[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

This time, Ubawa didn't mind that Marini brushed up against him. This at least, he was used to from her, so all he did was roll his eyes as he walked besides his father. He was looking forward to seeing his aunt and uncle again, as well as his nephew.

Umeme on the other hand was quite to spend time with her family, but she still wanted to also ask Delano and Lina along to visit Hatari. However, until they will get to the den, that will have to wait. Besides, there was a very excited daughter next to her who looked ready to burst. "Alright Marini," Umeme chuckled, "so what was in that dream that you want us to hear so much?"

---

As much as Delano liked the idea of going faster, he didn't want to risk it with Akili on him. Should his son fall, he could easily get hurt, not to mention that Akili wasn't the best of walkers yet. He was steadily improving, but he still had a long way to go before Delano would allow him to travel on his own four feet for any real distances. "I can go faster, but not right now, son," he said simply. "when you will start to walk well, I will show you how fast I can run." Inside his head, he wondered if he could still run as well as he used to, but considering how much he had to help Lina in raising Akili, which often included hunting alone, he doubted that he was any worse if at all.

Still, in order to make Akili slightly happier than to simply continue walking, Delano broke into a slight trot. Nothing rough that can risk his son falling off, but not a full sprint either. "How's that?"

[TheWhistlerify]

As Marini went ahead and started babbling about her latest dream to her mother, Muroki looked down at Ubawa who was walking next to him. Sure enough, his daughter's description sounded rather familiar even though he wasn't fully paying attention. "Slept well, Ubawa?" he asked with a teasing grin. It was amusing how his son always complained about having to go to sleep (unless he was really worn out) but had a tendency to sleep in relatively often. That was definitely something that made him different from his sister, among other things.

~·~·~

While obviously disappointed that his father wasn't going to run all the way back to the den, Akili did take some comfort in the way the pace was increased a little bit further. Not to mention, now there was also the anticipation of eventually finding out just how quickly his father could run. Besides, Delano might not have started sprinting, but it was still far better than walking and less boring. "Better!" replied the cub with a small smile, cuddling up further into the lion's mane as the chilly morning's wind blew harder against them as a result of their increased speed.

Even though he was quite enjoying the ride, Delano's son was rather satisfied when they got back into the den. After being carried about through the cold air outside for some time, the cave felt especially warm and cozy. He couldn't help but giggle as he discovered that his mother was still sleeping. Remaining cuddled up in his father's mane, Akili purred in content as his father settled back down next to Lina. He wasn't sleepy anymore, but he was also too comfortable in order to even consider moving.

[DGFone]

Ubawa groaned at Muroki's teasing. "Daaaaddd!" Still, he nodded. "Yeah, I slept fine." He wasn't really paying any attention to his sister's story - the dream sounded rather boring anyways, however his mother was appearing to be rather interested in Marini's story.

Eventually, they finally reached the den that belonged to their aunt and uncle and Marini and Ubawa stayed with Umeme as Muroki went inside.

---

Delano carried Akili back to the den, however he wasn't too surprised when his son stayed in his mane when they finally got back inside. Sure enough, Lina was still sleeping, a fact that caused Delano to grin. He gently nudged Lina's nose with a paw. "Lina... Lina... time to wake up." He heard their son giggle from above him, but he ignored the noise as he waited for his mate to wake up.

From outside, he heard talking, which meant that Umeme and Muroki had arrived. "Lina," he repeated again, "we've got company. Wanna wake up now?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina let out an annoyed groan, gently pawing at Delano's nose with her paw as a grin formed across her muzzle. "Sure..." she said with a tone that suggested otherwise, opening her eyes just in time to see Akili slide off his father's head before he ran over to her and nuzzled her affectionately. She smiled and returned the gesture, enjoying the cub's purrs of happiness. "Good morning, Akili." There was no better way to start the day than to see him and her mate.

Her son looked like he was about to greet her in response, but that was when his uncle came into the den. "Uncle!" Smiling broadly, Akili ran over to Muroki, who bent over and gave the cub a gentle hug, which soon turned into a noogie. Sure enough, his nephew started to laugh in protest. "Stop!" It was clear, though, despite his squirming, that he enjoyed the attention. "One day I'll be big and strong like dad and then you-" he paused briefly as he pushed against the lion's chest with his paws, trying to break free, "-won't be able to, oof, do this, uncle!"

