[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[KiarasMate]

Looking down at the younger male, hearing his question, Kopa had no qualms replying as he took a seat.

”Forgive me. My name is Kopa. That leg of yours doesn’t look to good. Might I ask if you have family around here? Do you belong to this pride? I’m sorry, but I’m not familiar with every member here, since I haven’t been a part of this pride for very long.”

[SimbasMate]

Ashur smiled weakly at Kopa. No, I am not part of this pride. My family is gone. Ashur felt his tears welling up at the thought of his parents. This lion... he put a curse over them that made them reject me. I don't have anyone now. Ashur told Kopa. He hid his face in his paws, to make sure Kopa didn't see that he was a crybaby.

[Lodrill]

Taraji tried to keep up with Nala but it was hard with the pelt over her that dragged her down. She managed to follow her a few steps and then her legs gave in. She started to play with the pelt, sinking in her babyteeth and roll over with the pelt until she was completely tied within. She poked her head out and tried to escape the grasp of the pelt just when Simba came in. As Taraji heart his voice and saw the big lions comming she retreated into the pelt so that she was not visible anymore. Only her nervous breath was clearly noticable from within the ball of pelt.

[hr][/hr]

Rahina saw a small groups of gazelles who were peacefully eating and wandering through the savanna. Rahina determined their direction and decided to wait for them. She had no other lioness here to drive them to her and also no trees were in sight. Rahina ran a big bow around them just as far as they would not notice her and made sure the wind came from their position towards her. She ducked into the high grass and waited for them to come closer. They really did but unfortunately for Rahina they either spotted her or just decided to change the direction and so they walked into the opposite direction of Rahina soon.

A bit frustrated Rahina decided that it would not make sense to hunt them alone. These savanna was not her hunting ground and she did not like it very much to hunt in this new style. Her paws also hurt a bit from the hunt this morning and the running on the hard surface. Rahina decided to quench her thirst at least and padded over to the public waterhole. She lay down at the water hole and lapped her tongue into the water and drank the cold liquid. Then she just looked at the water that was reflecting the sunset that was big and red at the horizon.

[KiarasMate]

Seeing that his question hadn’t struck the appropriate chord with the young male, Kopa quickly tried to reassure him as he spoke in a calm voice.

”I understand. You don’t have to say anything else. I wish I could offer you a place to stay, but these are not my lands so if you want to have a place to rest, I’d suggest that you follow me so we can meet with the king of these lands. He’s rather understanding though, so I’d hope that he would sympathize with your situation…erm…” Kopa stated, pausing for a moment to allow the young male to fill in his name before he continued speaking.

”If that leg of yours bothers you too much to walk, perhaps I can bring the king to you, or erm, you could, erm, ride on my back if you wanted to.”

Feeling slightly awkward from offering such means of travel to a relative stranger, yet having his thoughts revert back to what had happened between himself and his beloved mate not too long ago, Kopa assured himself that this was the right thing to do and if Rahina could see him, she would know that he wasn’t incapable of caring for someone other than himself and her. Wanting to prove to both his mate and himself, that he wasn’t useless when it came to looking after cubs, even though this young male seemed to be on the brink of adolescent hood, Kopa waited patiently for a reply from him as he sat with a friendly look glued upon his muzzle.

[SimbasMate]

Ashur smiled at Kopa. Uhm.. I think my leg can suck it up. Ashur got up and a sharp pain struck his leg. He winced at the pain, and sat down again. He smiled once again at Kopa, and bent over to lick his wounded leg. It was all bloody, and swolen. thinking of nothing but this nice lion, and smiled again. Ashur bowed at Kopa. Thank you for coming here. I don't think I'd still be alive if it wasn't for you. Ashur stood up, confident and he didn't care about the pain in his leg. Please take me to the king. he added.

[KiarasMate]

Looking a bit puzzled from the way the young male insisted on walking on his injured leg, but having been around Rahina long enough, Kopa knew better than to step on another feline’s pride as he merely nodded and started to make his way towards the distant figure of Pride Rock, traveling at an extremely slow pace so that the young male could keep up. While they walked, Kopa did his best to inform his traveling companion about how he should act towards the king.

”Hmm, well, when you meet our king, be sure to be polite and tell him your name. You still haven’t told me your name but I’m not the king here so that doesn’t really matter. Just use your manners and give him a small bow and you should be fine. The king’s name is Simba. He seems to have a soft heart for younger felines, so I really think he’ll accept you with no problems. Just behave yourself in these lands. I’ll let Simba explain everything else though when we get there.”

