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

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga managed a weak smile as Marini snuggled close to him, but before he could say or do anything in return, he finally gave in to his body's need to shut down for a time, and drifted into unconsciousness, his body taking a much needed rest as it prepared to heal itself.

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As if Marini's words had actually summoned him, Ganya slowly started to wake up. Managing to suppress a groan at a splitting headache, he looked around, quickly spotting Marini and the lion that had fought him, along with another older lioness. The male was out of action, and Ganya hoped he was dead. The two lionesses were currently distracted, and Ganya used that chance, knowing he could win a two-on-one fight, to dart off, jumping into the trees are minbly hopping from branch to branch as he made his escape.

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Sarabi, momentarily distracted by Marini's question, did not notice the leopard get up until it was too late, and the black creature was already making it's escape. She quickly attempted to persue it, but realised it was useless as she stopped, roaring powerfully at it's retreating form to remind it to never cross them again, before turning back to Marini. "Well, I guess that answers that question," she said flatly, before settling down in the grass a short distance from Marini.

"You have to learn to be more careful, Rini," Sarabi said, using Marini's shortened nickname ot help her feel a little less guilty about all this. "Not only for yourself, but for Tanga as well. Remember, Tanga has shown, twice now, that he is willing to die for you. There is nothing you can do to stop that, except to avoid trouble wherever you can. Next time...neither of you might be so lucky."

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Nala also said her quick goodbyes to Marini and Sarabi, before following Simba. not only had she had enough of seeing Tanga in such a horrible state, but she knew that, whether she liked it or not, she had to talk to Simba about what she had done a moment before. but as she caught up with him, she hesitated, unsure of what exactly she could say.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini looked as the leopard made his escape, a worried expression on her face, "Do you think we could move Tanga back tomorrow?" she asked, hoping they could. Even though Sarabi seemed to be staying, she knew that they'd both need to have some sleep at some point, and she didn't want to be out when that leopard came back. She wanted to get Tanga out of the danger zone as fast as possible

Simba sighed and began walking back to the den. He didn't know the leopard was still alive, so he didn't feel like more then one had to stay with Tanga. He decided he'll check on him later.

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi turned back to Marini. "Somehow, I don't think that leopard's coming back any time soon," she said, taking one last, cold look at where the leopard had vanished. "But yes, we should be able to move Tanga tomorrow, although it will probably be extremely painful for him. I'm amazed he's pushed through it so far, those wounds must hurt terribly."

Sarabi looked back over at Marini, and decided to try and enforce her message one last time. "Tanga truly loves you, Marini...and I don't mean as a simple friend, sister, or even a girlfriend. That's why he jumped and fought that leopard without a second thought to his own safety...that's why he is so badly hurt. And I can see that you love him back. Just...make sure you're there for him when he wakes up...he's going to be in shock from his wounds, especially his ear, he'll need someone to help him accept what's happened."

"Just remember this, Marini...you need to watch out for your own safety better from now on. You've seen what can happen, both to Tanga and yourself, when you go looking for trouble. If you want to protect him from further harm...you must also protect yourself."

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Nala walked beside Simba for a few moments, building up her courage and choosing her words, before finally speaking up. "Simba? Look, I need to talk about...just before."

She sighed, fighting to keep going despite almost every part of her screaming to stop. "When...when I, you know, licked you just before, I...I guess seeing Tanga hurt so badly caused things I've been hiding for a long time to come up. I...I'm not sure how you'll feel about this, Simba but...I...I guess..." She sighed again, before taking a deep breath. "I think...I think I'm in love with you, Simba."

With the words spoken, Nala's uncertainty faded, and she felt a lot better, allowing her to keep going. "I had known that I liked you for a while Simba, but I realised that I had fallen in love with you just in the last couple of weeks. But I've hidden it, because I'm not sure how you feel...but I can't hide it any more...I just can't."

Despite feeling better at finally telling Simba her feelings for him, her nervousness and uncertainty were still plaguing her. How would Simba react to this?

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini sighed, even though it did make sense that the leopard won't be coming back any time soon, she wanted to get Tanga out of there as soon as possible. She let out another sigh as Sarabi kept talking. The more she thought about what the lioness was saying, the more guilty she felt about everything.

