[Private] Love Will Tear Us Apart

[YFWE]

Listening along to Hiroshi's defense of Kito, Kweli could not help but feel that he was right about the lion, and at the very least looked at him in a far less critical light. While he was still a bit perturbed at Kito for snapping at him, he knew that, at the end of the day, Kito did not hold any grudges and probably completely forgot about little things like this by the next day.

"You're probably right, Hiro. I can just be... sensitive sometimes. I think it's some of my doing since I don't know him as well as I do you and Ari, especially Ari. Maybe that'll get better in time."

Hiroshi's later mention of Bashasha's name caused Kweli's ears to prick up once more. Suppressing the more painful emotions for a brief moment, he flashed a weak grin at Hiroshi.

"I'll be fine. Like I've said... those memories with Bashasha... they're the good memories. I don't get too worked up about the good memories. I should be just fine."

"Thanks for looking out for me, though," he added, returning his gaze to the horizon ahead of him. Hiroshi's mention of the parallels between the place they were headed to and the place he and Bashasha had frequented in his earlier youth had caused him to think about both... would he be alright visiting such a place? Or would memories of his past become too difficult to overcome?

He could not suppress a concerned look. He did not want to break down in front of everyone else, but just thinking about it had made him emotional already.


Ari could read the sincerity in Kito's voice and, internally, felt perhaps a bit guilty for questioning and scolding him as she had. She could be defensive sometimes, however, especially when it came to her friends. She was glad to see that Kito at least seemed to understand he had not acted the way he probably could have.

She could feel herself becoming nostalgic at Kito's mentions of the past, even grinning slightly. Those had been the days. She missed them, but... at the same time, they had to grow up eventually, and things simply were not always going to be the same, as great as that might be.

"Trust me, I miss those days too. Sometimes I think staying young forever would be so much better than growing up and settling down into new lives. Unfortunately, that's just not how life works."

She paused. "Today will be fun, though, and I'll glad you brought it up. Let's try and enjoy this the best we can--without snapping at anyone else or anything like that. I'm willing to forget all our problems today... that is, if you are too..."

[KiarasMate]

Giving an understanding nod to Kweli as he listened to his friend’s response, Hiroshi could sense the slight change that had come over Kweli thanks to his former inquiry. Feeling the need to at least ensure his friend that his previous offer would still stand true even if worst didn’t come to worst, Hiroshi waited for Kweli to finish speaking before he replied in a consoling voice, once again, giving Kweli a friendly smile as the words left his muzzle.

”That’s true buddy. Just as long as you keep the good memories close to your heart, you should be fine but you know, just in case things do become overwhelming, all you have to do is let me know and I promise you we will leave. This is supposed to be a fun day according to Kito and it wouldn’t be fair to you if Paradise brought up too many painful memories for you to enjoy yourself as well buddy. Just keep that in mind, okay?”

Slightly relieved now that Ari seemed to be letting up on him, Kito managed a sheepish smile as he listened to Ari’s remark about the past. No matter how much he teased her about being stupid, Kito knew that Ari’s wisdom far surpassed even her own age and she always did seem to know what to say to make things seem relevant in perspective. Once the golden furred lioness had finished speaking, Kito immediately nodded as he agreed with her final statement, playfully taking a jab at his own ego as he responded, which was quite rare of him to do but just showed how sincere he was being.

”Okay, deal Ari, although that’s not exactly all that fair, seeing as I have a lot more problems to forget than you do Tomcat but still, I’ll keep my tongue in line today…just for you.”

Unable to resist at least one little sly grin, Kito paused momentarily to gather his bearings of where the four friends currently were. Squinting his eyes, Kito could make out the distant figure of what looked to be a mountain range of some sort, bringing a pleasant smile to his muzzle as he resumed walking at a slightly quicker pace now, calling over his shoulder in a loud enough voice so that both Hiroshi and Kweli could hear him.

”We’re almost there guys so move your asses and catch up to us already.”

It didn’t take the small group of felines very long to reach the location that Kito had in his sights. With each stride of his muscular legs, the looming mountain range grew closer and closer until it towered over head. Slowing his pace until he came to a complete stop directly in front of the mouth of a dark looking cavern, Kito paused to catch his breath and wait for the others to gather round him before he glanced over at the entranceway of the cave. Thinking for a moment as if to try and pull some long forgotten memory from the depths of his mind, Kito turned his attention back upon his friends as he spoke in a casual tone.