Still smiling warmly at his nephew, Muroki let him go before turning his attention to his brother and sister in law, who appeared to be rather amused by their son's antics. "Morning, you two." he said.

Lina chuckled as she watched Akili wrestle with the paw of her brother in law. "Hey, Muroki." Realizing that her sister, nephew and niece were most likely outside, she raised her voice a little. "Don't just sit outside, Umeme!" she called, not feeling like it was very polite to have them just wait there. "Come on in!"

[DGFone]

Watching Muroki torment his son caused Delano to chuckle, but he had to keep it down in order not to hurt Akili's feelings. Even more, when he heard his son try to explain that he will get bigger, he couldn't help but feel pride swell in him at how Akili described him. Well, then perhaps he can help Akili out as well. "Alright, let him go, Muroki," he muttered, but his brother simply shook his head, grinning all the while.

Umeme and the cubs walked into the den when Lina called them in. She right away saw the other cub trying to get away from Muroki, who was clearly enjoying giving Akili a rough morning. "Good morning to you too, Akili," Umeme teased, "Muroki, dear, give the boy a break." She glared playfully at her mate until he finally relented and let their nephew go, who immediately took the opportunity to run over to Ubawa and Marini, and the three cubs began to chase each other throughout the den, even despite the fact that Akili was quite smaller than his cousins.

With the cubs occupied among themselves, the four adults huddled in the now crowded den. "Um, perhaps it will be better if we talk outside," Umeme suggested, "it will also give them more room to play around it." So they all left the den and sat down outside the entrance in the cool morning air.

Watching as the cubs chased each other out the den as well, Delano said, "I'm sure Marini and Ubawa are bigger than I last remember them." He wasn't sure if that was the case, but it certainly felt like it. "So uh... Lina said that you wanted to take us somewhere today..."

Umeme nodded. "Yes we did." She motioned at the cubs. "Now that they can walk much better than before-" Akili stumbled and fell over, but got up and resumed the chase right away, "well, for the most part. Anyways, I was thinking of taking them with us to go and meet Hatari. It's been a long time since we last saw him, and I know he'll be interested in seeing the cubs."

[TheWhistlerify]

At Umeme's request, Muroki finally gave in and let Akili go, allowing him to go and lay with Ubawa and Marini. The wrestling in which the cub had engaged his paw had quickly turned into another attempt of escape by his nephew. But, of course, he was just playing around with the little cub because he knew he enjoyed it. He hadn't been able to not playfully refuse Delano's demand for Akili's freedom but, at the end of the day, he and Umeme had come to Lina and his brother for an entirely different reason.

As the four of them left the den (and were soon followed by the cubs, who were still randomly running after and away from one another), he felt himself become a little nervous because of what he and his mate were about to ask of Akili's parents. True, they'd both defended Hatari during his trial, but there was no telling how they would react. Muroki didn't know what they would think of seeing Hatari again not to mention of bringing Akili along with them.

Surely enough, when Umeme voiced their plans to the two of them, Lina looked rather surprised to say the least. Both she and Delano were more than aware of the fact that Muroki and Umeme were still in touch with Hatari, but the idea of ever seeing him again herself has never crossed her mind. She knew that he had changed - she wouldn't have defended him otherwise - but just what was she supposed to make of her sister's and brother-in-law's invitation?

For what seemed like a very long moment, she continued to sit there and think about it. There was no doubt that Muroki and Umeme would take Marini and Ubawa regardless of the decision she and Delano made and she felt like she understood why. The lion who'd killed their cubs' grandparents not only lived nearby but was also their close friend, meaning that Ubawa and Marini deserved and needed to know about him. Since her niece and nephew were to also eventually discover the truth about Hatari's past, Lina had a feeling that Akili would discover it all as well one day.

If Akili were to become aware of such information, Lina decided, it would be best if he learned it from his parents rather than his cousins and after meeting Hatari himself - there was no doubt about that. "What do you think, Delano?" she eventually asked quietly. Obviously, as Akili's father, her mate desevred to have a saying in all of this as well. She knew that the only reason she had for disagreeing to go was the very likely possibility that she would be very uncomfortable in Hatari's presence, but if going would prevent a huge mess in the future... "Akili will need to know about him." she added.

