[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Delano continued to sob into Lina's fur. If anyone would have asked him before, he would have told them that he had no more tears to cry after the past few days. But telling everyone about Hatari... it felt like the dam broke again, except that the river was flowing out from within, and he was powerless to stop it. "I want to see mom and dad again!" he begged, "I need to see them again!" His headache returned with a fury, and he slid to the ground just in time before everything went black...

Very familiar voices echoed though his head...He felt himself being shaken awake... Delano opened his eyes, gasping for breath, wondering where he was. From above him, Laini and Lina look at him with concern and worry, and Muroki also looked extremely worried. Sitting up carefully, he noticed that the pain in his head was gone. "Lina, I..." Looking around, he noticed that he was still at the trial. For that matter, it didn't look like much time had passed, if at all. The king was getting ready to relieved the final verdict by the looks of it.

Delano leaned against Lina's side. "I think I'll be alright, Lina," he said quietly, "I feel... strange... But I think I'll be fine." He tried to remember the voices he heard when everything was black. Why did they have such a calming effect over him?

With the trial coming to an end, Delano chose to ponder about it later. He'll figure it out afterwards.

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina continued holding onto her mate, both she and Muroki becoming worried as Delano suddenly became unconscious. Normally they would have just thought that he had fallen asleep because he was tired, but something felt amiss. Shaking him awake, they didn't know whether to be relieved when he woke up gasping for breath. He hadn't been out for too long, but in his condition pretty much anything was enough to send his close ones into a worrying fit.

Sitting up as well, Lina became confused as Delano looked around at them. Something about him seemed a little different. When he leaned against her and said that he was alright, it felt like something drastic had happened that she wasn't aware of. Not only did he look different, but for once he actually sounded like he believed everything was going to be okay. She wanted to ask him what had happened, but remained silent when she realized that the king was about to deliver the verdict.

"Sanders." he began, looking at his former Chief of Police and friend. "It is with a heavy heart that I say this. I wish I could consider our past friendship but the fact that you clearly do not regret anything you've done and that nobody here forgives you, including the fact that your recent activities show that you will not stop and are therefore a threat, I cannot even begin to think about considering it. For your actions, which include taking advantage of your position, treason, and murdering countless of innocents you are sentenced to death."

Nobody seemed to have expected anything else. Even Kato, who many would still consider as too young and maybe even innocent to comprehend, found himself feeling uneasy as his father delivered Sanders's verdict. It made him wonder... Would he also have to do this when he became king? Even if it really did look like there was no other way, would he have to end another lion or lioness's life, even if they did deserve it?

The king then looked at Hatari, causing Muroki, Kato and probably a few others to tense up. "Hatari, when I realized you've been captured the first thought that came to my mind was that you'll end up meeting the exact same fate." Muroki didn't know whether that was a good thing to hear or not. "Given the recent turn of events, including the reactions of some of the pride members to being here and seeing you like this, most of which were positive," he continued, probably talking about the evident guilt in the defendant's features, "as well as the fact that I truly believe you've changed for the better, I've decided to not execute you."

"However, given what you've done as well as bringing those who want you gone into consideration, I cannot allow you to remain here. You will leave this kingdom's territory and not return. You will not pass the border by even an inch. Under no circumstances may you pass the border. Is that understood?" Hatari looked at the king, slowly nodding his head. Why was Kato's father continuously mentioning the border? "If you do, there will be severe consequences."

[DGFone]

As the king finished passing judgment, Delano felt rather empty. After everything he had went through, he had thought that learning that Sanders would be executed would make him quite glad. To learn that the one most responsible for the death of his parents was now facing his own death... if anything, Delano felt numb. "Lina... I need to go outside..." While he felt that things would improve now, he still felt very bad at the moment. He hoped that getting some fresh air would help. With the other lions getting up and leaving, Delano found the strength to stand up too, but he needed to lean on Lina to stay up.

