A Change of Plans [PRIVATE: AC & The Whistlerify]

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi nodded to her son, knowing he definitely needed a moment to take in everything that had happened today. "Stay close to Pride Rock at least, and try and return to the den by the time it's fully dark."

She gave her son a quick nuzzle, whispering in his ear. "Mufasa would be proud of how you stood up for your friends today." With those words, she then turned to leave, looking over her shoulder at Sarafina. "You coming, Sara? Or do you need a moment as well?"

----------

As Sarabi moved away, Nala came up to Simba's side, looking towards the south as well. "I'm sure they're fine, Simba. And once today's incident blows over in a few days, Scar'll forget all about it, and we'll be free to visit them all the time."

She rested her head against Simba's shoulder, sighing. "I just wish I knew why Scar did it...it doesn't make any sense."

----------

Tanga just laughed over his shoulder as he kept running, knowing he had to run flat out, despite his head start, if he wanted to beat Marini...the young lioness was fast, and his small legs didn't have the same stride length as her, leaving him slower than her by a good measure.

----------

Scar walked right up to the hyena trio's resting spot as night fell around the Elephant Graveyard, speaking without bothering to alert them. "Well, you three...I've managed to clean up the mess you made of our latest plans. The two brats are now in permanent exile, and Nala's no threat, so now we just have to deal with Simba."

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba slightly smiled at his mother's words and went to the edge of Pride Rock. "I know they'll be okay... but this shouldn't have happened." he said looking at Nala as she put her head on his shoulder. "I don't know why Scar did this. I don't really care. I hate him." he said angrilly

Sarafina just nodded to Sarabi and went back into the den

Marini continued running after Tanga and caught up in a bit, she leaped at him and pushed them both into the ground. "Got'cha" she said with a playful tone

Shenzi looked at Scar, a little relieved that everything worked out eventually. "So how do we kill the little brat?"

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga smiled as Marini jumped on his back. "Yeah, so you caught me...big deal!" he declared. "Watch this!" And with that, he repeated the performance he had pulled when wrestling Simba, and with Marini's weight on his back, managed to haul himself to his feet.

He even managed to surprise himself by taking several shaking steps closer to the river with her weight remaining on him. She might not be as big as Simba, but she had enough muscle in her to stop her from being a complete lightweight, and Tanga was struggling. Eventually, feeling like his back was going to snap in two if he didn't stop, he collapsed back to the ground, panting.

But even as he lay on the ground, a thought occured to him. "You know, doing that every now and again might be a good way of building my strength...don't you think?"

----------

Sarabi found her usual spot in the den, curling up and resting her head on her paws, looking up as Sarafina came in behind her. "Sara...I'm worried about Scar's actions today. He refused to listen to reason...he almost seemed determined to kill Tanga and Marini, and the way he looked when he sentenced them to exile...something's not right, I can feel it, but what are we going to do?"

----------

Nala looked a little surprised at Simba's venomous declaration of his hatred of Scar. "Do you have any idea why he would exile Tanga and Marini like that? I know he said he saw them conspiring with the hyenas, but I don't believe it for a second...do you think he has something else going on?"

----------

Scar smiled his evil scheming smile as Shenzi asked what they had to do...she and her two friends might not be reliable, but they were at least eager to serve in his schemes.

"I need you to get the pack to lie low for a time...make it appear that you're not harrassing the Pridelands so much. Since the pride has will be told that Tanga and Marini were exiled for trying to conspire with you to overtake the Pridelands...you backing off after their exile will help sell the story."

"It's going to take a couple months...but eventually, in my teachings on how to help Simba become king, I will have to take him out to teach him how to hunt...even if us kings shouldn't have to. I will notify you when this is about to happen, and once I have more details, we'll be able to stage a little...accident...that will ensure Simba never lives long enough to hold the throne."

"And when that happens, you and your pack will at least be given what my ancestors so unjustly took from you. But we must tread carefully for the moment...Sarabi and Sarafina don't believe that Tanga and Marini are traitors...and may start to get suspicious. as long as none of us does anything to attract their attention, we should be fine."

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini wasl ifted on Tanga's back, to her surprise. She was expecting him to collapse back down when he started walking, carrying her wieght along with his. She giggled as he collapsed back down. "Maybe..." she said laughing, but remained on his back.

Sarafina looekd at her friend confused, "I don't know... It really is weird. And where is he going all the time? What kind of patrol does he need to do in this time of the day?" she said, even more confused. "At this time everyone should be back in the den, but he's almost always away at this time.

"I don't know..." Simba said, his tone calming down a little. "First Mufasa and now this..." he then looked back at her. "Also Scar is related to both of those. A surprise he said..."

[AustralianChaos]

Nala looked at Simba, slightly confused. "What do you mean, 'a surprise'...what are you talking about?"

