[PRIVATE] A Rogue's Light

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga looked back at Auni, slightly surprised. First, the lion had appeared out of nowhere, and now here he was, sitting with him and talking about his past, as if they had known each other for months. The way he spoke of his past...of his family, left Tanga feeling more alone than he had in the moments before when he was watching Imani have her fun.

He was hesitant, still unused to having someone to talk to, but there was something about Auni...much like there was with Imani...that made him feel the need to open up, at least a little. He looked over at Imani as she began to speak. "She reminds me of myself, Imani does," he said softly, hesitantly. "She's going through a tough time, just as I did when..." he sighed, once again finding himself wanting desperately to confide his secret, but at the same time refusing to jeapordise anything he had with these companions. In the end, he simply switched topics. "The difference is that she has a second chance at getting her sister back...I never got that."

He turned to look at Auni as he continued to lie there, his head against his paws, just allowing himself to relax a little after a trying day. "You're lucky, Auni...to have had someone like your sister growing up. I...I had no-one. At first it was just me a my parents, a small rogue family. For most of my life now, I...I've had no-one but myself. I was staying with another pride up until today, but they never truly accepted me. Aside from a couple of cubs in that pride, you and Imani are the only lions I have really met properly in over a year."

Tanga hesitated briefly. Why, exactly, was he talking about his past to Auni again? It the end, he ignored his inner doubts, and kept going. "I don't know if you heard, but when Ra gave herself up to Mufalfa for us, she made me promise to watch over Imani in her place. On top of that, Imani is the the first lion I've ever met that was anywhere near my age...now that I've met both of you, I...I don't know if I could go back to being a lone rogue again." He managed a small, half-hearted chuckle. "I mean, here I am, watching Imani and singing to myself, and yet, before you showed up, I don't think I've ever felt more alone. It's just..." he sighed. His nerves were beginning to fail him again. "...I'm sick of it, you know? I'm sick of being on my own, with nothing but my thoughts and dreams for company. You and Imani...you two are the first chance I've ever had for..." Dare he say the word? "...Friends." Apparantly he did dare.

But with that one, final word, the blind faith Tanga had put into his tongue slipped away, and he retreated back inside himself. He felt so awkward, talking to someone else like this. During his time alone, he would occasionally talk to himself, sometimes to make sure his voice still worked, and sometimes just to make sure he did not go entirely insane from the solitude. But now he was with someone else, every word he spoke sounded awkward and wrong. Why couldn't he just have a normal conversation without having to feel self-conscious?

His shyness creeping up on him again, Tanga turned back to watch Imani, part of him hoping Auni would leave him in peace...part of him hoping that he would keep up the conversation. And, if he was perfectly honest with himself, Tanga knew, deep down, which part he wanted to win most.

[Skittakallista]

Auni blinked in suprise. He hadn't expected such a good reaction. He felt warmth and sorrow towards Tanga. I wonder what happened to his family, He wondered internally but he didn't press. "Friends... Friends... Friends..." The word Tanga had said went round and round in his brain. "Friends..." He felt closer to Tanger then he'd felt to any other lion, exept maybe his sister. They were his family now. And I must protect my family, He thought.

A grin slowly spred over Auni's face. He smiled at Tanga. "I promise you my friend, you will never be lonley again. You or Imani. But," He continued. "We must go to Ra. She is innocent in these terrible events. Also," He said, glancing at Imani. "I don't think she'll ever be the same if we don't try at least. Her mind will be filled with what if's. I know mine is, and nothing this bad has ever happened to me." He looked expectantly at Tanga. "I know you swore to protect her, but I'll never forgive myself if we don't. We may not be the best lions for the job." He said with a humerous smirk. "But are hearts are good and devoted and I guess that's what matters."

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

After she had finished rolling around in the grass, she perked her head up when she heard the name 'Ra'. Her violet hues turned to the sight of the two males she actually felt confident in meeting as opposed to Neru, sitting and talking to each other. She was surprised to see Tanga, who was so quiet usually, talking to Auni who was also quite quiet. Was something being formed here? And should she try and be a part of it?

The lioness got up to her paws and walked over with her neck arched to look smaller than she really was, and to show that she didn't want to harm or start anything like usually. Her eyes were soft like usual and her tail was low to the ground. Imani stopped in front of them and looked to both of them with a sweet smile to see if they would accept her.

