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

[AustralianChaos]

Nala giggled as she saw Uhuru's antics. "You know, I don't think even we were that playful back then...she must be a real handful."

She then sighed as her attention went back to Tanga's parents. "But it's terrible, the way his parents have treated him...I don't understand how they could act like he was never their son...I doubt Uhuru has any idea that he's her older brother."

She then looked over at where Tanga and Marini had disappeared off to. "I just hope he's okay...this must be so hard for him..."

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Tanga finally brought his emotions under control as Marini turned around in his embrace to face her, their near-identical eyes locking as Tanga calmed down at long last, before letting his heart get away from him. His emotional outburst had left him exposed, and the words came out of his mouth before he could any sort of block in place to stop them.

"I love you, Marini," he said, complete and utter sincerity in his voice and his gaze, which did not falter despite the rather awkward moment. "You've always been there for me, even when we've had our problems, you always come back, and whenever I've felt down, you've always been able to comfort me. My parents left me...but you never have, and that, more than anything, makes me realise just how much you mean to me. And know that, no matter what, I'll always be here for you...forever. I truly love you...with all my heart."

With those rather bold words, he gave her a soft, tender lick across her cheek, before doing the craziest thing he ever felt he'd done in his life...he looked at her for a brief moment, realising just how much he loved her, before bending his neck, leaning forward, and letting his muzzle meet hers in a soft kiss.

[TheWhistlerify]

"EVEN we?" Simba asked with a grin before looking back at her, "yeah, she's a real handful." but the grin dissapeared as Nala returned the conversation's subject to Tanga's parents. "You're right..." he said and stole another glance at the cub, "She has no idea." he said andsighed, wandering whether Kali and Busara were ever going to tell her. If she had to hear it from anyone, it was from them. "I hope he'll be okay though." he said and fell silent

Marini smiled at Tanga's words as she kept looking into his dreamy eyes. She didn't know what to say in return, his words meant so much to her. When his muzzle met hers she didn't know how to react, but she didn't move. It felt amazing, she alwayd felt like she's on top of the world when they were both together. With every day that passed ever since the incident with the hyenas by the waterhole, they grew closer and closer to each other. And with every day that passed she felt like Tanga was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She decided to let go of that for now and enjoy the moment, even though she wanted this to last forever

[AustralianChaos]

Nala smiled at Simba, before raising a paw to her mouth to hide the massive yawn that came out of her muzzle. She quickly went to Sarabi's side. "Sarabi, where do we rest for now?"

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Sarabi smiled at Nala, before turning to Busara. "Like I said, these two are exhausted...where is this den they can stay at?"

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As Busara, Sarabi, and the two adolescents made sleeping arrangements, Kali decided to make sure that her daughter would leave them alone...they did look exhausted, and Sarabi had mentioned that they had travelled a long way. "Uhuru!" she called. "Come here for a bit!"

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After what felt like a lifetime...but was actually seconds, Tanga finally broke his first kiss, purring loudly as he stared at Marini, who was still tucked in his embrace, which was now much more gentle than the tight grip he'd had on her when he had broken down. Giving her another soft lick, this time across the top of her head, Tanga felt on top of the world in that moment. Right here, right now, his parents did not matter...what matterred was the young lioness in his paws right now...the lioness he realised he wanted to be his mate, and his one love.

Having no more words after his elaborate declaration before, and feeling a little nervous after the kiss, he simply snuggled even closer to her, curling his neck so that his head was resting against her chest, his purrs becoming almost a rumbling growl, they were now so loud.

[TheWhistlerify]

Busara snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Sarabi, "It's right past those trees." he said and pointed at the trees which hid their den's entrance.
Simba then forced a polite smile to his muzzle, "Thank..." he said, but covered his mouth with his paw as he yawned, he was so tired, "...thank you sir." he then got up and began slowly walking towards where Busara has just pointed.

Uhuru then rolled from her back to her belly before getting up and padding playfully towards her mother, "What is it mom?" she giggled and playfully pounced at her mother's leg.