”Okay, this cave here will lead us into Paradise. It’s really dark inside though and it’s going to be hard to see in front of you, so you really have to use your other senses. The path is wide enough though so you shouldn’t run into anything just as long as you don’t get careless. Fila told me that there is only one route through this cave, so there’s no chance we’ll get lost. Just stick together and don’t straggle behind.”

Feeling confident that he would be able to lead the way through the pitch black cavern, Kito was the first to enter as his body seemed to be swallowed up by the darkness almost immediately. Keeping his pace very slow though, just to ensure that none of his friends would have any trouble keeping up, Kito kept his wits sharp, just to prevent himself from not running into any walls or obstacles in his path. Stopping every minute or so, just to give everyone a chance to make their presence known to one another, Kito couldn’t resist the urge to play one of his practical jokes upon Ari, or at least, he hoped it was Ari, as in the darkness of the cave, it was difficult to tell who was who, aside from the sounds of their voices. Waiting until the group had halted for a quick break, Kito leaned in and planted a wet lick over the golden furred lioness’ cheek, quickly moving away from her and speaking up as if he had never even been next to her in the first place.

”Okay, see, it’s not so bad. Just pay attention and…” Kito’s words were cut short as he found himself walking squarely into one of the walls of the cave, having his focus being distracted from what he had just done to Ari.

Gingerly rubbing a fore paw over his muzzle as his profane voice echoed throughout the hallows, Kito shook his head to clear his mind as he took another moment to gather himself before trying to recall which way to go. Having not nearly as keen senses as his mother had had back when he was younger, Kito found it a bit difficult to traverse the rocky darkness himself. After meeting roughly with the wall of the cave several more times, Kito made up his mind and addressed Ari from within the pitch black environment.

”Damn it! Okay Tomcat, how about you take lead. As much as I hate to admit it, your senses are better trained then mine, so lead us out of here. Remember, there’s only one path to take here, so just as long as we don’t head the way we came, we’re going in the right direction. Let’s see you put those skills of yours to work now. Just don’t go too fast or you’ll lose us all in the darkness.”

[YFWE]

Kweli nodded quickly at Hiroshi's repeating of his offer to leave if the memories became too unbearable. He still adamantly believed he would be able to make it through the day without any troubles, but he was not one to completely trust his own judgment at times. Time would tell.

A distant mountain-like edifice came into view. Kito had seemed to recognize it, for he had sped up his pace a bit, calling back to Hiroshi and Kweli, who were still lagging behind slightly. Ari squinted her eyes at the structure, which was still too far off for her to really notice its features. Whatever it was, however, Kito was excited by it, and she had to speed up a bit herself in order to keep up with the lion.

They came to the entrance of a cavern, which Kito had stopped at, allowing for the rest of the group to catch up. It was pitch black inside; Ari and Kweli could not see any sort of light coming from the other side--if there even was an other side. Their fears, however, were qualmed when Kito announced that Paradise was through the cavern. As long as he seemed to know where he was going, everything was okay... then again, it did seem dark in there...

"Alright, you lead the way," said Ari. "I'll follow you, then Hiroshi. Kweli, you can bring up the rear if you'd be so kind..." she said with a smile.

Kweli shrugged. "Fine with me."

They followed Kito into the cavern, taking care to stay close to those in front of them. It was even darker inside than the exterior of the cavern had let off. Luckily, Kito was not moving at a very rapid pace, so they were able to follow the sounds of one another's steps on the dank floor.

They had been walking for a while now, with no hints of light anywhere around them. Even the light from the entrance of the tunnel was no longer visible, and though their eyes had adjusted slightly, there was still almost nothing to see.

Ari felt a quick lick on her cheek, which at first startled her. Grinning and thinking it had been Hiroshi, however, and knowing that he was directly behind her and really quite close, she let her tail snake slyly from his stomach up to the beginnings of his mane. She was about to whisper something to the lion, but was interrupted by a loud noise ahead of her, followed by a string of profanities emitted by Kito. Unable to keep herself from laughing, Ari spoke in a low voice, "Hey, Kit, there was a wall there. Just in case you didn't know."

They had walked a little further before Kito finally cried out, demanding that Ari take a turn at the front of the group. Ari paused. She had never even been in the cave before and he was expecting her to find the way out? She shrugged. "Always knew you weren't much of a directions kind of guy. This'll be the second day in a row I have to help you do something you should be able to do on your own," she said in a slightly mocking tone. Giving Hiroshi's muzzle one last brush with her tail, she meandered her way around Kito and to the front of the group.

