[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[Mike]

Vitani slowly looked up to find a tan coloured lion with a much darker brown mane and a black tuft at the end of his tail watching her closely from the other side of the waterhole. The lion was significantly shorter than either Simba or Kovu, but his short height was countered by a thickly muscled body and an air of confidence and competence that greatly enhanced his stature.

”And that makes this water yours? Who are you anyway?” Vitani asked coldly, impressed, but not intimidated by the stranger.

”My name is Shani.” He said, and began to walk around the edge of the waterhole to join Vitani without interrupting his speech. ”I’m the ruler here, though my subjects are dead and gone. A few months ago a great change came across this land. Where previously there were herds of prey animals nothing is left. My pride slowly weakened from lack of food, and few of us could even stand by the time I left.”

You left?” Asked Vitani, her mind leaping to Nala’s tail of bringing Simba back to the pridelands. ”You mean you left to find help?”

”No,” Shani replied perfectly calmly. ”I mean I left to save my own life. Loyalty to a pride is a fine ideal, but sometimes a pride can weaken you rather than strengthen you. They can hold you back. Maybe you know something about that too if you’re out here all alone.”

”My business is my own.” Vitani shot back, thoroughly disgusted by the callous way Shani spoke of leaving his entire pride to die. ”And I don’t know where you learned your morality, but I don’t need your permission to take a drink.” With that she dipped her mouth defiantly into the waterhole, fully intending to leave Shani far behind when she was full.

”That was a mistake.” Shani said, growling for the first time, and he leaped at Vitani, claws extended for battle.

[KiarasMate]

It didn’t take Nala very long to rouse her mate, as she knew the fastest and most efficient ways of getting him to stir. Once Simba was brought back to reality by his mate’s loving gestures, the king’s mind seem to be cleared of the various events from the past morning, turning his focus to nothing other than filling his rumbling belly. The royal couple made their way into the main den as Simba looked around with a disappointed expression as he spoke softly to his mate.

”Hmm, no dinner today, huh Love?”

Looking a bit ashamed that she hadn’t even performed her duties for her king, Nala sadly shook her head as she replied in a gentle voice.

”I’m sorry, but things were just to, well,”

Knowing where things were going and not wishing to sour the pleasant mood that surrounded the couple, Simba quickly hushed her with a swift kiss to her cream colored muzzle, before he stated in an understanding pitch.

”No need to apologize love. I think I can do without a meal for one night at least.”

Purring soothingly from her mate’s loving touch, Nala found herself swept up in the moment as she playfully wrapped her fore legs around her mate, dragging him down to the den floor as she licked him tenderly over his cheeks. Feeling his own playful nature coming to the surface from his mate’s actions, Simba was more than happy to reciprocate with his own loving licks and nuzzles to his beloved lioness.

==========

A short while had passed and Kopa had been resting peacefully, despite the fact that he would have to face the king of these lands, who seemed to already have issues with him and his precious mate. Knowing that it was best to get things over with though, before the two felines had warn out their welcome, Kopa forced himself to stir as his eyes slowly opened, spotting his beloved lioness next to him, making most of the worry that was building up in his belly, vanish for the mean time. Leaning forward, Kopa gave a playful nibble to Rahina’s side to indicate that he was awake, before the male stood and stretched out his regal looking frame, letting his tail sway lazily as he did so, eyeing his mate with a seductive smile.

”Well, we better get this over with Hina. I feel rested enough now, so if you’re ready to move out my precious, than we shall.”

Giving his beloved mate a playful wink, Kopa couldn’t help but add in as he gazed into her attractive, onyx eyes.

”Or, we could always just stay here and do other things. Other, more fun things.”

Grinning toothily at his mate, Kopa playfully pawed at Rahina’s rear before he made his way past her, exiting out of the den with a casual whip of his tail, enticing his one and only lioness to follow him as he started to make his way towards the edge of The Private Waterhole to freshen up quickly before his inevitable meeting with the king.

