Woe Becomes Happiness [PRIVATE: AC & VM]

[AustralianChaos]

Kopa looked up as everyone gathered in their small hiding spot deep within the gorge, quickly making sure everyone...even the four newcomers...were safe. He was panting hard, and on the verge of going into shock. First Zira, a trust lioness of the Pridelands, had betrayed him and attempted to kill him...and now this creature - Asante had called it a human - was after him!

But then Mzuri posed her question, and Kopa had to fight with everything he had to stop himself from crying as he shakily delivered his answer. "I...I'm not sure we can go back," he whispered. "You all saw what Zira tried to..." he faltered there, unable to actually say what Zira had tried to do to them all. "And besides...that human thing is still out there somwhere. I don't know how we're going to get past it to get back home."

The human's location somewhere above them, back out on the plains, had effectively cut them off from Pride Rock. He had one side of the gorge, and the other side lead out into the vast western deserts...the full scale of which Kopa did not know, they seemed to go on forever.

Kopa may be a prince, but right now he did not feel like a leader at all as he sat, unable to figure out what to do...looking to all the others for help.

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Tanga was a similar state to Kopa. The shock of what had just happened to all of them was beginning to settle in, and Tanga was at a complete loss on what to do. He unconsciously shuffled closer to Mzuri, staring at his paws, remaining almost completely quiet, trying to control his shaking limbs.

He, and all of the rest of them, had escaped death by sheer luck alone today, really. And that human creature had terrified. He had seen Kopa move, and a second later the ground beneath where he had been had jumped, as if something had hit it. He knew that the human had caused it...and that it Kopa had not moved, he would most likely be dead now.

Tanga wanted to go back home, but was skeptical of what the pride would do. Zira had betrayed them, and she would almost certainly have followers...and Tanga's parents were ignorant of him.

Tanga sniffed, fighting back his emotions as he realised that he...alone with his friends, were stuck on the very borders of their land, cut off from a home that probably would not help them anyway. They were alone.

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In a desperate attempt to shake off the memory of what had just happened with their flight from the human, Juhudi distracted himself by returnign to the conversation he had been having with Kujasiri before the human had forced them all to run.

"So...so you knew...about the rocks...all along?" he asked. At the same time, he remembered Kuja's other words. "I..." he struggled to figure out what to say to his leader...mostly because he did not know what to say. On one paw, he hated the way Kujasiri treated him...he was a hard, harsh leader, and Juhudi got the distinctive feeling that there were better ways to teach someone to survive than harsh words and actions akin to bullying. But on the other, Kuja's arguments did have some points.

Juhudi was confused, and decided to simply settle for a vague nod. "I'll do my best to listen to you better," he said softly.

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Kiburi was hyperventilating, her breath moving in and out faster than Baref could run as she went into a mild panic attack. "What was that thing? Why was it after us? Where are we? What are we going to do?!"

She was scared, and felt completely helpless. She had no hunting or fighting skills of any kind...and she believed that the only reason she and Juhudi were still part of Kujasiri and Baref's group was because Kuja liked her. But their recent scrape from death had left her panicing...she had been completely helpless for the whole of that incident.

But before she could suffer a complete meltdown, she felt Juhudi paw a single paw on her shoulder, the presence immediate making a start in relaxing her. Her mind still whizzed in a thousand different directions...but her breathing calmed down slightly, and her panic subsided. Giving her brother a quick nuzzle to show her appreciation, she sat off to the side, thinking about what had just happened.

The incident had been an eye-opener for the young lioness. She finally saw how her helplessness could very easily get her killed. And she decided that, from that day on, she would do more to try and learn to be able to survive on her own...like Juhudi was forced to endure.

[VitanisMate]

Baref looked at the situation before him still surprised how they made it out of there alive. He looked toward Kiburi and said, "Well at least the boss and your bro seemed to make up." He looked back toward the lions and hyena before him.

He looked at this new leader Kopa was it, and he seemed to be a prince. Good maybe he would use his 'divine wisdom' and get them all out of this messy situation. He looked at the hyena and maybe thought they had something in common both being oddballs in the group. He looked toward the boss and saw that he was not ready to lead.

Baref looked at the boss and made sure to give him some comforting words to lead them considering how he lead them all so far. He looked toward this Kopa waiting for him to say something noticing how he was taking his sweet time.

===

Kujasiri nodded to Juhudi and said to him, "Juhudi I promise to be fairer to you from now on okay?" He looked toward this new leader, this Kopa, and came up to him and bowed though he did it through gritted teeth. "We shall follow your will your Majesty."

He nodded and went toward Juhudi and said, "Juhudi how would you like to be the leader? Just say the words Juhudi and I shall step down. Just say the words." He looked toward the smaller cub knowing that he himself was probably not a good leader and that Juhudi was a lot kinder on how he dealt with other lions than Kujasiri was. He looked at Juhudi waiting for his answer.

