[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Umeme was smiling as Muroki lead Kato in this conversation. She knew where it was going almost from the beginning, but she let Muroki finish it without having her interrupt. She could almost see what Kato was thinking about, and was reminded of when Muroki had finally chose to propose to her. The prince is very lucky to have someone like Muroki to help him.

However, when Muroki finished, Umeme wanted to add her own bit as well. "If you need any more help with that, feel free to ask any one of us. I don't think Desta will mind."

Then, she decided to change the subject. "So, do you have any other plans for the day, or are you going to stay in the den for... how long exactly?" She looked at the prince, wondering just how long he was going to just stay around the area'. Sure, he was spooked for going all the way to the border, but there are many more places in the kingdom that are worth visiting. "Say, Muroki, remember that waterhole Delano and Lina found a while back?" Now that she was thinking about it, she didn't know if Kato knew about that place or not, but in either case, it would most likely be a good place for him to take Desta to.

[TheWhistlerify]

Kato didn't know the exact answer to Umeme's question, but he hoped that he would have his parents' consent to leave the area of the den once he felt better and started to calm down. The encouragement by Umeme and Muroki had definitely helped him and changed his view on yesterday's incident, which led him to hope that soon everything would go back to normal. "I don't know exactly how long I'll be here," he admitted, with a smile, "but I feel a lot better... Thanks..." The prnce's curiosity seemed to rise as Umeme mentioned that waterhole. What could be so special about a waterhole?

Muroki smiled as Umeme mentioned the waterhole (much to Kato's confusion). It was just a waterhole. Right? "Oh right!" said Muroki excitedly, "That's a great idea!" He still remembered his reaction to first seeing that little piece of paradise his brother and sister in law had discovered.

"What's so great about a waterhole?" asked Kato with a raised eyebrow, unable to help himself.

"Oh, you'll see." said Muroki with a smile. The prince has never been there before by the looks of it. "I'll gladly show you how to get there once your parents give you permission to leave the den."

Spoiler: show

So... What do you think of my entry?

[DGFone]

Umeme grinned, knowing that Muroki knew exactly what she was talknig about. And to make things better, it also sounded like Kato did not have a clue. He must have never been there then. "It's a rather well hidden waterhole" As soon as she said that, Kato paled visibly. Umeme pawed her forehead. Of course Kato would still be hesitant to go somewhere "well hidden", but he didn't even let her finish! "-It's right smack dab in the middle of this kingdom! There's nothing to worry about."

It wasn't at the exact center, and not even close, but it was far close than to any border and those Umeme could understand Kato being worried about. "Anyways, somehow Delano and Lina found it one day, and they showed it too us, and let me tell you: it's a real treat to go to."

From behind them, Delano had walked back into the cave. He had accidentally cut a paw when he hit it against a sharp edge of a rock, but hoped that no one would notice. He figured that he should at least try to act normal, and it might even help him. He had heard enough of the conversation to feel like he won't say something stupid.

"Yeah, it's a real special place. If you have never been there, let us show you it as soon as you are let out, and then you will really want to take Desta there."

Spoiler: show

I don't read the stories before posting the voting topic. As I submit my own stories as well, it wouldn't be fair for others if I got to read their stories and then write something while knowing what others have already written. You'll just have to wait for about a week and then I can tell you. Yes, you gotta wait!

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki smiled as Umeme and Delano praised the waterhole they were talking about. He couldn't wait to show it to Kato and to see his reaction to seeing it. "That's right." he said, winking at the prince. "It's not even close to any part of the border, and it's definitrly worth going to! You'll love it." The more everybody around him talked the more eager Kato was to go here and see for himself.

Lina had slowly followed Delano back inside. While her mate was calm now, it still worried her that he'd stayed inside that crevice for so long and then walked back inside without even saying anything to her. Not to mention that she still didn't know why he'd freaked out like that to begin with.

*Why don't you go, then?" They all looked in surprise to see the queen enter the hall / entrance of the den again.

Kato could feel his cheeks turn completely red. Just how much of their conversation had his mother caught? Great, now he was never going to hear the end of it. Wait, did his mother just allow him to go out? "Really?" he asked, forgetting about how embarrassed he was in an instant.

b]"You seem to have had some sense knocked into you and are talking a little more reasonably now."[/b] she said with a smile. "And if they don't mind going with you, then why not?"

"Will dad approve?..."

"You just leave your father to me." said his mother.

"Are you sure?" asked the prince, not wanting to end up upsetting his father, especially after yesterday.

His mother chuckled. "Go." As if to tease her son, she suddenly gave him a fake frown. Before I change my mind."

Spoiler: show

<_>

[DGFone]

Umeme grinned. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on!" She waited for Muroki, not knowing if he would need any help to walk again, or if he could manage to walk by himself. To her amazement, he was able to indeed walk unassisted, but she knew that a lot of that had to do with him not feeling any pain and not that he was actually healed yet, so they won't be able to walk quickly.

Not that she minded: They had most of the day still, and from here, the waterhole was closer than their old den. Umeme took her place next to Muroki, ready to help him if needed, but at the same time doubting that he will need any aid with walking now. With Kato, she knew that telling him all about the waterhole would make it worse compared to if he saw it without already knowing what to expect, so instead she asked, "So how did you meet Desta anyways? Didn't you know each other for a long time?"

