(Private for TheWhistlerify)

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Mjuvi had fallen into a state of light sleep. He was aware of what was going on around him but he wasn't paying attention. He curled his bottom legs up and tucked his tail around them. I'll worry about everything in the morning, he thought, before yawning with his eyes still closed.

Siri listened to her sister and nodded. At the proposition that she should go and comfort Dakari, she appeared to be hesitant for a moment. She gazed into the direction he had walked off in. After a while, the cub moved away from Laini started walking away, literally following in his footsteps. She soon found him, lying on the ground on his own. Cautiously, she approached her brother.

"Dakari?" she asked, almost too quietly for him to hear. She got closer and was soon lying on the ground facing him in front of him. "Are you okay?" The adults always asked that question, even if they knew the lion they were asking wasn't okay - so she thought she'd do the same.

[TheWhistlerify]

As Laini watched her little sister approach their older brother, she went ahead and walked over to Mjuvi's side, lying down beside him. She had no doubt that Dakari would never hurt Siri, so she didn't feel like she had to keep a close watch on the two of them. At worst, the cub would come running back and things would remain unchanged, although the adolescent hoped that that wouldn't be the case.

Siri's voice the first time around wasn't weak enough as to not reach his ears, but Dakari was too distracted and caught up in his sobbing that he only noticed his cub sister was there when she lay down in front of him and asked him if he was okay. He stopped crying, out of surprise, and simply stared at her in awe for a moment. Just a few minutes ago Siri had been absolutely terrified of him, and yet there she was all of a sudden - checking up on him. Or was she still scared of him?

It was impossible to fully tell from the cub's expression, and Dakari soon found himself looking away from her, fighting back his tears again. He didn't want to keep looking because he feared he might come to the conclusion that things haven't changed at all, because it was easy to tell that she was being cautious and hesitant. He didn't want her to be afraid of him at all. Not even a tiny little bit. He wanted to take everything back and make it so that it never happened to begin with. But he knew he couldn't.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Seeing her brother's eyes fill with tears made Siri's own eyes do the same. Her ears flattened against her head. She didn't know how to make him feel better; at least, she thought she didn't know. The cub wasn't scared of him, she was just...shocked by his actions. Of course Siri loved him and wouldn't stop doing so, but the cub didn't know how to say it. So, she did the grown up thing. She put aside her hesitations although it was clear they were there and she pressed her head against his own, nuzzling him.

Spoiler: show

Just thought I'd let you know that I'm going out for a couple of hours ^^

[TheWhistlerify]

Dakari felt like burying himself somewhere or just disappearing. He was obviously very surprised when his sister nuzzled him all of a sudden. Did that mean she still cared and that he hasn't scared her off for good? Not knowing what else to do, he gently placed a paw on her little body and held her close, nuzzling her back. He was obviously very relieved at this, but he still felt quite uncertain about what had happened earlier.

"Siri, I..." his voice was shaky as tears began to roll down his cheeks again. "I'm so, so sorry! I... I don't know what came over me!" He didn't know what else to do other than beg for his little sister's forgiveness while he still had the chance. "I love you so much, Siri, I didn't mean to frighten you like that, I swear!" he pulled his head away from her little form so that he could look at her, his eyes still filled with tears. "C-can you ever forgive me?" He didn't know what he would do if she said no...

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Siri turned her head to one side and looked at him in a bewildered fashion as he made his apology. She didn't know how to react to such a sincere display of love and emotion. She was still in shock about the incident and her cuts still hurt, but Dakari could never leave an emotional scar on her. She loved him too much to let one time where he lost his temper cancel everything out.

"Of course I forgive you" she replied, looking up into his big green eyes. "I love you to the stars and back!" she exclaimed, something their mother used to say to them. She nuzzled his face again, ignoring the pain in her side for a few moments.

[TheWhistlerify]

Dakari felt what had to be the biggest relief he has ever felt in his entire life when Siri told him that she forgave him. Chuckling as his little sister quoted their mother, he nuzzled the cub again, a few more tears rolling down his cheeks. This time, however, they were tears of joy. "So do I..." he said softly, sounding much calmer than he'd been just a few moments ago. "I'm so glad you're okay... When I heard the hyenas, I... I thought I lost you..."

Letting out a sigh, his ears dropped against his head as he suddenly remembered another thing he'd done to Siri which he was still ashamed of. "Does it still hurt?" he asked after a short silence. Gently moving his little sister so that he could look at her cuts, he began to once again lick them clean. Now that he wasn't so agitated, however, he was way gentler than last time.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Siri nodded at his question. She winced at both the memory of the hyenas and the licks against her cuts; though he was more gentle it still hurt. She knew it wasn't going to stop hurting for a little while, but they'd eventually heal up. "I thought they were gonna kill me" she murmured, allowing Dakari better access. "They won't come back, will they?" she asked with a rather worried frown.

[TheWhistlerify]

Dakari knew, as gentle as he was being this time around, that what he was doing wasn't too pleasant for Siri. But he knew it would help and the fact that his little sister wasn't squirming this time was a relief as well. "I don't know, Siri..." The young adult didn't know whether the four remaining hyenas were a part of a larger pack, but he did know that hyenas were vengeful animals. "You need to understand that it's not safe to go around all alone. We don't know where we are and what other dangers might be here."

Letting out a soft sigh, he stopped licking the cub's wounds and once again held her close to him, protectvely placing his head over her little body as he gently brought her into his mane. "But I'll protect you from any danger, I promise... We'll all be safer if we stick together." The two remained there a little longer before Dakari decided it was time they headed back into the den. "Let's head back, it's getting chilly..." He slowly rose to his paws, waiting to see if she'd rather walk or be carried back into the den by him

[UncoordinatedPisces]

The lion cub listened, wincing every now and again until he stopped cleaning her wounds. "I understand" she replied, wanting him to know that she'd never wonder off again. Siri had learnt her lesson in perhaps a more severe way than most would. Most would just get a telling-off, she got attacked by a hyena. She nuzzled into his mane as he spoke to her again, relishing in the affection.

She made a 'mm' sound of agreement at going back to the den. It was still rather dark but morning would be upon them soon. She watched him get off his feet. At first Siri thought that she would be okay walking, but a tired yawn from her maw was a signal to Dakari that she wanted to be carried.

[TheWhistlerify]

Dakari smiled as Siri gave him her approval, letting him know that she'd learned her lesson. Almost getting killed by hyenas must have left quite the impression on her, so he knew her answer was serious. Chuckling as his little sister let out a tired yawn, the lion went ahead and gently picked her up by the scruff before making his way back into the den. Quietly lying down so to not disturb their siblings, he placed the cub down and allowed her to settle in his mane.

When he woke up the next morning he realized that the sun was already quite high up in the sky. He must have overslept as a result of the rather sleepless night. Siri was still cuddled up in his mane while Laini was also not awake yet. Dakari could see Mjuvi was already sitting outside as was the adolescent's habit. Some things just never changed. Today he was probably going to have to hunt again, but other than that couldn't think of anything else other than keeping an eye on his siblings.