A Change of Plans [PRIVATE: AC & The Whistlerify]

[AustralianChaos]

Nala followed Simba to the shallow point, but was not comforted by it...it was still too deep to walk across. She took one, hesitant step into the water, before stopping to drink, stalling for time.

But when she finished, and took another slow step, the water now swirling around her knees, her mind conjured images of herself struggling as a very young cub, drowning in the water before Sarafina managed to drag her out, sputtering and coughing up. She had accidentaly fallen into a waterhole when she had run off from Pride Rock, chasing insects, while she was still too young to swim.

She knew she could swim now, but the brush with death had left her hesitant about ever entering the water for any reason other than to drink. If she had to swim, she hated it...terribly. It was one of the major reasons she claimed the waterhole was boring.

After taking a few more steps, she felt the water brush against her belly, the cold touch sending a stab of fear through her. Yelping, she backed off a few steps, closing her eyes and trying to pull herself together. "Come on, Nala," she whispered to herself. "You can swim now, you know it...so what's the problem?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba began swimming across. Turning over to Nala as he heard her yelp, he saw she hadn't began swimming yet. "The water aren't that cold." he said to her, thinking that was the reason for why she was still on the north side of the river

[AustralianChaos]

Nala looked up at Simba...but could not hide the mild fear in her eyes. She had never told him of her mild fear of swimming, preferring to simply avoid swimming where possible...it was why Sarafina bathed her so often. Or at least used to.

"I..." Nala hesitated, tried to take one more step into the water...and stopped once again as the water touched her belly, although she did not yell and jump back this time. "I don't like swimming, Simba," she said, feeling completely humiliated having to admit her fear to him. She knew her fear was completely irrational, but could not control it.

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba swam back to Nala, who seemed to think water was poison. "Swim with me." he suggested, "Let's take this nice and slow okay?" he said and stood by her side

[AustralianChaos]

Nala nodded, swallowing apprehensively. "Okay..." she said softly, before moving into the water, taking it one step at a time as she breathed deeply to try and keep calm.

The moment she felt her paws leave the rocky river bed, panic flooded through Nala, leaving her an overpowering urge turn around and swim for the safety of the closer shore. Hyperventilating, she somehow gathered enough mental willpower to fight her panic down, paddling rather awkwardly for the far shore, feeling calmer with each stroke she took, although her breathing and heart rate refused to slow down.

When she finally got close to the south shore, she pulled away from Simba's side, reaching out and paddling desperately until she felt her paws touch the rocky bed once more, yelling with terrified relief, she instantly jumped away from the water and shook herself off vigorously, shivering despite the fact the water had not left her cold.

It was only when she looked back, and saw the the Pridelands was now on the other side of the river, that the fact that she had just swam across a river without being forced entered her brain. "I did it..." she whispered. "I actually managed to swim without falling in or being pushed!" Her fear vanished as she danced around on the bank, feeling immensely proud of herself for facing her fear...even if Simba had needed to intervene to make it happen.

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba looked at Nala a little confused as she began hopping around proudly and excited when they exited the river and were now on the other side. "Ahhh... sure..." he said and looked around them. "There's the hill mom mentioned." he said and pointed at it, "The cave should be on the other side of it."

[AustralianChaos]

Nala followed Simba as they headed for the cave, her shyness coming back to her...he had seen one of her big fears in action now, and she wondered what he was thinking. "Th...thank you, Simba...for helping me back there," she said softly. "I just...I never told you, but...when I was really little, I fell into the waterhole once...I nearly drowned, mum found me only just in time."

She sighed. "I've always avoided water when I could since then...or at least swimming in it. That's why I found it so hard just then. Just...thank you. I don't think I could have gotten across the river if you weren't there."

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba looked around at Nala, "Sure, no problem." he said with a slight smile before turning around and walking towards the cave

[AustralianChaos]

Nala followed, feeling a little better since Simba did not seem to be holding her fear against her, or teasing her about it. And now that she had faced her fear, and maanged to swim without too much prodding, she could feel her fear starting to fade away...next time she had to cross the river, Nala felt more confident that she would be able to do it now. And she fully intended on practicing in some of her spare time.

But she pushed the thought of it aside for the moment when she saw the cave Sarabi had talked about...and Tanga and Marini. Their two friends were there, just as they had hoped, and the only thing stopping Nala from crying out in joy and running after her friends was the fact that they appeared to be sleeping.

Both of them were lying side-by-side, their bodies actually touching. Both of them had their eyes close, possessed peaceful smiles, and from what Nala could hear, were purring as well. She smiled over at Simba. "Look at them...you think Rini knows he's there this time?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba looked at Nala, "I think she does." he said and grinned, "You know Tanga, if Marini didn't like it he would have stopped." He then looked around them, not seeing any sign of Sarabi anywhere