Marini didn't move for a moment after Tanga broke her first kiss, their first kiss. She began purring uncontrolably when he licked her head again. her purr grew even louder when he rested his head against her chest. She felt like staying there for ever. All the things that were bothering her seemed to vanish from her life. She then snuggled as close as she could to him before letting out a happy sigh and allowing her body to rest, curling her neck as well so her head was resting in Tanga's warm mane

[AustralianChaos]

Nala quickly got up and followed Simba towards the trees, her head drooping from sheer exhaustion. Even so, she stole one last look towards where Tanga had walked off too. She hoped he was alright, and that he hadn't taken his rather cold reception too hard.

Sighing, she moved through the trees, quickly spotting the den Busara had talked about. It was a since, simple cave that retreated into the hillside a short distance, perfect for a small group of lions. Smiling tiredly at Simba, before yawning again, she found a spot off to the side...where she hopefully would not get in the way of the real owners of the den as he finally took the strain off her tired, aching legs, groaning appreciatively as her belly hit the rocky floor.

"Ahh, that's much better," she sighed, before being forced to hide a cheeky smile. With Simba as her newly proclaimed boyfriend, and with the new, quieter personality that seemed to have come with his age, Nala knew that she would have to help their relationship move along. She had denied herself his affection for months...now that she had it, she was going to help it along at every possible moment. "Simba...think you could stay beside me today? I'd like some company," she said, managing to keep her voice and face neutral despite the urge to grin at him.

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As Simba and Nala left, Sarabi turned to Busara. "Thank you for letting us stay...it's been a hard couple of days for us...Tanga particularly."

With this, she turned to Busara, a frown adorning her features. "I remember that day you left...both of you. Tanga barely remembers that day, as far as I'm aware, but it's affected his life terribly. The fact that he's survived this far is a testament to his inner strength."

She sighed. "I hope you can find it in you to give him a second chance. Not only would it lift his heart to know his parents do care for him in some way, but I'm sure you saw his injuries...if either of you have any skills in healing, he could sure use them. He was nearly killed yesterday."

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Kali smiled as Uhuru jumped playfully at her leg. The mother's other paw swung up and gently grabbed her daughter. Still holding her, she lay down, clutching her daughter in her front paws. "Well, first, I want you to stay here because those two are tired, and need to sleep. So I don't want you to disturb them, okay?"

Kali's smile widened as her eyes then scanned Uhuru's fur, already rather dirty despite the fact it was only just past sunrise now. "And second...you need a bath, sweety." Having already sealed her daughter in her strong, but gentle grip, she slowly began to bathe Uhuru, her tongue cleaning the cub's caramel fur, washing the dirt away.

As she bathed Uhuru, she heard the conversation between Busara and Sarabi, in particular the mention of how they had left Tanga behind, believing he was not going to survive. Still bathing Uhuru, she turned her attention back to her daughter...she had never told her that she had an older brother, raising her as an only child since they had been certain they would never see Tanga again. "Tell me, sweety...what do you think of all the others?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba yawned as the two walked into the den Busara has mentiones a few moments ago. It wasn't very big, but not very small and seemed like there was plenty of room for it's owners and them. He then looked at Nala, noticing she already settled herself by one of the cave's side, "Sure..." he said and covered another yawn with his paw before slowly walking and laying down by Nala's side.

Busara sighed at Sarabi's word. He never thought he's have to deal with a situation like that, to have Tanga show up all of a sudden and to appear to have survived. Now that he was there, Busara wanted to get to know his son, and maybe try to apologise for what they both decided to do together, but he didn't know for sure how would Kali react to this. He then looked at Sarabi as she mentioned healing, "I think I could help." he said and sighed. He remembered there was a plant called 'Aloe vera' not far from their waterhole. He had stumbled across Rafiki and it in one of his morning walks while he was still living in the Pridelands.

