The Pride Lands (Amanda, Moka, kovu42)

[Moka]

The gopher was startled to be addressed by such a large creature. "I...was checking out our boundaries underground. Its the safest way to ensure our security. When I heard Princess Uzuri calling out, I burrowed to the surface and found her. I couldn't leave her and find an escort, especially since it was night time at that time."

[kovu42]

"You're one brave little gopher!" Bakari said, hoping he didn't sound too condescending. This must be one major king if he's got all the lera patrolling his borders, he thought to himself. The feeling of fear of rejection and banishment rose in his chest again at the thought of meeting yet another supremely dominant male lion. He shook his mane to try and relax himself, hoping he didn't give off too strong a fear scent. "We really should get going," he was becoming slowly impatient. Waiting in hyena territory wasn't exactly what he believed to be a good idea. "Why don't you lead the way," nodding to the gopher.

[Moka]

"I'll stay with you until we return home." Khali agreed.

The gopher nodded and headed towards the direction of the Desertlander's den.

[kovu42]

Bakari cast one last glance over his shoulder to make sure the hyenas were really gone. It felt weird to be following a gopher, and even stranger to have protected one. His instincts and his stomach were telling him to attack and regain his strength, but he knew he couldn't do it. Not now, especially since this gopher had befriended the princess, so he padded on trying to figure out how he would approach this King.

[Moka]

Khali was taking interest in Bakari.

"So, were you on these lands roving?" he asked.

[kovu42]

"Well..." Bakari wasn't sure where to start. He didn't want to give up information that could turn on him, but something about this gopher made him want to open up. "I lived a good distance away from here in a pride that lived on the edge of a great river. Suddenly a terrible sickness swept through the pride and many lionesses didn't make it. Since I was the least dominant of the males I was blamed and driven from my home and apparently my reputation succeded me. Every where I went I was driven off and called 'the plague lion,' but there's nothing wrong with me!" Bakari flinched at the emotions that raced through him, but he calmed himself down.

"Anyways, I heard a lioness cry out and I decided I might be able help and show that I wasn't evil or infected." Bakari stopped himself fearing he may have said too much. "What about you?" he asked turning towards the gopher. "I don't know who you are?"

[Moka]

"The Plagued Lion?" the gopher said, "You don't seem sick to me. Yes, a bit tired it seems but not evil or sick or infected." He scratched his cheek. "As for me, well I'm the King's Majordomo. I do missions for the King and report to him on all the happenings of the Desert Lands." He puffed out his chest.

They walked on for a bit until the gopher stopped. "Well, look at this," he said, "We're here!" Everyone looked up at a majestic mountain with multiple cave entrances. The Den of the Desert Lands was enormous!

[kovu42]

Bakari was speechless. The mountain ahead of him was enormous and seemed impenitrable. "This would make a great place to live," Bakari observed and his fear of rejection returned once again. "Tell me, is this King of the Desertlanders willing to give rogues like me a chance?" he asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. He couldn't live on his own anymore, his body wound't make it without food anylonger, and those hyenas certainly would love to catch him alone and weak. I will have to completely submit to him, he thought to himself. He tried to block the thought of how humiliating that would be because he didn't have any other options.

[Moka]

"I'm sure he'll accept you. He'll have to: you rescued his daughter! And me!" the gopher said happily. He walked forward a bit and said, "C'mon, this way!"

[Panda-chan]

But Uzuri knew that her father probably wouldn't accept Bakari, even if he had saved her life. She knew he hadn't forgotten what had happened to his son many years ago: When Sudi, Uzuri's little brother, was kidnapped, everyone assumed that it was a rouge lion that did it, because a few rouges had threatened to kill Sudi if King Mbwana didn't give up his kingdom less than a week before. Ever since then, King Mbwana never trusted any other lions again, especially rouges.