The King of Grass Walls [Private: ImaniFaith and Amadeus]

[Baya]

Usugu thought promptly on her question and chuckled sinisterly again. "I sort of knew you'd bring my deceased mother into this. That's your only possible defense." Usugu said quietly. "Also, why are you so quick to think I wish to harm your daughter? Is it because you know you are guilty for tearing my family apart? For taking my land? For making me what I am today?" Usugu growled, his anger reflecting in his tone.

Usugu's eyes narrowed as he heard foot steps behind him, and looked to see Busara stumbling slightly behind him. Busara groaned as she stood, having tripped over a rock. "What upsets you my king?" Busara asked quietly, with Tumaini following up after her quite quickly. As soon as Tumaini saw Lesedi he hid himself behind Busara.

Usugu could not let Lesedi know of Busara's status as his mate and to be queen. "Go back to the den Busara. Now." Usugu said in a stern tone. Busara mouth opened to speak but she quickly silenced herself.

"Y-Yes my king." Busara stuttered as she stepped back with Tumaini.

[ImaniFaith]

"I think you'd harm my daughter because you're a raging sociopath." Lesedi growled, "The only thing I'm guilty of is bringing it to your attention."

At the sight of Tumaini, her heart lurched. She desperately wanted to get the cub away from Usugu, to the safety of Grass Walls-- but the blind lioness was sheilding him. As she led him away, Lesedi called, "Tumaini, it's okay-- I'm not angry!"

While it was more than likely that this Busara was Usugu's mate, Tumaini couldn't possibly have been his son. He didn't look a thing like either lion, actually.

"Busara, huh?" She said, raising a brow at Usugu, "Should've known you'd force a poor blind lioness and a helpless cub to be your 'pride'. They're about the only ones who would possibly follow you."

[Baya]

[I'm baaaack]

Usugu looked to Lesedi with no true emotion. The fact that he looked so much like his father must've ran some sort of chill down her spine. Usugu's eyes looked to Tumaini whom was still afraid regardless of what Lesedi said.

Usugu chuckled sadistically as he listened to her other comment. His eyes narrowed as they tore into her eyes with piercing fury. "Do you not even hear yourself Lesedi? Remember what caused that Rhino to kill my mother? Me talking out of place right? I made the rhinos angry with insults." Usugu growled.

He smirked wide. "Now, if I were to kill your dear daughter, who would be to blame? Me for killing her, or you for provoking me into it? What would your dear mate think when I walts up to him right now and tell him exactly what you have said to me. I'm sure he wouldn't take kindly to my presence but the fact that you are speaking such provocative words...might trouble him as king." Usugu pointed out as he approached Lesedi, and placed his paw under her chin gently, his claws sheathed.

"I will not harm your daughter. I have something far more important in store for her. Though you should probably worry more for your king and yourself." Usugu said quietly.

[ImaniFaith]

Lesedi could feel her legs trembling. She could feel the rage that accompanied fear welling in her chest. She wanted to rip him apart right then and there, to curse in his bloody face and spit on his remains. To make him suffer-- but it was because she knew he would do the same to her.

Still, she made herself stand strong. She didn't trust him in the least, and her heart still went out to the cub and the blind lioness. The last thing they needed was her words making him question their loyalty. Looking into Tumaini's fear-stricken eyes, she saw herself at his age, and the sight tore at her soul.

"Don't hurt them, Usugu." She said softly, "Don't hurt them. Or us. I don't know what ever made you hate us so much-- even before your mother died, you loathed me. And I can't apologize for what you won't tell me.'

"Let me tell you this, however." Lesedi continued, "Amara has nothing to do with this. Will you destroy her life by taking everything she loves, just because you're so full of hate? And what about this cub?" She nodded toward Tumaini, "Will you corrupt him with your hatred as well? Don't tell me it won't ruin his life-- you're certainly not the picture of happiness."

Before he could reply, she turned and made her way toward Grass Walls. She had a mate and a pride to warn.

[Baya]

When she walked away Usugu looked to the ground with slight guilt, but then he pulled himself together. She fully knew why he hated her so much. She was just playing mind games with him now. How dare she insult his intelligence! He growled quietly as he looked to Tumaini. "Listen to me boy. You are not to go near that Amara ever again, understood? At least not until much later. She is going to try and corrupt you, make me look like the evil one." Usugu explained calmly to the young cub.

Tumaini felt his heart sink and he looked down with his ears flattened against his head. He looked up to Usugu, feeling that it would probably be best if he obeyed Usugu. He didn't fear Usugu like he did a week ago. He respected the lion as his care taker and would not do anything to make Usugu abandon him again. "Yes sir. I won't go near her again..." Tumaini said sadly.

"Good boy. Busara let's go back to the den." Usugu said quietly. Busara first however brought her head under his chin and gave him a very affectionate nuzzle.