As the two of them walked Simba tried not to think about Tanga, he kept telling himself that Tanga was going to be okay. He looked at Nala as she said she wanted to talk about before, he knew she would bring that up at some point, but he was feeling really nervous now that she did. He listened to what she was saying, but as she said she's in love with him, he didn't know what to say in return. On one hand it was one of the best things he had ever heard in his life but on the other hand, he had no idea how to react if that subject was ever brought up. He knew that in the past few months he was growing some feeling for Nala as well, but he wasn't expecting her to bring that up. He felt like he forgot how to speak when he tried to say something but nothing came out. All he managed to do was lean towards her and give her a short, yet affectionate nuzzle as he tried to hide his blushing

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi felt bad about her words, seeing Marini's guilt covering her entire body. But she did not regret them...she knew Marini needed to understand and accept that she had made a mistake today, and that it had resulted in Tanga's wounds. What Sarabi did not want was for Marini to wallow in her guilt, but rather learn from it, and she decided to apeak one last time.

"I'm not telling you this to make you feel guilty, Marini, but rather so you can learn. Learn that, with you and Tanga so close, that you both have to look out for each other, and understand the full consequences of your actions."

"For example, I have constantly warned you that this forest is dangerous, yet never entered to assess the threat myself. I wanted to, Marini...I really wanted to come in here and find out what was causing the problem...and maybe stop it so you could explore this place freely. The big reason I did not do that was because, if I did, and that leopard killed me...how do think Simba would feel?" Sarabi posed the last question, watching Marini. Maybe drawing her into the conversation would help her get over her guilt a little.

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Nala was surprised when Simba nuzzled him, but returned the gesture, her head burying itself in his rusty mane as she purred lightly. He may not have said anything, but Nala knew that Simba was not one to display affection lightly. He returned her feelings, at least to some extent, and that made her happy, even with Tanga's injuries clouding things.

As the two of them left the forest, and made their way back toward the cliff that held their home, Nala freed herself from Simba's mane and looked up at him, smiling brightly. "I feel better now I've finally told you that," she said, blushing along with Simba.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini tried to lighten up at Sarabi's words. She still hated herself for what happend to Tanga, but he was alive. "I don't know..." she said and sighed. There was no denying that if Marini was more careful this whole thing wouldn't have happened, but she knew that wallowing in guilt wouldn't help either of them.

Simba smiled back at Nala and tried to find the right words to answer her with. "So am I..." he admitted and blushed a little deeper, before falling silent again

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi nodded as Marini responded, noticing she she seemed to be pulling herself back together. "Neither do I, but it's bad enough that he has already lost Mufasa. He would move on, sure, but losing both of your parents in such violent ways is never good, and I don't doubt that Simba would never be quite the same if I were to die...I think he changed a little with Mufasa's death."

"Just...be careful from now on, Marini...and think about how Tanga would feel before doing something reckless. You two both love each other, which means that you're lives are, in a way, one. What happens to one of you will affect the other, and nothing can ever change that."

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Nala looked at Simba, realising he was quiet, and seemed thoughtful. Nala guessed both Tanga's injuries, and her own revelation were spinning in his mind right now.

Remembering Tanga, Nala's demeanour once more grew more sombre as she nuzzled Simba. "I hope Tanga heals quickly. I know he'll make it and everything, but...even if he lives, those wounds were bad...what if he can't walk properly, or something else has happened? It's just...I hate it, every time I close my eyes, I see him, with his face and his chest, and..." she shuddered, before burying her head in Simba's mane as they reached the den, once again drawing some comfort from his warm, long hair.

"And I hate that every time I think about it...part of me is glad that it wasn't you. I hate thinking it, but I can't stop it."

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini sighed as Sarabi talked about losing parents. Both her and Tanga were orphans. Well, not precisely, but his parents abandoned him, her mother was dead and she never met her father, so she considered them both as orphans. She nodded at Sarabi to show her that she understood before looking back at Tanga again. She didn't know if he would completly recovered and she would never know untill the time tells.

Simba returned the nuzzle, trying to comfort Nala, "It's Tanga, he'll be okay." he said. As she mentioned being happy that it wasn't him, Simba remembered that he would soon have to face Scar. As much as the day seemed far away, it wasn't. "He'll recover, I'm sure he will."

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi gave Marini one last comforting smile, before laying back. Her head was lowered, but her ears twitched every now and again. She might be laying back and resting, but she was alert for any danger, leaving her eyes open. The leopard may have run off, but Sarabi did not trust it to stay gone...if it had attacked Marini out of sheer boredom, then surely it would come back after them for revenge.

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Nala nodded. "I sure hope so." She then pulled away, before reaching her favourite spot in the den and laying down, her head resting on her paws as she tried to relax and think. But she was too tense from the morning's events, and she soon found herself, shifting restlessly, rolling on her side, then on her back, sighing each time.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini didn't even consider resting. She was going to stay up all night if she had to untill they could move Tanga back in the morning. She kept looking around all the time and listening carefully for any sound or movement.

Simba lay close to Nala, but didn't create any contact so she could rest is she wanted to.