[SimbasMate]

Ashur was glad that Kopa walked at this pace. The pain was getting quite excruciating that he could even hardly move his leg. Ashur listened to Kopa, and soaked in the information carefully. He did not want to upset the king. After he noticed that Kopa had mentioned that he didn't know his name, Ashur excused his rude manners, and told Kopa. Oh, sorry Kopa. My name is Ashur. He said with a innocent look on his face. Ashur waited for a reply from Kopa, as he thought about what King Simba would do to him.

[Mike]

"I'm sure you won't have any trouble getting to know them all if you're as charming to them as you are to me." Vitani said. Realizing that there was really nothing left to do in her duty as a guide to Santiago, Vitani was nonetheless not quite ready to return to Pride Rock. Pride Rock was almost becoming for her a symbol of confinement and frustration. This was mostly because of her long restless incapacitation there, but also because there would always be arguments and judgments and compromises there, which she was finding more and more distasteful. She knew that she'd need to return eventually, for the meeting that night, but there was some time yet in the day before the sun set.

"So what do you think?" Vitani said with a slightly roguish sideways glance at Santiago "We have some time before the evening meeting. Did you know there was going to be a meeting this evening by the way? I forgot." She was slightly thrown off by having to mention the meeting to Santiago, not being able to remember if she'd already mentioned it. Still, Vitani didn't want to get too far sidetracked, and was more awaiting an answer to the first question than the second.

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Slightly surprised, and even miffed that Caine had decided to take the high ground this way. He'd expected him to spend a bit longer moping or keeping to himself. Shani supposed that it was natural that he couldn't exactly predict Caine's behavior after only having known him for a short time though. "Good of you to take it this way." Shani said, with a raised eyebrow of his own, and a nod. "You know I meant it when I said it was nothing against you." He lay himself down opposite to his friend and cast about for a subject of conversation. He hadn't expected to clear the air quite so quickly.

"So, you've told me a bit about yourself," He said after a moment's thought. "I suppose I owe you a little bit about myself as well." Shani cast his mind back and took a moment before continuing. His voice was uncharacteristically nostalgic and wistful. "I was born in a land quite as beautiful as this one. I was the only son of the pride leader. My father was a benevolent leader, much like your Simba. He was well loved by the pride, and I grew up wanting nothing. It was only when times turned rough that they started to turn against him." Shani paused as the story took a darker turn. "There wasn't enough to eat, and the lands were dying. My father knew that it wasn't his fault, but he did nothing to keep the pride in line. He let them talk themselves silly and they got riled up against his leadership. I knew that all they needed was a leader, a strong one that could speak for them all. I was old enough by then. I made myself that leader. The rest of the pride sided with me and we exiled my father. It was well understood that if he ever returned he would be killed. Even then he wouldn't stand up for himself though. He just let us push him around." Shani shook his head at the memory of his father's passive failure. "We did okay from there for a while, but eventually I had to strike out on my own. Staying with the pride would have meant death. That was most of a year ago now."

Shani never spoke in a sad or tearful way. There were hints of pride where he described his victory, but never sorrow. He wasn't sure what made him open up like that, but he felt like he could tell Caine these things.

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Kovu's face fell as he heard that they didn't have as much time together as he'd hoped. The demands of pride life as well as being a parent of a cub demanded so much of both of them. Kovu was determined at least to make the most of the precious time they did have, and he returned the passionate nuzzle. For the second time in a short while, Kovu racked his brains in search of a solution to a problem that he considered well out of his area of expertise.

"No, you're right..." He said. "there's no way we could let her stay anywhere alone. I don't think she'd be comfortable with the other cubs either. I guess we've got to take her with us." He finished off with a shrug, and a grimace that made him look slightly constipated. "You know though," he continued thoughtfully, "I don't think she'll mind that much. She seems to do pretty well when we're there to hide her. There's always my mane as a safe retreat. Maybe this'll even help her realize that strangers aren't a threat."

[CrystallineIcefire]

Jamelia smiled at Nala. Everybody in this pride was very kind and non judgmental, which the stranged-pelted lioness wished to see a lion or lioness as.

"I hope to stay more than a bit, Queen Nala." she stated, "I was exiled out of my old pride from competition between the leading huntress, and supposedly, my 'omen,' which was my fur color. I had no choice but to leave because I had the death penalty upon return. I went from pride to pride but nobody would accept me. I am hoping that you will accept me into your pride as much as King Simba does, and I also hope to be an addition to your hunting party... once my paws are healed. I was the best huntress, but yet, I wasn't still in peak condition. Food and water wasn't very plentiful."

