[Private] Kiarasmate and Kivuli

[Baya]

Siri's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked down. He really didn't strike her back. After a blow like that, she was sure Kivuli was furious. Not only did Siri put some effort into the slap, but Kivuli's pride was obliterated right there. "He didn't hit me back because he knew he deserved it." Siri theorized. "No other reason for him to take it like it was nothing. Zina, you are not a freak of nature. Kivuli was just being his rude self. I bet if you asked Ayari, he'd give you a totally different response. He is not one to use people." Siri pointed out as she sat by that same watering hole from earlier. The sun was beginning to arch over the horizon, and she sighed. Another day was passing by.

~ Over By Ayari ~

Ayari purred as she nuzzled him, then licked his wound. He almost expected her to do that, because of the rising tension between them. He wasn't smiling when she was nuzzling him though. What could've confused her to think that he was? He shrugged it off, as he followed after her quickly. At least he knew there was something between them, more then just the young cubhood friendship.

Kovu sighed as he gazed at the sun beginning to make it's way west. The day was passing by so quickly. He wondered if Kiara, and the others were doing alright.

[KiarasMate]

Zina scowled as she took a seat alongside Siri, noticing that they were back at the waterhole to which they had frequented this morning. With the effects of the herb she had taken earlier, beginning to wear off, Zina’s natural attitude towards Kivuli and Ayari started to resurface as she replied in a crass tone.

”I don’t give a damn what Ayari thinks about me Siri. All males will tell you nice things if they think it will get them somewhere with you. Your opinions are the only ones that I take to heart Siri. Only the word of a lioness can be trusted.”

Looking up into the late afternoon sky, Zina pondered over what she would do tonight. Perhaps if Kovu didn’t find any interest in her or if Kiara would fail to deliver her message for him, she might slip out once the moon was up, to go searching for the legendary flower to which all Shaman’s dream about. She had never shared the story of this mysterious flora with Siri or anyone aside from fellow Shamans, as Zina figured that they wouldn’t have any interest in such matters to begin with. Thinking of a way she could leave without being missed, Zina stayed quiet, an apparent look of deep thought upon her face as time continued to pass by the pair.

==========

Catching up to her brother, Vitani spoke quietly to him as they made their way back towards Pride Rock.

”Well, we know the threat is real now Kovu. If those lionesses are any indication of what we’re up against, we really need to come up with a solid plan that involves the whole pride. Perhaps a meeting is in order?”

Looking back over her shoulder to make sure that Ayari was doing alright on his own, Vitani called over to him in a caring voice.

”Would you like me to go get Zina for you Ayari or are you okay without her?”

[Baya]

Siri frowned slightly as she examined Zina's face. "Zinaaaaa? What are you thinking?" Siri asked boldly with a stare at the other lioness. When Zina sat there, so deep in thought like that, it usually wasn't too good.

~ Getting Into The Pride lands ~

"You are right Vitani. We need to organize a meeting." Kovu said looking back to Ayari, when Vitani did. Ayari was following with a proud trot, but a very dazed look on his face.

"I'm fine! Just exhausted." Ayari called ahead to Vitani. They were already back in the pride lands, close by pride rock. Ayari figured the first thing he would do when he got back to pride rock was lie down, and think about the day's events.

[KiarasMate]

”Hmm? Zina stated, seemingly hearing Siri’s voice for the first time. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Zina spoke up again in a nonchalant manner. ”Oh, it’s nothing Siri.”

As luck would have it, Zina’s attention was grabbed by the sight of Ayari, Vitani and more importantly, Kovu, who were not too far off from where the white furred lioness and her comrade sat now. Motioning a paw towards the oncoming trio, Zina stated in a lighthearted fashion.

”Looks like the cavalry is back Siri. We better play our part.”

