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

[AustralianChaos]

As they reached the other side of the river, Tanga clambered off of Sarabi's back and gently shook himself off...having minimal effect since even the lightest of shakes hurt him. But beneath his drenched, dripping fur, one effect of the swim was immediately clear. While his wounds were still sealed, most of the excess blood had been washed away, leaving his fur at its normal colours once more. Now the only presence of blood was directly around the wounds, which were now more obvious with the absence of the dried blood.

He waited with Sarabi for everyone else to reach the shore, before the adolescents settled back into their now-normal pairs as Sarabi lead them along the river bank towards the east, skirting the very edges of the Pridelands to lower the risk of being caught.

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Scar smiled as Zira returned with about a dozen followers at her heels. He then turned back to Sarafina. "Will that be enough to get rid of them now?" he asked impatiently...he just wanted this threat dealt with...and now. He had to sit here and guide these fools when he could be soundly sleeping.

[TheWhistlerify]

Sarafina nodded at Scar. "Yes. This should do." she said and followed Zira who was leading the entire group.

[AustralianChaos]

Ganya prowled along with the group, his irritation and impatience obvious. Eventually he turned to Zira. "I'm going to run ahead and find out what they're up to...I can blend in with the shadow's...they'll never see me."

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Scar watched the group leave, frowning. This latest incident had already been enough of a thorn in his side...he would be hard-pressed to tolerate another failure.

[TheWhistlerify]

Zira nodded, "Good idea. Go ahead and do so." she said and motioned Ganya to move along.
Sarafina hoped that everyone will be gone by the time Ganya got there.

SImba looked around at the river which was already far behind them. By the time someone came they would no longer be there, but he hoped Sarafina will be alright. He then looked at Nala and at the direction she was leading them to. He knew that Sarafina wasn't only risking herself for the Pride Lands, but for Nala in particular. He then thought about Scar; over throwing him and the hyenas, wasn't going to be easy and people he cared about can get hurt. Nala could get hurt.
Since he found out that Nala returned the feeling he had for her, he saw her in a completly different way. He felt like he could do anything for her, even die for her, and he knew that if anything happens to her, he would never be able to forgive himself.

[AustralianChaos]

Nala noticed Simba's rather grave and thoughtful expression, even in the nighttime gloom, and quickly touched her nose to his cheek. "Simba? You okay...what's on your mind?"

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Ganya smiled, before sprinting ahead of the group, his impatience growing as he darted off, fast reaching the river crossing. Wasting no time, he splashed straight across, before taking a much more careful, quiet approach as he rounded the hill, finally coming into sight of the cliff, and the den that wound into it.

The black leopard frowned as he saw no signs of life. Sneaking a little closer, keeping his senses on high alert as he moved silently, he caught the scent of around five different lions, although it was hard to tell, since they all mixed together. But as he came closer, it became blatantly clear that there were no lions here...they had moved on.

Ganya growled, before releasing an enraged, howling yowl, sprinting back to the river to meet Zira and the others...he did not care what this Sarafina had done...something was not right about her, and now she had met this group alone, and they had disappeared! The leopard was certain, even though he had no proof, that Sarafina was somehow responsible for this.

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba smiled slightly at Nala's action, but the smile dissapeared when he understood that she noticed he was bothered by something. He didn't know how to exactly describe to her what was bothering him. Everybody seemed to not be thinking about Scar and the day that they will all have to go back to Pride Rock but he couldn't hide the fact that it was bothering him. But they just exposed eachother's feeling for the other, he didn't know how to tell her that he cared for her safety more than naything right now. "What? I'm fine... It's nothing you should be worried about." he said and smiled to show that it wasn't something serious.

[AustralianChaos]

Nala sighed, but decided not to press the matter. His smile was genuine enough to tell her he was not badly troubled. She gave him a nuzzle, letting him know she was there...and always would be. "Okay...if you ever want to talk about it, Simba, I'm here...okay?"

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As Ganya saw Zira and the others, he dived back into the river, furiously paddling across it. Not bothering to shake himself off as he reached the other side, he simply sprinted for the group, aiming straight for Sarafina. With a single, furious leap, he pounced into her forcefully, knocking her onto her back ash he landed on top her, keeping his claws sheathed...for now.

"What did you do?!?" he hissed, his soaking wet frame tensed up in anger as he leaned close to her, snarling at her muzzle. "They aren't there anyone! All of them are gone! You have something to do with this, I know it!"

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba returned the nuzzle, "Sure." he said, before looking back at Tanga and Marini, who seemed silent. He appreciated Tanga's intent to walk on his own, but with the wounds he was carrying, especially his leg, it probably wasn't very easy. "How long untill we're there?" he asked Nala, it was probably a question Tanga would ask, but Simba just felt concerned.

Sarafina knew this was coming, but she couldn't show any sign that might let anyone know she was indeed lying. She flipped him off of her with her back legs, once he was off her she walked over, her teeth beared and her claws unsheathed to show that she had no idea what this was about.
Zira then broke up between the two, she remembered Sarafina was working with Scar, but no one from the pride knew so, so she couldn't mention it infront of any other lionesses from the pride. But she knew Sarafina killed both Sarabi and Simba, or at least thought so, therefor she trusted her. "Stop, the two of you." she said before adressing Ganya directly, "What do you mean gone?!"

[AustralianChaos]

Both Sarabi and Tanga turned to Nala as Simba posed his question, knowing that only she held the answer. "Well, it was a few hours from Pride Rock...but since we're coming from the south, and since Tanga's hurt, it's hard to tell. My best guess, we'll find this hill I saw at about dawn...I think."

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Tanga nodded, trying not to show his discomfort as he continued to limp along beside Marini, the group still moving despite the question. His wounds throbbed and stung almost constantly, but he was finding the constant walking was helping him feel a little better. If he was resting on Sarabi's back, he had nothing to do but think, which only made him more aware of the pain he was in. Here, now, the incessant task of putting one paw in front of the other was helping, although Tanga could feel himself slowly losing his energy reserves. If what Nala suggested was true, and they were not likely to reach this hillside territory she had suggested before dawn, he knew he was going to have to let Sarabi carry him at least once...probably twice, before the night was over.

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Ganya snarled at Sarafina as he rolled back onto his feet, surprised at the lioness' decisive action against him. He kept his gaze locked on her as he answered Zira's question. "There's no-one there! I can smell their scent all over the area, but there's no sign of any of them! They've left...moved on...she did something!" He pointed a paw coldly at Sarafina, determined to blame her for losing his chance at revenge, despite his lack of proof.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini sighed, it was going to be a long night, especially for Tanga. As much as he wanted to proof himself that he could walk on his own, she knew that at some point he would be exhausted. Well, they will all be very tired from the journey, but Tanga's wounds were probably making it harder for him.

Sarafina didn't show any concern. All the lionesses from her pride knew she hated Scar, they also didn't like him alot either. If they believed Ganya, then they would support her. They would support anyone who was trying to get rid of Scar, for he was a terrible king. The pride never saw any sense in Tanga and Marini's exile, some of the adults even missed having the two around. But her problem now was Zira and the hyenas who were loyal to Scar.
Zira snarled in frustration, "Did you check everywhere?" she said but didn't wait for an answer, she decided to go and see for herself.