The Pride Lands (Zeke, NM, kovu42, morri908)

[Zeke]

Zeke waited for Mila to leave his sight and padded over to Bakari. His anger had still not conceded and he was in a very sore mood. "She better know what she's doing," He growled and took a seat next to Bakari. "Do you trust her?"

[kovu42]

Bakari wasn't sure how to respond. Every inch of his being wanted to leave, make his own way out. He also wanted nothing more than to rip open Zilo's throat but that could easily be his own undoing, unless he played his cards right. I will get to him, Bakari thought to himself, and I will make him pay for his crimes and Mila might be my way to get to him.

"Zeke, I don't think we have a choice," Bakari said to his comrad, pretending to sound solemn when his entire body was truelly pulsing with energy. "Let's trust her for now. If she leads us to our death than it wouldn't be any different if we ignored her and tried to take on Zilo and his guards."

[Zeke]

Zeke sighed and looked at the ground. "I guess you're right. Its just...I don't know about Mila anymore," Zeke could not say much more to express his feelings without losing it again. After a long scilence, Zeke spoke up again. "So, Zilo got your pride too, huh?"

[kovu42]

"Yes, it was a while ago." Bakari thought back to his old glory days. "It was a beautiful time, lots of prey, tons of time to sleep and just a large family. I had two brothers, great warriors and darn proud of our family, but everything changed and fast. I won't bore you with the details but Zilo here caught our pride at its weakest point with desease and a famine that came out of nowhere." Bakari felt his muscles tensing again and he tried to calm himself down. "He killed both of my brothers, but at least they died fighting." Bakari clawed the ground desperately before taking a deep breath. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. What about your story?"

[Zeke]

"My pride," Zeke began a stopped as the memories flowed into his head once more, tormenting him and filling him once more with guilt. "My pride was a small pride. A very peaceful, but powerfull pride. We made no conflict with anyone and expected not conflict back. No pride dared challenge us in broad daylight, but Zilo took us by suprise in the dead of night. He and his hyenas created a ring of fire surrounding us as we slept. The fire killed off half of our pride, I was the only one to escape. The rest either burned or were slaughtered by Zilo and his minions. And I watched. I couldnt do anything. I was still young, so I ran." Zeke was on the verge of tears when he finished and he looked down at his paws. "I just ran."

[NightmareMoon]

Mila walked back to Zilo's cave with him. Zeke doesn't trust me, I know that for sure. I don't know Bakari too well. Is it worth it to help them any longer? I could easily get myself killed.
"Zilo, I never asked you why you started this. If I know you enough, you wanted to rule everything? I like that.." Mila said. I'm a good actor I guess since he hasn't seen through me yet. That or he just goes weak at the knees around me. She felt loved, by someone she had loved before. Even if he was evil, there would be no one around to stop us. We could be undefeatable. She thought. Maybe it was time to turn.

Zilo responded " I know, it was brilliant. I'm glad you decided to come back to me, Mi" he said to Mila.

[kovu42]

"Zeke," Bakari tried his best to console the tormented lion, "If you really were young there wouldn't have been anything you couldv'e done. Don't let that memory torture you, and never let it run who you are." He looked the lion in the eyes, "Don't make the same mistakes I did. You still have your life ahead of you, so stop dwelling on things you couldn't control." He padded over near the hole in the wall, the other opened cave providing a gentle breeze. "You should get some rest," he commented as he laid down slowly, "we've got a big day tomorrow." He felt oddly comfortable as one thought ran through his mind over and over. Tomorrow, either he or Zilo was going to die, and he would regain his honor...

[Zeke]

Zeke heard nothing of what Bakari said. He just sat with his head hung and looked at his paws. The scene played over and over again in his head. The smell of smoke and the smell of fresh bood was vivid in his mind. Every second it ran through his mind tormented him more and more. It filled him with grief and anger, however he was unable to snap out of it. He was trapped in his memories and couldn't get out.

[NightmareMoon]

Mila nuzzled against Zilo. "Me too. I'm back where I belong, those good for nothing lions were extremely ungrateful." She said suddenly. "Your much better than them. And stronger." She added.

Zilo stood up and puffed out his chest, showing strength. "Yeah, I know." He said.

Mila and Zilo went back to their cave, and Mila went to sleep, Zilo following after.

[kovu42]

Bakari awoke to a very dim light within the cave. He stretched his muscles, trying to wake himself up. He slowly padded over to Zeke, his form barely visable and he poked him with his paw. "Hey buddy, time to wake up." Bakari said with a yawn, anxious to find out what Mila's plan may be.