[PRIVATE] A Rogue's Light

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga looked at Kamau in surprise and fear as the older male shoved him back, causing him to backpedal furiously as the lion spoke coldly at him. With his lack of knowledge about sibling relationships, he was confused, but realised that his question had been way out of line. "I-I-I'm sorry..." he managed to stammer out, before Imani jumped in.

When tanga saw Imani's shoulders slump, his concern grew, but that vanished in an instant as Imani turned and hissed furiously at him, her eyes narrowed in a bout of rage Tanga had only seen a couple of times before, but never directed at him...and he was terrified. "I-I..." was all he managed to get out before Imani snapped at him to back off, before snorting at him and walking away.

In that moment, Tanga realised that his attempts to get Imani to talk about what had been troubling her had finally gone too far. "Imani, please! I'm sorry!" he called after her, but getting no response. He briefly considered chasing her, but stopped, knowing that, in her current, angered state, trying to apologise to her, even if it was sincere, was probably just going to leave him with claw marks across his muzzle.

Tanga felt his heart ripping in two as he turned and walked off, moving away from everyone else, not really caring where he was going. Two months of happiness...all undone by single, careless question. Tanga still had no idea exactly why Kamau and Imani had reacted so violently to his question...but he knew that he had made a mistake...one that appeared to have cost him a huge portion of his relationship with Imani.

The thought caused tears to form in Tanga's eyes as he found himself in amongst the rocks where the bones of his family lay. Looking down at a pebble between his paws, a flash of anger and self-loathing shot through him and he hit the pebble away, snarling. Then the flash disappeared, and Tanga climbed slowly up onto one of the rocks, before collapsing onto his belly, placing his head in his paws, shaking from suppressed sobs.

Once again, he had opened himself up, allowed hismelf to be more carefree with his life...and once again, it had become the ruin of himself, and those around him. Last time, his carefree nature had lead his parents to their deaths, along with his unborn sister. Now, that same carefree spirit lingering inside him had left Kamau and Imani angry...and he knew that both Ra and Kioja would be angry at him, too now...and most likely Auni as well. Mufalfa, given his current state, already thought him worthless, so it did not matter.

With those thoughts, Tanga's emotions became too strong to control. "Oh, Great Kings, what have I done?" he whispered quietly, before collapsing into a sobbing fit, his heart feeling broken in pieces from Imani's enraged words, and knowing how the rest of his 'pride' would react to his actions, he never felt more alone in his life.

[Skittakallista]

Auni dragged himself out of the pool having had his fill of the calming water. He lay now on the side of the pool, breathing deeply and slowly, his eyes closed. Then suddenly he felt a paw trample on his tail.

"Ow!" He jumped up and backed away quickly, but it was nly Imani. "Oh it's okay..." He said to her apology. "It doesn't hurt alot..." He looked at her closely. She was breathing deeply, as though she was very angry, and as he could see that Tanga wasn't following her, he wondered whether he had done something. That would have suprised him - They were very much in love.

He moved closer to her, concern written all over his face. "Imani. What's tthe matter? You look flushed..."

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

"Oh, that's good" she mumbled, sitting herself down. Imani looked up to see Auni was closer to her and looking down at her with concern in his eyes. Leave it to Auni to be worried about something. But she really did appreciate that he was concerned for her, and his voice showed that he wanted to help, but if she was going to be the way she was with Tanga, then she would be the same with Auni and not give away anything about her past.

"Just...I'm not too pleased with Tanga right now," she smiled weakly up at Auni and looked down at her paws, "he asked me about what happened with Kamau and Ra and I". She shook her head, and thought for a moment before she sighed out, "he knew it frustrated me and I didn't want him to ask". She started to lay down and looked up at the male. "I know that we're mates and I love him and all, but it's not my fault if I can't and don't want to share every single intimate detail of my life. And I know it's something you should have with your mate, an open and honest trust I mean, but can't he just trust me enough with all the stuff I do tell him and let me have one itty bitty piece of information for myself and siblings to know?"

She slumped her head down and sighed out, "I don't know..."

[VitanisMate]

Mufalfa looked at Tanga and for some reason felt a need to go over there and talk to him. "So what's going on uh...Tanga?" He knew it was quite an awkward moment but felt a need to go over there anyhow. "So you think you messed up huh? Well my goodness pull yourself together and stop crying like a baby! You care what that slobbering piece of filth called the brother Kamau thinks of you! I mean my goodness be a lion! You have a mate who will only be mad at you for like a day and you think it is the end of the world! Pathetic!" He suddenly stopped himself however and sighed, "Why don't you apologize to Imani and tell her you are sorry. That will make her feel better. If she doesn't then leave her alone for a week and make her crawl back in your paws. Do you understand me?!" He doubted Tanga did.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga looked up at Mufalfa's words, fighting to control himself. The lion's harsh shouts did little to help, but Tanga understood...sort of. "It's not just Imani and Kamau," he said shakily. "It's my own stupid fault, and I know it! I grew too carefree, too relaxed in the last two months, and let my mouth get ahead of my brain."

