[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Delano was so occupied in his thoughts that he didn't even notice Akili as his son came over. So when he felt something brush up against his leg, he nearly jumped, noticing at the last second who it was. "Oh, how is it going, Akili?" His son looked quite happy, which made Delano realize that he was perhaps over reacting too much about Hatari.

Ubawa couldn't believe that he gave himself away. "Aww, come on! You know that if I didn't say anything, then you would never have find me!" Most likely he would have been found eventually, but his pride told him that if he had only kept his mouth shut, that he would have never been found, and therefore would have won.

So why not try and hide again, this time not talking? "Come on, let's do this again! Marini! Akili!" As weird as Hatari was, he really made hide and seek fun.

[TheWhistlerify]

After lapping up some cool, refreshing water, Akili looked up at his father with a broad smile. "It was fun!" True, he'd been found relatively quickly, but Marini had been found first (even if she had managed to sneak past Hatari). His hiding place must have been a million times better than hers! "Your friend's really cool, dad!" Yes, he and the other cubs had all agreed that Hatari was weird, but that was what made him so interesting. Giggling, he was about to say something else when he heard his cousin call out to him and Marin. Realizing that they were going to play again, or jumping to that conclusion, to be more precise, the cub ran back over to Kato.

Hatari had quite the temptation to tell Ubawa that he was mistaken and that he would have been found eventually but he decided against it. The pout on the cub's face as amusing enough as it was. The lion was rather surprised at what Ubawa said next. He wanted to play with him again? From the sound of it, Marini and Akili were on the same page. Well, why not?

After a couple of more rounds of hide and seek, however, it was clear that the cubs wanted to move on and play something else instead. There was just a certain amount of hide and seek one could get, especially when considering the fact that the area around Hatari's den didn't offer too many hiding spots. Marini was about to suggest that they played tag, but that wouldn't be a very good idea. The adults were much faster than her, her brother and her cousin. It wouldn't be any fun.

Noticing Hatari also lie down next to Kato as the three cubs tried to think of to do next (she was once again on the prince's head), Marini crouched before playfully jumping into Hatari's mane instead. The lion seemed to tense up slightly as she did this, but he soon relaxed when nothing happened as the cub trod about on his head, trying to form her opinion of it in comparison to all the other manes she was familiar with (her father's, her uncle's, Kato's and her grandfather's).

[DGFone]

Delano could only stare as Akili ran back to the other cubs in shock. The last thing he had expected was for his son to call Hatari 'cool', and in some ways, it hurt Delano to hear his own son think so highly of Hatari. Letting out a long sigh, he returned to Lina's side, having o remind himself that the reason why they came here was for the cubs to make a new friend, not a new enemy. His mind filled with confusion and conflicted thoughts, Delano lay down besides Lina and closed his eyes, feeling that a nap would help pass the time in relative peace.

Ubawa noticed that Marini had jumped off Kato's head and onto Hatari's. Grinning, he scampered up onto Kato's head and settled down into the mane as well. He wasn't so concerned about feeling what Hatari's mane was like, but just like his sister, he enjoyed resting in nice fluffy manes, which are much different than the often dusty and hard den floors that he normally sleeps on.

[TheWhistlerify]

When Delano came back over to Lina's side, she decided she might as well also lie down for a bit. There clearly was no reason to constantly keep an eye on Akili. Not with Kato right there, at least, or with Umeme and Muroki also watching (even though they were once again busy with each other. Would they ever get a room [or den, to be more precise]?). Playfully rolling her eyes, she settled down next to her mate and rested her head on top of his.

Kato had expected Ubawa to also go and investigate Hatari's mane, like his sister, but he didn't mind it at all when the cub decided to settle down on his head instead. Marini, meanwhile, had come to the conclusion that Hatari's mane was worthy enough and decided to lie down as well. True, hide and seek didn't require too much running around, but walking all the way over to where the strange male lived had required quite a lot of energy from her.

Akili, meanwhile, looked like he was having a hard time choosing whether he'd like to be on Kato's head, with Ubawa, or on Hatari's, with Marini. Hatari noticed the little cub stare and looked at him a little curiously, wondering what was going on through his head. "You know," he said at some point, smiling excitedly as cubbish pride seemed to literally beam from him, "one day I'll have a mane just like my dad's!"

Remembering the way Kato often spoke to the cub, Hatari chuckled. "That you will."

"I bet it will be way more cooler than yours!" As the cub said this the lion chuckled once more, slowly nodding his head to let Akili know that he thought so as well.

[DGFone]

Not exactly feeling all too tired yet, Delano felt Lina rest her head on his mane and he grinned slightly. Sure, he might not be completely comfortable being here, but with her next to him, things were really not looking all that bad right now. The cubs were being watched over by Kato and Muroki and Umeme, so he was sure that nothing bad would happen, even if Hatari did try something - a possibility that he wasn't ready to just let go of yet.

