[Closed] Kopa's Captivity

[YFWE]

Heshima laughed quietly. "No, dear, they shouldn't take you away. They've only just inserted you into our pride... they've probably already done all they need to do for now. However, if we don't eat soon, then they'll take all of us away. So let's hope they've put some food out for the day, hmm?"

Thinking for a moment so that she could determine the direction in which the front gate of the enclosure was located, Heshima turned in that direction, toward the sun, and headed off, making sure Kopa was in tow. The lioness glanced over in Tanga's direction, hoping to catch his eye and signify that they were going to attempt to find the food rations for the day. Seeing that her mate already seemed to be on his way toward the gate anyway, Heshima nodded to herself and focused upon the horizon, her own stomach rumbling slightly due to the lack of food.

Heshima and Kopa walked in relative silence for a good while, treading through the plains they resided on. Heshima's mind was mostly on food at that point; after all, she had not eaten all day, and already she had been quite active with all the walking she had done. She felt Kopa's small tail slap against her hindlegs idly and snickered to herself, wondering if the cub was even aware of that which he was doing. Still, she understood his eagerness and his drive, and did not think much of it one bit. In fact, her mind had almost completely wandered away from Kopa, to the point where she had nearly forgotten that he was behind her when the cub spoke again.

Scrunching her face slightly at Kopa's query at first, though her facade became a knowing smile only shortly after. "Oh, clumsy me. Got myself caught in the walls that those outsiders make to be sure that no one gets in to their side. I think they call it a fence. Either way, I was tangled in one of those as a cub. I was bleeding rather horribly, and the outsiders took me in. Haven't seen or heard from my old pride since, I'm afraid."

Heshima grinned at Kopa. "That's more or less how I came to be here, though. Got caught in a fence. Classy, right?"

The front gate was in sight by then, and, squinting her eyes, Heshima could see that Tanga had already reached the gateway. What surprised her, however, was that what seemed to be yet another new face had joined them at the gate. It was another cub.

The lioness sighed to herself. "Well, Kopa, I've got some good news. Looks like you're not the new cub around here anymore," she said. "I can't believe it... two new additions in one day."

Sighing again, Heshima walked over to Tanga and Marini, who were beside their dinner for the day at this point, and stopped next to her mate, giving him a quick nudge before bending low to take her share of the antelope. "I assume the newest cub is a little... frightened of you?" she asked. "We'll have to go work on him eventually. I wonder why the outsiders have given us so much today..." she glared down at the food rations, "but have not increased the amount of food they bestow upon us. How do they expect us to continue to feed this many lions?"

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga sighed as Heshima ncame up beside him and talked to him, nudging her back affectionately. "Yeah, he's terrified, this one," he replied sadly. "I know we'll have to talk to him at some point, but I think it's best to give him a little time alone...he ran off the moment he saw me."

Tanga then looked down at the antelope, thinking on Heshima's comments about the food supply. "I hope they increase the food supply soon, too. Food shares are already becoming strained...and with Kopa and this other new one here, it's only going to get worse." He sighed, knowing what he had to do. "I guess I'll just have to restrict my eating habits until the creatures start sending bigger shares."

Tanga did not look at his mate, knowing she would not be pleased about that last statement, and for good reason...she loved him. But Tanga knew that, as leader, he had to put his pride first. He decided to distract from te issue by changing subject. "But yeah, two new cubs in one day...it doesn't make any sense. And I still don't know why they keep bringing us all here. What could the creatures possibly want by cooping us up in this land for all our lives?"

Seeing Kopa hanging around near Heshima, Tanga then addressed the little cub. "Go on, Kopa, take what you want," he said gently, gesturing towrds the antelope, before stepping back. He had not had much to eat, but if he was going to have to ration his own meals for the est of the pride, he might as well start now.

