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

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi sighed...the two of them were going to figure it out sooner or later...might as well be sooner. "Scar didn't exile you because he believed you were working with the hyenas...he was working with them all along. He exiled you to get you out of the way...to make it easier for him to get to Simba."

"It was Scar that lead Simba and Mufasa to that stampede, the day Mufasa died...he had Mufasa killed, and he tried to kill me just this morning when I followed him."

"Simba, Nala, and the others are safe for now...and Simba's going to be joining us soon, possibly Nala, too...Sarafina's working everything out, but it's become too dangerous for any of us to stay in the Pridelands...our only chance is if we escape before Scar can get to us, and hide here while we wait for Simba to grow old enough to take the throne for himself."

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Tanga just stared at Sarabi. He was so shocked he forgot about Marini's close proximity to him as he stood, moving away from her. "Scar...Scar was behind everything?" he asked, getting only a nod in response.

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Nala sighed, pushing deeper into her mother's embrace. "I know...but it's still hard. But I can't leave Simba...even if he's with Tanga and Marini. I..." she looked up at her mother, hoping she would understand what she was about to say.

"That day, when me and Simba went to the Elephant Graveyard, Zazu told us about how we were meant to become mates when we were older. I thought it would be too wierd at the time...we were best friends, how could we be mates as well? But...I can see it a bit better now...and I can't leave him."

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini was completly shocked at this. She remembered that they got to Simba right after the stampede and it made sense all of a sudden, Scar probably wanted to kill SImba right away in case he survived so he could tell everyone that he died in the stampede. They stood in the way, so he disposed of them. "But..."she said, knowing that there wasn't much to say about this. "Well... let's try not to think about it for now." she said, thinking of a subject for a conversation, "We caught an antelope!" She said, trying to use a happier tone.

Sarafina sighed as Nala said that. "I know what you mean... that's exactly why I want you to go with him." she then looked from the edge of Pride Rock, still not seeing Scar anywhere. "I want you to tell Simba this. I can't risk Scar seeing me talk to him, it'll be too suspicious."

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi chuckled, heeding Marini's wish to avoid the subject for now. "Yes, I saw that, actually. That was one of things I was worried about, because I know you two have never had many hunting lessons, and most of us don't learn to hunt until we're much bigger than you are now...I'm relieved and very impressed you managed to do it."

Her voice became a little more serious as her parent side took over once more. "Just remember, that the antelope, and anything else you hunt, are living creatures too. Us hunting them is all a part of the Circle of Life, and they accept that...just remember to only hunt what you need to survive...nothing more."

But she smiled once more, as she decided that if Marini wanted to keep the subject away from Scar, she could take a little teasing in the process. "So...it was quite a pleasant surprise seeing how you two were resting together when I found you...anything about you two I should know?"

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Tanga felt himself filled with pride at Sarabi's commented on their hunting abilities, but sobered up slightly when she reminded them of the responsibility hunters faced in regards to respecting the creatures they hunted. "I understand, Sarabi," he said simply, but with complete sincerity.

But Tanga's awkward, embarrassed nervousness returned when Sarabi questioned them about...well, each other. "Well, I...uhh..." Tanga turned back to Marini, imploring her silently for help, since he had no idea what to say.

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Nala nodded, happy that she understood her growing feelings for Simba, and accepted them. But when she told her to talk to Simba, she paused, unsure of how soon she wanted it done. "Should I wake him up...or let him sleep?" she asked.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini nodded at what Sarabi told them about hunting. She never saw hunting for something used for more then survival, but she wanted to let Sarabi know that she got the message. She blushed again as she asked about her and Tanga, not knowing how exactly to answer it and noticing Tanga was completly frozen, again. "Ahh... I don't know." she said, a bit shy of telling her that they both like each other, maybe they even love each other but don't know it yet.

Sarafina turned her gaze from the elephant graveyard back to Nala "How ever you feel like. Just make sure nobody hears you. Especially not Scar." she pulled her daughter into another hug, "Everything will be fine, you'll see."

Simba woke up and looked around the den. No sign for his mother or Sarafina. Or Nala. He suddenly remembered the way they were behaving to each other. They always seemed to draw comfort from the other. No! We're just friends. Just friends. Nothing more. Simba kept telling himself. Remembering the day in which Zazu told them they were to be mates once they've grown up. He always considered the two of them as just close friends, and ever since Zazu told them that, he tried not to think about it, maybe the fact that he was still so young caused the thought of them being nothing but friends to get stuck in his head. He didn't like it when he heard such a desicion was made for him. But all that happend between them lately made him see everything in a different way.

[AustralianChaos]

Nala turned back to the den, and noticed that Simba was up, although he seemed to be in the middle of some internal conflict. She quickly turned back to her mother. "Never mind...he's up now, might as well tell him, before Scar gets back."

She gave her mother one last, quick nuzzle. "I'll see you later," she said, before turning and walking back towards the den, seeing Simba still struggling with himself, and finding herself struggling with her growing feelings for the young prince.