[Skittakallista]

Imani stepped into their midst, looking shy, sweet and submissive. Auni looked back at her. She looked especially beautiful in the moonlight, her violet eyes glowing. He stared back at her with his golden ones, smiling invitingly at her. "Are you okay? We are always going to be here for you. We'll stick together, us three against the world!" He laughed lightly.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

The lioness of the group brought her head up and wagged her tail lightly. She stepped towards them and gave a lick on the cheek to Auni, and then Tanga. Imani then stepped back and bowed her head to the ground and played with her paw, "that was...a thanks...for helping me and my sister" she vouged for herself.

Her eyes looked from Auni's gold ones, and then to Tanga's sky-blue ones, feeling acceptance from others other than her sister and the cubs of prides they ran into.

[Skittakallista]

Auni blushed! Imani had just licked his cheek. As she said it was just a show of thanks but still! It took him a while to regain control of his voice but when he did he suggested action. "Well, if we're all done here, I think we should get back to Neru. He's probably wondering where we are." He saw Imani hesitate at the mention of the rogues name. "Is everything all right Imani? We don't have to go yet if you don't want to."

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

The lioness looked in the direction of the name Neru. Did she dare mention anything about her bad feelings towards the new lion? Or was she just being paranoid? She didn't want to get the others feeling the same as she did, but she thought it would be best to warn them of the feelings she had towards the arrival of Neru. Besides, they were her friend now, right? So they would want to know if something was troubling her. "I don't get a good vibe from him..." she admitted, her ears laid back on her head and looking at Auni before she did to Tanga.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga felt wierd...a strange cross between wanting to faint, or leap for joy and never stop bouncing around like some crazed antelope. First, Auni seemed to accept his idea of friendship, which already left him feeling happier than he ever remembered being. Then Imani came back, and did the last thing he ever expected her to do...she licked him! If it weren't for the fact that he was sitting up once more when she did it, he would have fallen over, and probably never gotten back up for the rest of the night.

He felt his cheeks starting to blush so terribly, he wondered how they weren't glowing as he turned his head away from the two others to hide his embarrassment. He was so caught up in this range of emotions he had not felt since he was a cub, he barely heard the conversation shift to Neru as he felt yet more tears start to form. But these were not tears of pain or sorrow...but tears of absolute, unbridled joy!

He looked back up, his gaze flicking from Imani to Auni and back again, trying to find a way to express how he felt. "Guys, I...you have no idea..." He quickly found that he was completely unable to form of coherent sentence, he was feeling so happy that he just could not think straight. In the end, all he could do was offer them the wierdest look he could probably have given them...a smile. A real, genuine, full smile. Coupled with the tears in his eyes, and the heavily blushing cheeks, he knew he must have looked like a complete idiot, but in that moment, he didn't really care. He had friends.

"Friends," he whispered, as much to himself as to the other, awe lacing his voice as he once again fought to stop himself from fainting.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

Imani looked to Auni and then back at Tanga as she saw his complete change in mood. What had happened between him and Auni to cause such a dramatic change in character? Maybe they were finally becoming buddies for the best, and that could easily be done because it seemed like they were similar in ways she could see and hear somewhat. Maybe it was tag-teamed with the fact that she had let her tongue trail across their cheeks in thanks.

Whatever the reason, the smile was contagious as she started to smile as well. One that wasn't shy nor awkward like she normally did; but a genuine happy smile. And it was around males...who would have thought it? She let out a slight giggle and looked back at Tanga with her purple eyes, "you're cute when you smile" she complimented him. She was always one to tell the truth, and he was not lacking anything of her honest opinion.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga's blush, if it was at all possible, intensified with Imani's sudden comment. He was now absolutely certain that it must be visible underneath his golden fur now. "T-Thanks," he managed to stammer out, his head bowed in a strange, giddy shyness. He finally manage to look up, seeing her looking far happier than he had seen her so far today. "Your smile's nice as well." The instant he said, he started mentally slapping himself. Oh, you fool! You could not have said anything dumber, could you!

Struggling to battle with a range of emotions far beyond what he had ever experienced, he tried to salvage some of dignity back, at the very least. "The way you were playing before...you reminded me of a few cubs I knew not long ago. They were the only lions who ever accepted me, and it..." Tanga had no idea where he was going with this, but felt the need, just like he had with Auni, to talk to her, explain some of his past to her, even if some of his darker moments had to stay hidden at all costs. "Like I told Auni, you and him are the only friends I've ever had. The only other companions I had were my parents, who are, well...you know."

His mood came crashing back to earth very hard. Why? he asked himself silently. Why do I always have to bring that up? Why can't I just enjoy a good moment without completely ruining it? He gave a heavy sigh as the painful memories returned, reminding him of his moment of despair just before Auni arrived. now his emotions were running completely haywire, being tugged first one way, then the other. What did he do?