----------

Sarabi sighed as Sarafina made a few more points. "You're right...seperately, none of these things seem all that bad, if just a little odd, but put them all together...no, Scar's got to be up to something."

Now that she had said it, she became more determined to find out what Scar was up to...except for one sticking point. "But what can we do about it? Even if we find out what he's up to, how can we stop him? And even if we manage to do that, Simba's still too young, and he's the only one left aside from Scar who can be the rightful king."

Sarabi looked at her friend, sighing once again. "I think we're going to have to just leave Scar be for the time being...once Simba's old enough, we can deal with him then."

----------

Tanga sighed, expecting Marini to get off him. When she didn't, he gave her a glance over his shoulder. "Are we comfortable back there?" he asked casually, fighting back laughter.

[TheWhistlerify]

"He took me to the gorge..." Simba said, recalling memories of a few minutes before his father died, "...saying my father had a surprise for me. That it was to die for..." he sighed and looked away.

Sarafina looekd at Sarabi again, "I have a bad feeling about this..." she said, "I don't think we should wait with that... who knows if it's something bad. I think we should follow him once. And untill we do that, we should keep a close watch on what he's doing, especially on Simba."

Marini giggled and got off of Tanga, "Sorry." she said, trying to hold her laughter back. "Let's go see our cave." she added, glancing at Tanga and throwing another slightly seductive look before continuing to walk

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi looked at Sarafina, nodding slowly. "Yes...you're right," she said slowly, before giving her a look that plainly said not to argue with what she had to say next. "Next time Scar heads out on one of his 'patrols' I'll follow him. If he's doing something suspicious or wrong, then I guess we'll have little choice but to intervene."

She sighed, thinking on the possible consequences of her decision. If Scar was doing nothing out of the ordinary...and his actions today were just plain loathing towards Tanga and Marini, then there was little they could do. If there was something more devious at hand, though...then several of the pride's traditions, that had been adhered to for centuries, would have to be re-written for the pride to survive.

But if Scar was up to no good, and she was caught... No! Sarabi mentally scolded herself, reminding herself not to think that way.

----------

Nala looked at Simba, horrified shock coursing through her as she started to put her own knowledge of that day together with what Simba was telling her. "You're sure he said it was a surprise from Mufasa?" she asked, wanting to double-check before confirming her theories. "You're absolutely certain?"

----------

Tanga found his stomach flip-flopped rather sickeningly as Marini shot him a rather sheeky, seductive look...one of several she had flashed him so far today. His heart beat a million miles an hour, and it took him several moments before he came to his senses and caught up with her.

By the time he did, they were already at the river bank. Their crossing point was directly between the two trees, where there was a wide, shallow point. They would have to swim, but the river was running slowly, there was no risk of being swept away, and Tanga knew from experience that both of them were good swimmers.

"Come on," he said, taking a few tentative steps into the water, before jumping all the way in, paddling over to the other side, looking back to the north with a heavy heart as he took his first steps outside the Pridelands. He felt like he had left a huge part of him behind in leaving his homeland...but he managed a weak smile back at Marini as he turned his gaze towards the hill Sarabi had mentioned...which apparantly hid the cliff that housed their new home.

[TheWhistlerify]

Sarafina sighed at Sarabi, "No... I'll come with you, it might be dangerous."

Simba looekd at Nala again, "Yeah... he said that father has a surprise for me."

Marini followed Tanga's lead and began swimming, taking a few gulps of water while doing so. "The water are good." she said licking her lips and drinking some more

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi glared at Sarafina, though in a caring way rather than a cold way. "Which is exactly why I want you to stay behind."

He sighed, before cracking her neck. "I'm getting older, Sara. You're the best hunter in the pride. The pride needs you, not me...if it's going to be dangerous, I'm the one we can afford to lose. I'm going to become a burden on the pride in a couple of years."

----------

Nala stared at Simba in horror. "I saw Mufasa that morning...Scar, too. They agreed that Scar would watch over you that day, while Mufasa had to go out on some patrol in the west. Mufasa had no surprise waiting for you."

her voice ground to a halt as everything pieced itself together. Scar had lied, and drawn Simba to the gorge...Scar had tried to kill his own nephew!

----------

Tanga chuckled to himself as Marini drank as she swam. "I'm sure it's lovely...but I think I'll wait until tomorrow," he said, looking back towards the hill Sarabi had described. "Come on, we're almost there."

[TheWhistlerify]

Sarafina sighed, She knew Sarabi, there was no arguing with her if she insisted on something. "Okay then... just let me know before you go after him."

Simba stared at Nala for a few moments. "Then why..." Simba began saying, his tone completely confused. He then looked back at her, "No... no it can't be." he said, moving away from her. "I can't believe this!" he said angrilly.

Marini laughed back, "It's your loss!" she said with laughter before exiting the river and running towards the hill