[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[Mike]

Vitani made her cautious way up Pride Rock. It seemed that she was one of the last pridelanders that hadn't yet drifted off. She couldn't really blame them though; the weather wasn't very pleasant. It was a relief when Vitani finally reached the shelter offered by the main Den. She shook herself vigorously at the entrance, possibly splattering one or two lionesses that hadn't moved to the back of the Den. They didn't complain though, so Vitani continued on inside.

She passed Kovu and Kiara, slumbering happily together on a comfortable pelt. Seeing Kovu so perfectly happy, defenseless and carefree was a rare gift, for in most of his waking hours he still preserved the tough exterior that he'd grown up with, and that Vitani still made daily use of. Vitani wondered idly what kind of lions she and Kovu would have been if they had grown up in the pridelands. Look at me she said to herself. getting all emotional. She shook her head and plopped onto the pelt where she often slept, against the Den's walls. It had been a long day, and Vitani drifted easily off to sleep.

[Lodrill]

Laini was a bit worried about the words of this cub. This Merementa sounded just like Kovu. (Or at least as the Kovu Laini was seeing him.)

But there was no going back. She had to dare on this or go back. There was hardly any other thing she could do and because she could not think of any other way and could not bring it over herself to go back she just followed Makali through the rain. 'What Daxis does now? she thought. 'I just hope he is fine. The best would be if he forgets about me and gets a good guardian.'

Laini went back into her thoughts which guardian Kovu might assign to Daxis and if the cub would accept the guardian. Daxis was very rebellious and hard to handle. Laini herself had noticed that. Even with everything she could do she had been unable to stop him or teach him anything good. Or at least that was what Laini thought. Without even noticing it her thoughts went around Daxis the whole time. She did not realize it herself but she missed the cub. He had been the only lion she ever had felt attached too. He was like a little brother to her. Yet still she did abandon him in fear of Kovu and left him alone. If she would have spend more time with him maybe their bond would have been strong enough for Laini to face her worries and nightmares at pride rock...

... but instead she was now stumbling into an even bigger nightmare as it seemed. And there would be no Daxis there. She was all alone again...

---

Sushaunna woke up. The tree could not cover her enough from the rain and so she raised to her paws to find something better. The waterhole was abandoned now. No other creature was outside in this rain.

Sushaunna walked some time and her fur got very soaked until she crossed a very small den. Carefully she poked her nose into it. There was a scent of a lioness inside but not strong enough as if she would still be there. Sushaunna invaded the den and looked around. It was small but dry and warm. In this rain the owner of the den would most likely not come and so she decided to spend the rest of the night here... or at least until the rain would let up.

With a fast motion she shook the water out of her pelt and then cleaned off the rest with her tongue. After she was satisfied and her fur was silky and sand colored as normal. With a deep sight of relieve she lay down on the ground and closed her eyes. Even if there was no sleeping pelt here and therefore the floor was cold this still was far better than the tree.

[KingKivuli]

Kivuli lay in wait by the cave entrance for a good while. The rain was letting up a little bit but still falling and covering the lands in its wet blanket. He stood up and went to the back of the cave where Daxis lay. He leant down to the young cub and gave a gentle nudge to wake him up again before he got too deep into sleep

Daxis wake up. I dont know exactly what it is you want out there but it must be important to you. From what I can tell its clear out there, now's the best chance to go for it. Ill help you but you have to let this anger go and put some trust in me. I can be more than just a guardian I could be your friend

[SinChei]

Daxis was already walking through his dreamlands when something touched his head slightely. He noticed Kivulis smell around his nose. He looked very mad at him and snarled loud. How often Daxis had to tell him until he would leave him alone.
He got up and bared his still small teeth.

But i don't wanna be your friend don't you get it?! I can't tell you anything and i will go looking after it tommorow alone!
Even if i have to leave this bunch of annoying lions who are calling themselve a pride. I thought a pride carries for everyone!
And then he added in his mind. And notices when someone is missing. So... and now let me sleep you ruined to much already just lay down let me live my life and you live yours.

Daxis was not looking any longer towards him, went into another corner of the cave and layed down trying to fall asleep as soon as possible.

[KingKivuli]

Kivuli stood there looking at the cub and sighed. Daxis reminded Kivuli a little of himself when he first arrived back. The elder lion felt some sympathy for the cub and generally wanted to help out. Kivuli was out of ideas though and was beginning to give up. Just as he was turning a way a new smell gently tickled his nose. Kivuli instantly turned back round, and stepped very gently towards Daxis

The dark lion leaned down and took in a few sniffs of the air surrounding Daxis. A smile broke across Kivuli's muzzle as he stood back chuckling slighty I see what the issue is now Daxis and why you are so stubborn. There was a girl here wasnt there? And for whatever reason she is now gone, but you still wish to help her, thats why you want to run off, to help your friend

[SinChei]

Daxis ruffled his whole fur as Kivuli leaned down to him and took breathes around him. He just lifted up one paw and shoved his paw over Kivulis Nose. The red maned cub growled deeply and licked over his teeth. He couldnt believe that kivuli was so annoying and bold. He just wanted to sleep and he woke him up. Daxis snapped towards his face and layed down again.

