[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Returning to the cubs with Lina, Delano tried not to glance at Hatari. He felt so nervous and jumpy that he didn't know if he would panic or do something stupid if he looked at the lion for too long. "Alright, Akili, let's go home," he told his son, wondering if the cub even heard him. Akili looked so tired that Delano doubted that he would even make it part of the way home. Letting out a slight sigh, Delano lay down and allowed Lina to help their son onto his back. "Someone ran around too much today," he commented with a grin, "so, let's go home?"

Umeme waited for Muroki to finish up talking to Hatari as she sat next to Ubawa and Marini. Watching Delano pick Akili up on his back, she glanced down at her own cubs and also knew that they would most likely not make it home on their own feet. Despite the fact that they were older than Akili, both cubs must have also run so much that they didn't have any energy left, judging by how Ubawa was resting next to Marini, something that he usually avoided doing.

With Muroki walking back to them, Umeme grinned at him. "I think we'll also have to carry them back," she motioned with her head at Delano and Lina as they walked away with Akili, "today has been quite the day for the balls of fluff." She reached down and grabbed Marini and allowed Muroki to do the same with Ubawa. "Something makes me think that they won't want to wake up early tomorrow," she teased as Marini fidgeted at having her rest disturbed. "So, shall we?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Gently helping Akili climb onto Delano's back, Lina couldn't help but feel quite amused by just how tired their son looked. Sure, they'd seen him practically collapse from exhaustion after playing at the end of pretty much every day, but today he seemed somewhat more worn out than usual, in a way. The little cub fell asleep almost as soon as he'd settled down on his father's back, causing the lioness to chuckle. "Yeah." she said, giving Delano a quick lick across his muzzle. "Let's go home." She was also starting to feel tired and was already looking forward to a good night's rest with her favorite pillow.

Having finished talking to Hatari, Murki made his way back over to Umeme and their cubs. There was definitely no doubt that they were going to have to carry the two troublemakers back. While it was common for Ubawa to often sleep in even if he hadn't tired himself out to such an extent the previous day, Marini has never overslept once. However, Umeme did have a point in mentioning that the two looked more worn out than ever before. Perhaps their daughter wouldn't wake up early the following day. There had to be a first timd for everything. Hopefully she'd develop a habit like her brother...

Nodding and carefully picking Ubawa up by the scruff, Muroki looked around at Hatari, who'd walked over to them. "Thanks for dropping by." said the former member of the underworld. He'd enjoyed interacting with the cubs a lot more than the first time around, not to mentin that he felt as if he was getting better at it.

Muroki smiled at the other lion. "No problem. We'll see you again soon." After biddng each other farewell, he and Umeme went ahead and began to follow Delano and Lina, heading home.

[DGFone]

Umeme waited for Muroki to bid farewell to Hatari before joining his side and walking back with him. She wanted to tell him that she really enjoyed today, but with Marini held in her jaws, she wasn't able to talk without risking accidently dropping their daughter. Umeme found it very amusing how both Ubawa and Marini were now completely asleep, and if she saw correctly, so was Akili. Today must have been quite the adventure for the cubs if they all were this tired.

Leaving Delano and Lina as the other two went off to their own den, Umeme walked side by side with Muroki. While she wasn't able to talk yet, she was able to rub heads with his gently, still being able to at least show some affection in a way that won't wake the cubs. She really didn't want them to wake up and start complaining about their antics. Especially Ubawa, who was much less tolerant of his parents being close to each other than Marini.

All to eager to get away from Hatari's home, Delano walked off rather quickly, leading Lina towards their den. Feeling that Akili would not want to be woken up, he didn't say anything as they walked back, thinking that if they talked, they might accidently wake their son up. Besides, he really was feeling rather tired himself as well, no doubt because of the knowledge of what he would have to do soon feeling like a great weight on his shoulders.

Getting to their den, he walked inside and gently placed Akili between Lina's paws as he snuggled up next to her. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to drift off to a restless sleep, dreading of the next day.

[TheWhistlerify]

Silently walking alongside his mate, Muroki happily rubbed his head against hers without saying anything as they made their way home, making sure to do so carefully so to not accidentally wake up Ubawa, who was sleeping peacefully as his father gently held him by the scruff. It wasn't long before the two arrived back to their den. Muroki lay down closely to Umeme once they were inside and placed their son down next to Marini, between their mother's paws. "They certainly had fun." he commented with a chuckle, nuzzling the lioness next to him.

*

Lina followed Delano home without saying anything, already looking forward to getting back to their den and getting a good night's sleep. Smiling as her mate set Akili down between her paws and snuggled up against her once they were inside, she began to gently bathe their cub. As tired as she was, the day had left him rather dirty and messy. Delano was already fast asleep by the time she was done, so she simply rested her head in his mane and went to sleep as well.

[DGFone]

With their cubs safely tucked in for the night, Umeme giggle quietly, returning Muroki's nuzzle. "Yes they did," she agreed, "and as did I." She let out a yawn, feeling like she too could use some sleep herself. Setting her head down on Muroki's warm mane, she grinned and whispered, "well, good nighty them."

---

Feeling uneasy, Delano found himself awake in the middle of the night. All those feelings of dread he had meant that he wasn't able to stay asleep for long, knowing that Lina would send him off to Hatari soon enough. Looking at his mate, he could see her fast asleep with Akili between her paws. It looked like she had cleaned their son after they came back, but he couldn't actually recall her doing so.

Sighing, he placed his head on his paws as he waited for the time to pass, trying to possibly get back to sleep. Still, his mind kept wandering about and always coming back to what he would soon have to do soon. Talking to Hatari... the act would be simple enough, but for Delano, it still felt like one of the biggest challenges in his life that he would have to go through. If Lina had known how he felt about it, perhaps she would have relented and let him get away with not doing this. But based on their conversation yesterday, Delano got the impression that she thought that he was simply over reacting over a very minor thing.