[KiarasMate]

Hearing Heshima’s reassurance that the hairless animals wouldn’t take him away if he was spotted by them, Kopa’s fear towards the foreign creatures lessened ever so slightly, although the young cub still wasn’t anticipating any future run ins he might incur with them. Taking in Heshima’s story of of how she obtained her scar however, Kopa’s confusion towards The Outsiders, as the cream colored lioness had referred to them as, only multiplied further. Having never seen this fence that Heshima had spoke of, yet learning that The Outsiders were the creators of it themselves, Kopa couldn’t comprehend why the strange creatures would build something that would harm others, only to save them afterwards from their own creation. It was all too much for the young cub’s mind to process and only left him with more questions lingering in the back of his head. These questions would have to wait however, as Kopa noticed that they were quickly arriving at the same spot he had formally been at earlier that day when his introduction to the new lands around him had taken place. This time around though, things were different as the golden furred male spotted Tanga and Marini, who appeared to already be indulging themselves upon what looked to be an antelope carcass from what Kopa could see of it from where he was standing.

Watching as Heshima moved off towards the meal that had apparently been left for the pride by The Outsiders, and hearing her departing comment, Kopa’s eyes scanned about, looking for signs of this new member to whom Heshima had hinted at. As curious as he might have been to meet the newcomer to the enclosure, hunger seemed to be the more dominant feeling in his body as the enticing aroma of the slain antelope permeated Kopa’s senses, causing his little muzzle to water up almost instantaneously. Cautiously approaching the proverbial dinner table, as he knew how meal times could be when it came to a large pride, Kopa hung around the outskirts of the group, seemingly waiting for his turn or looking for a suitable opening to call his own. Being used to normally being one of the first to eat back in his homelands, as he was the son of the king and queen after all, Kopa knew things worked differently already here from his past experiences thus far, which caused him to use the better part of discretion as he timidly took up a spot on the opposite side of Marini, as far away from the choice sections of the antelope as he could get. Glancing from Tanga, to Heshima, and back again as if waiting for a sign of approval from either of the top ranking pride members, Kopa licked over his muzzle lips in a famished fashion as his stomach growled loudly, demanding the young cub to fill it with the savory sustenance in front of him. It wasn’t until Tanga’s voice reached his ears, did Kopa obey his body’s wishes and started to tear into the haunch of the antelope, his small teeth working furiously to sever off bite sized amounts of the satisfying meat.

[SnowyCheetah]

Grunge suddenly remembered, as he did every mealtime, that it was time go eat and, in his opinion unfortunately, go near the others. Grumbling as he rose to his feet, the grumpy lion slowly walked to the meal, noticing that yet another cub had arrived. He had the decency to wait and see if there was enough food for everyone, so he sat and watched. He trusted, at least, that there would be something left for him. The pride wasn't selfish, he knew that much.

[YFWE]

Heshima's gaze found her mate's countenance as she scowled playfully at him, cuffing him lightly on the ear. "Don't give me that. If there's anyone besides the cubs that needs to keep up his health, it's you. I know I for one can sacrifice a bit of food. I think some of the other older lions and lionesses could."

She glanced down at Kopa and Marini. "As long as these two keep their health up, that's all that really matters," she said. "...and our new addition, of course. Whatever his name is."

Eating a few more small morsels of the antelope before deciding to be done for the day, Heshima licked her chops and stepped away from the antelope, clearing a space for others to take a turn at the deceased animal. Glancing to her side, Heshima noticed the new cub inching ever-so-slightly toward the group. Donning her familiar affable grin, Heshima took a step toward the approaching cub.

"Hey, little guy," she mused softly. "Welcome to our little corner of paradise. What's your name, dear?"

[Nakisisa]

"Hey, little guy," ... "Welcome to our little corner of paradise. What's your name, dear?"
Lisimba instinctual backed away, not noticing he had moved forwards from his hiding spot. the only smell around was from the deceased animal, he didn't know what it was however. Li decided to sound defensive, and growled trying to tell the lioness to back off. His growl sounded more like a purr, but it was still defensive. Until he thought, Wait... she spoke in lioneese, no one has spoken to me like that in a long time.

