Past Demons [PRIVATE: AC and TheIvanMuse]

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga pulled his paws down from Mufasa's leg when the lion said his name, waiting for whatever decision the pride leader decided for him. Anticipation and nervousness pulled through Tanga, starting to overwhelm his already-overloaded emotions. It was now taking every bit of self-control the young cub possessed to stop himself from collapsing to the ground and sobbing uncontrollably. He knew that once the tears started, he'd never stop them...and he did not want to be seen crying by this obvious strong, proud lion...he did not want to seem weak.

When Mufasa told Tanga to follow, the cub obeyed, settling in behind the adult as he picked up the antelope meat and started walking. It took Tanga quite some time before he noticed where Mufasa was leading him...by the time, Tanga was already at the mouth of the cave, standing on the threshold...and at this point, he froze, instinctive fear welling up inside him as he took a step backwards, a low whine escaping his throat as he took in the sight before him.

There, covering most of the available floorspace inside the roomy cave, were lions and lionesses...quite a large number of them. As Tanga saw just how many there were sleeping in Pride Rock's den, he took another step back, putting himself back in the eerie glow of the moon and stars once more as his fear reared its ugly head once again. For all of Tanga's life, big groups of animals meant lots of eyes staring at him, lots of mouths insulting and degrading him...and lots of claws that were free to lash out at him. It took the young cub all of a second to figure out one thing...he would not, could not, stay in there.

"Uhh..." he started, his voice quivering with his suppressed fear. "I-I can't come in here, sir," he said in a quiet voice, part of him hoping Mufasa would not hear. "I just...I'll stay by that rock you showed me earlier...I don't mind." Despite Tanga's attempt to ride off the issue as nothing, his voice betrayed his feelings...it did matter. He liked Mufasa, felt safe around him...but even Mufasa could not push through his fear of crowds enough to give him the strength to enter the den...he just could not do it.

[TheIvanMuse]

As Mufasa entered the cave,he had thought Tanga would follow his steps,as he wouldn't expect him to want to stay outside in the cold night rather then settling down inside the warm cave. He put the meat down and turned around to see that Tanga was still as the entrance of the cave,with a terrified expression. Hi sighed as he realized that this cub was even more traumatized than he had thought. But well,maybe he was just shy. Whatever it was,he wanted the cub to overcome it and join him and his pride in the cave,as spending the night outside would mean exposing him to further danger. After all that he had told him,he just didn't have the heart to allow him to stay outside.

Mufasa started to walk back to the threshold,while hearing some mumbling coming from Tanga's direction. He didn't quite hear him at first,but then he heard him say of how he wanted to stay at the rock he showed him earlier. As Mufasa came in front of Tanga he smiled at him and turned around while lifting his paw and showing him his pride: ''This is my pride,Tanga. You don't have to fear anything'' As Mufasa said that,he heard a yawn coming from deeper in the cave. Did someone wake up?

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Nala opened her eyes as she heard someone talking. She gave out a silent yawn and got up. With her eyes still almost closed,she stretched out and saw that everyone was still asleep. Everyone but the two lions at the entrance of the cave. She lowered her head,not seeing who it was at first. But then she recognized the big mane of their pride leader. It was Mufasa. She instantly felt relieved as she had thought there was some unknown lion lurking instead. She always felt like Mufasa was the father she never had,she always looked up to him. She wanted to see why he was up at this point of the night.

She then looked at Sarafina,making sure she is still asleep as she didn't want her knowing that she's sneaking off. She then silently sneaked around the lions and lionesses and made her way to Mufasa. As she approached him she said: ''Mufasa,why are you...'' Her question was interrupted by the sight of a little lion cub. Her curiosity got the best of her and she suddenly jumped in front of the cub. ''Who are you?!'',she said with a grin on her face. But then she was held back by a giant paw.

