The King of Grass Walls [Private: ImaniFaith and Amadeus]

[Baya]

Tumaini was so very confused with what Amara had just said. Hide and seek was a game he didn't know at all. Explore? This was the first time he dared venturing out of his land. Star-gazing he couldn't do because of the darkness of the barren lands. Usugu had told him some stories but they all had horrible bloody endings.

"Uh, nothing really. I've never had all that much fun. Only because my king and queen are too busy, and there are no other cubs where I come from." Tumaini explained. It was quite clear if he told her he was from the Barren lands, she would probably go tell one of her parents and he would be killed or banished or something. Tumaini paused for a moment and grinned, as he bent down then pounced on her playfully.

"Why don't you show me some of your games?" Tumaini asked as he rolled around with her.

[ImaniFaith]

Giggling, Amara rolled with Tumaini until she came out on top. "This is one of them-- pinned ya'!"

Then, leaping off, she began to give him chase. They ran, laughing, through the tall grass, until her mother's voice rang out sharply, "Amara!"

Tumaini, apparently stunned by her mother's unexpected call, halted in his tracks, and Amara tumbled into him.

"Mom?"

//

Lesedi frowned, raising her eyebrow at the tiny golden cub playing with her daughter. He was handsome for his age, but-- like herself-- seemed to have led something of a rough life.

However, he hadn't been hurting Amara, and he did look scared, "Who are you?"

"This is my new friend, Mom!" Her daughter answered, newfound joy shining in her bright brown eyes. Lesedi's heart twisted, remembering the same glow in a set of very similar orbs. "His name's Tumaini!"

"Is it now?" She smirked at 'Tumaini'. It had to be his real name-- he couldn't have come up with it by himself. "And where are you from, Tumaini?"

[Baya]

Tumaini was at a loss of words. What could he possibly say to Amara's mother? If he said "the Barren lands" she would surely chase him off! Tumaini chuckled nervously and stepped back slightly in case she didn't believe the next words that came out of his mouth. "I am from a desert pride." Tumaini said hesitantly. She was bound to ask where his parents or guardians were, or who they were for that matter.

Tumaini knew that Usugu was extremely unpopular in this region and if he even spoke Usugu's name he would probably be killed rather then driven off. Tumaini smiled nervously taking slow breaths. "I-I like the lands. They are beautiful." Tumaini forced out, figuring changing the subject would be the key to victory in this situation.

[ImaniFaith]

Lesedi raised a brow. A desert pride, huh? That would explain the slightly emaciated look about him. Still, she had noticed his hesitation in answering her, and his haste in changing the subject. It reminded her of another stray lion, many moons ago, who had been quite similar-- and told similar fibs....

Herself.

However, she thought ruefully, he seemed to have a much better disposition than she did at his age. "Well, thanks. I like it here, too."

Stepping closer, she grinned down at him, "So, tell me, where's your pride at? It's unusual for a cub to be this far away from his family."

[Baya]

"My family? Oh they...sort of...forgot me here. They were passing by for some food and water, and they left me." Tumaini said quietly looking down slightly. The statement was sort of true because his parents had in a manner of speaking, abandoned him. It wasn't their fault, but they did. Tumaini could feel his eyes water slightly, but he didn't want to let the tears stream. Only because they would never stop.

Tumaini looked up at Lesedi, knowing that she was suspicious of him. He stepped back slightly, his ears flat against his head. "I think I'll go now. Bye Amara..." Tumaini said quietly with a fake smile shot at the other cub. Tumaini began to trot away, feeling the hot tears of loneliness streaming down his face as he did so.

Tumaini was not really watching where he was going, and eventually tripped over a rock, eventually rolling down the hillside to the barren lands. He didn't bother to get up, he just sat there crying his eyes out. His parents were gone, he had to fear for his life whenever he saw his new friend, and he lived in the worst possible conditions a cub could.

Usugu descended upon the hill, with a small African rabbit in his muzzle. Usugu dropped the rabbit, and looked down at the weeping Tumaini. "I know you were in the Grass Walls today boy. Didn't I tell you that you'd be disappointed at what you find?" Usugu asked with a snort.

"I-It's not that!" Tumaini sobbed. Usugu frowned slightly, hating to see the young cub wail so hard. Deep down inside Usugu still had a bit of compassion.

"Do you want to tell me what's wrong Tumaini?" Usugu asked in monotone, and yet at the same time in a caring manner. Tumaini shook his head, as he calmed down just a bit. The young cub just needed some comfort, and for that Usugu would leave the job to Busara. Usugu picked the rabbit up in his mouth again and pushed Tumaini gently, to indicate the young cub to move towards the den.