Just let me sleep now you can join me looking after her tommorow but stop annoying me you fool. But keep in mind that i will never be your friend...

He closed his eyes even if he could bite kivuli's neck at this moment. He bit on his lips to keep his coolness and fell asleep again

[Lodrill]

[Due it came to a halt here because one "sidestory" is stuck (around the party that picked up Laini) I will go on with the next day now. The last actions of the group of Merementa (and of Laini) can still be posted but the rest can go on at the next day. ]

Rahina woke up next to Kopa. His warm body protected her from the cold and fresh air that was sneaking into their den from the outside. Rahina raised her head and looked at the sleeping face of Kopa. 'He is so cute when he is sleeping.' She smiled over her thought and lay her head against his neck again. The warm mane of Kopa, his steady breath and the warm body pressing agianst her were so reassuring that Rahina sighed and closed her eyes again. Waiking up like that next to her beloved lion was the best thing in the world. The cub in her belly also still seemed to be asleep and did not kick her right now. Rahina fell into a very light nap again. It was a state between concious and unconcious. Her silent purr filled the den with a low vibrating of the air.

---

Sushaunna still was in a deep slumber. The sun started to peak into the den she borrowed but the sand furred lioness did not wake up. It had been a time since she had been sleeping in a den the last time and so her body took a very good and deep rest.
Fortunately for her the real owner of the den seemed to not come home yet.

---

Also at the other side of pride lands in the heart of pride rock another lioness was still in deep slumber. Taraji, tucked away savely between her foster parents warm and softly, slept and dreamed a nice dream. Now and the she purred in her sleep and snuggled into the fur of Kovu or Kiara. She was sleeping peacefully and happy like a cub could be.

[JaguarOne]

(I'm just gonna move my post down because I wasn't interacting with anybody and the chars' returns wasn't time specific)

///\\\///\\\///\\\ SANTIAGO ///\\\///\\\///\\\

Santiago took in a breath of fresh Pride Lands air for the first time in quite a while. It had been a few months since he decided to go on a sabbatical of sorts, something that most likely led the others to thinking that he had just moved on. While it was true that he seldom stayed in one place for very long, there was something about the Pride Lands that felt different to him.

They felt like home.

Or as much as he thought home was supposed to feel like. It was hard for him to say exactly what made a certain area home for him considering he hadn't considered himself to have one for quite a long while. The black maned lion just smiled as he spotted the ever familiar Pride Rock once more. This sabbatical has done him well. It has not only given him time to finally find himself, it gave the young adult time to evaluate his life. He had finally forgiven himself for Malawi's unfortunate death.

///\\\///\\\///\\\ CAINE ///\\\///\\\///\\\

The illness had take its toll on Caine. He was glad that he had gotten out of the Pride Lands when he did, lest he spread it. Rafiki had been kind enough to point him in the direction of a pride with extensive herbal treatment. While there, the baboon had also given him some herbs to help him overcome whatever he had contracted. Luckily it wasn't more deadly or contagious than the common cold, but it paid to be safe. He decided to stay a few extra weeks to ensure there was no recurrence before returning to the Pride Lands.

"Home sweet home," The brown-maned lion muttered to himself as he looked around with a smile. He was glad to be home. He could finally see all his friends again.

[KiarasMate]

It felt as though an eternity had passed, when in reality, only a single night had come and gone, yet sleeping alongside his beloved mate Rahina, Kopa could care less about this fact, just as long as she and their unborn cub were safe, happy and most of all, healthy. As the new day started and the first bright rays of the rising sun crept into their den, Kopa slowly began to awaken as his eyes flittered open. Letting his vision focus after a long night’s rest, Kopa inhaled deeply as the rich scent from the outside world filtered into the cave and tickled his nostrils. From the smell of things, it seemed as though it had rained for much of the night, as the aroma of still moist grass was clearly present in the air, mixed lovingly in with his mate’s unmistakable scent to which Kopa just adored. Tilting his head to one side, as Rahina had her head draped over his neck in typical fashion, Kopa purred softly as the sight of his dozy lover brought a warm smile to work its way across his muzzle. Reaching out a fore paw, Kopa lightly caressed his precious lioness’ belly, his paw digits tracing around the noticeable protrusion from her stomach, as well as her sensitive teats which already leaked miniscule amounts of milk from even the slightest ministration put forth from Kopa’s paw toes. Feeling the need to stretch his body now however, Kopa reluctantly maneuvered himself out from beneath his beloved mate, making sure to rest her head back down gently upon the sleeping pelt before quietly rolling onto all fours. Yawning tiredly while his legs flexed and stiffened, Kopa closed his eyes momentarily, enjoying the first stretch of the day for all it was worth. Sighing in satisfaction, the large male repositioned himself next to Rahina before affectionately running a fore paw along one of her soft cheekss, in the hopes of coaxing her awake in the most pleasant way possible. Leaning down to greet her as he spotted those beautiful onyx eyes starting to open, Kopa planted several tender kisses and licks over his lover’s cheeks and muzzle before addressing her in a sweet tone.