Uhuru tried to break free as herm other got hold of her, but nodded in agreement when she mentioned leaving Simba and Nala alone so they could sleep. She stopped squirming when her mother began bathing her, as much of a handful she was, she liked being bathed. She then thought for a moment as her mother asked her about the others. She tried to remember, there was the other male who was Simba's age and another lioness that looked simillar to Nala and her mother. But the way her mother behaved towards Tanga, she came to a conclusion that she was particularly asking about him. "He seems nice, but he looked funny." she said and giggled, she didn't know that the 'funny' marks were injuries

[AustralianChaos]

Nala sighed contentedly, purring as Simba settled down beside her, shuffling a little close to him and even laying one of her paws on top of his, before placing her head down and closing her eyes. "Thank you..." she whispered, drifting off to sleep almost as soon as the words had left her muzzle.

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Sarabi nodded as Busara mentioned he might be able to help. "Thank you," she said, before finding a comfortable patch of grass and settling down, looking up at Busara still, noting the distracted, conflicted look he was giving off, and guessing it was about Tanga. She decided to use one last piece of information to see how the lion reacted to the son he had abandoned.

"He's growing up to become a great lion, Busara. He got those injuries defending young Marini...the lioness that walked off with him just then...from a vicious leopard that tried to kill her, and him as well. And strange as it may sound, I think he would take even more wounds than that for her...he has this odd trait of selflessness...he seems to value to wellbeing of his friends and pride over his own safety."

"He may be a small lion...but he's far from weak and defenceless now..."

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Kali looked down at her daughter as she talked, obviously referring to Tanga. "What do you mean, he looked funny?" she said, not quite sure what she was talking about. Kali had not fully registered Tanga's injuries, even though she had seen them, and as such overlooked them as the source of Uhuru's curiosity.

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba purred slightly as Nala shuffled closer to him and placed one of her paws on top of his. He wanted to say something in return, but by the time he found the right words Nala was already asleep. He sighed as he cuddled a little closer to her before he fell asleep as well.

Busara just listened to Sarabi, the further she talked on, the guiltier her felt about what he and his mate did. Especially for how they just rejected him for the first time, even though it was sort of Kali, he couldn't leave himself out of that. He could have said something, but he didn't, therefor he blamed himself as well. He would have to talk to ihm at some point, hopefully he will listen.

Uhuru looked up at her mother, "He had those marks across his forehead, and leg... and his chest. she said, she didn't think he was injured, she didn't even know what an injury was. "Maybe he needs a bath!" she said and giggled up at her mother. She didn't know she was secretly referring to how Kali and Busara were never there for Tanga, she was justb eing curious

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi noticed the guilt in Busara's eyes, and decided to leave him alone for now, resting her head on her paws, sighing from the relaxation she was getting in the warmth of the early morning sun, her legs feeling sore after a full night's walking.

But she eventually looked up at Busara one last time. "Just...get to know him, that's all I ask. You don't have to treat him like a son...I doubt he'll be able to treat either of you like parents, anyway...but talk to him, find out what's happened to him as he's grown up."

"But let me ask just one thing...sorry if this seems forward, but why did you leave him behind? You don't seem like the type that would just abandon a child, even if they were weaker than normal."

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As Uhuru talked, Kali finally caught on to what she had seen, and the wounds Tanga had possessed. "Oh...those." She then looked down at Uhuru, trying to determine if she was ready to hear this. Deciding that she was probably old enough, she continued on.

"You know those little cuts you get sometimes when you fall over, or touch something sharp?" she asked, continuing without waiting for an answer, Uhuru had cut herself plenty of times in her energetic adventurism. "Well, those marks are very big cuts. Something happened to him recently. Sometimes, when older lions fight, they use their claws...and those claws leave those sort of marks behind."

[TheWhistlerify]

Busara nodded at Sarabi, that's exactly what he intended on doing with Tanga once he had a chance to talk to him. But he didn't know how to answer her second question. It's been a year since that happend, and he couldn't really remember the main reason for why they abandoned him. "We were'nt sure wether he'll make it or not. And we thought that if he did... he would be very sick and miserable, and we couldn't see such a thing happen to a son of ours." he began explaining, "But now seeing that he's healthy and alive... I don't know..."

Uhuru then became a little concerned, "Oh, is he going to be okay?" she asked, not noticing that her mother didn't really care.