[Private] Initial Rivals

[SnowyCheetah]

Dixon chuckled a bit, and thought for a moment. No one really knows what causes some lions to have white fur. It often seems to come with other unusual physical characteristics - in my case, my size. he looked at Tanga from above, trying not to let his size make the smaller lion feel uncomfortable. You were wondering about that as well, weren't you? he asked. But what about you? Where'd that gray fur come from? he said, half-jokingly.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga nodded at Dixon's comment. "Yeah, I was wondering about your size...I've never seen anyone so big before."

But he was distracted by Dixon's comment about his silvery-gray fur, causing Tanga to run a paw curiously over his belly. He knew the comment was because of how close it was to being white, but decided to answer it anyway...it wasn't like it was exactly common, especially in a young lion like himself. "My mother had the same undercoat as this...I guess I inherited it from her."

he sighed heavily as thoughts of his parents brought him to memories of his pride, and how they had tossed him out into the desert all because of a stupid tradition. "The fact that I inherited her undercoat and eyes were probably the only thing she was ever proud of me for," he said, his voice cold and sad, but honest. His regular arguments against the pride's traditions had left his family ready to exile him early, and had done an effective job of making them far less than proud of their son...but he did not care.

[SnowyCheetah]

Dixon seemed to catch a bit of Tanga's sad, cold feeling. A frown developing on his face, he sensed that Tanga'd been quite bad off with his family. He debated asking him about the subject and almost decided against it, but his curiosity won out. Trouble with your family? the large lion asked solemnly, himself getting a bit down over his own past - losing his family, then his mate. Tanga seemed like the type of lion a mother would be proud of; he was surprised to hear that his light undercoat was all he had going for him in his pride.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga smiled up at Dixon, letting him know that his curiosity was not taken the wrong way. He felt a strange desire to talk about his past, anyway...he found it helped him vent his frustrations. "More like trouble with my entire pride," he corrected sadly, before ploughing on.

"My birth pride is one of those introverted ones that sticks rigidly with the ancient traditions. I never liked many of those traditions, especially when I accidentally met a rogue who talked about a place he came from...I think his name was Kopa, but I can't remember for certain..."

He realised he was drifting off-track, and went back to his story. "Anyway, my parents were firm believers in the traditions. They almost disowned me and had me killed several times...but I somehow pulled through. Then, of course, I hit maturity, came of age, and tradition dictated that I was no longer welcome in the pride...and that I had to find my own way in the desert bordering our pride."

"I would have welcomed the exile, actually...if it weren't for Kiburi. She was the one who constantly convinced the king and my family to accept me every time I was given an earful for my refusal to adhere to certain traditions. She was my only friend, and...I miss her, I guess."

Tanga stared at his paws. He felt a little better for finally being able to vent to better part of his life's frustrations, but the memory of everything that had happened still saddened him. And Kiburi...

Tanga sighed heavily. Looking back up at Dixon. There was little point dwelling on his only friend in his former pride, since he highly doubted he would ever see her again. He offered the white lion a weak smile, forcing himself to move on.

[SnowyCheetah]

Dixon listened in mild shock as he heard two familiar names. Kopa sounds familiar. he said, thinking hard to himself. Yes... Kopa! Simba's lost son. The lion exclaimed. You've met him? he said in amazement. He's thought to have died, you know. Dixon was getting more and more excited by the minute. And Kiburi! I've heard that name before as well, but not recently. then he got his composure back. Sorry to hear all that, Tanga. And... sorry for the outburst. he said, forcing himself to sit down as his tail flicked and his pawtoes wiggled in excitement.

Just then, Snowy came strolling up to the two, making much quieter pawsteps than Dixon. What'd I miss? he said casually with a yawn.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga turned as Snowy returned to them, smiling at the cheetah. "Hey Snowy...not too much, really. Just told Dixon about my past...I'll tell you when I'm up to it, as well." He smiled as he noticed his friend looked a little more refreshed now that he'd had a rest, and was happy for him.

But Tanga's attention quickly turned back to Dixon. "What do you mean, Kopa's meant to have died? And who's Simba?" he asked, his curiosity about Dixon shoved to the sidelines as this new revelation sought his attention. Dixon seemed to know something about the rogue that had shown Tanga the true extent of his pride's blindness, and what most modern prides were like these days.

Tanga did not mention Kiburi just yet, although he was curious as to how Dixon knew about the brown-furred lioness that had been his only reason for remaining in his home pride. Kiburi would not have left the pride...would she?

[SnowyCheetah]

Dixon shrugged. He disappeared and no one knows any further. Simba was Kopa's father. He leads the Pride Kopa would likely have lead had he not disappeared. I used to be a member of that Pride but... when my mate was killed, I left in search of a new life, leaving my past behind once again. If you wish, I could point you in the general direction of his lands should you wish to meet him.

Snowy was getting cofused by all the talk of things he wasn't in the loop on. [b]I'm... Going to go look around. Snowy said, beginning to walk off into the jungle.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga looked at Dixon, amazed. "You mean...I just happened to meet a lion that was part of your old pride...and the son of the pride leader?" he asked. He also wanted to ask about what had happened to Dixon's mate, but figured it was probably not the best idea to talk about such a sensitive issue to a lion that could almost literally crush him with a single paw.

He had intended on taking Dixon up on the offer of pointing out the Pridelands, but was distracted by Snowy's comment about looking around. Noticing the cheetah looked a little left out, Tanga looked back at Dixon quickly. "Sorry, but excuse me for a minute," she said quickly, before chasing after Snowy.

He quickly chased down the cheetah, coming up beside him. "Hey, Snowy...you okay?" he asked, genuinely concerned. Snowy was the first creature aside from Kiburi that had shown him any measure of acceptance and kindness, and he wanted to return the favour.

[SnowyCheetah]

Snowy looked at Tanga nonchalantly and replied, Yeah. I just slept through your conversation and thought I'd look around while you finished. No sense in sticking around if I wasn't around to hear the subject. The gray cheetah heard Dixon in the distance just then. Uhm... Tanga... I think he's... Crying? he said. Sure enough there were faint suppressed whimpers coming from the direction Dixon was in. Thoughts of his mate had come rushing through his mind, causing him to break down in tears. Perhaps he was a big lion, but he was hardly without a sense of nostalgia and emotion.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga gave Snowy a quick look. "If that's what you want...I'll fill you in when I'm done, okay?"

He then turned around, back in the direction of Dixon, as he, too, heard the suppressed whimpers coming from the lion. Looking at Snowy, silently telling him he was free to follow him or wander off as he pleased, he turned around and went back to Dixon, feeling that the big lion probably needed some company more than Snowy did at the moment. He felt wierd jumping from one friend to the other like this, but he knew from painful experience that when he was stuck in an emotional wreckage, some company that was there to simply help him out was the best way to feel a little better...although he had very rarely gotten that, and even when he did...it was only one lioness that ever bothered to try and comfort him.

"Uhh, Dixon?" he called hesitantly as he returned to the spot he'd left the lion. "Are you alright...I didn't do anything, did I?"