least a certain point of view of the truth. Still, he wasn’t exactly looking forward to telling the happy cub, that even now was playing between his legs, the exact nature of their mission

”You know Taraji, your mom and I are pretty important in the pride. That’s why we’re not always together or in the den. We wish that we could just sit together in the sun or under the stars.” Kovu smiled briefly, mentions of the stars always bringing his mind back to his first days with Kiara when the stars had seemed to shine extra brightly for their new and forbidden love. ”But life doesn’t always go the way you want it to, I guess you know that as well huh?” Kovu left the question of Taraji’s past unsaid. As curious as he had been these past days he knew that prying too deeply would only hurt the little life he was caring for.

”We’re going to see a lion that’s been bad, and hurt one of us. Now you’re with me, so you never have to be scared of anything, but not everybody in the pride is as lucky as you are.” Kovu said. He kept his tone light, introducing the situation as natural facts of life, no more to be feared than the wind or rain. ”I’m coming over to show him who’s the boss, and make sure he never hurts anyone ever again.”

[KiarasMate]

Eagerly taking a seat next to Vitani, as it wasn’t every day that she had the pleasure of conversing with another lioness, aside from her mother, in this regards, not as though being stand in queen gave her such rights, but Kiara would take whatever chance she got to bond with her fellow pride members and this just seemed like one of those rare opportunities. Listening to Vitani speaking about Santiago, the inquisitive, golden furred lioness chimed in during the pause between Vitani’s dialect.

”Well, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t steal a glance or two at him during the pride Meeting but you know I love your brother to bits though Vitani. Kovu will always be the one and only lion for me. Besides, he seemed pretty in to you, so I doubt that I’d even have a chance with him if I were single.”

Looking rather dreamy as she thought about Kovu, Kiara smiled thoughtfully as she listened to the rest of what her fellow lioness had to say. Thinking things over for a bit, Kiara figured that if Santiago wasn’t in the picture, then surely there would be another male that might have caught Vitani’s eye. Casually speaking up once again, Kiara addressed this matter as she adopted a curious expression and stated.

”Well, let’s say that Santiago does move on? Who does that leave? Hmm, what about, oh, I don’t know, that Shani fellow?”

Having already known about what had happened between both Vitani and Shani, yet also knowing how Vitani could be at times, Kiara didn’t immediately dismiss the chance that perhaps, there was a possibility that Vitani might have found some interesting quality within Shani, to whom Kiara didn’t know very much about to begin with, seeing as Kovu had warned her to avoid him at all costs. Waiting attentively for an answer from Vitani, Kiara hoped that she hadn’t overstepped her bounds by suggesting such a thing to her friend.

==========

Dawning an appreciative smile from the fact that Shani had finally shown a bit of interest in her, Zina took in everything her old acquaintance was telling her, taking an extra long look at the fading scar that Shani displayed to her. While it looked as though the injury was all but healed, having her own natural instincts of being a Shaman, triggered, Zina couldn’t help but to speak up as she asked.

”Want me to put some herbs on that for you Shani? It doesn’t look all that bad but I could easily make it so that ugly looking scar of yours is a thing of the past within a moon or so. Not that I care what you look like mind you, but just for old times sake I guess.”

While waiting for Shani’s response to her offer, and hearing what he had asked in regards to her own rather nasty looking injury, Zina huffed as she shrugged her shoulders and retorted in a cold tone.

”Let’s just say it was a departing gift from my mother. She had a one way ticket to the afterlife with my name on it. Trouble is, she just forgot to validate it.”

Mumbling a few profanities under her breath from the thought of her mother’s actions seeping back into her mind, zina quickly tried to change the subject as she thought back to what Shani had stated about Vitani, piping up once more in a conniving voice.

”Sounds to me like you like your lionesses rough Shani. You know…if you ever want to get close to her but just can’t find the nerve to, I got something that can help with that too, although that one won’t come cheap.”

Flashing Shani a toothy grin, Zina fell silent now as she opened her herb pouch for the first time, revealing the assortment of plants, flora and foliage that were well organized within the small confines.

[Lodrill]

"That is for sure!" Rahina laughed as Kopa mentioned a boy cub would be a lot of work if it would be like him. She threw a grin at him and then placed a small kiss on his cheeks to appologize for her joke. She was back to her old self at least for now.

Rahina enjoyed the time they were walking side by side through the grassland. Even though it took them not very long to reach the main den. Once they entered Rahina directly lead Kopa to the big buffalo they just killed. "What do you say? Is that enough for this belly of yours?" Rahina giggled and rolled on her back with paws up while throwing another grin to Kopa. She was back to her cubby like playful self that she had been at the time Kopa met her in the jungle.
She just was so happy and overjoyed that they managed to clear the things out between them and were on good terms again that she was like a happy cub that just got something wonderful as a present.

She rolled back on her belly and looked up to Kopa. "Well after you my dear." she invited him and as he closed in she streched her head forward and licked his cheeks in affection.

---

Taraji was a bit scarred by the story of Kovu and snuggled even closer on his paw so that is was nearly impossible to go forward for Kovu without falling over the small frame of the cub.

She was one cute lioness alright but it was clearly visible that she still was extremely shy and scarred of anything that may be danger.
But at least she was not shivering due she felt comfortable and safe near Kovu.

"What you do to him? What mean you are boss? You hurt him?" Taraji asked with a bit shy voice. She did not really understand what Kopa meant. She only understood that this other lion has hurt someone and was a bad lion and Kopa would go there.