”Good morning Hina my precious. How did you sleep and how are you feeling?”

Continuing to shower his significant other with his loving gestures, Kopa nuzzled his nose affectionately under Rahina’s chin before moving his efforts downwards, his muzzle now hovering over the dark furred feline’s swollen belly region. Repeating the same process now, this time with his cheek though, Kopa nuzzled Rahina’s tummy in a soothing manner, his moist tongue passing over her soft belly fur on occasion as he purred deeply. Lightly bringing one of his ears close to his lover’s stomach, Kopa listened for any signs of movement coming from the growing cub inside Rahina’s belly, at the same time, speaking up to it in a fatherly voice.

”Good morning to you too my little Mano or Minshasa. You be a good cub and behave for Hina in there.”

==========

Back at Pride Rock, the morning wasn’t being quite as kind to another lioness, as Kiara gradually awoke to feel a nagging pain in her own belly, which was the very reason why she found herself up at such an early hour. Trying her best to not to wake either Kovu or Taraji, who appeared to still be slumbering soundly, the golden furred lioness clutched a fore paw over her irritated region, her eyes already starting to weld up with tears from the intensity of her discomfort. The pain almost felt like that of the feelings she experienced during her heat cycles, but on a much broader scale. Knowing that this wasn’t the case however, as her cycle had just ended the previous day, and knowing that it couldn’t possibly be the condition to which her mother had spoken to her about in regards to a lioness getting pregnant, as alas, her and her beloved Kovu didn’t even have a chance to be intimate with one another during her heat, due to having Taraji to care for and the other turn of events as well, Kiara had a sneaking suspicion that something was wrong, yet not wanting to cause any unnecessary alarm if she could help it, the golden furred feline merely rose to her paws and quietly padded out of The Main Den, knowing that Taraji would be fine, since she was still snuggled up against one warm body.

Having only made it a few feet outside the cave, Kiara’s own body betrayed her as her stomach convulsed violently, forcing the poor lioness to double over in pain. Gritting her teeth to prevent herself from crying out, Kiara suddenly felt extremely nauseous, her muzzle becoming overly moist with saliva. Knowing exactly what was going to happen next, the golden furred lioness desperately darted for the nearest secluded area, which only happened to be a small cluster of rocks that shielded her while her belly once more, constricted, followed by another wave of nausea. Shutting her eyes tightly, Kiara retched openly, her dry heaves filling the early morning atmosphere. While nothing actually left her muzzle, the sheer unpleasantness of the whole ordeal left the golden furred lioness distraught and feeling quite weak. Struggling to gain control of her body’s functions, Kiara stumbled back into The Main Den as she padded back to where she had left Kovu and her adopted daughter. Hoping not to arouse any panic out of either of her loved ones, Kiara lightly nuzzled Kovu with her head, her body temperature clearly showing through her fur as her overly warm cheek rubbed up against her mate’s. Speaking in a low voice as she laid herself down once more, making sure to keep Taraji somewhat away from her upper half, just in case whatever she had caught was contagious, Kiara nudged her sleepy looking lover with a fore paw lightly, knowing how difficult it was sometimes to rouse him.

”Honey, I don’t want to worry you, but I don’t feel so good right now. Can you please wake up and have a look at me?”

[SinChei]

((Thank you Lodi ^^))

Makali have been quiet until they reached merementas new terretory. He was thinking about a few things. Why does she still want to go with us or why did she leave her old home. Everything did not match in the eyes of the black furred cub. Expecting merementa was already asleep and not wanting Laini to meet the evil lions he nugded her paw with his muzzle.

Come with me this way then your safe for the first time. better we eat something tommorow when everyone else is gone

His Voice was slightely shaking and he made his way to a ledge and layed down under it. He looked at Laini and wanting her to join him

The only den here is manned with merementa and a few others... but trust me better sleep here alone then inside with meremnta and the others