It was still pitch black, but Ari could at least tell where the walls of the cavern were. Walking just as slowly as Kito had, she began to move, traversing the dark cavern, hoping that sooner or later she would find at least some light.

She did not have to wait long for this. Had Kito been patient for a few more minutes, he would have made it to a point in the cavern in which the path downturned slightly. While the exit was not yet visible, it was considerably less dark, which could only been some sort of light. She sped up her pace, excitement building within her. "I think it's just up here!" she announced, the light becoming more and more noticeable, until finally an exit was visible.

Ari emerged out into the welcoming light, glad to finally be out of the cramped, pitch black confines of the cavern inside the mountain. Squinting in the newfound sunshine, she beheld the sight before her, and stopped in her tracks, in awe.

[KiarasMate]

Following closely behind Ari as they entered the dark realm of the cave, Hiroshi stayed mute, having to rely more on his hearing and other acute senses just to stay in tune with his friends locations. While walking behind Ari, Hiroshi was surprised to feel the golden furred lioness’ tail playfully caressing itself against his chest and chin, causing his stomach to feel as though a million butterflies had suddenly taken flight within it. Sighing happily as her gentle fragrance wafted past his nostrils, Hiroshi made a mental note to ask Ari if she had done what she had on purpose or if it had just been an accident caused by such close quarters. Either way, it seemed to put Hiroshi in quite the up beat and dreamy mood as he continued along the path.

”Hey, what happened to putting our problems aside today Tomcat?” Kito said in a sour voice as he couldn’t help but to toss in a smug comment of his own. ”Besides, I need to hold onto my good looks. If you run that face of yours into walls, it couldn’t make you look worse than you already do.”

Falling back now, Kito waited for Ari to take lead, which she thankfully did. Following the sounds of her paw steps, Kito noticed that they seemed to be on the right track now as the darkness around them slowly began to dissipate as the light from the distant exit gradually cut through the pitch black surroundings. Within a matter of minutes, the four friends had emerged from the opposite side of the cavern. The sight that lay before them was purely breathtaking and even Kito felt that his former explanation of Paradise didn’t even do the scene in front of them justice. It was just picture perfect and even more memorable than Kito could recall it being.

It was as if the four friends had stepped out into a completely new world, full of color, sights and sounds that were sorely missing from their home lands. The lush green grass below their paws seemed to effortlessly support their weight as the large trees around them provided ample shade and protection from the searing ball of heat that now hung heavy in the clear blue sky above them. The soft distant sound of water trailing into what surely must be a lake of some sort filled the air around them as Kito proudly stepped forward, taking in a deep breath before turning to face his three companions, addressing them in a giddy voice.

”Well, for those of you who doubted me, I give you Paradise in all it’s glory!”

Hiroshi seemed dumbfounded by the mere panorama in front of him. His hazel eyes seemed wide with wonder as he surveyed the picturesque view in front of him. This sight even gave the view off the promontory of Pride Rock a run for its money, as it was purely awe inspiring. Taking a few steps forward, feeling the heavenly grass below his paws, Hiroshi closed his eyes and followed suit, taking a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp air around him before letting it out in a happy sigh. Opening his eyes now, Hiroshi turned to Kito as he spoke to his best friend in an appreciative voice.

”Well, I must say Kito, you’ve really outdone yourself this time. Paradise is even more captivating than you made it sound when we were younger. Now I can see why you hold this place so close to you.”

Looking quite flattered from the reaction his friends were giving him for bringing them here, Kito knew that he had made the right decision and that this would surely be a day that none of them would forget for as long as they should live. Waiting for everyone to finish enjoying their first glimpse of what Paradise had to offer, Kito started to make his way deeper into the lush terrain, calling back over his shoulder as he departed.

”Well come on you guys, pick your jaws up from the ground and follow me. This is just the beginning. Wait till you see the lake and waterfall and taste some of the things that can only be found here.”

Noticing that Kito was already making his way down the path in front of them, Hiroshi quickly trailed after him, making sure that both Kweli and Ari were well in tow as well. Everything seemed just as perfect as he had hoped they would be and knowing that being in such a memorable place with Ari and his friends, and not having any cares in the world today, things would only get better. This fact seemed to be proven as Hiroshi’s hazel orbs drifted over to where Ari was now. Watching her tread ever so lightly through the lush grass, her beautiful features being subtly enhanced by the golden rays of light that snuck through from the canapé above, Hiroshi couldn’t help but to stare at her as if she were an angel anointed by heaven itself. Finally managing to pull his stare away from her but not before she noticed his gaze, Hiroshi felt an embarrassed grin working its way over his muzzle as he turned his attention back ahead of him to see where Kito was leading them to now.