Umeme grinned at Muroki. "He lives," she whispered, "it worked." While the king was delivering his verdict, she was worried that for all the statements made on Hatari's behalf, that the king would still choose execution. When he announced that Hatari would live, it was light a terrible wright was lifted off her back. It rather surprised her how much she cared for Hatari, but in a way, something that Delano told her and Muroki stood out to her: she didn't know the Gakuru who bragged about murdering innocents. She only knew Hatari, the lion who regretted his actions to no end. This realization made her feel extremely proud of her brother in law, who still chose to spare the lion who had caused him so much hardship... who he had risked his own life to stop.

Seeing him standing up, as well as hearing that he wanted to get outside, Umeme nudged Muroki up as well. "I think the sun will do all of us some good," she said, "Come on, let's go!" Despite her eagerness to leave as well, she knew that they would have to slow down so as to not leave Delano behind. Kasi and his parents joined them as well, with Laini and Dakari helping Delano out as well so that Lina wouldn't need to carry the entire burden alone.

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina sat there for a few moments, relieved that the king had decided to let Hatari live on one paw and a little surprised that things actually worked out in the end on the other. What was the most difficult to grasp, however, was the fact that, finally, it was all over. Delano wouldn't have to worry about his past coming to hunt him anymore. She stood up upon hearing her mate say that he would like to go outside, allowing him to lean against her for support. The assistance given to her by Delano's aunt and uncle was very much appreciated, although she wouldn't have minded helping Delano on her own.

Along with Dakari, Laini and Kasi, they walked out of the den and stopped some distance away from it. It was a sunny day but not too hot and the wind was gently blowing. One would say that the weather was great if not perfect given how hot it could get sometimes. "I'm very proud of you." she whispered into Delano's ear, licking his cheek with a smile as they came to a stop and sat down on the soft grass. "It's over now..." Now all she had to do was hope that Delano would finally get better.

For a few moments after the king had finished delivering Hatari's verdict Muroki continued to just sit there. Despite having really hoped that things would work out the way they had, it was actually hard to believe that they managed to save Hatari's life. The pale furred lion seemed to regain his senses when Umeme nudged him. When she suggested walking out into the sunshine, he couldn't help but agree that it would do them all good.

Smiling with relief, he got up and walked outside with her, giving her a brief nuzzle as they walked. "Hey, wait up!" Looking around over his shoulder, Muroki chuckled as he saw Kato running in their direction. "You guys pulled it off!" he said, unable to conceal his excitement. "It worked!" Then, looking at Umeme, the prince smiled somewhat sheepishly. "Er... I've decided to just swallow my pride and say it... I owe you one."'

Muroki was about to ask the young lion what he was talking about, but the pieces kind of came together when Desta arrived at Kato's side, affectionately rubbing her head against his. Grinning and feeling like he couldn't help himself, Muroki was just about to tease the young couple when he noticed the king and the queen come out of the den as well. "Excuse me for a moment." Leaving the two lovebirds at the mercy of his mate, he hesitantly walked over to Kato's parents.

"Um..." The two of them turned to face him, smiling fondly at him as they did. "I was just wondering... What's going to happen now?" From the looks of it Sanders and Hatari were still inside the den, but he wasn't worried because he knew that there were many guards in there it as well.

"Well," said the king, "the two of them will be taken to the police station for a while for some required protocols and then they'll-" he seemed to stutter for a moment. "They'll each go their own way, in a manner of speaking." It kind of made Muroki uneasy to see, despite clearly saying that he believed there was no other choice, that the king was still emotionally moved at having just condemned somebody to death. It was commendable, in a way.

"Will I ever see Hatari again?"

"Oh, I'm sure you will." said the king, his expression brightening up a little. "After all he is a clever lion. I'm sure he caught my drift."

"What drift?"

"You're a clever lion too." The king chuckled. "You'll figure it out. Now if I'm not mistaken, your family and friends are over there." Still feeling confused, Muroki figured that there wasn't much he could do to get an answer. So, turning around, he went ahead and joined the others.