[Lodrill]

Laini whispered into the ear of the young lion. "You shouldn't run away. Sorry that I made you feel uncomfortable" Laini was to exhausted and happy about making up her mistake with Daxis to care about him snuggling up against her. She just put her head on her paw and tried to catch the breath. She was to anxious out here to sleep. Also the sun was to hot. "Well... erm would you let me sleep in your den for today? I am a bit... exhausted and I don't want to sleep here without any hiding... only if you really do not mind..." Laini was a bit uncertain if this youngster would let her sleep in her former den. But she did not want to make it sound like she wanted to drive him out but rather she wanted to ask for his permission. She really did not think that she would make it to pride rock in her exhausted state and also she was afraid of sleeping without any hiding.

[hr][/hr]

Rahina giggled and followed her mate. She noticed at this moment that she had a secret that she did not tell him yet but it was neither the right time not the place to tell him. She caught up with him pretty fast even if her paws still hurt alot. She nudged him playfully and purred into his ear while she padded along with him not caring about the pain in her paws.

[KiarasMate]

Laughing in a carefree manner, Kopa trotted alongside his beloved mate, lovingly nuzzling his body against hers as if the two felines were the only two creatures around. This was the way she always made him feel and just being in her presence made Kopa feel like everything was perfect in the world. The way her smile just brightened up his day and the way her body felt whenever it rubbed up against his own. Words couldn’t describe the joy that Rahina brought into his life and Kopa knew, regardless of the outcome of whatever would happen after he spoke with the king of these lands, he would always have his precious lioness to spend the days with, even if these peaceful lands would not be their home. They would find their paradise once again, that he was sure of.

As the playful pair made their way towards the looming figure of Pride Rock in the distance, Kopa spoke tenderly to his mate as they walked, Kopa’s tail lovingly entangling itself with Rahina’s, making the couple look especially cute together.

“So, do you have anything on your mind right now Hina? These past few moons have been pretty exciting for us but I haven’t really had the chance to talk with you like we did back in our oasis home. You know I care deeply about you my precious and I always want to know what you’re thinking. As for me, I’m just wondering what this king of theirs is going to say when I try to explain to him about our past and such. I really hope he lets us stay though.”

Keeping close to his special lioness, Kopa watched her with an affectionate gaze as he waited for her response, slowing his pace slightly so that the two of them would have a bit more time to converse before they would reach the base of the majestic looking structure ahead of them.

[Mike]

Kovu stayed on Vitani’s trail for some time, heading farther away from the pridelands all the while. Vitani’s trail sometimes doubled back on itself and took him on long and pointless curves. He supposed that this was to be expected from a wandering lioness, but it was still frustrating. He began to resent Vitani for leaving and forcing him to tail her in the first place in the same way that he might resent the clouds for raining on him. He knew it couldn’t help, but he din it all the same.

After what seemed like hours Kovu began to hear voices ahead, and one sounded like Vitani. He couldn’t make out what they were saying, but they didn’t sound especially friendly to each other. Wearily he climbed the last mound that should take him in sight of the lions.

Kovu had just caught sight of Vitani and Shani when the latter threw himself on his sister without warning. Kovu rushed down the slope to reach them, but it would take several seconds before he was near enough to join the battle. Shani’s advantage of surprise allowed him to overwhelm Vitani and force her to the ground, but though Vitani was down she was not out. She lashed out wildly with both paws and caught Shani with one, making a large gash across Shani’s side that bled freely. Shani roared in pain and retaliated mercilessly. He swung his thick forearms like clubs and crushed Vitani’s paws, leaving them broken or bruised. Having broken her defences, Shani opened his mouth and brought it flashing down towards Vitani’s throat.

Kovu desperately charged into Shani, deflecting his finishing attack and throwing him backwards. Shani fell into the waterhole and lost his footing. Kovu was on him in an instant, pinning the smaller lion to the bottom. Shani thrashed wildly, and the waters around them churned with his struggles, but Kovu would not let him surface. Shani began to weaken and the waters began to still again.

”Let him up Kovu!” cried Vitani from the ground, unable to put weight on her paws and stand.

“What? This joker just tried to kill you!” he shot back.

”It was my fault, let him up!” Vitani eyed Shani’s now motionless form below the water. ”He’s the ruler here and I insulted him.”