Forcing herself onto her paws, Zina trotted off towards the small group. As she got closer, Zina noticed the visible wounds on Ayari’s face, bringing a mixture of both concern and contempt to her as she held her tongue from blurting out any smart assed remarks, not wishing to get on Ayari’s bad side, especially in front of Kovu. Stopping in front of the trio, Zina gave another overly gracious bow to Kovu as she lowered her head and spoke in a respectful manner.

”Good afternoon King Kovu.”

Doing a slightly les respectful bow towards Vitani, just to show her some form of respect as well, if only to satisfy Ayari’s request for them to be polite towards their softhearted hosts, Zina turned her attention to Ayari as she addressed her leader, speaking in a mushy tone to him as she poured on the sappy charm.

”Oh, what happened to your face Ayari? You look as though you tried to nuzzle a porcupine. Do you need something to help with your boo boos?”

Vitani watched the white furred lioness approach. Stifling a giggle from the way she acted towards Ayari, Vitani stayed quiet, allowing Ayari to deal with the situation, as she figured that he knew this lioness better than she did.

[Baya]

Kovu bowed his head to Zina, and Siri as he made his way towards pride rock. "Seems as though he is not in the mood for talking." Ayari said quietly as he watched the king walk off. He then turned his attention towards Zina. "I wish i nuzzled a porcupine...We ran into Kiburi, and her subordinates..." Ayari murmured. Siri frowned slightly.

"You should've known not to go out with only your friend there. What were you two doing anyways?" Siri said with a mischievous grin.

"Anything but what you'd do with Kivuli." Ayari said in a bold way. Siri growled and looked down. She knew his retort would involve her and Kivuli.

"Got any herbs that could help with the stinging, and bleeding?" Ayari asked Zina with a wince of pain.

[KiarasMate]

Zina moved in close to Ayari, or at least, as close as she was comfortable enough to get to him. Examining his injuries with her keen eyesight, Zina nodded as she replied in a professional manner, as she always did whenever it came to anything dealing with her skills.

”Yes Ayari, I do. Those wounds are pretty deep but if we treat them quickly, there shouldn’t be any risk of infection or permanent scarring. C’mon, we gotta get those wounds cleaned out before the herbs can be applied and there’s no way I’m licking them clean for you, unless Siri, or your lioness friend here would like to volenteer.”

Knowing that Zina probably knew what she was doing, Vitani shook her head as she spoke quietly to Ayari.

”I’ll let you and your friends be for now Ayari. I should go talk to Kovu though. I can tell there’s something on his mind and it’s probably more than just the rogues. I’ll see you later and thanks again for what you did for me earlier. Means a lot to me.”

Resisting the urge to nuzzle her old friend once again, Vitani left the group of friends to their own accord as she hurried to catch back up to her brother. Intercepting him at around Pride Rock, Vitani spoke in a serious voice as she stood in his path, blocking the way up to the main den.

”What’s on your mind now Kovu and don’t tell me it’s nothing. I know you better than that Brother. Does it have to do with me and Ayari?”

==========

Watching Vitani leave, Zina couldn’t help herself as she gave Ayari a sly smirk, speaking to him in a humorous voice.

”Someones head over paws for you Ayari. How nice…”

Turning towards the direction to which the waterhole was located at that Siri and her had just been sitting by, Zina called to the both of them as she started to walk off.

”Well, c’mon, let’s get this over with so Ayari can get back to his wuv muffin. Siri, you better come along too, since I’ll probably need you to hold down this big cubby when I put the herbs on him.”

Approaching the nearby waterhole, Zina took a seat as she waited for Ayari to arrive, nodding towards the crystal clear pool as she ordered.

”Get all the blood off of your face and clean any dirt from around the lacerations Ayari, while I prep the herbs. Oh, and keep your head near the water will ya. I need to soak the herbs to get them working first so it will be easier for me that way.”

Trusting that Ayari could handle such a simple task as to clean his own face, Zina slipped the pouch of herbs from around her neck, carefully setting it upon the grass below as she pawed through the contents of the case, looking for something in particular.