He shook with suppressed emotions as he thought on his past. "The last time I was this relaxed and carefree about my life, I lead my parents to their deaths. When that happened, I vowed to never make that mistake again. Now I've broken that vow, and paid the price. Bad things happen to me, and those around me, when I allow myself to act and speak without thinking...I can't let that happen any more."

"I'll apologise to Imani when we've both had time...I fear she'll just claw me if I try now." Tanga sighed, looking over at where Imani had stalked off, although he couldn't see her. "I just...I feel so guilty, because unlike the other times she's been hurt, this time I'm the one that's caused her the pain...she has every right to be angry at me."

[VitanisMate]

Mufalfa looked at him disgusted. "Pathetic! Why are you feeling sorry for yourself! Those other fools should feel sorry! You should make them feel sorry! That brother is a cunning one I tell you who will make a fool out of you and me. That lioness Kioja will also make us fools! The only way to prevent this my friend is to make fools out of those two. Do you understand me now?" He heard that part about his parents. "Fool you had nothing to do with your parents' deaths I did!" He looked at him and smiled. "That Imani my friend will be in your paws tomorrow for she will get over her anger with you. Now are you with me on making fools out of those two?" He pointed towards Kioja and Kamau. "I promise no one will get hurt."

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga shook his head. His guilt over hurting Imani was leaving him irritated at Mufalfa, and his new, scheming nature. "You make a promise you can't keep, Mufalfa. Making fools out of those two will achieve nothing. It will just get them angry at us, and may cause things to get even worse. I don't like it when I accidently demean or hurt someone...why would I deliberately go out of my way to do so?" He forced himself to hold back his irritation, and speak in a polite, neutral tone.

"Maybe Kamau did overreact to my question, I don't know...but I was stupid to ask it, and I wish I could take it back now. I'm sorry, Mufalfa, but I won't do it...my parents did not raise me to be like that. I will respect his wish, and Imani's, to keep things private, and I will apologise to her once I've had a little more time. We'll see what happens after that."

[VitanisMate]

Mufalfa laughed and said, "And who is Imani with right now in private hmm? Uh oh she is with Auni." He started to laugh. "Looks like she needed someone else to show her pity hmm? If you don't believe me go look at it for yourself. It seems though my friend you playing nice is not working for your 'friends.' They seem to be much more interested in eachother." He started laughing again. "So Tanga I will let you think on my offer and when Kamau and Kioja makes a fool out of you, you know where to find me to take care of those two."

He laughed and walked away. "Oh and I am sure Auni is really enjoying Imani's company right now. I guess being more uptight and not so shy gets the girls it seems huh Tanga?" He laughed and walked away. "Again think on my offer Tanga and get back to me." Mufalfa came before the brother and Kioja smiling knowing Tanga was his for the taking.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga snarled angrily at Mufalfa as he walked away, his heartbroken feeling not helped at all by Mufalfa's jeers. He settling back on the rock, looking down at his parents' bones. What would they be thinking now? Would they be disappointed in him for the careless way in which he had angered Imani? The thought caused fresh tears to appear, as he looked over to where Imani had stalked off too.

He had just wanted to help her...just wanted to understand what she was going through so he could comfort her better...how had it all backfired so disasterously? And now, if Mufalfa was to be believed, Auni was comforting her. A small pang of jealousy flew through him...but it was very small, and very brief. Tanga understood that Imani would seek comfort from someone else, when her love had angered her. But could Mufalfa's words be true...could this be the beginning of the end for his relationship with her? A relationship that had been so short.

He wanted to go see for himself, but barely managed to hold himself back...he would wait. He would wait, gather his thoughts, and work out how to apologise to her...then he would find her. If she did not accept his apology, then there was nothing he could do...if she left him for Auni, he would accept it...he still loved her, but if Auni made her happier, then that was what was important.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

Kioja looked at Kamau as he walked over to her and sat himself down in front of her. They were both silent until Kioja temper was hit lightly with the look her leader was giving her, "what?" She asked roughly.

"Why are you acting like you don't care about Imani?"

"I don't; I just met her. How can I care for someone you just met?"

"She has her ways" Kamau replied, attempting to end the debate. He knew he had won the argument but not the battle when she snorted and looked away from him settling herself down. There was a moment of silence before he picked the conversation back up, "Kioja, I'm going to have to ask her".

Before Kioja could say anything back, they both turned their heads to see Malfalfa come into view and smiling like he had achieved something. Kamau glanced over to his co-leader who looked like she could care less (as usual) about the presence of the male besides Kamau. "Can we help you?" He coldly asked.