The King of Grass Walls [Private: ImaniFaith and Amadeus]

[ImaniFaith]

The pride ran as quickly as they could through the clinging grass to a large den-- far larger than that of their previous king, who was being helped along by a couple of the lionesses-- that smelled of Bahari and Zuzu's time there. And, just as the scrawny rogue had said, it was an unholy mess of bones and fragments of previous meals. Bahari looked humiliated as he helped them to clean it up.

"If I had known we were going to have guests...." He muttered, unable to meet anyone's eyes. Leta merely laughed.

Imani could barely concentrate on her work, however, for her entire mind was taken up with Tenga, and her newfound position of responsibility within the pride of Grass Walls. What, she wondered, had she done for The Great Spirit to lavish such rich blessing upon her? Truly, she must prove herself grateful to Him by becoming the best queen she could be.

After the work was done and everyone resting, she felt a small tap on her side, and looked to see Bahari standing there.

"May we talk, my Queen?" He asked softly. When she nodded, he led her a slight distance away, but still within sight of her mate and the others.

"What do you want?" She asked, still slightly suspicious of the old rogue. He hung his head.

"I wish to...." He cleared his throat, "I wish to apologize to you. I realize now that what I have done was wrong, and... what I have said to you was-- at the very least, extremely uncalled for. I have seen that you have much to offer, and that you are, in your own way, quite beautiful."

When she didn't reply, he cleared his throat again, "I undertand if you are hesitant to forgive me...." he whispered.

"No...." She said, eyes wide. "I just... wasn't expecting that from you. You really have changed."

Bahari shook his head, "I haven't changed. I knew what I was doing was wrong the entire time. Only now I am able to ask for forgiveness."

"And you have it." She smiled. "Thank you, Bahari."

The rogue's vivid blue eyes suddenly seemed a bit brighter, and he gave her a small smile in return. "No... thank you." As he turned to join the others again, he tilted his head thoughtfully, "You will make an excellent queen, I'm sure."

Embarrassed, she nodded, then went over to take her place beside her new mate, who was sitting alone by the den's opening. Laying her head against him, she sighed.

"Thank you, Tenga." she breathed into his silver-threaded mane. "For everything. I never thought I could be so happy."

Then, she backed away, staring directly into his teal green eyes, "I love you."

[Baya]

Zuzu was the first be sleeping as he was the most tired of all of them. Tenga on the other hand wasn't feeling as tired and was standing outside the den, with a full view of the Grass Walled plains. He could see everything, except for past the cliff side. He frowned slightly, remembering his encounter with the hyenas, knowing that they would pose to be a problem if the land flourished again. Tenga looked to the sky as the rain began to clear up.

The air was still humid from the rain but the clouds began to separate to reveal the sunlight. Tenga was mesmerized by the rainbow that appeared shortly afterwards, but broke out of his trance when his mate sat next to him. Tenga nuzzled her back as she laid her head under his. He smiled, and began to purr as she spoke. Her last statement made his heart leap, and he gave her an affectionate lick on the cheek.

"You don't need to thank me for anything. I told you that if you tried, you could have a voice in your pride. You stood up on your own. I merely showed you the way." Tenga pointed out as he stared lovingly into her eyes.

Tenga smiled. "I love you too Imani. The only true reward for all that I have done, is being able to call you my mate." Tenga said quietly as he nuzzled her once more. This was definitely a new era for the Grass Walled plains.

[ImaniFaith]

PART TWO

The day had dawned bright, sunny, and extraordinarily hot over the territory of Grass Walls. In the distance, antelope grazed on the tall green blades and drank out of the many water holes that dimpled the land. Truly, in less than a year, the once failing habitat had grown into a thriving haven-- just as its previous ruler had hoped.

In the midst of this luscious scenery, shaded slightly from the sunlight, a small cub stalked slowly through the grass. His rich umber and tan pelt, inherited directly from his mother's side of the family, was dusted with dirt, and his brown eyes sparkled merrily at the sight of his target. Taking a small breath, Tinashe blew back the tuft of dark brown fur atop his head, grinned, and sprang--

Right atop his sibling. "Gotcha'!"

