A Rogue's Destiny [Private: S66, Rogue, FallenAngel]

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu saw Simba moving to be a hero and save his precious Pridelanders, how that angered him. He would have to make this quick before Simba tried any more heroics. Kovu feinted in on Shari's weak leg and let fly a haymaker at his friend's muscular side, it was without claws and only a blunt force attack, also directed to knock Shari away from Simba's postion, couldn't have him getting caught. He postioned himself extra heroically and snarled at his friend with a deep, menacing look in accompanyment. This was even better than practice. Shari was clearly not seriously injured by his blow and would soon be moving off.

[FallenAngel18]

Tivana looked up at Nala's motherly face. She tried to smile, even as the pain lanced her leg. She had always thought of Nala as her mother.

Grunting, she pushed herself off the ground until her front half was sitting up. Slowly, she got her good leg under her and picked herself up, before pulling up on her other leg. She gritted her teeth as pain overtook her, and she could fill something lock in her leg. She sighed, leaning against Nala.

"Kiara let's go." Tivana said softly. Kiara stood her ground, not moving. She wasn't leaving this.

[Harvs]

Shari fell to the ground in false pain. Grunting as he hit the ground, he slowly rose to his feet. He saw Simba still standing present. Good. That was the key element in this whole procedure. Rising with a look of pain and anger in his eyes, Shari gave a look at Kovu and then looked around. Pretending to be a bit frightened by him being outnumbered. Shari looked at his leg. It was still bleeding, and the pain was starting to come back. But Shari still had strength. He could make it back to the Outlands.

"You haven't seen the last of me you fool!" He exclaimed with vigor. Limping away from the Pridelanders and his friend, Shari kept his focus on Kovu, though he was thinking about nothing but slitting the throat of Tivana. He would have to tell Kovu to leave her for him to kill. "You'll pay for what you have done!" And without another word, Shari turned and ran back toward the Outlands to be hailed as a hero.

-------

Simba didn't know what to think of this situation. He looked at Kiara and was thankful that she was completely unharmed. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Tivana. She would need whatever medical help she could get to ensure that she made it through this unfortunate turn of events. Simba looked at Kiara again and gave her a quick glance as if to say "stay here".

"Um... Who... who are?" not knowing what to say to this Outsider, Simba stuttered for a few seconds. He was an Outsider, and they couldn't be trusted. But... he had apparently done something to anger his pride... and he defended his daughter. What could he say? He was trapped between a rock and a hard place. Finally, Simba approached the muscular male and said "Thank you for saving my daughter... but you must leave. Now."

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu looked on with disbelief, was he really being put out like a common stray after saving the King's daughter? He almost growled his discontent, this wouldn't do at all. All he could manage was an almost silent, "what?..." as he stood in utter confusion. Here was was the King, the supposedly wise ruler and the target of his malicious destiny, and he was betraying his own laws. Kovu had saved the would-be heir to the throne, which grinded against the very core of his young existance, and he was not being rewarded? Clearly Zira was right...

Convinced that something had gone horribly wrong, Kovu turned slowly, dragging out the agonizing discontent he could sense in betraying the rules that the Pridelanders had. If there was one thing he could do, it was show the prideful fools what they really are, no better than the ones they had cast out, no better than him. No, that was wrong, he was certainly better than them in their eyes, had he not just saved the King's daughter? Kiara owed him her life, albeit in a round-about fashion, but still... He walked away with an agrieved limp, and all the speed of a dying meerkat.

[FallenAngel18]

Tivana's ears perked up. He saved Kiara? It wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for her. She kept half her weight on Nala as she watched the two lions talk. She knew the other lion would surely come back, probably for her. Her life would surely be ended now. Letting her ears fall, she let her head hang down, her eyes closed. She hoped that they would think that she was in pain. In fact she was, the fact that no one really cared for her was pain enough.

Kiara shook her head. "Daddy stop!" He said, jumping in front of her father.

"He just saved our lives. If it wasn't for Tivana, and this lion, I'd probably be dead. You owe him your thanks." She told her father. She was mad at him for almost stopping her hunt, but she would have to get over it. Something about this lion, was familiar to her.