After what felt like waiting for ever, the first hints of light penetrated the den. Glancing once more at Lina, he saw that she was still fast asleep. Well, Lina was never a morning lioness to begin with. Giving her a quick lick, Delano got up and left the den.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki couldn't help but grin somewhat smugly as Umeme told him that she'd also had fun. Cuddling, nuzzling and kissing was always enjoyable, even if they did get funny looks from Hatari and interruptions from the cubs. In fact, the little ones' rudeness kind of made the entire thing all the more amusing. It sure felt great to 'punish' them for their crimes. They were just so tiny and helpless against his wrath. Chuckling, the lion nuzzled his son and daughter before licking his mate across her muzzle and also placing his head down. "Goodnight."

[DGFone]

Chuckling from Muroki's lick, Umeme mumbled a good night for him in turn once more before almost right away beginning to snore. Perhaps today had taken more out of her than she thought (which was ironic considering that they didn't do all that much), because in almost no time at all, she was asleep as well, just like their two cubs. Perhaps seeing them so tired and asleep all the way back home had rubbed off on her.

---

Despite having spent a very sleepless night dreading this moment, Delano found himself heading towards Hatari's place rather quickly. Perhaps it was the knowledge that he won't be able to convincingly avoid doing this at all without Lina finding out meant that he simply wanted to get this over with as soon as he could.

Reaching the waterhole, he glanced around but didn't see the other lion anywhere. Even making sure to check the trees and various branches where Hatari would sleep in, Delano gave up and cautiously walked over to the den. Peering inside, he saw that Hatari was indeed inside.

Quickly pulling his head back out of view, Delano swore that Hatari was already awake and had seen him. Did the lion hear him arrive, or was he simply already awake? Or was he up to something?

Gulping nervously, Delano took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves before walking out to the den entrance again. "Hatari..." His voice almost wavered from his nervousness, but Delano forced himself to sound confident, no matter how much he felt to the contrary. What did Lina suggest that he say, anyways? Oh, right. Well, there goes nothing. "...We need to talk."

[TheWhistlerify]

Hatari was either already fully awake or at least partially so by the time Delano neared the little place the former member of the underworld called home. He couldn't really tell just how awake he was, but he was able to hear somebody approaching his den quite clearly. Not knowing who it was and what to expect, seeing how it could be Kato who was off on a morning jog or that Chief of Police again, Hatari was more than surprised when he saw Delano's head peeking for a very short moment in the corner of his eye.

Was that his mind playing tricks on him? Because, from the sound of it, Muroki's brother was definitely there alone. What was he out of all lions doing there on his own? Hatari remained in this state of uncertainty until Delano made himself visible again, making it rather clear that Hatari wasn't imagining anything. He was very confused as to what Delano was doing there, obviously, let alone without his mate or Muroki. "Talk?" he asked, before jumping to some sort of a conclusion on his own.

There was no doubt that Akili's father wanted to talk either about his son or about, well, the two of them. Hatafi had attempted to start a conversation just yesterday, which hadn't turned out to be very effective. That didn't mean that he didn't want to be on at least slightly better terms with him anymore, of course. "Please, come in." The former member of the underworld sat up and turned to fully face him as he said that, unable not to notice the fact that Delano was nervous. Yes, Delano was managing to keep both his tone and expression calm, but his body language conveyed a different message.

Hatari was an expert in that sort of thing, after all. [b]"So... What would you like to talk about?" he asked calmly, hoping to not accidentally make Muroki's brother even more uneasy than he already was. Whatever it was Delano wanted to say, Hatari hoped the conversation would lead to them interacting more freely in the future.

[DGFone]

Hesitantly walking inside Hatari's den, Delano felt a nasty sense of deja vu that almost left him running back out. The last time he was alone next to Hatari like this, without Lina or Muroki or someone else he trusted, it was outside the kingdom with Hatari gleefully gloating about all the murders he had committed. Now, he struggled to control himself as he tried to get over the emotions stirred up by the memories.

"Lina... She wanted me to talk to you," he eventually was able to say, "not about anything specifically. Just... so that I won't be so nervous around you or something..." As he sat there, very much nervously, Delano didn't bother to tell the other lion how just yesterday, he had almost attacked him simply because he wasn't expecting being talked to.

Running away now felt like a very good idea, but Delano forced himself to sit still. If he ran now, it would most likely make things even worse, not to mention Lina's reaction when she would find out what he did. No, he would have to force himself to stay here until some progress can be made, however long that will take. At least enough so that he would be able to go back to Lina and tell her that coming here was not a total waste of time.

[TheWhistlerify]

Hatari obviously wanted him and Delano to be more comfortable around each other. He was glad that Lina also believed it was necessary, but that did make him wonder what Delano's opinion on the matter was. Sure, Muroki's brother would probably also prefer it better if they weren't so jumpy whenever they were in the same place, but Hatari did not know just how much Delano wanted that. He'd just said that his mate had sent him there and, to Hatari, it looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

But it would make sense for Delano to be nervous. That did not necessarily mean that he didn't want the situation to improve. "It does get a little uncomfortable, yes." he admitted, letting Muroki's brother know that they were both on the same boat. While Hatari wasn't as nervous, it was still more than enough to bother him. "That's why I tried talking to you yesterday." he added, wondering whether Delano had figured that out on his own or not. The former member of the underworld had attempted to start a conversation about Akili, so... "Akili's really cute, by the way." Perhaps they could carry on from where they'd left off. The point was to just talk, no matter what about, right?