[YFWE]

It was truly a beautiful sight. The place known as Paradise was covered in bright green grass, accentuated by a sky that seemed even bluer than when they had entered the cavern. Never in Ari's life had she seen a place so intrinsically beautiful... and even Kweli was awestruck, thinking that the sight before him could quite possibly be just as, if not more dazzling than the place he and Bashasha used to visit seasons ago.

"I'm glad you were able to find the place, Kito," said Kweli. "It really does look... great."

"Yeah," added Ari. "Of course, you required my assistance as usual, but good job on at least getting us most of the way," she said with a grin.

Kito announced the intent to head down further into the area, and Kweli and Ari followed graciously, wanting to know more about the beautiful place--especially about the culprit for the sound of water that could be heard trickling in the distance. "Okay, seriously," said Ari, "I don't get why we can't just live here. Anything's better than the Pride Lands right now."

As she finished saying this, she looked over to notice Hiroshi ogling her... he gave her an embarrassed smile as he looked away and, grinning herself, fell back slightly so that she was neck and neck with the lion. Kweli trotted up to a spot closer to Kito, giving the two lions a little space so that he would not be interfering on any conversations like he had earlier.

"This place is great, isn't it?" said Ari in a low voice. "I'm really glad Kito thought to bring us here." She glanced over at Hiroshi and spoke in an even lower voice. "Hope I wasn't too distracting in front of you in there either," she said with a wink before dashing up to meet Kweli, sending Hiroshi one last sultry look as she did so.

[KiarasMate]

With his suspicions seemingly being confirmed now as he spotted Ari slowing her pace until the pair were neck and neck, Hiroshi had to keep his stare averted from her, just so she wouldn’t notice how embarrassed he truly was from having stared at her in such a manner. Perking his ears up as he caught wind of her low voice, Hiroshi felt completely tongue tied as he stumbled over his own voice, only managing a stupid sounding mumble to leave his muzzle before he noticed that the golden furred lioness had already moved on ahead of him. Blinking momentarily, Hiroshi shook off his feelings of shyness before picking up the pace himself in order to catch up to his friends.

Taking a quick glance behind him just in time to see Ari and Hiroshi interacting, Kito gave a reluctant huff before turning his focus back upon the path ahead of him. Knowing exactly where to take his friends now, Kito traveled along quietly, not exactly knowing what to say at the given time as everyone still seemed to be entranced by the landscape around them. With each step the small band of felines made, the louder the sounds of rushing water became. Reaching a fork in the path by this point, it was clear that the left trail would lead towards the source of the water as the sounds emanating from the horizon clearly spawned from that direction. Being the only one who knew which path was which though, Kito didn’t even hesitate as he veered off to the left and continued along without even a second glance. It didn’t take long before the placid looking lake came into view, it’s surface shimmering like liquid gold from the brilliant rays of sunlight that ever so gently caressed the top of the pristine pool.

Bringing up the rear of their little group, Hiroshi was the last to catch sight of the heavenly looking pool but was the first to react as the long trip to Paradise, combined with the fuzzy feelings that Ari had instilled within him from being so close to him and from her previous actions, had made him feel quite thirsty. Laughing uproariously, Hiroshi quickly bounded past his friends, on route to the water’s edge where he promptly submerged his muzzle into the cool waters, lapping freely at the rejuvenating fluid as his tail swished happily behind him. Each time his tongue brought more of the refreshing liquid into contact with his parched muzzle, the more he could feel his spirits picking up, as well as the heat from within his loins beginning to cool down for the time being at least.

A bit startled by Hiroshi’s reaction, Kito hurriedly stepped aside to let his best friend pass, watching with a disbelieving stare as he seemed to have regressed back to being a cub from the way he was acting. Conducting himself in a bit more civil of a manner, Kito approached the water’s edge carefully, lowering his muzzle just enough so that his tongue could reach the clear substance below as he drank quietly a few paws length away from where his friends had chosen to position themselves at. Not needing quite as much refreshment as he might have thought, it didn’t take Kito long to quell his thirst as he casually lifted his muzzle from the tranquil pool and backed himself up from the bank of the lake before turning his attention back to his three friends to see what they were up to now.

[YFWE]

"Isn't this great, Kweli?" asked Ari excitedly as soon as she had caught up to the smaller lion. "We have a whole day to spend here." She grinned, closing her eyes and letting the warm sunlight wash over her--the same sunlight she would find at home, though for whatever reason, it simply felt better there.

