[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[Lodrill]

Taraji all the time was deeply hidden in Kovus mane. This bamboon was a complete new creature for her and she was a bit frightened by it (or just shy).

As Kovu offered her the fruit she sniffed at it quite some time not sure if she really should try to eat it.

Finally Taraji took the fruit and chewed it with her still very small baby teeth. It was sweet and completely different to the milk she had the day before. Not that it was bad but Taraji would have prefered milk. The hunger made her eat anything Kovu gave her though.

[Mike]

"That's the spirit" Kovu said approvingly as Taraji began munching on the strangely sweet fruits. While she ate the morsels he'd already cut up, Kovu got to work delicately slicing the rest. Before long the fruit lay in pieces in a small pile for Taraji to eat her fill. Apart from his first taste, Kovu hadn't eaten any. He could find food just about anywhere in the pridelands, and it was more important that Taraji was satisfied; especially considering that he didn't know when Nala would be feeling better.

"How do you like the passion fruit little one?" Kovu said, staring at the pridelands, partly to keep a lookout, but also partly to enjoy the scenery. This was turning out to be a plesant little picnic. "Your mom and I have good memories of that taste..."

[Lodrill]

Taraji looked up to Kovu and made a funny face trying to figure out what could discribe how she liked it.

"I like the milk better..." she decided loud after a while. In the short while and with her belly that was filling she already got more and more annoyed by the sweet taste of the fruits. For once in a while she would not mind it and they would be nice but they really were not her taste for every meal.
In addition her belly started to hurt a bit due the fresh sap of the fruits was rembling around. But she did not want to complain. She was used to Kovu by now but she still could not tell him everything like with Kiara.
At least she did not feel hungry anymore for now.

[Mike]

"Well hopefully we can get you some milk for dinner then little one." Kovu said gently, then got up to shout at Rafiki's tree. "Thanks for the fruits Rafiki!" He paused, waiting for an answer, but there was no response from the ancient tree. After a moment Kovu gave up on the crazy old monkey and returned his attention to Taraji. He didn't know how long Kiara would need to comfort Nala, Taraji was under his care. Casting around for something to occupy the afternoon, Kovu returned to his earlier suggestion of viewing the lands from the top of Pride Rock.

"So what do you want to do this afternoon Taraji?" Kovu asked. "If you're not scared of heights I'll take you to the tippy top of Pride Rock where you can see just about everything."

[Lodrill]

Taraji's eyes were sparkling as she looked up to Kovu. "Oh yes.... please!"
Taraji was full of energy from the fruits (even if it rambled a bit in her stomach).

She swarmed around the legs of Kovu in excitement for the new adventure.

[Mike]

"Well let's go then!" Kovu said enthusiastically. "It's back this way. You can never get lost in the Pride Lands, you can see Pride Rock from just about anywhere you go." Kovu bent down to gain give Taraji a ride, but then stopped as a thought struck him. "Y'know, you havn't had much of a chance to stretch your legs little one. I've been carrying you around like a fresh kill all these days without even asking if you wanted to get off. What d'you say? Want to walk with me to Pride Rock? It's not that far. Or I could keep letting you ride around if you prefer."

----------------------

Vitani held her tongue as Simba pronounced his judgment on the awkward pair. She felt that more could be gained by letting Mila interact with Kivuli as a sort of an introduction/guide to the Pridelands. Sometimes it just took a good female to carve the rough edges out of a cocky lion. She saw that this would not be the time for such words though, with Kivuli and Mila still present, and Simba clearly looking as though he had something important or troubling on his mind.

For a long moment none of the lions moved, but then Vitani broke the spell, stepping away with a half-nod-half-bow of respect to Simba, and moving off into the pridelands without looking back. She didn't mean to be rude, but she couldn't think of anything to say to Mila or Kivuli that wasn't condescending, and she couldn't think of anything to say to Simba that might be considered out of place with the guilty pair watching. She headed for the outskirts of the pridelands, wanting to be alone for a few hours.

[Lodrill]

Taraji tousled around Kovu's legs and giggled. She was so absorbed in her game that she did not hear Kovu but it was clear that her urge to move her legs again after the long rest and ride she got was high. Finally she got the energy back and was not exhausted anymore and also she felt safe around Kovu so she got back to a playful energetic cub. Even if she was a bit to playful for her age as if she had to make up for a lot of lost time.

While Kovu walked towards pride rock Taraji found a funny game. While running around the legs of Kovu she tried to catch the tassel of his tail every time she passed it.

[Mike]

Kovu smiled. Taraji was already setting off on an expedition to Pride Rock. He moved along at her pace, and together they made their way through the pridelands. Kovu felt something swat at this tail and saw Taraji grinning and giggling with paws extended, following the tuft of his tail with wide open eyes. Kovu swung his tail tantalizingly as he walked, just out of Taraji's reach before dipping into range and quickly flicking upwards again. Then he relaxed again and his tail trailed a few inches above the ground. He looked up to see that they were just about at their destination. Pride Rock loomed above them, shining in the sun. Kovu stopped at the base.

"Want a ride to the top little one?" He asked.

[Lodrill]

Taraji, a little bit exhausted from the running and jumping, tried to catch her breath. Her big crystal eyes looked up to Kovu and she smiled happily. "Yeaaaaaa!" she shoutet excited. Even if she shouted her voice was not that loud. It was rather sweet and cute. She wanted to jump up at Kovu's fore leg but obviously she was not able to jump so high and also in her worn out condition she took a somersault to the ground again and up to Kovu with an innocent smile as she recovered from hiting her head on the ground. Fortunately it did not really hurt.

[hr][/hr]

Rahina meanwhile still observed the lions at the water hole. This big Kopa like lion had sit down and eyes the grey lion with a stern glare. He seemed to wait for something. Rahina yawned. It was pretty boring to watch this group.

Without even noticing she started to massage Kopas shoulder with her paw. It was an act of boredom but still also of affection for him. She was very soft and carefull with her paw so it was nothing that Kopa would wake up from.

While still watching the lions at the water hole to be prepared if they would do anything she thought about the news she heard about Zira. The name of Zira still ran cold shivers down Rahinas spine. It was not that she was still afraid of Zira. Even if Zira were still alive Rahina probably would be strong enough by now to defeat her. It was more the fear of her dreams, the nightmares that came back to her mind with this name.
For the first time since her childhood - not counting the one time she told Kopa about her - she really tried to remember the times back then. With Kopa's warm body right under her she felt safe and the horror did not overtake her.

"If I take that what they say for true a lot of happened since I left the outlands. And for the good as it seems..." Rahina thought and purred slightly in the thought that justice had come upon Zira at the end.

[Mike]

"Up you get then little one." Kovu said happily. "Whoops." he cried as Taraji toppled over before he could get a grip on her little body. "here we go."

Kovu snagged Taraji by the nape of her neck and gently hoisted her onto his back. Then he set off up the face of Pride Rock. As he passed the main den he wondered how Nala and Kiara were getting on in there, but out of respect for his mate's wishes he did not take the opportunity to peek inside. He continued up the little used path that twisted and turned upwards until it flattened out into the huge plateau at the very apex of Pride Rock. When he approached the edge Kovu lay down and gazed out at the lands spread at his paws. They seemed to go on forever, and he doubted that Taraji had ever seen such an expanse of land all at once.