[Open] Kopa's Pride

[AdAstrα]

Upon seeing the King stand before her, Chiwa immediately felt very small. Afraid to make eye contact with him, she stared at her own paws, her heartbeat increasing rapidly.

[kmay571]

Kopa nodded, hearing Laini's response. He, like his father, was very understanding. He would let this stranger recover here. She was obviously no threat here. His red-orange eyes locked onto Chiwa, and he noticed her advert her gave to her paws. She was afraid. He scanned her over. She had a fair amount of scars, but he would hate to see the other lion. "How did she get hurt?" he asked. Either one of the pride had attacked her, but he doubted that since she was here at the dens. So then it must have been an accident. Then he heard Bora mention she was from the Outlands. His heart dropped. "The o- Outlands?" he stammered. Suddenly his world felt as if it were crashing around him. His past which he had spent so long running from was suddenly catching up with him. Kopa could feel his chest growing tight. He was transported to a different time, back when he ran away.

He had just come back from pouncing practice with his dad. He had been with Nuka. That was when Zira showed up.

"Nuka, go home." she had growled at the teenage cub. "Simba wanted me to talk to Kopa." And Nuka had obeyed his mother, running home with a single smile to his best friend. "Kopa, Kopa, Kopa. You know very well what your father did to his uncle right? Well, Kopa, he took away my beloved Scar. And now I have to get rid of Simba's beloved son!" the crazed lioness had snarled.

Kopa's eyes had widened. He was terrified. The first blow stunned him. The second sent him running.

"Run away, Kopa." she had almost purred. "Run away, and never return."

Now, Kopa was rushed back to the present. In front of him lay a member of the pride who had kicked him out of his home. Away from his parents. Away from anything he once knew and loved. He looked back down at Chiwa. He looked at Kitama. His throat felt dry. All the hatred built up for the Outlanders... His eyes closed tight. This was so much.

The king opened his eyes. He knew he could punish her for the crimes of her pride. But why continue the circle of banishment. Simba had been banished by Scar. Scar had been banished by Simba in return and killed. He had been banished by Zira for Scar's death, and Simba must have banished her for getting rid of his son. And now, in front of him was an injured Outlander, and he was thinking about doing the same, to get back at Zira. There was no point.

"You can stay until you are well. After then, you will be on trial." he growled softly, hiding his fear with aggression. He turned away and proceeded to eat the zebra that had been caught a while ago.


Ashiki watched as Kopa debated the future of the lioness. She could see there was something about her he did not like, but what it was, she was not so sure of. She licked her lips as he spoke the fate of Chiwa. And his words showed he did not trust her, but he would allow her to recover in the saftey of the pride.

[TheWhistlerify]

Laini opened her mouth to answer Kopa's second question just when Bora mentioned she that Chiwaa was from the outlands. he noticed Kopa's sudden change of mood at this. The king fell silent all of a sudden, and the fact that he stammered his last few words soon helped Laini realised what he was thiking about. The entire pride knew what happend to Kopa, and how much he missed his home. But right now she was worried about Chiwaa, and hoped that Kopa's built-up anger for Zira's pride wouldn'tget hold of him.

Luckily, Kopa was allowing her to stay, at least untill she got better, and that made Laini sigh in relief. Hopefully Kopa would soon get used to her and would allow her to stay eventually if she wished, she seemed like a nice lioness.

[kmay571]

Kopa picked up a fair chunk of the kill and proceeded to eat far from the stranger. Kitama could take care of anything Chiwa would start. He sighed and ate his meal, troubled. A stranger from his past was now in his pride. He second-guessed his decision to let her stay. He shook his head. "My father wouldn't kick out a lion in need." he snarled at himself. He took an angry bite of his meal and snorted. Chiwa was no threat now, but after that? He had seen all the scars. She was a fighter. What happened to the rest of the Outland pride? Was this injured lioness a trap? Or was it just a coincidence that she was even here? What if she hurt Laini's cubs when they were born? The strange lioness would most likely be around for at least a few days to recover, and the cubs could come any minute. Kopa tore another bite of meat off viciously. His thoughts were swimming through his mind, stinging his brain, making it hurt. The king was scared, truely afraid of the unknown this lioness carried with her. He knew he would not be able to talk to her directly. He could ask the other for information Chiwa provided. He needed that information. All he knew was her name, her pride, and the fact she was injured. He shivered as he swallowed another bite, lost in his own thoughts.

Ashiki sighed as she watched Kopa leave. He was bothered by her. "Sorry, Kopa has some bad memories." the wheat-colored lioness purred. "Don't let that bother you too much But anyways, how are you? Are you thirsty?" She asked. Surely she and the others could help the lioness to the river a few feet away if she needed it.

[zorayda]

Kitama rose out of respect for her king and gave him a curt nod.

"Ah, I was waiting for you, King Kopa. Chiwa has told us that she's run from the Outlands and become injured on account of a lone hunt," the old lioness reported. "I don't know if my opinion means anything, but I personally believe her. For now, anyways."

She flicked her tail once and glanced sideways at Chiwa, as if expected her to be grateful for her assessment.

[AdAstrα]

Chiwa turned back to Ashiki, somewhat relieved at the change of subject. "I'm feeling better,I'm just really tired." she said,smiling at her. "And quite thirsty too,actually..but I don't think I could go anywhere by myself." She admitted reluctantly; she still didn't like the idea of having to be helped although admittedly, she would not survive without it.
Her ears perked up as she heard Kitama pass her judgement. Amazed, she turned around; gazing in utter aastonishment at the older lioness before her.

[SophieCub]

Mheetu nuzzled Kopa gently ,"Your here! Your home" Mheetu smiled and went back to sit with his mate. He was so happy that Kopa was safe because he had known Kopa all his life almost even though Kopa was a little younger.

[kmay571]

Kopa returned the nuzzle. He was very fond of his uncle, and he knew the affection was returned. Mheetu was only a little older than himself, but he seemed to be beyond his years. But still, the brown-maned lion looked up to the older male almost like a father. "Of course I'm home. I only went out on a patrol. I didn't know I would have been so missed!" Kopa explained with a smile, but his eyes did not show the same happiness his voice played. The fear of Chiwa was still raw in his mind. Almost like a bird trapped, the thoughts were fluttering around his mind, pulling on his emotions.

"Well, I can help you to the river. It is only a few leaps away." Ashiki explained and lowered her body, ready to support the frail lioness to her feet.

[zorayda]

After Kopa left, Kitama settled back down near Chiwa.

"Don't worry about him," she said dismissively to the new lioness. "He'll come around. You'd better make my standing up for you worth it, though," Kitama grumbled, stretching out her legs. "I don't want to have my judgment questioned." She closed her eyes and settled her nose down upon her paws.

"I know there's something you're not telling us, though," Kitama said sharply, opening one eye and peering at Chiwa shrewdly. "So don't think you can go around not telling us about your whole story before you're through here." The old lioness shut her eye again, dismissing the young lioness once more.

[XeaxlXV]

Bora, having witnessed this whole situation, realized that what he said had triggered something in Kopa's past that probably would have been better left alone. "Maybe... he came from that 'Outlands' place..." He thought to himself before walking over to Chiwa. "Don't worry... Kopa's really a good guy, even if he sometimes seems a little intimidating..." He spoke to her. "However, Kitama is right... you need to tell us everything if you want to stay here..." He said, lying down and gazing at Chiwa for a second before closing his eyes.