[Private] Initial Rivals

[SnowyCheetah]

Kiburi giggled and laughed as Tanga splashed water back at her. Smirking, she dove at him and tried to tackle him, latching on and hanging from him as if she were a vine tied to him.

Wow, what was her problem? Snowy said in partial disbelief. He'd never heard of a full-grown lion trying to kill a defenseless cub. How despicable. How'd you escape death? he asked, turning to look at the lion who had apparently had a rough life as Tanga had.

[AustralianChaos]

Kopa's face took on a sad, sentimental look...he had long ago accepted his past, but that did not make it any easier to talk about. "Zira was fanatically loyal to my great-uncle, Scar...who ruled as king before I was born. My grandfather, Mufasa, was the king, and was killed before my father, Simba, was old enough to be king himself. Dad never told me all the details about what happened, but the point is that Zira always believed that Scar was the true king, and never accepted Simba as king when he came back and took the throne."

"She also had her own children. One of them...Kovu, she always said was Scar's chosen heir, and therefore the rightful next in line for the place as king of the Pridelands. I, obviously, was meant to be Simba's heir instead...but...I guess Zira had other plans...one that meant I had to be removed from the picture."

"I can barely remember that day, when she tried to kill me...it was all a bit of a blur. All I can remember is that I somehow escape, and was forced to flee the Pridelands in order to survive...Zira was not the only one loyal to Scar, which made it too dangerous to stay. I had intended on going back after a few days, but I guess I was scared of meeting Zira again. Now, though, I know I've stayed away too long...I'm older and stronger, and if you and the others accompany me, I know I'll feel a lot safer, especially if Zira's still around. I just...I wonder how my parents, and some of the others, have been."

Tanga laughed as Kiburi pounced at him, clinging to his back as he tried, and failed, to dislodge her, slowly dragging them both back to shore, still laughing even as he gave up and flopped onto his stomach, panting from the games as he looked over his shoulder at his oldest friend. "It's good to have you back, Kiburi," he said, purring.

[SnowyCheetah]

Snowy was awestruck at Kopa's story about Zira. Good Lord, he said, I'm glad you survived. I'll gladly accompany you to the Pridelands if you wish, since I've got nowhere else to go. Maybe we can all find a happy home there.

Kiburi giggled and licked Tanga's cheek as she rose back to her paws, looking at the makeshift raft that Kopa, Dixon and Tanga had arrived on. [b]Perhaps we should be going. she said, then realizing that Dixon was still asleep. ...unless one of us is still asleep... she said with an annoyed tone. I think we've waited for him long enough. It's time to wake him...

[AustralianChaos]

Kopa smiled at Snowy. "Thanks, Snowy...as long as my father's still king, I'm sure you'll all be very welcome in the Pridelands...he's a very kind and just king." With that, Kopa frowned. He had vaguely addressed his main fear of returning to the Pridelands...that he would return to find his father overthrown...or dead.

In an attempt to distract himself, he turned towards Dixon, still fast asleep. "I want to get going...but I don't want to be rude and wake him up for it either," he said, noticing Tanga and Kiburi were also staring at him, as if trying to will him awake with their minds alone. "What do you think, Snowy?"

Tanga once again froze up as Kiburi licked his cheek. Was she just being her usual, playful self...or were her actions indicating an intention to take their relationship to the next level? His uncertainty meant that his shy nature caused him to avoid the subject for now, as he too got back to his feet, looking at Dixon as Kiburi suggested waking him up now. "I don't know, Kiburi...I don't want to anger him or something by disturbing him..."

[SnowyCheetah]

Snowy chuckled a bit and began walkin over to the shore. You guys... you need to learn to take charge. he said jokingly as he found a piece of rotten log laying on the ground. Scraping at the inside with his claws, the snow cheetah continued; If you just sit and wait, not wanting to upset someone, you'll be sitting and waiting until you all die of starvation. Snowy scraped until he looked satisfied with the log. He then picked it up in his mouth and walked to the water. You need to be forceful, but not too forceful. he dipped the log, which he'd hollowed into a bowl, into the water and walked over to Dixon. Speaking through his clenched teeth, he finished; And I shall demonstrate. the water in the bowl came pouring out onto Dixon's face as Snowy let it tip, smirking as he winked at the group. Just as Snowy backed out of the way, Dixon roared to his paws as he sputtered because of the water. Alright let's get moving! the white lion said without thinking, barely awake.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga just shook his head and sighed in exasperation as Snowy woke Dixon. "I guess he has a point," he admitted to Kiburi. "But trust me, with someone as big as Dixon, I don't care how kind-hearted they are...I'm not going to risk making them angry."

But with Dixon awake now, he decided that there was no point pressing the matter any further, and he looked up the massive white lion. "Morning, Dixon. Are we all ready to head back to shore then?"

[SnowyCheetah]

Dixon shook his head to get the water off, realizing what had happened to him as he woke up. Smirking at Snowy, he proved Tanga's logic wise as he scooped up the snow cheetah in his massive paws, hurling him into the water with a hearty chuckle watching him land with a splash. Kiburi could hardly contain her laughter as Snowy emerged, dripping wet, from the water and splashed Dixon for what little revenge was possible. Oh, by all means. Duxon said, turning to Tanga. He went and pushed the raft into the water, and held it for the others.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga could not contain his laughter as Dixon grabbed Snowy and hurled him into the water, managing to speak up as Snowy emerged, shaking himself off over Dixon. "And that, right there, is why I said we should let him sleep!"

His laughter calmed into a controlled, but persistent chuckle as Dixon pushed the raft into the water, Tanga and Kopa helping him out before hopping on themselves, Tanga offerring a paw to Kiburi to help her up. "Come on, Kiburi...let's get off this island."

Kopa smiled as he watched Tanga's actions. He had been observing the golden-furred lion and Kiburi all morning, and they were showing all the signs of friends showling falling in love with each other. Granted, Kiburi was being much more forward about it, but Tanga, in his quiter nature, was finding ways of showing his affection for the dark-furred lioness, such as his polite gesture just then. He said nothing, but silently began to contemplate just how long it would take for the two of them to wake up to each other's feelings, and realise that their friendship had already begun to grow into something more.

[SnowyCheetah]

Snowy grumpily climbed onto the raft after Kiburi, who politely took Tanga's paw as he helped her onto the raft. At first she stumbled as the raft unexpectedly moved under her feet, but eventually got her sea legs and had to help Snowy climb on as well. Before long, Dixon called to the males to begin paddling. Snowy's webbed pawtoes were his advantage, helping him as he out-paddled the others. Kiburi began paddling as well, but was told politely to rest by Dixon as his giant paws pushed water behind them.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga and Kopa also put their paws to work, helping the group paddle along. With more of them on board the raft, it took more effort to push the raft along, but the extra paws conpensated for that, and Tanga soon found a steady pace that lined up with the others, that did not tire him out too quickly as the raft drifted across the swollen lake.

As the raft reached the other side, Kopa jumped off straight away, bounding into the shallows of the lake, happy to be off the island, and back in the now-familiar jungle. "So..." he turned back to the others as they too, made their way to shore. "...what's the plan now?" he looked particularly at Dixon, looking up to him as the unofficial 'leader' of their group. "Do we head back to the Pridelands now, or hang around here a little longer?"