[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Moto chuckled in embarrassment. "Muroki, right," he said, "I'll remember that now." What he didn't say was that he noticed how Lina paused when she said where Delano was. She as hiding something from him, but he didn't press it. Maybe he will ask her about it later. "Well Lina," Moto said, sighing, "I guess we will meat him later today, won't we? It will be great to have everyone together." He smiled. "Speaking of which, Kasi still lives with you, right?"

Behind them, Umeme rested against Muroki, seeing as he was now her favorite place to rest against. "Why were you worried, anyways? There was no reason why they would hate you, come on!" She looked up when she heard her father ask about Kasi.

"Kasi's still with us," Umeme answered, "he spends most of his time with his parents now, though."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki smiled sheepishly, nuzzling Umeme gently as she continued resting against him. "I don't know... But I was naturally worried, that is all..." he doubted it would be necessary to explain why, but he went ahead anyway. "I was worried that they might not like me and that they wouldn't approve of us being together..." it was probably the worst possibility he had in his mind before meeting her parents. "I was afraid that I won't be allowed to see you again... But it was just me, I was too paranoid." he chuckled.

Lina nodded at Umeme's answer. "Yeah, he's with his parents most of the time..." she remembered what good friends Kasi's parents were to her own parents. "I bet they'll be happy to see you too. Kasi has a few reasons to spending so much time with his parents..." she went ahead and gave them a brief explanation of what happened to Tango and then to Laini and her unborn cubs along with the posibility that she might never be able to have cubs again. She wasn't too surprised when she saw the horrified looks on her parents' faces. "But Laini's alright now..." she added, smiling.

[DGFone]

Umeme giggled. "Yeah, you were too paranoid," she agreed, "there was nothing to be afraid of." She fell silent when she heard Lina describe the resent attacks, wanting to know how her parents will deal with the news.

As much as Moto was glad to hear that Laini, the very fact that the attacks happened worried him greatly. Lina didn't seem worried now, but Moto didn't want to take any chances. He still smiled, not wanting to look worried or troubled. "Well then, can you take us to them?" He asked, "I think they will appreciate it if we see them." What he didn't mention was that now that Lina told them about the attacks, he had something important to tell them. But at the same time, he didn't want to worry his daughters, which is why he remained silent now.

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina smiled and nodded at his father, not catching onto the fact that he was actually far more worried than he looked. "Of course dad." they were probably back in the den right now, for even if Laini was already allowed to hunt again, the hunting party would only leave in the later part of the morning. Beside, Kasi's parents and maybe even Kasi himself would be happy to see her parents again after they've been gone for so long. It was so long since her parents were in the actual den with her and her sister, so it will feel good to be them the whole four of them again.

Muroki waited until Lina finished telling her parents of all the bad things that has happened during their absence since he didn't want to even risk interrupting something like that. Soon after that was out of the way though, he turned his attention back to Umeme with a smile, "Yeah, you're absolutely right." he said quietly, still not wanting to interrupt the conversation between Lina and her father. He nuzzled Umeme briefly, and looked in Lina's direction when she said she'd take them to see Kasi's parents. He and got up as well. As much as they'd love to stay there longer, it wouldn't be polite for Umeme not to be with her parents (Muroki with his new parents-in-law) after they were away for so long and especially now that they were going to visit some friends.

[DGFone]

Lina got up, leading Laini and Moto back to the den. Umeme gave Muroki a quick nuzzle before also getting up. "Come on, let's go." Together, the five of them walked back to the den.

By the time they arrived back at the den, the day was ending, with the sun low over the horizon. Umeme stayed back with Muroki as Lina went inside to get Kasi. She sat down by the entrance, nuzzling Muroki. "You know, when Delano will come, our entire family will be here," she said, "won't that be nice?"

Moto and Laini followed Lina inside the den, and sure enough, Kasi was there with his parents. Moto smiled upon seeing them, glad to meet his childhood friends again. "This might be a bit unexpected, but we dropped bye for a visit," he announced, trying not to laugh at their surprised faces.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki walked with Umeme behind Lina and his parents-in-law, looking at Umeme with a smile the entire way back and rubbing against her slightly every now and then. He sat down with her outside of the den and decided to give Kasi's parents and Umeme's parents-in-law some time on their own before coming in as well. He returned Umeme's nuzzle, "Yeah, it will be nice." while Delano wasn't Umeme's brother-in-law yet, it wasn't madness to assume that it wouldn't take too long for that to happen.

Inside the den, Dakari and Laini were very surprised to see their childhood friends there, as they only came to visit after the winters, and it hasn't rained even once yet. They both got up and went over to them, unable to stop themselves from smiling. Fadhili pulled Laini into a hug even before Laini could say hello. "I was horrified when Lina told me of everything that's happened!" Laini already figured that somebody had informed them of what happened while they were gone. She smiled at her friend, saying, "I'm alright now, we're all alright now..."