[Baya]

Usugu growled as he pushed backwards so that he was rolling around the soft dirt with his brother. His cream colored pelt was being dirtied, and he knew that he'd probably need a bath after. Though he definitely wouldn't be given one without a fight! His teal eyes met his brothers as they rolled around and finally Usugu ended up pinning his brother down. "Hah!" Usugu panted as his ears flexed back. "I win!" Usugu said with a proud grin as he quickly got off his brother.

Usugu's small black tuft of mane on his head swayed slightly with a warm breeze that made the grass around him flutter. Today, his father told him and his brother that they would get to explore the kingdom under his supervision, but he was still asleep with their mother in the den and Usugu desperately wanted him to wake up already. He didn't feel that waking him up would be the best plan of action however, as both his parents would scorn him for that.

Instead, Usugu got a great idea that he planned on sharing with his brother. He turned to his brother. "Tinashe, why don't we go see what Bahari and Zuzu are up to huh? Until dad wakes up!" Usugu said with a mischievous smirk.

[ImaniFaith]

Tinashe frowned as his older sibling toppled him to the ground. Usugu always won! Still, he thought with a slight smirk, that was what made his brother so cool. At Usugu's suggestion, his brown eyes lit up with delight.

While Usugu always called them by their first names only, Tinashe had always felt that calling Bahari "Uncle Bahari" made the old rogue happier. He seemed to take delight in letting the young cubs play with him, and when their mother had told them (in the strictest confidence and with promises that they would never reveal what they knew-- for it would hurt Bahari deeply) that he had once tried to take over their pride, Tinashe just couldn't see it.

"Alright." He agreed, shaking himself off, "You think they'll be awake by now?"

"...Well, Uncle Bahari'll probably be up." He answered himself after a moment's consideration. "Zuzu likes to sleep in, doesn't he?"

As they made their way to the den, Tinashe smiled at Usugu, tilting his head, "I can't wait for Dad to show us the whole kingdom today!" He enthused, "It's gonna' be great!"

[Baya]

"Yeah. Especially the cooler parts of the kingdom! You know! Where the rogues go, and the other dark creatures!" Usugu pointed out with a grin. He too was obviously excited, but more so because his father was taking time out of his kingly duties to spend time with him and Tinashe. His father was the workoholic type that was always too busy for fun, but today was going to be different! Today he would show them ALL of the kingdom, as promised.

Since Tinashe had no arguments against his idea, the two cubs began to prowl towards the outer rim of the den where their "uncle" usually slept, not too far from Zuzu. Usugu stopped as they reached the sleeping figure of Bahari and he looked to his brother with another mischievous smirk. "Common! We can scare him awake." Usugu whispered as he began to crawl on his belly towards Bahari.

Usugu concentrated and then jumped within the best of his ability towards Bahari's back, but ended up just slamming his head softly against Bahari's side. Usugu rolled down along Bahari's side with a frown on his face. "Ugh. That hurt." Usugu murmured, rubbing his head with his paw.

[ImaniFaith]

Giggling, Tinashe shook his head at his brother's failed attempt to wake the old rogue. So, he had been wrong. Bahari was sleeping in today.

"Uncle Bahari...." He said softly; then, a little louder, "Wake up!"

"I am awake." Was the wry reply, as a single blue eye blinked open, "And for further reference, Usugu, I don't scare that easily."

The tawny lion slowly stood, stretching, then smirked down at the two cubs below. "I'm shocked that you two actually woke me first. I would have thought Zuzu might be a more fitting playmate for the both of you."

"Zuzu freaks when we wake him up." Tinashe replied drily, then grinned, "Besides, you're fun. Y'know, for an old guy."

Bahari seemed to repress a smile, "Thank you... I think."

When the three of them had made their way out of the den, Tinashe turned to his 'uncle', beaming, "Dad's gonna' take us to see--"

"Going to take us to see." The rogue corrected him with a superior glance.

"-- The kingdom today." He finished. "Right, Usugu?"