Again he was moving forwards without realising, this time curious about the lioness who had spoken to him. Realising what he was doing Li turned and ran back to where he was hiding first, crouching, he left his ears up, giving away his position, yet he thought, Dont be stupid, she's an adult, she would kill you before I even scratched her, That didn't stop him preparing.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga watched the brief exchange between his mate and the newcomer with a growing sense of sadness. This latest cub was skittish and afraid, and Tanga could see that he was going to be difficult to approach and get settled in...far more so than Kopa had been anyway.

As the cub ran off again, Tanga put a paw on his mate's shoulder, stopping her from giving chase, knowing she would want to. "Leave him be," he said, although it hurt him to do so...he wanted to run off and comfort the cub, too. But he could see that it was useless to try at the moment. "He wants to be alone for now."

But even as he spoke a mild idea came to him. It might not make the cub talk, but hopefully it was at least help him understand that he could trust them. "Wait here, I've got an idea," he said, giving his mate another affectionate nuzzle, along with a quick lick across the cheek, before he turned to the antelope everyone was busy digging into, ripping off a sizable section...something that should make a fair meal for a hungry cub.

Carrying the meat in his mouth, he wandered off in the direction the cub had run off, eventually finding him curled up against the cliffs, trying to hide from the rest of them...although his ears were up and alert, telling Tanga that the cub knew he was coming, and that he believed they were all a threat.

"It's okay, little one," he called softly, but kept his distant, knowing the cub would just run if approached. "None of us want to hurt you...we're all friends here." He took a couple more steps toards the cub, deliberately wafting the smell of the meat in his mouth towards him, before placing the meal down a short distance away from the cub's current hiding spot.

"I know you just want to be alone, and I'll leave you for now...I'm just bringing you some food, that's all." Tanga said quietly, before getting up and turning to leave, calling over his shoulder one last time. "My name is Tanga, by the way."

[Nakisisa]

I know you just want to be alone, and I'll leave you for now...I'm just bringing you some food, that's all
Lisimba meowed at the smell of the meat, it was driving him crazy. Not to mention he hasent eaten since before he was knocked out. As the meat was placed down and the male turned to walk away, Lisimba darted forwards, trying to pull the meat back to were he was hiding with no sucsess. My name is Tanga, by the way. Lisimba studied the male, knowing his voice was not up to scratch, he meowed, hoping the male woulden't leave. For some reason Li felt stanrgly connected towards the lion.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga paused, turning to look back at the young cub as it gave an adorable, yet sad meow towards him. Confused, Tanga stopped, sitting down so he was facing the cub. He decided not to approach him directly, since he might just scare it off by doing that.

"What is it?" he asked gently, lowering his head so he did not seem so large and imposing, and also so he could get a slightly better look at the cub. "Are you okay?" Then Tanga looked at the expression on the cub's face, and realised what the lack of answers might be attributed to. "Can...can you talk, little one?"

His every parental insinct urged Tanga to approach the cub directly...but he fought it back. If this cub could not...or would not...talk, then he knew he would have to take things very slowly, and much more carefully than he had with Kopa. He eyed the meat the cub had tried to drag away, and smiled. "Go on, eat, it'll help."

As he did, he glanced back at the rest of the feeding party, in particular Heshima, giving her a quick signal, letting her know that somethign had come up with the cub, but he had it all under control. Keep an eye on Marini and Kopa, he mouthed to her, before turning his attention back to the silent cub before him, trying to figure out exactly what it was the little guy wanted.

[Nakisisa]

Lisimba tentavily moved morwards towards the meat after he had been 'encouraged' to eat. Yet there were still some questions unanswered. "What is it?" ... "Are you okay?" ... "Can...can you talk, little one?" Aftearing a chunk of meat off, with considerable effort, Li answered. Yet when he oppened his muzzle to speak, all that came out was another meow. Realising he had been held captive for so long, and been in contact with no other lions, Li had lost most of his speach, yet he still retained some basic words, such as his name, nickname, parents etc, and guesteres. Lisimba shuck his head, and faintly croaked his name, "Li..." After not speaking for so long, that was all he could mannage