Kweli gave her a small nod. "Mhm, it's almost perfect. Just can't wait 'til we find wherever this water sound is coming from... I'm parched," he said. He glanced off into the distance, memories flooding into his mind. Good memories, but definitely nostalgic ones nonetheless. While he was certain this was not the same place he had come to as a youth--that had been much further away--the similarities were already making themselves known, and Kweli could not help but think of his times there with Bashasha and, though they were happy memories, how down it made him feel as a result. It had been many seasons since he had left his homeland, but he had still never really been able to get over everything, even if the life he lived now was still a great life.

Noticing that Kweli had suddenly fallen silent, Ari wore a concerned look, whispering low as she addressed him again. "You're thinking about Bashasha, aren't you?"

Kweli nodded slowly, grimacing. He could already feel tears flooding his eyes, but he was determined to not let them fall. "I'll be fine. It's a good memory. I'm not gonna ruin this."

They walked in utter silence for a little while longer until they finally came to the source of the sound of water--the lake. Matching the beauty of the surrounding area, the lake was calm and serene, with little to no ripples or waves making their presence. Never before had any water looked so beautiful to Ari. It was like the Waterhole back home, only multiplied many, many times.

They were surprised to see Hiroshi rush past them as soon as they came to the lake, the lion bending low to the water and beginning to drink rather copiously from the pristine body of water. Internally, Ari wondered if perhaps she had been a cause of this behavior. She and Kweli joined Hiroshi and Kito on the banks of the lake, drinking in the cool water like it was the first water they had tasted in days.

Once Ari's thirst had been quenched, she glanced up from the water, licking her muzzle to rid herself of extra droplets of water. She looked deviously over at Kweli, who seemed to be finishing up but was still bent low to the water.

As sneakily as she could, she backed up to where she was directly behind Kweli and then, without any prior warning, gave him a soft push, enough for the lion to topple into the water. Kweli had not expected this and was rather surprised when he felt himself slipping into the cool water. Letting out a yelp before submerging, the lion quickly raised his head above water, gasping for air and opening his eyes in time to see Ari leaping over him into the water herself, laughing maniacally as she did so.

Ari burst out of the water, still laughing. "Come on, you two!" she shouted over to Hiroshi and Kito, giving her head a quick shake. "It feels great!"

[KiarasMate]

Having the peace and quiet around him being shattered with the unexpected sound of splashing, Hiroshi quickly lifted his muzzle out from the cool water and looked over to where Ari and Kweli had been standing, only seeing Ari there now though. Forming a mischievous grin across his muzzle as his sharp mind easily pieced what had just happened together, seeing Kweli’s head breaking the surface of the lake to only confirm his thoughts. Chuckling lightheartedly, Hiroshi began to slowly inch his way over towards Ari herself, having the same crafty idea planted in his mind, yet was beaten to the punch by Ari herself as the golden furred lioness took a graceful looking leap straight into the tepid pool. Having his own devious plans foiled for the moment, Hiroshi playfully snapped his paw toes together as he called out to Kweli in a disappointed voice.

”Darn! Almost had her there Kweli. Sorry, wasn’t quick enough.”

Hearing Ari’s remark now as he watched his two friends splashing about in the depts., Hiroshi’s grin widened as he happily accepted her invitation, taking a few steps back before running full speed towards the bank of the lake before hurling himself high into the air, his body curling up into an oversized fur ball before plunging downwards and breaking the calm surface of the water with a tremendous splash. Feeling quite at home within the cool water, Hiroshi didn’t surface immediately, instead opting to swim stealthily towards what part of Ari’s body he could see from beneath the surface of the lake, using his recent disturbance of the water from his impact, as cover before springing upwards, his head breeching the surface as he quickly caught his breath and skillfully placed both fore paws atop Ari’s soaked head, pushing her under the water very gently, grinning over to Kweli as he did so and addressing his friend in a humorous tone before letting Ari’s head go so she could surface once more.

”Well, there’s a little pay back for ya Kweli. Now she’s all wet behind the ears.”

Kito, who had been silently observing his friends actions, didn’t seem quite as amused with the whole situation. Finding himself being the only one on dry land and not looking as though he was going to take Ari up on her offer much like Hiroshi had so eagerly done, Kito stayed where he was, even managing to take a few steps back from the lake’s edge, just to ensure that he wouldn’t be dragged into the water against his own free will. Trying his best not to appear as if he was even interested in taking a swim, the lone male lazily laid himself down in the grass while keeping his emerald orbs fixated upon the scene of his three friends enjoying themselves in the lake in front of him.

