[Private] Initial Rivals

[SnowyCheetah]

Kiburi smiled as she heard Tanga say that, and returned his nuzzle with a warm smile. Really? Perhaps we can still have a home after all, then! she exclaimed quietly, trying not to wake anyone. This sounded like a dream come true! Not only had she found Tanga, but he had news of a pride who may accept them! Having a home where she and Tanga would both be welcome sounded like a miracle. She just had to tackle Tanga and lick him playfully out of pure joy as she imagined the two of them living happily and welcome among other lions.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga was thoroughly surprised when Kiburi jumped him, tackling him to the ground. Grunting as his back hit the ground, he look up at her with a confused look on his face. "Hey! What was that..." But Tanga lost his voice as Kiburi licked him, a playful grin plastered on her face as he simply lay there, frozen on the spot.

Tanga knew that such displays of affection were generally only reserved for leonines who got very close...and Tanga was not entirely sure how to interpret that. Part of him said he should return the gesture...but his nervousness and quiet nature took over, as he remained on the ground, rubbing a paw nervously through his mane. "I...I guess you like the idea, then, huh?" he asked meekly, the words sounding incredibly awkward as he stared up into Kiburi's golden eyes.

[SnowyCheetah]

Kiburi giggled at Tanga's shy response. Indeed I do! she said, letting off Tanga and looking around. But where are the others? she asked, not seeing a sign of anyone else. They were all asleep on the other side of the island, exhausted from the day before. Kiburi wandered over to the other side of the island, encouraging Tanga to accompany her. She saw Snowy, Kopa and Dixon asleep and wondered if it was a good idea to wake them. Excited to go find this new Pride, she didn't want to waste any time.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga followed Kiburi, and when he saw the others still asleep, he also noted Kiburi's thoughtful expression, and quickly guessed what she was after. "You want to wake them up so we can get off this island, don't you?" he asked simply. Looking up at the sun, and noting is was a fair distance above the horizon, Tanga sighed. "I'd rather let them sleep, but what else is there to do on this island, anyway?" he asked, looking around, finding nothing significant on the island...it was simply too small to hold any landmarks of significance.

Looking back at the group, Tanga sighed once more. He, too, wanted to wake them so they could get on their way...but he also wanted to respect their need for rest, even if he was fast getting bored himself.

[SnowyCheetah]

Kiburi felt the same way as Tanga and opted not to wake the group. But I didn't take long until Snowy woke up, having not taken part in the paddling of the night before. Stretching, his toes spread. Kiburi was intrigued and a little bit surprised by this feature of the snow cheetah which she hadn't seen until just then. Not wanting to bother the still-dopey cheetah, she leaned to Tanga and asked, What's with his paws? as she watched in awe.

Snowy went down to the lake shore and dipped his head in, and eventually his entire body. The cool water woke him up, and he then went to wait with Tanga and Kiburi for Kopa and Dixon to wake up.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga watched as Snowy entered the water, but focused on Kiburi's question. "I don't know, I haven't asked. But he comes from a strange land that's very different from ours, and says that it has been destroyed, and that's why he's here. I've been planning on learning more about him, but things have been rather hectic since I met him. Once we find this new pride and settle down, we'll all have to share stories of what happened to us all."

As Snowy returned to them, Tanga gave him a smile. "Hey, Snowy...sleep alright?"

As Snowy was taking his swim, Kopa was returning to the waking world himself. Yawning, he looked up, noticing they were on an island and remember recent events. He noticed Dixon was still asleep, before turning and noticing everyone else was awake. "Tanga, Snowy, Kiburi," he said by way of greet as he pulled his muscular frame to it's feet, shaking his brown mane. "We all heading back across the lake soon, then?"

[SnowyCheetah]

Snowy shook once as he went back up to where Kiburi and Tanga were standing. I did thanks, and you? he said in reply to Tanga as he saw Kopa waking up. Morning, Kopa. he said. Kiburi tuned and saw Kopa as well. Good morning. she said, herself walking down to the water for a swim. You coming, Tanga? she asked as she entered the cool water, dipping her head in as Snowy had done moments earlier. She waited a bit for Tanga, then dove underneath to look around; there was only rubble that had been disrupted and swept away in the rushing flood.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga also gave his greetings to Kopa, before turning back to Kiburi as she offered up a swim. He initially thought against declining, wanting to talk to Snowy about his disappearance yesterday, but decided against it when he run a paw through his mane, and felt an excessive amount of mud there, which he knew must be covering him from the flash-flood, and the subsequent sleep in the island. Turning back to Snowy, he gave a mildly apologetic look towards Snowy and Kopa, before leaping after her, wasting no time. Rather than step in and slowly submerge himself, Tanga simply ran until his paws were in up to their ankles, before taking a big leap out into the lake, laughing all the way as he hit the water with a loud, large splash.

He was still laughing as he came up for air, having never felt this carefree in his life. Looking over at Kiburi, he paused for a moment as he looked a little more closely at her. "That's why I didn't recognise your roar last night...you've grown a little since I last saw you," he said, cocking his head to the side a little as he looked at her, trying to figure out exactly what was different. The first things that came to mind were that her voice had fully matured, and she had grown another paw-length or so since their disappearance. She was losing the last of her cubbish looks, and starting to look like the beautiful lioness he had always imagined she would become.

Back on the shore, Kopa watched the two of them, sitting beside Snowy. "You should have seen him when he was back at his old pride, Snowy. Compared to now, he was a broken lion. The traditions of his home were tearing him apart, and Kiburi was his only comfort. His exile would have just confused him, as it would have been both a blessing and a curse at the same time." He looked at Snowy. "How did you two meet, anyway?"

[SnowyCheetah]

Kiburi blushed as Tanga said that she'd grown. Staring at his dripping-wet self, she said, Yeah, I have... you haven't changed a bit, though. she said with a light giggle as she let him eye her progress, before splashing him with water before diving back in.

Watching as Kiburi initiated a splash fight in the lake, Snowy heard Kopa speak up. He was saddened by the story of Tanga's cubhood. How could any lion turn out well after such a stressful childhood? Knowing they were going to be kicked out on their own as soon as they reached adulthood. How idiotic. he thought to himself. Then he answered Kopa's question. Well... he said, I got captured by... humans, I think they're called. Long story short, they got stupid and greedy, and I escaped, though my paws were tied. Tanga found me and untied me, and we stuck together ever since even though we weren't the best of friends right away.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga chuckled as Kiburi told him he had not changed a bit since he had left, before yelling as he was splashed, smiling conspiritorially at her as she splashed away from him. "Why you little...!" he growled playfully, before chasing after her, using his paws to send great splashes of water right back at her, laughing the whole way

Kopa listened to Snowy's tail. "I've seen these humans a couple of times, but only from a distance," he replied gravely. "I've heard more than enough stories about them to never want to get close to them, or attract their attention. You were lucky to escape, Snowy. Although I'm not surprised Tanga released you. Somehow, he's always been caring, despite his cubhood. I think his mind just realises what he's been through, and wants to make sure no-one else ever suffers like he did. It's not a common trait, and it's good to see that his life is finally starting to turn around."

He looked over at Dixon's form once more, before turning back to Snowy. "I think you'll all like it back at the Pridelands...as long as things are still okay. I was forced to leave because a lioness tried to kill me...she very nearly succeeded, too. I have no idea what happened to her...or my father, or anyone else, for that matter...but I'm older and stronger now, and can take care of myself, so even if Zira's still alive, and still wants to kill me, it's time I came back."