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

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi frowned, as she realised that she was talking to the wrong cub. Simba was troubled because Nala was behaving oddly, and therefore, it was Nala she had to talk to...but since she was currently asleep, there was nothing she could do...not tonight, at least. "I guess I'll have a talk to her at some point...but don't worry about her, Simba. The last few days have been hard on all of us...this might just be a way she's coping with it."

Seeing that the sun was close to setting, she gestured back towards the cave, before walking in herself. "Come on, Simba. It's been a long day, and I think we could all use a good night's sleep." She settled in a spot she had found pleasant back the last time she was here, in the grass right at the entracne to the cave, yet in a small nook that mostly hid her from outside view. Shifting her position so that Simba would be able to settle next to her if he wanted, Sarabi rested her head on her paws, her thoughts returning to Sarafina as she tried to find sleep.

[TheWhistlerify]

Usually Simba was an early riser and a real trouble maker when it came to bed time. But he sighed and settled close to his mother. He was relieved that she was okay, thanks to Sarafina. He wondered what was she doing and hoped that she'd be okay. Even though he wasn't really tired, he felt sleep taking over as he wanted to think about everything that happend in the past few days.

[AustralianChaos]

**Four Months Later**

Tanga awoke sleepily, a smile on his face as he reached a paw out...and found nothing. Snapping to full wakefullness, his eyes opened as he double-checked, quickly confirming that Marini was not beside him. Jumping to his feet, Tanga looked around, taking a paw to his forehead to keep his partially-formed mane out of his eyes. It was now well beyond the first traces of a tuft it had been four months ago, and had reached the full-midnight black colouring it should have, but it was still growing out, and needed a few more months.

Seeing the sleeping forms of Simba, Nala and Sarabi nearby, but still no sign of Marini anywhere, Tanga quickly made his way up to the observation ledge through the tunnels, now knowing the way by instinct...after four months here, he could wander the entire area between the cliff, the forest and the rock maze without needing his eyes at all.

Reaching the observation point, Tanga still saw no sign of Marini as he looked around, trying to figure out where his girlfriend had run off to. Then he saw a flash of pale fur, and spotted her, or at least a glimpse of her, heading deep into the forest to the south-west...the same one Sarabi had warned them vehemently against entering.

"Oh, no...what are you doing?" he whispered, before sprinting off back down the tunnel, flying past the other three as she shot out into the grass, heading straight for the forest. No-one had any idea what dangers lay in that forest, and Tanga was determined not to let Marini find out the hard way.

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Ganya, a rather selfish and cruel, black-furred leopard, rested in the trees, wondering what mischief he could get himself into today, when he heard the sound of something larger than the usual inhabitants of his forest wandering through. Getting to his feet and moving nimbly through the branches, not making a single sound, he followed the noises until he came across the source...a young lioness, moving deeper into the woods that were his.

He smiled as he took the sight of her in. She was young, about a middle adolescent, but getting closer to a lioness' full size. Her sleek, pale tan coat and inquisitive blue eyed left her with an attractive streak, causing the leopard to smile as he flexed his razor-sharp claws. Yes...yes, she could be fun to 'play' with, he thought coldly as he sat back, deciding to simply observe her for a moment in complete silence and stealth before confronting her.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini woke up before everybody else, like in almost every morning. Sometimes the fact that she wakes up even before Simba did scared her a little. She took a short glance at the direction of the forest which she had wanted to explore fora few months already. Now being almost an adult, Marini thought it wouldn't be dangerous for her to just check it out and come back out after a few minutes. During the past few months, Sarabi has been teaching them more about hunting and fighting, not like there was anybody else to do it. She moved away from Tanga's side carefully, trying not to wake him up. She knew that if someone woke up, Tanga in particular, she wouldn't be able to go. Even though she turned out to be very good at stealth, when it came to Tanga, you could never know. When she was a short distance away she began walking normally. She didn't want him to wake up and not to find her there. After a short walk she reached the woods, they seemed to be very peaceful, but something about them was inviting, making Marini a little alerted but she walked in anyways. She was also a very fast runner so she thought that she could out run almost any danger and wasn't really worried.