[YFWE]

Kweli smiled pleasantly. "No worries, Hiro. We'll have another chance."

And this ended up being the case moments later. Hiroshi had leaped into the water himself, taking Ari's invitation, as Kweli moved quickly out of the way so that he would not be jumped upon. He grinned as he saw Ari get dunked under by Hiroshi, "aaaaaand there's your chance!"

Ari had half expected Hiroshi to do what he ha done but was still caught off guard, getting in a quick gasp of air before submerging. Feeling Hiroshi let go of her head as soon as she was completely underwater, she decided to pull a little trick of her own. Squinting her eyes under the pristine water, she swam deeper into the pool, under Hiroshi, so that she was now behind him. With a quick kick of her legs, she shot up toward the surface, burst into the fresh air with her forelegs raised above her head and wrapped them around Hiroshi, submerging again and bringing him down with her.

She let go once she was underwater again and slowly came back to the surface, laughing uproariously and sending Hiroshi a toothy grin.

As all this was going on, Kweli glanced over to see Kito reclining in the sunlight, now further from the lake's edge. He did not seem even vaguely interested in partaking in the swim, which seemed rather odd to Kweli, considering that Kito usually seemed very interested in any sort of raucous activity. He did not press the issue, however, not wanting to give Kito another reason to snap at him.

Ari, however, had no reason to stay quiet, herself curious as to why Kito was not joining in. "Kito, you alright?" she called. "Whatever happened to spending time all together and all that?"

[KiarasMate]

Looking rather pleased with himself, Hiroshi glanced down momentarily, half expecting to see Ari’s silhouette beneath the rippling surface of the lake. Having his eyes met with nothing but the endless blue below him however, Hiroshi had a sneaking suspicion of what was going to happen next. Before he could react however, Ari came tearing through the surface and promptly dunked him under the water. Holding his breath as his head slipped below the surface, his hazel orbs staying open as the water was clear enough to see almost perfectly through, Hiroshi smiled to himself before reaching out his fore paws and giving Ari’s sides a few quick tickles with his paw toes before paddling away from her and making his way towards Kweli, like a shark hunting prey. Keeping the smaller male’s kicking hind legs in view, Hiroshi timed his actions perfectly as he took hold of both Kweli’s hind limbs and playfully pulled him under the water while beginning to surface himself, meeting with the smaller male’s glance briefly while they were underwater, a devious smile etched upon Hiroshi’s muzzle. Resurfacing now and taking a much needed gasp of fresh air, Hiroshi gave his head a quick shake to clear out the small amounts of lake water that had managed to sneak their way into his ears, causing him to miss the question that was being posed to Kito by Ari.

Ari’s inquiry however, didn’t go unnoticed by Kito himself. Hearing Ari’s question, the lounging male cringed slightly as he thought quickly on how best to field an answer without giving away his embarrassing little secret. After a short moment of silence, Kito finally chimed in, his voice seeming normal as he huffed and shot Ari a toothy grin.

”Well, I’m here aren’t I? We’re all still together and besides, I probably wouldn’t let you up if I pushed you under the water Tomcat so don’t tempt me. Besides, it would take my fur forever to dry out if I came in there and I hate being wet.”

Looking away from Ari now, hoping that she’d believe his reasoning’s for not wanting to join in the fun, even though deep down he wished he could, Kito returned himself to resting quietly under the afternoon sunlight, his eyes wandering from place to place, occasionally stealing a glance at his friends before turning his focus to something else, just so he wouldn’t be questioned further, although knowing Ari, Kito knew that he probably couldn’t get out of this that easily.

Having cleared the water out of his ears now, Hiroshi paddled over to where Ari was, his adolescent body bobbing lightly in the pristine water as he floated next to her, rolling onto his back and looking quite the lazy lion as he eyed her with a thoughtful smile. Casually drifting past her, his cheeks looking a bit puffy, Hiroshi waited until his head floated directly under where Ari was treading before his muzzle lips pursed together and a thin stream of lake water shot out at her like an irrupting geyser. Bursting with laughter once his muzzle had emptied of its contents, Hiroshi quickly paddled away as fast as he could, trying to distance himself from Ari, taking refuge behind Kweli as he tried to use the smaller male as a living shield, calling out in a merciful voice.

”Save me Kweli, she’s going to eat me!”