[DGFone]

Delano grinned a little when his aunt whispered her compliments to him. However, he didn't reply, instead lying down next to Lina when they got to the soft grass outside the den. Cuddling up next to Lina, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to calm down. He was really feeling the lack of sleep he had experienced lately, and now was as good of a time as any to get some of it back. It seemed like he had no sooner closed his eyes that he completely fell asleep...

With Kato and Desta, Umeme was grinning as much as she possibly could. "That's alright. I think I'll have to admit that you also had it in you, even if you needed some pressure to get started," she commented, unlike Muroki, having figured it out right away. "I'm glad for you two, I don't think you will have many issues together." Focusing on Desta, she also asked, "so how's Kato's treating you?"

Desta blushed furiously, glad to be covered in fur. "He's a great guy," she mumbled, "..did you guys really show him that waterhole? Because it really is a magical place. He took me there, and well..." she giggled and nuzzled the prince. "...It was great! I wasn't expecting it, I have to admit." So engrossed in her affections for Kato, she didn't notice Muroki returning to them.

----

Somewhat loud voices woke Delano up from his slumber. Slowly raising his head off the ground, he looked around to find out what had interrupted his rest. He blinked in surprise at how much time had passed, with the sun noticeably lower in the sky as the day was coming to a close. His aunt and uncle were sleeping themselves nearby, while Lina, Umeme and Desta were off talking to each other, and Muroki and Kasi were talking in another group with Kato.

Delano grinned slightly, feeling foolish for the pangs of jealousy he felt at being left alone. However, that vanished quickly when he heard the voices again, and he turned to see Sanders and Hatari being lead out of the den. Apart from the guards and them, there was hardly anyone else around. Waling over to Muroki, Delano sat down, still feeling like he had a life-time of sleep to catch up on. "So, this is it?" he asked quietly. "They're being taken away?" Truth be told, he was still rather glad to know that Sanders was going to be executed. No matter how wrong he told himself it was to be glad to know someone will die, he didn't want to lie to himself about his feelings. As for Hatari... he really didn't know how he felt towards that lion-

"Hey, you're uh, Delano and Muroki, right?"

Delano turned towards the new voice that spoke to them. "Yeah... why are you asking?" There was another lion with them, one that he didn't recognize. The lion wasn't even looking at them, instead very interested in Hatari for some reason. Delano frowned in confusion. "...Who are you?"

The lion chuckled nervously. "Oh, I'm just... nobody." He was still watching Hatari as the guards escorted him away. Sanders, separated from Hatari but still in sight, meanwhile noticed them, and seemed to grin and gave a slight nod.

Seeing that, Delano's frown deepened. "What's going on?" He turned to the lion again, only to see a clawed paw flying straight at his head. Yelping out in fright, he stumbled back. The claw missed his head, but it grazed deeply across his chest, and he screamed in pain as a burning sensation tore through him. His scream was echoed almost right away by Muroki, who was also hit.

Gasping for air as he tried to breath through the pain, Delano found himself on the ground, the world spinning. In front of him, his brother was also on the ground, bleeding furiously from his own wound. Their attacker was charging at Hatari, leaving the two brothers behind. "Muroki..?" Delano gasped out, unable to hide the pain in his voice. "Muroki? You... you're bleeding... you need help." Even as Muroki turned to stare at Delano, Delano didn't feel the pain anymore. He was hardly feeling anything, and his vision was starting to fade out. The only thing on his mind was the sight of Muroki bleeding on the ground. "Help!" he screamed, not knowing that help was already rushing towards them. Coughing from the effort it took to shout, Delano tried again, but his voice came out in a pathetic whisper. "Help..." His vision giving out, his head hit the ground as he passed out from the pain and blood loss.