In the meantime he looked toward the other memebers such as a new female cub, another male cub, and a hyena. He then saw Kiburi again and maybe thought about saying something to her after Juhudi finshed up answering his question.

===

Asante looked toward Kopa confused about his answer and looked toward Kopa and his friends knowing they wanted to go home. He came up before Kopa and gulping said, "Kopa do you want to go home? I can help you with that." He gulped again and said, "You all have families I have none. Maybe I should just uh...make the human go after me."

He looked at Kopa trying to show he could be the best friend. "Kopa there is no greater thing to do than for someone to give up their life for their friend. No one will miss me. You all will be missed." He looked away not sure of what Kopa would say to this. He looked at everyone else seeing they were surprised at his offer. He just kept looking down.

He was ashamed that he did nothing to help Kopa before but just laugh but now perhaps he could help them now by escaping from the deadliest of all animals in the savannah. He looked toward his friends and noticed how both Tanga and Mzuri did help and here was his chance to help. "Kopa please let me do this. Please let me help you guys."

===

Mzuri saw Tanga getting close to her and smiled. "Why Tanga I had no idea you cared so much for me." She looked at him shaking and said as soft as she could, "Tanga I am sure everything will be fine when this is all over with." When she heard Kopa's words about not going back to the Pridelands it was she who was shaking however. "What stay out here?! Kopa you don't...I can't...I can't stay out here I just...can't! You don't know what it feels like being out here!"

She looked at Kopa hearing her words and she hoped it convinced him. The truth was out here was very harsh and she really doubted if Kopa or Tanga could handle what it was like barely surviving finding your next meal and that same meal could be your last. She looked ahead remembering how that hungry feeling felt like while in the Pridelands there was plenty of food.

When she heard Asante's offer she was shocked herself seeing the young hyena give his life up so that they could get past the human. She had never seen a human before even when she was out here in the Outlands but from Asante's words knew they were not friendly. She waited for Kopa to convice the hyena not to do what he was asking.

===

Fred cursed seeing them scatter and knew it would take a while to find them again. Oh well I am sure I can find them since cubs that age do not run that fast at all. He saw the footprints on the ground and knew this would be a very interesting and maybe even a challenging hunt.

[AustralianChaos]

Kopa fidgeted as all eyes seemed to be drawn to him. Dad had always told him about his place as the heir to Pride Rock, and had taught him various things about how he was going to be king one day...but he most certainly had not expected to become a leader quite so soon.

In the end, he turned to Asante first. "No...don't even think of heading out there alone, Asante," he said firmly. "You're my friend, and as friends, we are all in this together." He gave a particularly firm look in Tanga's direction with that statement...he knew that the golden cub was not too fond of Asante, thanks to the prejudices his parents had attempted to force upon him. "I do not want you, or anyone else, to try and sacrifice themselves...I don't think I could live knowing the only reason I was alive was because my best friend had to die for it."

After this, he quickly turned to Mzuri. "Mzuri...we are all out here together...I think we all know how it feels," he said kindly. "I really want to go home, too...but until we figure out how to get past that human, we can't."

Kopa then turned to this lion...the oldest of the lot of them, by any indication...who was currently bowing at him. "Stop that, please," he said. "I hate it when everyone does that...I prefer to just be treated normally, really." He paused, giving the lion time to digest his words, before he moved on. "And as for leadership...I think, seeing as you're older, you're probably better at it than me. All I will say as that we must find a way out of here." As he said this, he looked outside their little nook, trying to find another way out of the gorge...one that did not lead them straight into the clutches of the human. "There must be another way out of here."

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Tanga felt shame running through him as he took the brunt of Kopa's glare. He knew exactly why Kopa had glared at him...Asante. The hyena, who he had distrusted ever since he had met Kopa, had just offered to sacrifice his own life for the rest of them...including him.

Shuffling shyly, he found himself unable to look at the hyena, staring at his paws instead as he spoke. "Asante, I...I'm sorry. I know i haven't exactly been nice to you, when you've done nothing to deserve it. You...you're willing to take on the human alone for us, something I know I could never do. I just...my parents always told me that all hyenas were evil, vicious creatures...and I guess I sort of believed them. But I can see that they were wrong...and I'll do my best to treat you as well as I can from now on."

He knew that his words were pretty much worthless, considering how cold some of his actions had been towards the pup...but he truly was feeling ashamed of himself...and wanted to make it up to Asante.

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Juhudi looked at Kujasiri, stunned at his leader's apology, and offer to step down at let him lead. For a brief moment, Juhudi actually considered it, his cub mind telling him of all the popularity and recognition he would get as a leader.

But a rational side of him took over as he finally answered. "No, Kuja...no, you're strong...and we need that. Now that I know why you've been like you have to me...I think I understand a bit better. Thanks for offerring, but keep it...I'll just screw it up for us."

[VitanisMate]

Kujasiri nodded and said, "Juhudi I promise to make you as much as valued by the pride as your sister okay?" He nervously tried to make himself smile. "Juhudi I am sorry for everything I have done to you. But from now on we will all be a family okay?"

