[Closed] Trials in the Pridelands

[Songo]

Simba looked at Chaka and smiled, "Your grandfather use to snore!" he chuckled. He felt the breeze run through his mane and he looked at his cubs, "lets take a break." he said. He reclined back to his haunches and looked over the pridelands, "Well Kiara, your mother and I are still choosing." he said to his daughter. "All three of you are different in your own ways." he spoke calmly.

Monstro nodded to Kovu, "Shh..stay down." he ordered. Monstro's mustardy eyes narrrowed as he stalked his prey, his claws felt the warm earth as he stepped. Waiting for the right moment he leaped onto his prey's back, claws and fangs digging into the flesh. The animal cried in pain as Monstro silenced it, his muzzle slowly dropped the animals snapped neck. He looked to Kovu, "Did you take notes?"

[changa]

"Yeah. Do you think I could try next time?" he asked hopefully, walking with Monstro back to the lionesses.

"I said, 'Gather!'" yelled Zira at the top of her lungs. "We have work to do. Get up, you fools! Now!"

[Thegeni99]

Geni answered the cub anxiously as Zira yelled at them to get up. "I just came here looking for a place to stay, and something else... good talk young one!" Geni ran out of the mound anxiously at the sight of a furious Zira. "We're up! What is our first lesson?" she said, gasping for air. Come on Regina...get up. Was her friend really awake? As Geni waited for Zira to answer she ran to Regina's slumbering body and forced her to get up. "Get up you!" Geni said while pushing regina over her side. With no hope, she gave her a few nips on the ear, gladly, Regina began stirring.
-
"Huh?" Regina had just gotten up, and she had the feeling it was still too early, but when she opened her eyes and let the noon light in, she sat up quickly and gasped. "Ah! Wait, what, time is it?" As she stood up she yawned and blinked her eyes a few times quickly.
-
"It's around the time the bright circle is overhead, and the time to start practicing to be a warrior. Come on, Zira's enraged."

As the two lionesses made their way to Zira they laughed nervously and rested on their hinges infront of their lead lioness.

[Songo]

Diamante' grumbled at the sound of Zira's voice in her head. She opened her green eyes groggily, "ughh..." she grumbled. Pulling her lean body up she took a seat next to Regina and Geni. She was smaller of the two, but she knew she could outrun them both. She nodded at Monstro's words and looked for them to eat.

Monstro nodded to Kovu, "I just dont want you to be smaller then your prey. Your a cub, id hate to see you get hurt son." he said dragging the beast back to Zira and the lionesses. He tossed the prey infront of them, "Breakfast. You both will be hunting for our dinner." he ordered. "Zira and Kovu eat, then the other cub. Then you Diamante', then Geni and Regina." he added. He stepped around the lionesses, "We are in the outlands, food is scarce ive learned. But with time you can adapt, so enjoy your feast. At dinner I enjoy hunting in the Pride lands, but do so at your own risk." he reclined back and let them eat. "When Im done with you, your weaknesses will be your biggest assets!" he roared.

[changa]

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I get to go before the other lionesses?" Kovu almost leaped into the air.

"Yeah, but don't eat too much. We have an army to take care of." Zira said through her meal. When she finished, she pointed Kovu to it. Then she turned to the other lionesses. "I know you're hungry, but we'd better start. Make you hungrier, I suppose. From here to that termite mound and back. This will determine our pecking order."

[Kopalover]

Kiara frowned. "I know that! Me, Chaka and Kopa are wondering so badly!" Her voice went louder and louder, and her eyebrows went closer to her eyes.

----

Folle gasped "Cool!" She ran behind Geni and to the outraged lioness. This albino lioness heard some other lionesses and lions calling her 'Zira'. "Thats a pretty name!" Duke laughed, starling Folle. "Don't do that!" She frowned, attracting a few lions attention. Her paw reached out and slapped Duke, to the other lions it looked like she was slapping air. Duke disappeared in a cloud of white dust.

----

Mufasa had no time on his lifeline. "Get Simba and his cubs." He paused. "Now!" The old lion coughed. Lions and lionesses ran from the healing den. Noticing Simba and his cubs, "King Simba, King Simba! Mufasa wishes to speak with you and your cubs!" A random lioness said, fear flashed in her eyes. "Come quick!" The random lion said before turning and running towards the healing den.

[Songo]

Simba looked at the lioness and nodded, "Kopa, Chaka, Kiara. Lets go see your grandfather." he said quickly padding back up to Pride rock. His brown eyes flickered with fear as he stepped into the dim lit den, his three cubs behind him. He noticed Sarafina and Nala in the corner and he stepped to meet his mate before checking on his aging father. "Father, I'm here. Your family is here." he whispered. He nuzzled his father and sat back to his hinds, using his paw he ushered his cubs to come closer.

Nala's blue eyes held the tears back and she sniffled as she and the cubs got closer to Mufasa. She stared at his massive body as his breathing had slowed and his coughing increased. She stepped back slightly and looked to her mother, seeing such a great lion age hurt her heart.

Sarafina stepped on the other side of Mufasa and her soft paw stroked his head softly, "Shh..shh...breath slowly and relax." she cooed to the King. She head turned away as warm tears slid down her muzzle, she looked back to her family and watched in silence.

Monstro nodded to Kovu, "Cubs need more food to grow better, so you need to eat. I will hunt more in the mornings as the lioness prepare for the attack. The more they learn and the better they do, the more feastful our breakfasts will be. Which in turn their hunting will get keenier, allowing our dinners to be bountiful." he added looking to his son.

Diamante' ate a few small bites and ran to the termite mound and back, she did it quickly and swiftly. Perching herself infront of Zira she nodded and sighed, this was her new Pride. Her green eyes looked to the other lionesses and she hoped they got along better, hoping they became stronger.

[Nitro]

"Grandpa 'Fasa?" Kopa asked quietly, tears beginning to gather in his reddish-eyes. He looked small and frail next to his dying grandfather, and utterly lost. "Are you okay? Can we do anything for you?"

[Kopalover]

Kiara started crying, she felt weak and helpless. The small heart in her body felt like breaking. "Don't die on me Papa 'Fasa!" Her voice crackled, her eyes poured tears out.

---

Mufasa coughed, "Simba, Nala, Kopa, Chaka, and little Kiara" He paused. "I love you all dearly. Sarafina, keep them safe and on track." He coughed out, "No Kopa, old age comes to everyone. I just wish I had more time." His voice faded, Mufasa started to cry. Trying to lift a paw, he stopped and put it down. Unable to lift a single paw. "Give Papa, one last hug." He coughed.

---

Kiara cried more. "Oh Papa!" She whimpered, running up to hug him. "Please, don't leave me." She whispered into his ear. "Father, is there anything we can do?" She looked up at Simba. "Like get Rafiki?" She added, putting her cheek against his grey-red mane.

[Songo]

Simba felt his own heart breaking at the sight of his father, his brown eyes looked to his cubs. Blinking back a tear Simba began to speak, "Kiara, Rafiki cant help papa 'fasa this time. The great circle of life is in motion.." his words cracked.

He hugged Chaka and Kopa and looked to his own father, "I love you. I hope I can make you proud by being a great King." he muttered. Simba put his paw on his father's shoulder and gave him a hug, encircling Kiara in it to.

Nala cried softly and hugged her mother, she knew this was going to be hard for the cubs. She also had the thoughts of her aging mother flash through her mind.

Sarafina hugged Nala back but kept soothing Mufasa, "Have a good journey, my old friend." she whispered.