Though thoroughly unconvinced, Kovu eased the pressure he was applying to Shani’s back, and immediately Shani burst to the surface coughing. Kovu didn’t give him much of a chance to catch his breath, but threw him roughly to the shore.

”You’d better have a damned good reason for attacking my sister.” Kovu said angrily ”Or I’ll put you right back under.”

[Lodrill]

Rahina grined to Kopa. "We have plenty of time. Now just focus on this talk with the king." she just replied. She was sure that he had not found out yet but she also did not wanted to make this news bother him at the talk with this lion who called himself the father of Kopa. Rahina was not entirely conviced about this fact.
It was true that the looks were pretty similar and the story sounded identically but the behavior of this lion were not that to be expected from a father. "Well... not much different from what my father had been though. But who would need such a father?" Rahina thought. She did not tell Kopa this thought. She did not want to make it even harder for him to face this possible father of him. She would stay nearby and if this lion would dare to attack Kopa - may this be mentally or physically - she would not keep silent. She would protect her mate at all cost even if this would mean to attack or kill the king of these lands. But Rahina hoped that it would not come to the latest. They at least let her and Kopa stay in the lands for now so she did not want to thank this by killing or injuring the king.

[KingKivuli]

After folowing his keen nose, Kivuli came across a group of Zebra. It was a small group, so getting one was not going to be easy. Thankfully Kivuli had learned some rather special, although very odd, hunting skills. Now was the time to use them. The small group was heading toward the waterhole. Kivuli rushed off ahead in order to plan his attack.

When he arrived, there were already alot of animals around for a drink. The only space left was a gap next to a high rock. As the Zebra group drew closer, Kivuli made his way over to the rock and started climbing up. Once at the top, he lay down and kept very quiet. It was a good few minutes before his target was in range. A large male of the group. Perfect treat for anyone. It was time to attack

While the zebra group drank, the male stood back and waited, unaware Kivuli red stare was on him. The dark lion readied him self. Lifting his hindquaters the back down ready to spring. He waited till the male was not looking. Then on the count of three 1...2...3! Kivuli launched himself down onto the male with a deadly strike, killing the zebra instantly. The other animals gt so confused they ran away in total panic.

Kivuli's hunt was over. Time to deliver. He positioned his body next to the belly of the corpse, and the began sliddng under as best he could, mixing movment wth little jumps to set the zebra on his back. While the carcuss was secure, Kivuli began running back to Priderock with his gift

[SinChei]

Daxis opened his qeyes slowley and siles softly at her. The male cub whispered back.
"laini its your den i have to ask you if i could sleep in your den this night please"
The dark brown furred cub raised and helped Laine to stand up. On the way to her den Daxis walks close to her.

[Lodrill]

Laini still was not pleased with the answer of Daxis. She really had driven out the young lion. She was to exhausted to plan what to do with him but she still saw the urge to make up for her uncalled behaviour.
But now she let him lead her to her old den. As they arrived there she lay down near the dens entrance. With her head she had invited Daxis to lay down in the den as well as he still seemed to wait for her approval. She started to clean her paws and her flank that got dirty a bit. Her appearance was the only thing she really cared about. She did not really mind Daxis being present due for her he was the owner of the den and also he was still pretty young. Well Laini herself was pretty young too. She just passed her second birthday. Growing older did not make her fear and shyness of other lions fade away though. Well for Daxis it was okay at this moment because he seemed not so agressive anymore and she could believe more that he was a cub or youngster.
Even if Daxis had startled her before with his agressive atitude and because she did not really like any fights now she started to get used to his company. At least she did not feel anxious of him staying in the same den as her. Maybe this also was because she still felt guilty, was exhausted and in her mind already considered this as his den but she still was not used to him enough to not keeping an cautious eye on him all the time and wince at any sudden move of him.

[SinChei]

Daxis layed down and was happy that Laini allowed him to sleep in her den. He wished he could sleep closer to her he felt safe when he snuggled himself against her ... it was like he layed next to his mother but better. The dark brown furred cub tryed to clean himslef but he didnt really know how to do it.