[DGFone]

Delano glanced nervously at the cubs before returning his gaze to Lina. "I uh... can we talk about it inside?" He hurried her in, but not before telling Muroki quickly, "keep the cubs out here." Following his mate inside the den, he sat down next to her. "I uh... I don't like it," he said simply. "I just... I don't know if I can go and see him again..." Delano sighed, looking at the ground. "I don't want Akili to go either. How will he react when he will find out what that lion did?"

Back outside the den, Umeme watched with some concern the entrance of the den where Delano and Lina had walked into. "Do you think they will agree?" she asked Muroki quietly. "Lina didn't seem to have any trouble agreeing to the idea, and what she said makes sense: better let them see Hatari for themselves before they will learn what he did."

A motion caught her eye and Umeme looked, chuckling at what she saw. "Marini! Don't do that! Let Akili free. You know he's smaller than you. Play fair." Turning her attention back to Muroki, she shrugged. "Think Lina can convince Delano to go?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki gave his brother a short nod before watching him disappear into the den with Lina. He didn't know what to expect, really. "I don't know. But it would be for the better if Akili got to know him for who he is now first." Both of Akili's parents obviously had their reservations about this, so there was no telling what they would decide eventually. He couldn't help but chuckle as he saw his daughter step off of her cousin with a pout, only to be immediately pounced at by both him and Ubawa. Boys be boys... Although, according to the loud laughter of all three cubs, Marini didn't really mind.

Meanwhile, inside the den, Lina sat down next to Delano, smiling softly at him. She'd expected him to not like the idea the moment she'd heard about it herself and was rather certain that that was the case the moment he'd asked her to discuss the matter privately. "I don't like the idea of seeing him again very much either." True, she might change her mind about that if she were to talk to him again, but she still preferred to keep things the way they were.

Looking towards the entrance of the den briefly as she heard the cubs' laughter, she continued. "But Akili will eventually find out about Hatari's past actions. We won't be able to keep it hidden from him once Marini and Ubawa would know the truth." That probably wouldn't happen very soon, but it would eventually. And, also, Akili would most likely hear about his aunt's and uncle's friend from his cousins once they'd met him. "If he finds out about his involvement with the underworld without getting to know what he's like now, there's no telling what would happen."

"Do you remember how it pushed Muroki away from you before the trial?" she asked, despite not feeling too comfortable about reminding her mate of that. Both she and him had had a much harder time accepting the fact that Hatari had changed in comparison to Umeme and Muroki becuase, unlike them, they hadn't gotten to know him well enough at the time. "It will be much less confusing for him if he doesn't discover things the way we did..."

[DGFone]

Delano nodded, remembering all too well how he had lost his temper at Muroki several times because of Hatari. "I know... just... I don't know." He starred at the ground until he felt Lina approach him and he hugged her gently, feeling slightly better from the contact. "I want Akili to learn about him as well, but I don't know if I can handle it..." He looked up at Lina. "Sometimes, I still have dreams... bad ones... and sometimes he's in them." He leaned his head on Lina's shoulder. "I guess I can go with you guys, but I really don't want to. But if I don't go... what will Akili think?"

From outside, he could hear the excited laughter of the cubs, and wished that he could be out there to see what was going on, but he also knew that it would be the wrong move to leave before he figured this out with Lina. He really was confused as to whether he should go with them or not, because he didn't know if he could trust himself to behave around Hatari or not.

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina seemed to tense up a little and a worried expression appeared on her face when her mate informed her that, sometimes, he still had bad dreams. Surely she would have known by now if those dreams were as bad as the first ones, but she still wasn't too thrilled to hear him say that. "He'll probably be confused about why you don't want to see your own brother's friend." she replied eventually with a soft sigh, placing her head on top of Delano's and purring slightly at the warmth of his mane.

What she'd just said applied to the near future, of course. Once Akili would find out the truth, his opinion of Hatari would be far more likely to change for the worse and stay that way if his own father kept avoiding a lion who he would be supposed to believe has changed for the better. After all, the biggest influence on Akili throughout the course of his early life would be his parents - his father in particular. "I wish it didn't have to be so stressful, Delano... But I'll be there with you, as will Muroki and Umeme." She then quickly added "If you decided to come, of course... I won't force you." Even though she believed that Delano accompanying them would eventually be for the better, he still had every right to say no.