[Baya]

Kovu stopped in his tracks as he was intercepted by Vitani for the second time today. He frowned slightly. "Vitani...it's just hard to trust him right now ok? The fact that you two are so close isn't really helping either. He could be using you to get to me, and I just don't like to think about it." Kovu said looking down. "I want you to be really careful with him Vitani. You don't know whether he is the tyrant he speaks of or not. Remember what charade we were involved in before." Kovu muttered as he began to make his way towards the den, to speak with Kiara.


Ayari rolled his eyes at Zina's first two comments, and nodded in response to her order. He quickly made his way to the watering hole, and began to clean the wounds thoroughly. Siri giggled as she shoved Ayari's whole head into the watering hole. Ayari roared as he lifted his head out of the water. His wet and soggy mane fell over his face. "You might as well smell clean when you are nuzzling her...Awh..." Siri said as she pinched Ayari's cheek.

"Sometimes Siri, I feel like just throttling you." Ayari murmured. Siri laughed in response to that.

"I don't blame you. Everybody I've ever met has the urge to do that at some point." Siri said with a grin.

Ayari spent a few more moments, cleaning the wounds on his face, and waited for Zina to apply the herbs to his wounds.

[KiarasMate]

Vitani didn’t even have time to reply to Kovu as he disappeared into the main den, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Perhaps her brother was right and things were moving way too quickly between her and Ayari but being the first lion to whom Vitani actually felt as though, she had feelings towards, her experience, or lack there of, would prove to be a deciding factor in what she would do next.

Figuring that her brother wanted to be left alone, Vitani opted to spend the rest of the day, away from the main den to give him his space. Moving back down into The Grasslands, Vitani made her way over to one of her favorite thinking spots, a secluded area that was located directly below the promontory of Pride Rock and which was shielded from sight by the looming structure above. She often times, came here to meld over her thoughts and to be alone.

==========

It was a rare occasion when it was just Siri, herself and Ayari around, and it showed in the way that Zina’s personality seemed to open up a bit as she managed a pleasant giggle from Siri’s actions, calling over to her fellow rogue in a playful manner as she continued to assemble the necessary herbs for Ayari’s medical treatment.

”Aww, you’re supposed to hold his head under until he stops moving Siri. Why don’t you try it again.”

Once she was satisfied with the concoction of herbs that she had put together, Zina carefully moved her pouch towards the water’s edge, taking a seat next to Ayari as she spoke in a more serious fashion.

”Okay, this is going to sting like hell Ayari but I assure you that the herbs will help. Just don’t go biting my paw off in pain. I’m trying to help after all.”

Cupping a paw full of the herb mixture carefully, Zina dipped her delicate fore paw into the cool water below, saturating the mixture which gave off quite a pungent aroma at the first signs of being wet. Holding her paw steady for a good minute, allowing the herbs to become fully drenched, Zina slowly lifted her paw out of the water and brought it close to Ayari’s face. The closer her paw drew to Ayari’s muzzle, the more nervous Zina became. Trembling slightly, the white furred lioness’ paw came softly into contact with her leader’s fur as Zina gently pressed the fragrant medicine against Ayari’s open wounds, trying her best to keep her paw stable both from her own jittery nerves and Ayari’s reaction to the stinging substance.

Carefully maneuvering her paw toes, Zina massaged in the strong smelling medicine, being careful not to upset her leader as she worked intently, being very thorough in her job and making absolute sure that she covered every little wound of his in the healing mixture. The split second she was finished, Zina pulled back quickly, taking a few paces away from Ayari, dragging her precious pouch with her as she stated to him.

”There. Keep them on there until they dry up, then you can wash them off if you want. Oh, and don’t go licking yourself around those herbs until they’re off your face or you’ll seriously regret it Ayari. They might work wonders on open injuries, but they’ll kick the crap out of your insides if you swallow them.”