[TheWhistlerify]

Kasi, Muroki and Kato were talking on their own away from the girls' group when Delano woke up and came over to them. Muroki smiled as his brother came over. "Looks like somebody slept well." he commented, referring to how it was almost evening. It was a relief to see, like he'd hoped, that Delano was feeling better already, having slept without waking up from a nightmare even once. Looking at Hatari and Sanders, he let out a soft sigh. "Yes, this is it..."

He was about to say something else, still looking at Hatari, but that was when he noticed the way Hatari was staring in their direction as the guards continued to lead him away. But it didn't look like he was looking at him or at Delano... That was when heard the new lion talk to them. He turned to face him. Hatari meanwhile continued to watch, feeling like something was amiss. He had a feeling that he'd seen that lion before, but where could he have possibly...

By the time it hit him it was already too late to warn the two brothers. The clawed paw of Sanders's helper was already making its way towards Delano. Everyone around them was alerted to what was going on as Delano screamed out in pain. This was followed by Muroki screaming in almost the same manner as his shoulder got hit and Kato yelling out in fright as the attacker left the two brothers behind and began to sprint in Hatari's direction. It appeared like this lion was counting on the guards to be too surprised in order to get an opening to attack Hatari, which was exactly the case, but unlike the two brothers Hatari was more than aware that he was in danger.

It suddenly occurred to him that the guards who were keeping an eye on Sanders were probably just as dumbstruck and he suddenly remembered a way Sanders liked to take his targets down by surprise with. He would get them to focus on something else, and then... His eyes growing wide as his attacker pounced at him, Hatari ducked just as Sanders's paw sailed right over his head from behind before rolling aside, causing the other lion to slam directly into his boss.

By the time the two seemed to realize what had just happened the guards had already regained their bearings and surrounded them. Realizing that Sanders and the other lion were no longer a threat, what with more than 10 guards surrounding them, Hatari went ahead and rushed over in the direction of Muroki and Delano.

It was hard to take a good look at them because they were already surrounded by the others as well as the queen and a few lionesses. Hatari somehow managed to get a glimpse of the fact that Delano was unconscious, but to his surprise Muroki was awake. Yes, he was barely awake and looked like he might pass out at any moment, but it was obviously a surprise considering that he'd lost a lot of blood just a few days ago and most likely hasn't fully recovered from that yet. "No... Please no..."

Hatari desperately wanted to just force his way past them and try to help, to try to assure Muroki that everything was going to be alright even though there was no telling what would happen. But he knew that he would just be getting in the way because the queen and another lioness who was helping her obviously knew what they doing. Their knowledge in that field was most likely greater than his, so he had no choice but to remain where he was.

[DGFone]

Noises echoed and bounced around in his head as Delano slowly became aware of being awake. Just about everything was in pain, and he right away wished that he was still out of it. However, despite wanting to get back to sleep, he wasn't able to get himself to. Regaining more consciousness, he started to recognize the noises as the voices around him.

He slowly opened his eyes, finding it impossible to move his head, but he was at least able to still look around. Lina and Kasi were sitting next to him, and to his dismay, it looked like Lina had been crying for a long time. "...Lina?" he croaked, his voice instantly causing the two of them to look at him. Lina especially looked significantly happier to see him awake, and rushed to hug him. Delano whimpered in pain as she did, but he didn't push her away. In truth, he was also glad to have her hold onto him.

When she finally let go of him, Delano took a few moments to regain his breath. "What happened? I remember... getting attacked... but..." His breath stopped as he froze in horror. "Is Muroki all right?" he asked. In his worries, he pushed on his paws in order to lift himself up, but all he got was a wave of agonizing pain sweeping through him, causing him to cry out in pain and collapsing to the ground. He whimpered from the pain, but also from worrying about his brother. "Muroki... Muroki, where are you?"

Lina once more was at his side, and the queen too came from somewhere nearby. Delano had never seen her look more worried, and he desperately hoped that neither he nor Muroki were not the cause of that worry, but at the back of his head, he knew that they were.