Also overhearing the conversation between Akili and Hatari, Delano couldn't help but smile at his cub's antics. For all his worries about being a bad father, so far, it looked like Akili thought highly of Delano, something that he didn't mind at all.

Ubawa was starting to get rather tired from all the games and walking over here. Combined with Kato's warm and comfortable mane, he got more comfortable as he closed his eyes and started to doze off. The prince must have realized what was happening, because Kato then got a lot more still, allowing the cub to relax without risking falling off.

[TheWhistlerify]

After talking to Hatari some more about things that he thought were very exciting / cool / important but were most likely nothing of the sort to an adult, Akili caught sight of his parents, who were resting closely together. He also saw his aunt and uncle who were... Ew. Doing his best to ignore Muroki and Umeme, he ran over to his parents before lying down between Delano's paws, purring happily as he allowed the sun to do the majority of keeping him warm this time around.

As he watched the younger cub run off to his parents while smiling to himself, Hatari felt Kato nudge his shoulder with a paw. He looked at the prince, who had a very peaceful Ubawa resting on his head. While he couldn't see what was going on on his own head, he had a feeling that Marini was in a rather similar position. "See?" asked the younger lion with a smile. "It's not so bad, is it?"

"No, it's not." said Hatari. As much as he's always enjoyed Muroki and Umeme's visits (and Kato's as well), having the cubs around was completely different. True, he wasn't little anymore, but it felt so wonderful to have fun like that again. It's been way too long... "Thanks, Kato..."

"Don't mention it."

[DGFone]

When Akili ran over to him, Delano was again surprised when the cub snuggled up in between his paws. Smiling once more, he brought his paws closer to the cub's body as he allowed himself to close his eyes again. It looked like for now, the games were over as everyone wanted to rest. Well, if that is the case, Delano placed his head on the ground, knowing that everyone were safe for now and everyone were quite content.

Where he was resting, Delano was able to listen in on Hatari and Kato talking. By the sound of it, Hatari was getting much more comfortable around the cubs, and especially now that they were all resting, he was taking the opportunity to talk, and most likely, regain his bearings. Remembering his own first contact with Marini, Delano remembered how afraid of doing something wrong. That was just one cub though. Hatari had to deal with three of them right away.

[TheWhistlerify]

From what Hatari was seeing, the cubs were happy, Delano and Lina were obviously much calmer than when they'd first gotten there while Muroki and Umeme were, well... He hadn't expected them to have any problems with being there and it definitely didn't look like they were having any. This whole "get-together" of sorts has gone very well in comparison to how Hatari worried it might have turned out when he had become aware of the fact that Lina and Delano were also there.

After a while (Hatari wasn't sure exactly how much time has passed but he had a feeling that not too long), he saw Kato look up at the sky. "Oh, my..." the prince said as he took notice of the sun's location. "It's time for me to get going..." Slowly rising to his paws so to not disturb or accidentally drop Ubawa, he looked at Hatari with a grin. "I have got a date." Carefully walking over to Ubawa's parents, he asked Muroki to take the sleeping cub before bidding them farewell as well and taking his leave afterwards.

[DGFone]

Having stopped annoying everyone else with their... making out session, Umeme was now simply talking quietly to Muroki when Kato came over and handed Ubawa over, explaining why he had to go. Grinning knowingly at Muroki, Umeme nodded. "Have a great time Kato. And tell Desta that we said 'hi'." The prince nodded and walked off quickly, causing her to giggle. "Someone's in a hurry." Then again, she didn't blame him. She knew how annoyed Desta might get if Kato would be late.

Looking around, she saw that Hatari still hadn't moved as well, for Marini was still on top of him, also asleep. As for Akili... Oh, he was sleeping between Delano's paws, something Umeme found very cute. It looked like Delano and Lina were asleep as well.

Turning back to Muroki, she said, "I think when the cubs will wake up again it will be a good idea to head back. I think they had enough fun for today." Looking down at Ubawa, she added, "They certainly look like they had enough for today."

[TheWhistlerify]

Also bidding Kato farewell, Muroki carefully removed Ubawa from the younger lion's head and gently placed the cub down on the soft grass, chuckling as he watched the prince run off. He didn't look like he was worried or anything, so Muroki doubted that he was about to be late. "Well, they don't get to hang out very often." It was impossoble for him not to chuckle again when he saw how comfortable his daughter had gotten on Hatari's head. Not that the lion seemed to mind. As a matter of fact, this was most likely a good way to physically interact with a cub for the first time, seeing how all Hatari had to do was just lie there.

Turning his attention back to his mate, he thought about what she'd said for a moment before nodding his head. "Looks like it." he said, looking down at the sleeping form of their son. Since they still had to make their way back it would be better to do so before it began to get dark because the cubs would be much more tired then. "This whole thing turned out pretty well." he added. His brother and Lina haven't said a single word to Hatari, but Muroki doubted that they were still as reserved as they'd been in the morning.