He then saw Kiburi and came up close to her. "Kiburi I promise to treat your brother better from now on. He will become the new leader of the pride okay?" He then sighed and said, "Though I was worried about your brother I must admit that I was more worried about you Kiburi. Are you hurt? Is anything broken?" He saw that she seemed okay and then asked her, "So what do you think of this new group of lions? Do they seem friendly enough? They are still pridelanders and will exile us soon."

He then sighed and came before Kopa. "Though I may be older future king you are still the leader around here. You are supposed to only look at the stars and know what to do. Well I am waiting for you to do that."

===

Baref came before Juhudi angry it seemed after overhearing what Kujasiri said. Baref was very protective over his boss and his duties. "If you become the leader you little runt I will personally kill you. Do you understand? Only Kujasiri is to be the leader."

He came before the cub and screamed at him again. "I said do you understand you little runt?! If you think I will follow a piece of meat like you, then you are crazy. I said do you understnad?!" Baref was annoyed by the cub's sudden lack of words.

===

Asante sighed at Kopa. He tried to gicve them the chance to save their lives but they wouldn't take it. He then heard Tanga's apology and was surprised. "You were mean to me Tanga? I didn't even notice. No matter I forgive you and am honored to have you as my friend." Asante smiled seeing that Tanga would treat him even better now then he did before and Asante didn't even think Tanga was mean before. He looked toward Kopa and said, "Well my friend if you plan on staying out here we must find food and water quickly or we will all die out here in the harsh sun of the savanna.

===

Mzuri sighed at the dya's events. She was going to be out here in this harsh place more just like she was when she was a younger cub. Kopa and Tanga didn't even seem to care about her at least from her point of view. She saw the barren wasteland before her and frowned.

She saw that Kopa was trying to think of something and said, "Kopa if you follow that canyon down there it leads to nothing but desert but beyond lies a jungle that has fresh water but little food for cubs such as us." She frowned and said, "That is all I know I am afraid and I would like to remind you I think we should take the risk and go back to the Pridelands." She walked towards Tanga and said, "Tanga are you feeling any better? Do you feel hurt in any way?" She paused and asked him, "Do you think Kopa is doing the right thing? I mean it is harsh and dangerous out here. Trust me I know!" She sighed and started to rest her paws a little for they ached a lot and in fact her whole body ached a little.

===

Fred kept seeing tracks in the sand and smiled knowing the foolish cubs were not good at trying to lose a hunter. He came closer and saw that the tracks were fresh. He smiled knowing he was not far behind the cubs at all and was very close.

[AustralianChaos]

Kopa once more sighed as Kujasiri suggested he had some form of divine wisdom he could use to get them out of this mess...many cubs reacted that way when they heard of the way his father tended to talk to the stars a lot, particularly when he was troubled by a difficult decision. "Unfortunately, looking at the stars actually does very little," he admitted sadly. "And my dad still hasn't taught me too much about being the next king...I'm still a little too young."

He looked up at the larger, older lion, his nervousness plain to see. "I'm not a leader...at least not yet. You seem to have done alright leading your group. Please, Kujasiri...could you please stop asking me to lead? I can't do it."

Kopa was then distracted as Mzuri gave up a piece of information on the desert. "A jungle beyond the desert..." he repeated, his mind turning thoughtful as he tried to think of something. "Do you...do you think we could perhaps head across the desert to the jungle, hopefully escape this human, and once we lose him, come back here? Mzuri...what do you think?"

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Kiburi smiled as Kujasiri came up and asked about her. "I'm alright, Kuja," she said simply. "I'm just a little scared." It was true enough...she had just avoided death, and learned that, out of the entire group, she was the most helpless and useless. Scared actually did not cut it...Kiburi was terrified.

"As for the others..." she looked at the group they had met, trying to get a reading on who they were. "They seem friendly enough...I like them. Besides...the more of us there are, the better chance we've got, right?"

But once again, Kiburi was distracted when Baref advanced on Juhudi, loosing a massive, threatening verbal tirade at him. As Kiburi listened, she too, became angry. Noticing that Juhudi had clammed up and backed against the wall, looking terribly frightened, Kiburi stepped into action, pushing between her brother and Baref, baring her teeth at him. "What is your problem? Juhudi just turned down the leadership, so why are going off? My brother does not want to be a leader, and he's done nothing wrong, so just leave him alone!"

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Tanga managed a shy smile at Asante. "Thanks, Asante...and if I'm ever mean to you again, just tell me, because I might not realise what I'm doing."

He then turned to Mzuri as she came up to him, talking to him. "I'm okay, Mzuri...thanks. Are you alright?" he noticed she appeared to be uncomfortable...although that could just be the frightening situation they were in. "Mzuri...I know you want to go back to Pride Rock...I really want to as well. But if we just walk back up there that creature is coming to come after us again...and I don't want to see any of us die just so the rest of us can get home. We need to find a way to avoid the human first...get around him without him noticing...then we can go back, okay?"