[Baya]

Usugu frowned slightly as not only was his head hurt, but also his pride. He smiled however as Bahari stood, and Usugu quickly walked in front of Bahari. "Right Tinashe. Dad's gonna show us where all the rogues and stuff hang around! And all the boring parts of the kingdom too." Usugu replied.

Usugu waited for Bahari to completely awake himself before attempting to ask him a question itching at his brain for a long time. It was one that he could never really ask his dad, because his dad never talked about what he was before he was a king. "Bahari, what is it like being a rogue? Did you see alot of other lands? Did you fight and kill other rogues? Oh oh! What made you stay here?" Usugu asked, bombarding the ex-rogue with questions. He knew restraint when it came to his father, but Bahari not so much.

[ImaniFaith]

Bahari stopped in his tracks, raising a brow at the young cub. "And why this sudden interest in rogues?" He asked, then paused, "Ah... your father, I suppose."

As they came up to the pride's main water hole, the old lion sat, gazing down at his reflection. He seemed troubled by what he saw.

"Being a rogue is... very difficult." He began softly. "Of course you see other lands-- and you are forced out of every single one of them, unless you win a fight against the king of that territory... which...." and here he hesitated, as if it was a hard thing for him to say what he had to, "I... didn't."

When both cubs gawked up at him with shock in their eyes, Bahari cleared his throat, "Well, what did you expect?" He snapped, "The only reason I live here now is because your father was kind enough to give Zuzu and me refuge."

There was a long silence after that, which none of them were quick to break. Finally, the old rogue sighed sadly, shrugging, "I'm going to assume that this wasn't exactly what you wanted to hear... but that's the way things sometimes are. Not every rogue is a muscle-laden battle hero like your father." He smirked, then was overtaken by a single dark thought, "Though you probably think less of me for my shortcomings, now...."

Tinashe felt his heart twist at the sight of his friend so despondent. "No way, Uncle Bahari!" He cried, placing his paw over the lion's, "You're still wicked cool! We'll never stop thinking that!"

Bahari gaped at him a moment, eyes wide. Then, said eyes grew suspiciously wet, and he brought his paw out from under the cub's and rubbed Tinashe's head affectionately. It took him several tries before he could reply, "Well-- er-- th- thank you. That means... that means a lot to me."

As Tinashe laughed and playfully jumped out from under his paw, Bahari continued to clear his throat awkwardly. "Perhaps, " He said at length, "Zuzu is up by now. You may want to go see."

Surprised, Tinashe hesitated, then understood Bahari's motives-- the rogue wanted to be alone. "Sure, okay." He smiled, "C'mon, Usugu, let's go!"

[Baya]

Usugu listened intently to Bahari's description of rogue life. That was definitely what Usugu didn't want to hear! His father's time as a rogue was probably more exciting because of his strength. Bahari on the other hand was a bit weak and apparently sensitive about that so Usugu said nothing.

Usugu let his brother do all the talking, but at the order to bother to go harass Zuzu, it was his turn. Usugu walked alongside his brother towards the sleeping Usugu, whom hadn't changed a bit except that he was far cleaner now, and prepared to pounce once more. Usugu leaped onto Zuzu with such great force that he manage to get on his back. Zuzu's eyes shot open.

"Wah! They comin' to get me!" Zuzu said as he stood quickly, looking around shiftily. Usugu fell of Zuzu's back with an umph.

"Morning Zuzu." Usugu said innocently as he sat up properly quickly. Zuzu looked back at the two cubs and sighed with relief.

"Oh, it's just you boys. I thought you were rogues or something. Can't be to careful." Zuzu whimpered looking around shiftily again. Usugu laughed as he walked so that he was in front of the now sitting Zuzu.

"Zuzu guess what! Our dad's going to take us around the kingdom, and show us everything! Even the cool parts with rogues and stuff!" Usugu said with excitement ringing in his voice. Zuzu's eyes widened slightly.

"I don't think so. Your dad isn't stupid Usugu, he wouldn't take you anywhere dangerous. Don't get your hopes up about seeing a rogue either, because they only show themselves when they are challenging the current ruler of the land." Zuzu pointed out as he looked to Tinashe then back to Usugu.