"No matter what she says, I am always going to be on your side my king. I love you." Busara said quietly. She had no idea how the words impacted Usugu. He had never heard those words in his life, and when it came out of her mouth he felt as if he wanted to mate with her because he felt the same not because it is what she desired in return for her help.

"Thank you." Usugu said quietly, letting out a sigh. She broke the embrace and began to push Tumaini along back into the den.

//

Tenga's eyes opened as he heard someone enter the den. Many of the lionesses were napping so it was a bit of a surprise to see Lesedi so awake. She carried a scent that Tenga hoped he'd never smell again. He stood slowly and walked in front of Lesedi. "What happened Lesedi? Take a breath." Tenga said quietly.

[ImaniFaith]

Tenga's quiet concerned tone did much to calm her down, though she shuddered at the similarities it bore to a certain other voice she had just heard.

"It's Usugu, Tenga." She said, "He's in the Barren Lands just outside our territory-- and he's threatening us.'

"Also, " She added, after the lion's eyes widened in shock, "He's got a male cub and a blind lioness with him-- and the cub's not theirs, I can almost guarantee it."

"Usugu's back?!" Tinashe quickly stood up, and Lesedi saw to her relief that Amara was with him. "Amara told me about the cub, but not him!"

The little lioness hung her head, her brown eyes dim with sadness, "I didn't know."

"She didn't." Lesedi's heart melted at the pain on her daughter's face. How could she ever live if she lost Amara?

Quietly, she met her father-in-law's eyes, "Tenga, what are we going to do?"

[Baya]

Tenga looked honestly into Lesedi's eyes and sighed. "What do you want me to say Lesedi? Lets go kill him? Lets go talk sense into him? You know very well that if he has supporters that he will be avenged. If we try to make him understand that we never meant to hurt him, he would only get more upset. The only one he ever felt attachment to is dead Lesedi. He won't listen to reason." Tenga explained. He thought about it for a moment before nodding his head.

"Let's bide our time. He can't possibly do much harm to us if we stick together in everything we do. Amara, you must not leave our sight ok? Not until you can fully defend yourself." Tenga said quietly to his grand daughter.

[ImaniFaith]

Lesedi was shocked by how defeated their former king sounded. Back when, it seemed he would have been ready to rip Usugu's throat out-- now he was basically saying that there was absolutely nothing they could do but wait for an attack!

Imani's death, she thought sadly, had destroyed him in ways they hadn't even realized. "Then, what will we do if he comes back with more lions? More than us? We'll all be slaughtered, including Amara!"

She hated to see the fright in her daughter's eyes, but right now she was too upset to check her words. "Tenga, we're sitting ducks, and you know it.'

"And what about the cub that he's holding hostage?" She exclaimed, "Do we just leave him to the abuse Usugu will heap on him? He's defenseless and scared!"

[Baya]

Tenga closed his eyes, taking in everything Lesedi was saying. "I no longer know what can be done. I can pass the leadership onto Tinashe if he's willing to take it in this situation. You are asking me to kill my son Lesedi. I already lost a mate." Tenga murmured as he went over to the corner, and laid down. He then closed his eyes and began to rest.

"Well Tinashe. You are king now. What do you suggest we do?" Zuzu asked Tinashe, hoping that his answer to the question was better then Tenga's.

[ImaniFaith]

Shocked, Tinashe looked from Zuzu to his father, then to his mate and daughter. Him? King? Now?

As Tenga lay his head down and turned away, Tinashe felt a ripple of fear course through his chest. His father had always been so strong, so proud, so in control; and now he was just a defeated and depressed shadow of his former self. He had though Amara could heal the old king's heart, but perhaps... nothing could.

And now his brother was back, and on the warpath. "We could lead the lionesses against him, while his numbers are still few." He suggested shakily, but the thought of killing his own brother sickened him, "Take him prisoner... maybe?"

His mate raised a brow, "And where would we hold him, Tinashe? Are we going to post a guard around him day and night until he gets old and dies? Come on, you've got to think! What means more to you-- your daughter, or your idiot brother who would kill you in a second if he could?"

As much as he loved Lesedi, Tinashe didn't always care for her rogue-like approach to everything: kill or be killed. "My daughter, of course; but Lesedi, he's my brother-- he loved me, once. How can I just murder him in cold blood?"

"Because if you don't, he'll murder your daughter in cold blood and laugh in your face!" Her golden fur was bristling, and he sensed that she was getting beyond the point of no return. "But why don't we just put it off a bit longer, until he proves me right?!"

Tinashe's ears drooped, "Look, if you don't want to hold him prisoner, fine-- but I'm not giving the order to kill my own brother. Not yet."

Decisively, he held up his head, "I'll visit him myself-- alone, and see if I can't talk some sense into him. I'll go as his brother, not as the king. Maybe... maybe he'll remember who he was, and we can come to an agreement."

As he went to leave, he heard his mate snort behind him, "And if he doesn't?"

"Then--" And here, he faltered, "Then, I don't know."