Jamelia wasn't used to addressing royalty as just by their name, which was fine in the pridelands. If the prefix "King", "Queen", "Prince", or "Princess" wasn't spoken when addressing royalty, a slash to the face was one's punishment. Jamelia lifted a pawpad and licked it gingerly. After one lick, she saw and tasted a substance that she was so familiar with. Crimson. Blood. She turned her head, scanning the floor for blood marks, which unfortunately, she left while walking. Jamelia slightly folded her ears down in guilt.

"Oh, I'm sorry that I left those marks", she spoke sympathetically, "The two week trip tore my paws somewhat."

((Sorry for the late post, I had other things going on.))

[KiarasMate]

Kopa smiled down at Ashur with a reassuring gaze as he replied in a friendly fashion.

”Oh, no need to apologize Ashur. I’m sure you must have a lot on your mind right now. Just remember that you’re among friends here in The Pride lands. I’ve yet to meet any distasteful characters during my short stay here at least.”

By the time they had reached Pride Rock, Kopa could tell that the younger male was struggling just to stay upright. Hoping to help him as best he could, Kopa stopped where they were, speaking kindly to the young male as he stated.

”Why don’t you wait here. I’ll bring Simba down to meet you. You look like you’re going to collapse if you take another step. Just give me a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Leaving Ashur at the base of Pride Rock, Kopa ascended the path leading up to the main den, before poking his nose inside to see if Simba was present. Spotting the king, who seemed to be free for the most part, Kopa called out to him as he entered the den.

”Pardon me Simba, but might I have your attention for a minute. I came across a young male who wandered into your lands and might need a bit of help, as well as a place to stay. I’m not trying to overstep my bounds or anything but I figured that he should at least meet with you so you may pass judgment over him.”

Nodding to Kopa’s request, Simba politely excused himself from Jamelia’s side, speaking quietly to the young lioness as he did so.

”Please excuse me for a minute Jamelia. I’ll leave you in the care of my mate for now if you don’t mind.”

With that said, Simba followed Kopa out of the main den and down into The Grasslands. Upon seeing the young male to which Kopa had referred to previously, Simba introduced himself as he took a seat in front of him.

”Hello. I hear that you’re in need of a bit of help, is that correct?”

==========

Watching as her mate departed, hearing what Jamelia had to say, Nala adopted a more caring expression as she quickly assured Jamelia that she had done nothing wrong.

”Don’t you worry yourself over that Jamelia. It’s not your fault that your paws are injured, here, please come take a rest on one of these pelts. We’ve actually had a few injured lionesses as of late and fortunately for us, we have a very wise Shaman who is able to administer various medicines that help the recovery process go along much quicker. I have some of the leftover herbs that you can apply to your wounds. They sting pretty badly but they will help. If you’d like something to eat, there is some wildebeest that I can bring in for you. For now though, if you could keep off your paws, that would be best. I’m sure my mate will show you to a den that you can stay at later, but for now, you are welcome to rest here. There is going to be a Pride Meeting in a bit, but your presence won’t affect things, so just try and relax if you can.”

Realizing that Taraji had disappeared within the bunched up sleeping pelt that the cream colored queen had given to her, Nala let a small giggle leave her muzzle as she easily untangled the jumbled pelt, revealing the hidden cub within as she spoke.

”Come on out Taraji. We’re not done with our work yet.”

Acting as if there was nothing to worry about even if the crystal eyed cub looked worried, Nala continued to arrange the rest of the sleeping pelts for the upcoming meeting as she kept an eye on both Taraji and Jamelia, just in case either needed her assistance.

==========

Kiara purred happily to feel her mate’s loving touch, taking in what he had suggested to her, although he didn’t look very convinced by his own suggestion as she could very well see, but they seemed to have no other option. Sighing hopelessly, Kiara nodded as she responded in a disappointed tone.

”I guess Honey. I just hope it won’t be too much for her. You know how seriously my dad can take these meetings. Let’s just hope it doesn’t last very long and Taraji behaves herself.”

Giving her beloved mate one last loving lick over his cheek, Kiara moved off of him now, speaking up in a more pleasant manner.

”C’mon Stud, we better get back to our daughter before Nala starts to think we eloped for some private time alone.” Giving a sly grin to Kovu as she added in. ”That sounds like such a good idea though. Mmm.”

Licking over her muzzle lips in a rather sensual fashion, Kiara gave her tail a seductive whip sending her fading aroma towards Kovu before she bounded off with a laugh, always enjoying the chances she had to tease her beloved mate.