[Harvs]

Simba looked at his daughter in confusion. Did she not see that her savior was an Outsider? And did she not remember that none of them could be trusted? Simba experienced a mixed bag of emotions in the span of only a few seconds. Releif, sorrow, anger, regret, and unsurity. He closed his eyes and thought deeply about the situation. His father would never have had trouble with such a decision. But he wasn't his father. He was the new king, with a new problem.

Suddenly, something snapped in Simba's brain. The Outsider, myserious and dangerous as he was, did in-fact save his daughter. And what kind of king was Simba if he didn't uphold the right of justice in his own land? He looked back at the limping dark lion and heaved a heavy sigh.

"Wait." Simba called out to the Outsider. Unsure of exactly what to say, he approached the myserious male. Looking into his eyes, Simba was reminded of Scar. They shared the same color eyes... wait a second... he had seen this lion before. A long time ago. Simba squinted his eyes to get a deeper look. Simba, almost transparently, asked "Kovu?"

It was! The cub from so long ago. Hand chosen by Scar to become king. Simba recognized him now, and almost growled with a harsh attitude. But then... something else clicked in his mind. He had done something to anger his pride. He had betrayed them somehow. And was now willing to risk his life to save the Pridelanders. Namely, Kiara. Perhaps he could be trusted after all. Simba looked back and saw Nala pulling Tivana onto her back and giving Simba a look of worry. She seemed to think that Tivana was going to be fine, but not for a while. She just needed some attention and rest.

Simba turned back to Kovu and opened his mouth to speak. But he was interrupted by the sudden downpour of rain. The drizzle had brewed into a heavy storm. and the five lions were right in the middle of it. Simba, still looking at Kovu, turned to Pride Rock and said "You've got some explaining to do. But that will have to wait." He then twitched his head motioning him to follow. There was no true expression on Simba's muzzle this time. He was happy that Kiara was safe, angered by Kovu's appearance, and unsure how to think of this night.

[TheRoguePrince]

It had worked! Kovu was now headed toward the Pridelands behind his target, now just to properly engratiate himself. Kovu knew this wasn't gonna easy, he knew that Simba was suspicious, and that he couldn't let his ploy slip. The Pridelanders would be on him in a second if they found out that this was a plot, only secrecy kept him alive. If only that pathetic whelp Tivani hadn't helped Kiara. He was glad that she had gotten herself injured, but distressed that now he had to share claim to the victory, despite Tivani's obvious failure in defense. He chuckled silently at her inconvenience. This was the kind of this he signed up for.

The rain was a nuisance, but at least Simba had been forced to bring him into his lands, that allowed him some leeway. Shari was probably nearly home now, enjoying the revelary of his victory and the succesful beginning of the plan. If only he could be there now, to tell Shari how much he wished to repay Tivani for her insulting wounds she had inflicted. She would pay for that, oh yes...

He was situated squarely between Simba and Nala, not a good position, as both of them were rather suspicious. Why had Simba had to recognize him? It would have been much easier to remain anonymous, but at least now Simba had a great deal of confusion to deal with. Mother had nearly destroyed his chances of avoiding prejudice. That was no good, and now he had to prove himself a traitor to his people. How thick can you get? Kovu only hoped that Simba accepted his tale, and what a tale it was.

Thankfully Zira had thought to provide him a cover story, and now undoubtable Shari would be ensuring that the Outsiders, if he did run into any, treated Kovu with utmost anger and distaste. That way he could have some cover for this operation. All that would end though, once Simba was dead he'd be a hero, and then he and Shari could enjoy the benefits of victory. Yes, Kovu would be King, but what was a King without friends and confidantes?

[Harvs]

What a day this had been. First this day was Kiara's first hunt, and then the Outsider attack. Simba didn't even get a good look at the one Kovu was fighting. All he saw was the bloody X across his right eye. The vertical slice looked at least a day old, but the horizontal slice looked fresh. Like he had gotten it in that very fight. Simba would question Kovu on what had happened and who that lion was. But for right now, the day grew too late for such questions.

Simba led Nala, Tivana, Kiara, and Kovu back through the Pride Lands to Pride Rock. The last thing Simba wanted was for Kovu to sleep within his pride in the den. But was it really right to leave him out in the rain? Once again, Simba reached a decision that was simply too hard for him. Two of his own laws had collided today. They weren't to trust Outsiders, but they weren't to deny those who saved Pridelanders. Especially the king's daughter.