Behind them, Delano and Lina followed the other three. Delano saw that Lina was at least somewhat disappointing in his behavior, so he vowed to return it to her somehow. Now that he was thinking somewhat more clearly, he really felt that his worrying and fears made him much more distant from her, and he hated it. Not only would he have to figure out a way to get rid of his nightmares before they will drive him nuts, but he will also need to find a way to make up for all the missed opportunities he had with Lina.

He really felt that for a new husband, he was being a very lousy one.

[TheWhistlerify]

The four young adults and Kato headed outside, managing to hear the queen say "You hang on to this one, young lady!" she said with a chuckle. "He's a keeper!" Muroki could feel his face heat up as his cheeks turned red. Could his mother in law finally have met her match? Pushing his embarrassment aside, he focused on what Kato was saying.

"Desta's my best friend." said the prince with a smile as they walked, looking quite eager to get to their destination. "Well, er..." he blushed. "She was my best friend... Now she's kind of, um, much more than that... We've know each other since we were little. Wanting to get there as soon as possible, he began to walk faster, slowing back down when he heard Muroki clear his throat. The lion couldn't walk that fast just yet. "Sorry..." said the prince, smiling sheepishly.

[spoiler]Care to remind me what the place look like once they get there, I kind of forgot, and you're the one who made it up in the first place..."[/b]

[DGFone]

Umeme also blushed in embarrassment. She thought that royalty were supposed to be dignified and well... noble. While she could say that the queen can behave like any mother would to her own son, she never imagined the day when she would be teased by non other than the queen herself. Talk about indignity. She also found it funny how Kato seemed all to eager to get away as fast as possible, and she was about to remind the prince that there was someone in their group who wasn't able to keep up, but Muroki beat her to the punch and Kato slowed down.

"You'll get your chance to see it, don't worry. No need to rush." Umeme also found it funny how she couldn't help herself but to tease Kato as well. Perhaps teasing was something that all lionesses were really good at by instinct.

As the group walked, Delano was thinking of what he should do. While he really needed to talk to Kato, it looked like the prince was busy with Umeme and Muroki at the moment. However, that also meant that he could at least use the time to spend it with Lina. She would no doubt rather like it. "Hey, Lina, I was thinking... when we get to he waterhole, how would you like it if we just... I dunno... hung out together?" It felt really weird to be asking her such a question now that they were mates, but he couldn't think of anything else that was better.

Up ahead, the tops of the trees surrounding the waterhole began to be visible, and Umeme rushed forwards just to make sure that it was the right place. It was. "Here we are! Well, Kato, what do you think?"

Spoiler: show

Something like this: http://pridelands.eu/pictures/6-ijcwtbk ... _0849.jpeg
But with trees on the shore, more rocks on the other side, and the entire thing in a "valley"

[TheWhistlerify]

Kato slowly followed Umeme through the trees that hid the waterhole, feelng quite excited to finally be able to see the place she and the rest of them held in such high regards. When he got there, at last, he was absolutely astonished by what he saw. The small area, being concealed by the trees, almost felt like a different, peaceful world. The most beautiful thing about it was the way the light of the sun managed to barely penetrate through all the leaves above, illuminating everything in a way the prince had never seen before. "Wow..." he said, not even noticing the way Muroki and Umeme chuckled at his reaction. "This place is absolutely perfect!"

Since they were there with Umeme, Kato and Muroki, Lina was surprised by Delano's question despite it being a very silly one considering the fact that the two of them were mates now. While the valley wasn't too big, she felt like the others would be cauht up in it enough in order to allow them some time on their own. "I'd love that." she said, smiling. Being back at this place after all this time felt really strange, but it also brought back some good memories.

[DGFone]

Umeme looked at Muroki when Kato expressed his astonishment at the place. Both of them shared a chuckle at his reaction. "I just knew that he would like it here," she told Muroki, "So, Kato. Think you will show Desta this place?"

Sure, they had just arrived, but according to Lina, when she and Delano had first found it, it didn't take very long to know that they wanted to show it off to Muroki and Umeme as well. Perhaps it wouldn't take Kato long to make up his mind either.

Delano looked around for where to go. He spotted a nice looking flat area on a rock that was big enough for two lions. "Hey, let's go there." He lead Lina over and sat down next to her. From where they were, they could see Muroki and Umeme as they went down to the water's edge, with Kato a few step's back.

Turing his attention back to Lina, Delano took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Listen, Lina... I just wanted to apologize for how I acted earlier today... I don't know what had gotten over me..."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki chuckled once more, smiling at his mate. "Who wouldn't?" he asked, giving her cheek a quick, gentle nudge with his nose as they headed towards the waterhole with the younger lion follwing closely behind. He was actually a little more excited about this than Muroki had expected him to be. Not that it was a bad thing. The important thing was that the prince was feeling so much beter now.

"Am I gonna show her this place?" asked Kato, clearly regarding the question as a rethorical one. "Of course I am! She'll love it!" He couldn't wait to bring her here, and hoped he'd be able to do so on the first opportunity. This was definitely going to be the perfect place for him to tell Desta that he loved her. Now if only he knew how to do that without making a fool out of himself...

Lina smiled at the spot Delano had picked, happily walking over and sitting down on the rock next to him. It was definitely far away enough from the waterhole in order to give them the space they wanted. "You don't have to apologize to me reapetedly..." she said with a smile, nuzzling his warm mane. "I know you're going through a hard time, but I'm sure you'll be fine before we even notice it."