[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[Mike]

appreciated what Gumu had to say about her life story, then was surprised by his next words. Vitani looked him up and down again, paying special attention to his large paws and powerful limbs.

"Yea, I bet you could." She answered, then fell silent as she thought. Gumu was new, but he was also being a very reasonable and respectful lion. Simba would likely accept him without any problems. And she knew that Simba would be as anxious as she was to get young Daxis under control before he either hurt someone or got hurt himself. Maybe she could convince him that Gumu was the best replacement babysitter around. She wasn't exactly sure why Gumu wanted to subject himself to the experience, but didn't question his motives too far.

"Anyway," Vitani said when she realized she'd been silent for a few moments. "You seem to know a lot about discipline. Who taught you that?"

[Faolcho]

Gumu stood idle for a while, staring at nothing in particular and twitching his ears at certain times. He turned his head as Vitani spoke to him.

"Where I come from, discipline and obedience are the two main values we desire of our lions."

The Southlander then fixated his gaze at Daxis, he hardened his voice slightly.

"In order for a pride to function accordingly, every aspect of the group needs to have discipline. It is my duty to teach those who do not have these values. No matter how loose they are, you can always let them see the right way by using a little bit of intimidation and a sniff of inspiration."

Gumu grinned at his last words, he would truely enjoy teaching values to those who 'need' them.

"The problem with your mother's plan was that she was blinded by her vengeance, and she did not teach this Kovu enough obedience."

He paused shortly to swallow.

"You see, obedience and discipline play a big part in the battle of survival."

[Mike]

Vitani was a bit startled by Gumu's instant analysis of the weak point in Zira's plot. She thought it over and had to agree at least partially to what he was saying. Kovu was, technically, a traitor. Then again...

"I was thinking over Zira's failings not long ago as well. A few months ago I might have agreed with you, now I have to reword your reasoning a bit. It wasn't a lack of discipline that caused Kovu to leave the outlanders, he was trained from dusk to dawn for years. It was a lack of love there. He found something with Kiara that Zira couldn't provide for him, and he had to leave becasue of it."

Vitani then felt that she'd given away a bit too much of herself, laying her deepest opinions out in the open. Gumu might be polite and attractive, but he was still a stranger. She took on a lighter tone and continued quickly.

"So, it's your duty to teach the little ones how to behave is it? Well you've given yourself a large task there, I'll tell you that. I wish you luck in it, but would you really be happy as a babysitter for the rest of your life?"

[Faolcho]

Gumu stared at Vitani for a while, tilting his head sidewards and having the superlative of confusion written on his face.

"Surely, love cannot be strong enough to forsaken your pride and values? Love is a mere trickery one must ignore, only then, one can be worthy. If you let it win, well.. you lose."

The foreign lion then stared at the ground beneath his paws.

"Well, as a Southlander, I plan on doing a lot more. It is another one of my duties of course, to bring glory to my.. former pride."

He swallowed in his last two words a bit, not really feeling comfortable with the thought of it.

[Mike]

"That's odd Gumu, I didn't expect you to be a septic of true love. You know about duty, devotion, commitment, and loyalty. Isn't love just the other side of these qualities? Earth and sky, devotion and love, loyalty and passion. Not that I learned any of this from Zira, but in the pridelands I've noticed that in the end it is the same attitude and values that drive all these qualities. I'm starting to accept them myself, though it's a long transition. Maybe you'll make the same journy as you stay here."

Vitani raised her head to the sky. As they had been talking the day had gone on faster than she would have thought possible. It was now approaching dusk, with thin rays of sunlight once again covering the pridelands with a red and golden tint. Vitani didn't usually turn in to bed for the night until well after the sun had set, but she considered now taking the new lions into the den to meet the rest of the pride. In the meantime however, she sat awaiting Gumu's reply.

[SinChei]

Daxis still tried to rest but he still herd Vitani and Gumu talking even if he didn't understand what the said he was bothered by it and kept his eyes close.
But they continued their talk and Daxis sat up and opened his eyes. He looked at them with a angry gaze and started to yell to them.

I can still hear you two leave this place or shut up i want to rest here

He grined confident of victory towards them. He was still sitting and waited if they leave or replied his rude words.

[Faolcho]

Gumu made silent grunting sounds at Vitani, he obviously begged to differ at the view of 'love'. Whilst she was talking he heard musquito buzzing around his ears, oh, wait.. Daxis. He twitched his right eye in irritation and made a short sound of due his rage being bottled up.

"Da- uhh.. You- err.."

A weird noise sounded from his muzzle, it didn't really mean anything, it's one of the grand mysteries of life.

"Grlgloar!"

Gumu lowered his head at his failed attempt, and turned back to the lioness.

"Right, we'll see how it turns out." He said in a somewhat pestered tone.

[Mike]

"We're having this little thing called 'conversation' Daxis." Vitani shot back. "I'm not sure if you know what that means 'cause just about everything to come out of your ugly muzzle so far has been an insult."

Vitani sighed with feeling. It was going to get tiresome having to deal with these two lions and their problems with each other on a regular basis. At least Gumu was able to control himself somewhat. That was his famous discipline coming into play. Vitani really wanted to invite Gumu for a tour of the pridelands, but she couldn't in good conscience leave Daxis alone. It was frustrating, but there was nothing she could really do about it... unless she asked Kovu to take over for her. Thinking it over she decided that that's exactly what she'd do if things escalated any between the two males.

[SinChei]

Daxis felt perfect as he saw he made gumu angry and had a big grin on his muzzle and lift up his head and stuck out his chest. But but then his grin went away and he looked angry as he herd Vitani spoke rude to him.
he stood up and went a few steps towards them and extended his claws.

What have you said ...... dont say it again and shut up

He went hesitant a few steps more towards them and stopped a few meters away from them.

[Faolcho]

Gumu sighed in relief, Vitani finally told Daxis the truth about him and his.. ugly muzzle. But, his state of happiness didn't last long, he talked back, and even made offensive movements!

He revealed his claws, teeth and lowered his front part of his body. Small growling sounds were to be heard, and arched eyebrows weren't absent as well.

"One more step and you won't live to see another day."