At last they arrived at Pride Rock, and the rain was now pouring down. It was a terrible storm that wasn't showing any signs of letting up. "Nala, take Tivana and look after her for tonight." Simba said to his mate. She nodded in agreement, still lugging Tivana on her back. "You did great tonight Tivana. I'm so proud of you." Nala whispered to the tired lioness as they entered the den. Simba then looked down in sorrow. Something just caught his mind."I'll tell Tuva what has happened." It was the last thing he wanted to do, but Tuva had to know, and Tivana was in no condition to tell him. The Pride lionesses watched Kovu intently, knowing that Simba had ordered not to kill him, but not knowing why. It was shaping up to be an eventful night in the Pride Lands... but maybe a bit too much so.

-------

Meanwhile, Shari finally arrived in the Outlands, where Zira and three other Outsiders awaited his return, one of which was Vitani. Zira looked over in shock at Shari's injury. What happened? As much as Zira wanted to know, that would have to wait. Shari needed immediate medical attention. "You two!" Zira said to the lionesses left and right of Vitani. "Take Shari back to the den! Now!" The lionesses rushed over to the lion as he fell down onto their backs. A vigorous fight and two long sprints had certainly taken their tolls on Shari. But his part of the mission was finally over. He would finally be treated as the hero that only Kovu saw him as.

Zira approached the exhausted lion and asked "Well?" And with a single look from his doubly scarred face and a slight smile upon his muzzle, Shari murmurred "Checkmate..."

[TheRoguePrince]

Kovu stood on the ledge of Pride Rock, right where everyone had left him, everyone... So, if you save a Pridelander and you're an ignorant girl, you get the royal treatment, but if you're an Outlander, you get left alone awkwardly standing on the precipice of tyrany. Well, at least no one was suspicious, and he had made it farther than he had anticipated. He had the storm to thank for that. It was a rather depressing thing, and he was left to sit in it, nicely done. If he had any doubts about how he felt towards the king, he didn't now. At home, as shabby as it was, he was a hero, the one hope for his people. Here he was being treated like a common criminal, just short of being thown out. He would be glad when Simba was dead.

Tivani was being treated by Nala, the queen of all the land, but not for long. Kovu wasn't certain who his queen would be, but he knew it wouldn't be Kiara. Why would he want to bring along more of that tyranical blood? He was only half blood himself, but at least he wasn't of THAT line. He was much to intelligent and well formed for that. If only Shari could be here to help him through this, of course that was impossible. He was living it up in his new found glory. Kovu was quite glad of that.

Now all Kovu had to do was sit here on a rock, wet and alone, while hostile lions watched him from a distance. This was like the trials all over again. Only this time he would actually risk death... Oh how these lionesses would pay once Zira got a hold of them. That would be a sight to see, with all of the Outsiders in this place, and they would see our glory. The true line of royalty would be restored to the throne. Kovu sat content, he was going to win. It was already over...

[FallenAngel18]

Tivana flopped on the ground in the den. Her leg ached badly, and she was tired and hungy. Some of the lionesses were around her, checking on her leg and her. All she need was to rest. She would be back to herself in no time. She remember falling off the rocks when she was just a cub and had sprained her front and back left paw. She was up and at 'em the next day. She never let pain take her.

Unless it was emotional pain. The pain of no one ever being proud of her, because she looked like an outsider. She had a freaky resemblance to Kovu, but it didn't matter anyway. She would never be a pridelander, or an outsider. She sighed. She knew Nala was proud of her, but it would never be the same if Simba had said it. She probably wouldn't be able to hunt anyway.

She gritted her teeth as she shifted onto her side, facing the wall. The lionesses knew she wanted to be alone, and left her. She felt bad for Tuva. She hoped Timon and Pumbaa weren't letting him out of their sight. She didn't want him to see her like this.

----

Kiara sighed, looking at her father as he entered the den. She looked at Kovu as he sat there, wet and probably exhausted. She didn't want to cast him away. She thought it would be wrong.

Going against her father's call, she walked over to Kovu.

"Hey uh Kovu? There's a patch of rocks over there that make some good shelter. Thought you might want it to get away from the rain." She stuttered, looking at him.

"Thanks. . .for saving me. And Tivana. Goodnight." She said, before walking back into the den.