[AustralianChaos]

Ganya observed the lioness for a few moments, before fast getting bored with the current proceedings, and deciding it was time to see exactly what this young lioness was all about...and whether she would be worth keeping around, or simply killing before she could become too panicked.

Standing, the leopard's small, but muscular and powerful body leapt from the tree he was in with practiced grace and precision, landing directly on top of the lioness, his claws extending and digging lightly into her back as his weight forced her to the ground, moving fast while he still had the element of surprise, he quickly forced her onto her back so she would have a hard time struggling, before pinning her down, using his claws as a warning to not struggle.

"Well, well, well...what have we here?" he drawled, his voice low and cold, with a mild hint of amusement in it. "I have not seen a lion in quite some time, I can assure you...and never one as pretty as you. And who might you be...tresspasser?" He asked the last question with a menacing, threatening air, showing the lioness that he was not playing games, and expected a straight answer.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini was walking around and studying the small forest when all of a sudden she was forced to the ground. She was too surprised to do anything about it and by the time she realised what was going on she was pinned on her back. But to her surprise the creature pinning her was not a lion. She wanted to do something but she noticed his claws and decided it wasn't a good idea. She managed to bring herself into speaking. "I'm sorry, sir," she said as clearly as she could, "I didn't know this is your territory and this place seemed really interesting." she tried to sound like nothing but a curious wanderer who wandered a little too far. "I will leave if my presence disturbs you." she said even though she wasn't in a position to make requests

[AustralianChaos]

Ganya smiled maliciously as the lioness answered her. He responded by digging his claws in just little harder, the razor tips breaking her skin lightly. "Oh, I don't think so...as it stands, you've already disturbed me, so leaving will not accomplish anything. But you still have not answered my original question: Who are you?" he spoke with a little more force this time...he would not tolerate and evasive answer a second time.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini could feel the leopard's sharp digging a little harder and knew he really wasn't happy to have her in his forest. "I'm Marini, sir. I'm a too curious lioness who wandered a little too far." she said thinking the leopard saw her as a threat

(( back in a few hours ))

[AustralianChaos]

Ganya smirked coldly as Marini seemed to attempt to appease his menacing nature with meek submissiveness. "Marini...it's a pretty name, almost as pretty as you are. And because of that, I'm going to tolerate your rather blatant tresspassing...for now."

But he did not let Marini up, his smirk widening as his claws sank in a touch further, now beginning to draw blood, although the leopard hardly cared...he derived a certain sense of pride and dominance from causing others pain. "You see Marini, it gets really dull in here. The forest is a nice place, sure...but it gets lonely at times...and I have not seen another feline for quite some time. Perhaps you can help make this place a little less dull?"

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Tanga wandered into the forest, but refrained from calling out after Marini, remembering Sarabi's warning of how dangerous the place was. He crept along the forst floor silently, using all his hunting skills he had picked up over the last few months to remain unseen, unheard, and undetected, as he followed Marini's scent, still fresh.

Soon, he heard voices, and quickly followed them, wondering who Marini had found. But when he arrived on the scene, his jaw dropped in shock and horror as he saw the black leopard on top of his girlfriend of four months, pinning her down and talking coldly to her. Tanga could see the menace in the leopard's eyes, and realised that this was what made the forest so dangerous. He also saw the leopard's razor-sharp claws, and almost cried out when he saw the first signs of Marini's blood forming around them.

He sat back for a brief moment, his mind going into overdrive. Even after all these months, he was determined to protect Marini, even at his own peril...and these leopard looked like he was a deadly fighter. As such, Tanga tried to formulate a plan of attack, as he hid from view and detection, watching to see what would happen next. If this leopard hurt Marini any more, or looked like killing her...he would strike.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini tried not to make any sudden moves that might change the leopard's mind. His claws were really sharp and she tried to stay still when she felt some blood forming around the area where he was using his claws to pin her. As much as she wanted to jsut get up and run away back to safety, she couldn't do anything. All she could do was wait for a chance in which the leopard was far enough so she could run. "What do you mean?" she asked, a little apprehensive and confused from the question.