Still feeling quite nervous from having to have been so close to Ayari, Zina quickly washed her paw off in the waterhole and packed up her supply of herbs, slipping the pouch back over her neck and scar as quickly as she could. Now that her business was done here, Zina excused herself with a nod to both Siri and Ayari.

”I’m going to take a nap now. If you need me, I’ll be up at the pointy rock thing.”

Bounding off, Zina made her way back to the familiar point to which she and Siri had slept previously, happy to see that Kivuli wasn’t taking up her spot as she laid down, hoping to grab Kovu’s attention if he should walk by her on his way out from the main den.

[Baya]

"Thank you Zina..." Ayari growled through gritted teeth in pain. Siri watched in amazement as Ayari just took the pain like it was nothing.

"What are you going to do now Ayari? Go back to Vitani?" Siri asked as she stretched. Ayari shook his head.

"I don't think I'm going to smother her. We did everything together as cubs, but we aren't cubs anymore. I think she needs some time away." Ayari said with a smile. Siri sighed and chuckled.

"You know, Zina thinks you are only doing this for one thing." Siri pointed out. Ayari nodded.

"I know what Zina is thinking, and that's not what this is. I am beyond mating with anyone that just so happens to appeal to me. We aren't like Maju's mindless bunch you know." Ayari retorted. Siri smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"You just want her to come to you? Aha, so manipulative Ayari." Siri said with a widening grin. Ayari looked to Siri with a bored look on his face.

"Well, if she needs me, she can come find me. I can't force myself to follow her all over the place. Remember, I am a rogue. I follow no one." Ayari muttered as he laid down on his side near the watering pool. He lowered one of his paws into the cool water and closed his eyes for a moment.

"I'm gonna go meet some of the other pride. Maybe I can befriend some of them." Siri said as she made her way towards Pride Rock.

[KiarasMate]

Being alone with her thoughts, Vitani started to deconstruct the events of the past days, trying to justify the feelings that she felt towards Ayari. Every time her mind came up with some excuse on why she should have such an attraction towards him, she recalled another detail that tainted the previous. On one paw, he obviously cared deeply for her. He wouldn’t have shielded her from Kiburi and her mangy lionesses if he didn’t. There again, he would have never lied to her openly if he respected her as much as she thought he did. Or maybe he lied to protect her? No! It didn’t make any sense.

Growling in a frustrated manner, Vitani paced around, unsure of what to do. Secretly, she wanted to go and tell Ayari her feelings, but her brother’s words still echoed in her mind. Would she seem too obvious and easy if she went to him now? Maybe if she just made it seem as though she was only coming to check on his injuries, that would make it seem more innocent than it truly was. Once again, finding herself at yet another impasse in life, Vitani had to make a choice.

Leaving the privacy of her favorite thinking spot, Vitani slowly started to make her way towards the nearest waterhole, hoping to get a drink to help ease her thoughts. As fate would have it, the very same location to which she now approached, was the same waterhole that Ayari was laying near. Noticing her old friend laying there and seeing that it was too late to turn back, as he had already spotted her presence, Vitani swallowed as she did her best to come off as casual, addressing Ayari in a soft, yet caring tone.

”How you holding up? I just came to see how you were doing is all Ayari. I guess both your friends left you alone, so does that mean you want to be alone right now?” Vitani asked, standing a few paces away from where Ayari was laying, her eyes staying fixed upon Ayari’s wounds to help solidify the fact that she was supposedly just there to see how he was doing.

==========

While she wanted to fall asleep, zina found it near impossible to get any sort of shut eye with the constant noises around her. Being unused to the typical hustle and bustle of pride life, Zina groaned as she wanted to get an early start once night had fallen but at this rate, she would end up sleeping through it. Seeing that fighting was feudal, Zina just stayed awake, propping her head upon her fore paws as she watched the world around her, seeing Siri coming up the path leading towards the nearby den, causing the white furred lioness’ ears to perk up, just in case Siri and Kivuli would go at it again, something Zina would never pass down on listening to, no matter how important sleep might have seemed to her.