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

[AustralianChaos]

"Careful!" Kali cried, grabbing Uhuru before she fell to the ground, before gently placing her upright on the ground. "Just take it easy, Uhuru...the story's not going to run away. It's only a short story anyway...but I think you might like it."

She then settled in the grass, crossing her forelegs in such a way that they provided a cozy little nook where Uhuru could cuddle into if she so desired. "Come in here, dear," she said patting the grass inside the nook, before deciding to get on with her story. "Uhuru...you know that funny looking lion with the black mane...Tanga...the one you're curious about?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Uhuru cuddled in the nook her mother offered her, before looking up at her, "Oh... Is that his name?" she asked and smiled, "What about him?"

Busara began walking in the tall grass, he picked onto his scent and began walking in the direction it was coming from

[AustralianChaos]

Kali hesitated, a little unsure exactly how to break the news to Uhuru. "Well...the story's about him, Uhuru...but it's also about me and daddy."

She sighed, before beginning. "Some months before you were born, Uhuru, we lived in a different land, out to the west. It was a very beautiful place, and there were many other lions. Me and dad were fairly happy there."

"I'm guessing you're wondering why we left, right?"

----------

Tanga, although resting peacefully in Marini's embrace, was not asleep, and his ears, including his half-gone right one, flicked upright as he heard the sound of someone approaching the the grass. Thinking it was just Sarabi coming to check on them, Tanga did not move, his head remaining curled against Marini's chest fur, as he continued to purr happily, wishing he could stay like this, hugging his girlfriend and...hopefully...future mate, forever.

[TheWhistlerify]

Uhuru listened to the story and asked herself, if this place was so beautiful and they were happy there, why had they left? "Right." she said, but then went silent so her mother could continue telling her story.

Busara approached to two and stood still for a few moments. Marini seemed to be asleep, but he could see Tanga was not since his ears were flicked upright. He seemed very peaceful in Marini's embrace. Busara wondered whether he should interrupt or not, but it was better now then later. He leaned his head to the ground and placed the leaves he collected before moving a little closer to the two. He took a few seconds to study Tanga's wounds; on his right leg, his chest and his forehead. He then decided to try and talk to him. "Tanga... you awake?" he asked quietly, even though he knew Tanga was awake

[AustralianChaos]

Kali smiled at Uhuru once more. "There's something me and dad never told you, Uhuru, because we never thought it was important for you to know. Six months before you were born, we had another child...your older brother."

She paused, deciding it was best to let this story sink in one detail at a time, as she waited for Uhuru to react to this new revelation. but just in case Uhuru was in any way confused, she decided to repeat herself. "Yes, Uhuru, you have an older brother."

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Tanga's eyes snapped open as Busara's voice reached his ears. Reluctantly, he pulled his head away from Marini's chest, looking up at the caramel-coloured lion who was his father. "Dad?" he replied, more out of instinct than the idea that he actually saw Busara as a true father. He looked back at Marini, still tucked in his gentle embrace. Resisting the urge to pull away from her, knowing that Busara had already seen them, he turned back. "Wha...what are you doing here?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Uhuru's heart lifted as herm other told her of her older brother. "Really? That's so cool! I always wanted a brother!" she said, forgetting that she never saw him or any hint of him, "Where is he?"

Busara then sighed, Tanga was probably expecting someone else. "I brought something for your wounds..." he said kindly, "Can I have a look? he asked, but didn't come any closer so that Tanga wouldn't be taken back at his sudden behaviour.

[AustralianChaos]

Kali raised a paw to stop Uhuru's forthcoming tirade of questions. "Easy, Uhuru, the story's not over yet! Anyway, there was a problem with your brother from the moment he was born...he was small and weak right from birth...newborn cubs who are very small and weak are called runts generally."

"Anyway, we tried to raise him, but after a couple of months, he was still weak, and appeared to be dying. In the end, we left those lands, leaving your older brother behind. We did not to leave...but we did not want to watch our son die, and the pride would have hated us for leaving a cub like that, even if it caused him less suffering."

Kali once more paused, giving herself a moment to let the emotions from that time long gone pass, and time for Uhuru's young mind to take in everything she was hearing.

----------

Tanga looked at Busara, then back at Marini. He did not move, though, a confused adorning his features as he turned to face his father. "Why are you doing this?" he finally asked.

[TheWhistlerify]

Uhuru then asked another question, "Maybe he's still alive?" she asked hopefully, "Can we go check?"

Busara felt wierd about talking to Tanga. He didn't know how to exactly start interracting with the son he abandoned, "To help you feel better." he said as he unsheathed one of his finger's sharp nails and cut one of the leaves from on side to the other before taking the top part off. The leaf was filled with gel. "I also thought that maybe..." he began, not knowing how would Tanga respond, "... maybe we could get to know each other?"

[AustralianChaos]

Kali managed a weak smile at Uhuru. She was asking all the right questions to keep the story flowing nicely. "But you see, that's why I'm telling you this now...I just found out the he is alive, after over a year alone, he's still around."

"Uhuru, that golden-furred lion you're so interested in...Tanga..." Kali paused for dramatic effect, before finally telling Uhuru flat out. "Uhuru...Tanga is your older brother."

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Tanga's head cocked to the side as he thought on Busara's requests. He looked down at Marini, sleeping peacefully in his paws, before finally coming to his decision. "Sorry, Rini...I hope I don't wake you up," he whispered to her, even though he knew she was asleep, before placing a soft lick on her cheek as he slowly and delicately pulled his paws out from around her, slowly getting to his feet, hoping she would be able to sleep on.

"Okay," he said softly, turning back to Busara as he sat in front of his father. He looked at the strange, sticky-looking liquid that was coming from the leaf Busara had just cut. "How is that supposed to help my wounds?" he asked, genuinely confused. He had heard of Rafiki, as the Pridelands resident healer, helping out injured lions, but having never been seriously injured before yesterday, and as such did not know how the mandrill did it.

As he waited, Tanga decided to pose another question. "So...what do you want to know?" His father may have abandoned him...but he seemed nice enough, and because of that, Tanga was willing to give him a chance.

[TheWhistlerify]

Uhuru smiled as her mother said that her brother was still alive. Maybe he wasn't as weak as her mother thought he was. She was about to ask where she could find him when her mother told her that it was Tanga. "Really? That's so cool!" she said, excited by the fact that she has a brother, "But wait... then why did you attack him like that?" she asked, referring to before when Tanga tried to talk to her.

Busara smiled to himself as Tanga licked Marini's cheek and got up, they both seemed to love each other, and he was happy for Tanga. She remained asleep and Busara then looked back at Tanga. He sheathed his claw before dipping his paw with some liquid. "You must have heard of Rafiki." he said and came a little closer, "I once came across him and he was taking care of an antelope." he then thought about what to ask Tanga, "Well... Tell me about yourself I guess" he said before bringing his paw to his forehead and spreading some of the liquid on the clawmarks he had there. He then began gently rubbing the area, "Does this help?"