It brought a smile to her face to remember how they had reacted when Zazu had told them of their betrothal. But now, one month on, Nala was reconsidering the idea. It still felt a little wierd, knowing that she had been chosen to be Simba's life partner, but as she continued to think on it, she realised it was becoming something she was liking the idea of more and more.

But she pushed the thoughts of it out of her mind more now...there were much important things to worry about right now, and Simba's safety was on the line. "Simba?" she called as she entered the den. "Simba, could you come with me for a moment?"

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Sarabi laughed, noticing that the cheeks of both young lions before her had gone red, and both of them seemed to have been caught unawares by her question. "Yes, I thought so," she said, acting as if they had given her a straight answer. Their stammering, halting replies had given her the answer, anyway. "And I must admit, I had wondered if you two would get together and start...'seeing' each other eventually."

Deciding that the two of them had probably had enough of the conversation, she decided to save them, and change the subject. "So...why are you two cuddled up here, anyway. I would have thought the two of you would have spent the morning exploring and finding out more about this place...I know I did when I first came here."

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba snapped out of his thoughts as Nala called his name. He nodded and followed her outside, seeing Sarafina a short distance away from them. "What is it?" he asked, sounding like someone who just woke up. He forgot that his mother went after Scar a few minutes ago when his mind drifted off to think about Nala and what will happen to the two of them in the future.

Marini blushed even deeper as Sarabi asked about them 'seeing' each other. She looked at Tanga for a second before turning her gaze back to her, asking herself the same question. When she found out about Tanga's feeling it was one of the happiest moment she experienced. And now she felt like being with him all the time. She snapped out of those thoughts and answered Sarabi's second question. "Oh, Tanga hurt his shoulder a little, so we'll do the exploring later." she said, her blush slowly dissapearing as the conversation's subject was changed

[AustralianChaos]

Nala lead Simba away from Pride Rock a short way, to a spot where she knew they would be able to easily see Scar...or anyone else...long before they came into earshot. "Something happened at the Graveyard, Simba..." she hesitated, but ploughed on, knowing Simba would assume the worst otherwise. "Sarabi's been forced into exile with Tanga and Marini...but Scar thinks she's dead."

Nala sighed. "And now my mum's pretending to help Scar, she said it was how she saved Sarabi. She also said that she's got a plan to stop Scar from getting you...we have to fake your death as well, and we're going to head off to find Marini and the others, too."

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Tanga looked at Marini as Sarabi asked about 'seeing' each other. He liked the think that they were...and what else could you call what they were doing, anyway? They had obviously moved beyond a normal friendship.

Tanga smiled as Marini explained his shoulder, turning so the cut was exposed to Sarabi's gaze. "The antelope got me before I could kill it, but it's not that bad...just stings a little."

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Sarabi came closer, quickly inspecting the wound Tanga showed her as he explained what had happened. Sarabi nodded at his explanation...an antelope certainly could cause this sort of damage, and worse, if you did not kill it quickly. "Yeah, it looks fine. Just try not to walk on that leg too much to avoid the pain, but you should be fine tomorrow."

She then decided to talk to them about their new home. "I assume you like the cave, and this place in general?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Simba was about to burst into tears as Nala mentioned the graveyard, but calmed down a little as she said Sarabi was alive in exile. He listened carefully to what Nala said. He knew that Scar would attempt to kill him some day, and that the day he would wasn't far away. "But how do we do that?" he asked, hoping that Sarafina had came up with something.

Marini smiled as Sarabi said that Tanga's wound was nothing to worry about. Even though she knew it herself, it was quietening to hear that from someone else. She then moved her gaze from Tanga's shoulder to Sarabi, "Yeah, the cave is pretty convinient. Sleeping on the grass is alot better then sleeping on stone."

[AustralianChaos]

Sarabi couldn't resist one more little jibe at their blooming relationship at that statement...they reminded her so much of what she was like around Mufasa when they first started 'going out'. "Yes, it is...but I'm sure you two know that sleeping on each other's fur is much more comfortable than grass, right?"

She laughed as they once more grew shy, before deciding to ease their suffering at her own hands. "Don't worry, the reason I keep bringing this up is because you two remind me of how me and Mufasa acted when we first started seeing each other...I don't mind in the slightest."

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"I don't know," Nala admitted. "Mum said she has a plan, though...we just have to act like we don't know anything until then."

And that, Nala knew, would be the hard part, especially for Simba. He was going to have to act like his mother and father were dead, and two of his closest friends were exiled, most likely dead as well. He had to put on an act of a grieving child, whilst keeping his anger at Scar's murderous ways in check. Nala was amazed he had been able to pull it off so far.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini couldn't help but ask Sarabi something as she brought Mufasa's name into the conversation. "Do you know when will Simba and Nala come?" She asked, thinking that maybe Sarabi knew.

Simba sighed, it was difficult for him enough to hide his anger about Tanga and Marini's pointless exile in the first place, now he also knew that Scar killed his father, tried to kill him and will do it again untill he succeeded. Also he'd have to pretend his mother was dead. He knew it would be difficult, but he had to remember that it's important if they want Sarafina's plan to work out. "So... I guess Sarafina will let us know once she'd come up with a plan then." he said, wanting the time to fly forward, so that he could get Scar for everything he had done.