[DGFone]

Umeme purred next to Muroki. "You know, speaking of which," she said, looking up, "there he is right now." She motioned up for Muroki to see where Delano was.

---

Inside the den, Moto nodded upon seeing Laini in good condition. "It's good to see you well," he said, smiling. He remembered that Lina and Kasi were still inside the den with them. "Lina, Kasi? Would you two mind stepping outside?" He asked. The tow of them got up and left the den

Moto turned back to Laini and Dakari. "I didn't think it was important, but when Lina told us about your attack, I think that I should inform you of some information I was given..." He then spoke softly, not wanting anyone outside to hear, "I was told that the danger might not actually be over."

---

True to his word, Delano had arrived back at the den in time for the sun to set. He had used the day to think, and came to the conclusion that he really shouldn't have left her. Walking forward, he saw Muroki sitting with Umeme, but he didn't see Lina anywhere. "Is Lina here?" He asked when he walked over to his brother. "I have to talk to her..."

He trailed off when he saw Lina emerge from the den with Kasi. He bolted to his feet and ran over to her. "Lina!" He hugged her tightly, not willing to let go. "I'm so sorry for leaving you," he said, "can... can you forgive me? I really shouldn't have walked away."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki smiled at Umeme's purring, holding her close. He was about to say something when Umeme suddenly told him that Delano was there. Looking at his brother, he wanted to ask him how did his run along the border go, but was cut off when Delano asked where Lina was. He was just about to tell her that she was inside the den, but as if answering for him, Lina emerged from the den and walked outside with Kasi.

Lina was too busy in confusion from the way her father asked her and Kasi to suddenly leave the den, but figured that he and her mother probably wanted some time alone with their friends. Before she even noticed Delano was there, he was already giving her probably the tightest hug yet, causing her to squirm in surprise. She calmed down once she realized it was only him and stopped struggling. "Oh... It's alright... I understand..." it wasn't that weird that Delano wanted some time on his own and it even sounded natural.

Laini was a little confused when Moto suddenly asked her son and Lina to step outside and speaking in such a low voice. What danger could he possibly be speaking of? The underworld was defeated, so what danger could there possibly be now? Haven't they all suffered enough already? "What do you mean?" she asked, obviously eager for an explanation, a logical one. Next to her, Dakari seem just as confused and just as annoyed to hear this.

[DGFone]

Umeme laughed quietly at Delano's behavior. "Your brother behaves really strangely sometimes," she whispered to Muroki, "which is why I think that I like you better."

Delano gave Lina some breathing room finally. "You really think that?" He asked, to which she nodded. He smiled, feeling much better now that he knew that Lina was alright. "I er... thanks," he muttered. He once again brought his head close to hers, nuzzling her. He still didn't feel fully comfortable kissing her, but Delano felt like he needed to be right next to Lina.

Umeme smiled upon seeing Lina and Delano together again. "Looks like even a day is too long for them to be apart," she whispered, "so if you ever leave me," she grinned at Muroki, pushing him over and moving on top of him, staring down at his face, "you will better have a lot of good explaining to do."

---

Moto sighed. "Before we left to come here, I was told of another problem," he said quietly. "Apparently, the underworld had a double agent. He was pretending to be working for our side, but really wasn't. And the problem is that he wasn't caught... I don't know where he is, but I was told that they might get him soon. But until then, I want you to be careful." He looked at Laini. "I don't know why you were attacked. This is why I am telling you this. Because I don't know if he will go after you again or not."

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina simply stared at Delano for a few moments, looking nothing but confused. She let out a giggle at his muttering, returning his nuzzle. "You're so weird sometimes..." she admitted, closing her eyes and allowing him to continue to hold her. His oddly way of behaving and his rather goofy personality was what she loved so much about him.

Muroki couldn't help but chuckle at Umeme saying that Delano had a habit of behaving strange, mainly because it was true. "Yeah..." he pretended to take what she next said seriously, looking at her with a grin, "You think?" he simply stared at her for the next few moments until Umeme decided to push him over and hold him down. Smirking, he put a paw around her and pulled her closer, nuzzling her as he did. "I'll never leave you." he said softly, not able to imagine being without Umeme for more than an hour if at all.

---

Laini said nothing in response to what Moto just told them even though she had so many questions on her mind right now; Like did anybody know who was this double agent or how could Moto be so sure that the same lion was the one responsible for the attack against herself, that is if the attack really was aimed particularly at her, which seemed rather absurd. Dakari eventually spoke, "I'd like to see him try." his voice was a growl, and it was obvious that he wouldn't mind getting his paws on the lions who attacked his mate and caused her to lose her cubs.