[ImaniFaith]

"Wait!" Amara cried, and Lesedi felt her heart sink as the cub raced off-- toward the Barren Lands. She had known he was lying.

Yet she hadn't intended to punish him for it. After all, hadn't she done the same thing when she was young?

"Why did he run away?" Her daughter sounded heartbroken. "I- I thought he was going to... play with me...."

"Stay here, Amara." Lesedi's voice was soft, but firm. She wasn't about to let the poor kid run off and die, as she might have had Tenga and Imani not been so kind to her. "I'm going to go after him."

Before Amara could reply, she began to follow Tumaini's scent-- and it was his scent that bothered her. For it not only smelled of the poor rogue cub, but of another rogue she knew... one whom she'd hoped she would never meet again in this lifetime.

Usugu.

If the cub was entangled with him, there was no telling what danger he was in.

[Baya]

A familiar scent glided through the air and reached Usugu's nostrils, right before he entered the den. He dropped the rabbit, and turned quickly. "Tumaini, go to Busara. I have an old friend to meet..." Usugu said with a slightly devious grin. Tumaini looked confused but nodded, tears staining his cheeks. He pulled on the rabbit, dragging it inside so that he could get Busara to make it edible to him.

Usugu began to slowly walk towards the hill side leading up to the Grass Walls with a blank expression. The scent was much stronger, indicating that Lesedi was very close. Usugu should've known that soft hearted fool would've tried to "help" Tumaini. Usugu quickly made his way up the hill, and followed Lesedi's scent. He could tell she knew he was coming, but being as stubborn as she was, she did not run.

Usugu wasn't planning on killing Lesedi today. No. That was not at all part of his plan. He wanted to make her suffer, and die slowly. What would be the use of merely murdering her? Usugu walked until he spotted her, and she spotted him. For a moment he was silent, and just staring into her lively eyes with his lifeless teal ones. "Surprise, surprise. It's nice to see you Lesedi. I see you have matured. I can smell it too." Usugu said with a snort of disgust.

[ImaniFaith]

Lesedi's lip curled at the somewhat perverted remark, "Well, well, so have you. Physically, that is."

Then, standing erect, she glared at him, "Where is Tumaini? I know he's around here, and I don't think you're looking to be anyone's father-figure. Not that I would recommend you."

When he merely smirked in reply, she growled, "Usugu, where is he?! Heaven help you if you've hurt him!"

She couldn't smell blood or death-stench in the air, save for a rabbit which had been recently hunted; but she still didn't trust the situation. Usugu was a known sociopath-- would he honestly hold back from slaughtering a cub if he so felt like it?

Lesedi didn't think so.

[Baya]

Usugu shook his head for a moment, his mane swaying slightly. "Look at you. Sounding concerned and as if you really care for him. I would not place harm upon one of my own pride. Can't say the same for you I'm guessing by the way you are looking at me." Usugu said with a raised eyebrow.

"So tell me about your daughter Lesedi. Word reaches far as to how much she resembles my mother." Usugu said with a snort, as he began to circle Lesedi. He put on his expressionless sinister face.

"How much do you love your daughter Lesedi? Would you fight for her life? Would you plunge yourself into a sea to watch her prosper?" Usugu asked in monotone, his teal eyes reflecting the young queen's image. He could tell he was pulling on her emotional strings as she was getting quite upset. Usugu's eyes narrowed slightly as he stopped circling her by the time he was in front of her once more.

[ImaniFaith]

It didn't take a wise baboon to see what Usugu was getting at, and Lesedi felt her pulse begin to race with anxiety. So, that sweet little cub was part of his 'pride', huh? Probably sent as a spy to case out their lands, find out their weaknesses....

However, she bore no ill-will against Tumaini; after all, who knew how Usugu got him to do what he desired? He was only a cub.

Just like her daughter....

"I love her enough to die for her, Usugu. And yes, she looks very much like Imani." She said, and her voice was shaking slightly, "She-- she has her personality, too.'

"And she's your mother's granddaughter." Lesedi added, "Imani would be heartbroken to know what sick things you have planned for her!"

She hoped beyond hope that, if Usugu felt any love at all for Imani, he would spare a cub who resembled her, and who was also her own flesh and blood. "Regardless of how you feel about me or anyone else in our pride, you must still love your own mother! What would she say to you now?!"