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina had obviously stayed with Delano ever since the incident outside the den. Having her mate and her brother in law attacked completely out of the blue like that, after they'd all gotten the impression that everything was over with, was quite a devastating blow. While she, Delano and Kasi where inside the den in the area where the trial had taken place, the others, including her brother in law, were deeper inside the den (something about the queen wanting Muroki to remain in a warmer area).

When the two brothers had been brought into the den Lina expected to find herself alone by Delano's side because she knew more than well whose condition was worse. As a result, she expected everyone to be more concerned about Muroki's brother and she wasn't blaming them. Back when they were all outside the queen had already been able to assure them all that Delano was going to be perfectly alright, but that didn't stop Lina from crying quite a lot (also as a result of her being worried sick about Muroki).

It sure did help that Kasi had chosen to stay behind with her. She knew just how worried he was about his cousin and that, just like her and Delano, he still didn't know how he was doing, and she appreciated his support a lot. When Delano woke up she couldn't stop herself from hugging him and nuzzling into his mane. Her relief was short lived because, soon enough, Delano asked about his brother. "I don't know..." she would have gone to check on him sooner but she didn't want to leave Delano unattended. "The queen had him taken deeper into the den..."

The lioness in question, who had just made her way from the inner part of the den, made her way towards them when she saw that Delano was awake. "How are you feeling?" she asked with a weak smile, although it was clear that she was more worried than relieved.

Spoiler: show

Back so slower, more headache-inducing phone posting until the weekend... <_<
Another chapter is up (that makes 2), by the way.

[DGFone]

Delano tried to get into a more comfortable position, but even moving a little took more energy than he had at the moment. "Everything hurts," he admitted, "isn't there... can't you stop the pain?" When he had hurt his paws, the queen was able to apply the stuff that helped a lot. Even Muroki, with his wounded shoulder, almost seemed to forget about his wound after the queen helped him out. With the pain he was in right now, Delano was desperate for anything that might help. However, thinking about his brother brought about a wave of nervousness to Delano. He looked up at the queen again, ignoring the pain caused from moving his head.

"How- how's Muroki?" He had to blink back tears because of his worrying about Muroki. The last thing he remembered, Muroki was on the ground bleeding from his shoulder again. "Will he be all right?" Lina had mentioned that the queen had taken Muroki deeper into the cave. What did that mean? Was he dying? Somehow, Delano was able to reach out with a paw and grab onto one of the queen's legs. "How is he?" he demanded again.

---

Deeper in the cave, Umeme remained next to Muroki. While he did remain conscious longer than Delano had, he had eventually too passed out while being carried inside the den. All throughout the evening the queen and her helpers had been rushing between the two brothers, making sure that one of them wouldn't suddenly take a turn for the worse.

As the queen once more left to check on Delano, Umeme lay down next to the sleeping form of her mate. She was worried sick for Muroki, and waiting nervously by his side, despite being told that he would survive, had left her weary. At least now she can try and rest while still being next to him for when he would wake up. She looked at her mate nervously, then licked him along the muzzle. "Wake up soon," she whispered to him, doubting that he actually could hear her.

[TheWhistlerify]

The queen's ears dropped against her head when Delano said that everything hurt. It wasn't something she wasn't aware of. "Maybe later..." she said apologetically. "Your wounds are more severe this time around; it'll be safer to wait for them to heal a little on their own." Delano was going to have to bear with the pain for just a little longer. "But don't worry, you'll be perfectly alright."

Even though it would have been better had she kept her calm demeanor, the queen couldn't help but sigh as Delano asked about his brother. "It was a very close call with your brother..." she admitted as the others, with the exception of Umeme, also emerged from deeper inside the den. "From the looks of it he should be okay, but... Because he lost even more blood he's very weak. The odds appear to be in his favor, which is good, but I want you to keep in mind that, for the next few hours, there's no telling what might happen... I'm sorry, but I've already done everything that I could..."