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Mufasa was amused by the lively spirit that Nala showed upon seeing Tanga,but he still didn't like that she was up at this time. He turned his head towards her and told her with a smile while keeping his paw in front of her: ''Nala,keep your voice down,you shouldn't be up at this time.'' He then moved his paw away and let her come towards the young cub. He didn't say anything as he wanted to see how Tanga will react to another cub,rather than to a group of grown lions and lionesses.

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Nala looked up into Mufasa's eyes and lowered her ears while saying: ''I'm sorry...'' As soon as Mufasa moved his paw away,she looked the young cub into his blue eyes and told him: ''I'm Nala. What is your name?'' She hadn't seen this cub for longer than a minute,but his shyness was obvious to her.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga blushed in embarassed shame, turning away from Mufasa as the lion gestured to his pride, saying he had nothing to fear. Tanga knew that, with Mufasa as part of the group, that these leonines should be nice to him...but as Tanga tried to enter the den once more, his fear struck him again as he laid eyes on the sleeping pride, and he backed away to his original position once more. "I...I can't, Mufasa," he said, completely ashamed of himself for his irrational fear. "I just can't...not tonight..."

But he was effectively distracted by another voice, calling out to Mufasa. Whipping his head around, his self-defence instinct kicking in instantly thanks to his life at home, he spotted a young lioness, around his age by her size, even though he was slightly bigger than him...Tanga had always been small for his age. That instinct only flared further when the pale-furred cub noticed him, grinning and jumping in front of him, asking who he was. Tanga instinctively backed off several paces at the cub's enthusiastic greeting, only stopping when Mufasa's paw held the lioness back. Even the other cubs back in his home pride had treated him like dirt, and Nala's enthusiasm reminded him a little too vividly of the enthusiasm those cubs took when bullying him.

But as Mufasa tried to calm the cub down, Tanga took a moment to look at her, knowing he was going to have to meet her at some point. Her pale, creamy fur was nothing unusual, although it looked rather dirty, as though she had been on some adventure in the past few hours. And her eyes...the aqua blue-green hue was something Tanga had never seen before, and his head cocked to the side in a mild show of curiosity at this cub. Maybe she was not so bad...Mufasa seemed to like her, at the very least...

But that more rational line of thinking vanished when Mufasa lowered his paw, freeing the cub, Tanga had caught the name Nala a moment ago, to approach him again. As Nala introduced herself, Tanga whimpered slightly and moved behind Mufasa, using the massive lion's frame as a shield of sorts, hiding himself from Nala, part of him hoping she had not seen all his wounds, although they were blatantly obvious...he was covered in them. The rest of him was just plain shy, and scared of what the young lioness might do to him if she was anything like the cubs back home.

Realising that, despite being a little scared of her, he probably should still answer her, Tanga poked his head out from behind Mufasa's frame, ready to dive back behind him if Nala tried to approach again. "H-hi, Nala," he stammered out warily, his ears pinned back in an unconscious show of his fear and shyness. "I...I'm Tanga," he managed to say after a brief moment. He wanted to hide behind Mufasa again, but managed to stop himself, letting his head continue to peek out at least. He just hoped Nala was as nice as Mufasa had been so far...he did not want to be bullied all over again.

[TheIvanMuse]

When Nala came towards Tanga,as Mufasa moved his paw away from her,Mufasa seemed to be the first person Tanga turned to when being afraid,as he hid behind his large body,not allowing Nala to see him. Mufasa sighed in disbelief,he didn't want the believe that the young cub would even be intimidated by the sight of a cub lioness,cheerfully saluting him. As Tanga introduced himself to Nala,he was still hiding behind Mufasa. He knew that Tanga would have to meet the other lions in his pride sooner or later,so why wouldn't it be sooner. He then lowered his head and whispered to Tanga: ''Come on,she's nice.'' He said this in a very silent matter,so that Nala wouldn't hear him,as if she did,it would probably make Tanga feel even more awkward. By doing so,he gave Tanga a gentle push with his paw,so that he would get out from his hide that was Mufasa's powerful frame.

This little adventure took his mind of the seriousness of the whole situation for only a brief moment,as the dark thoughts about what might happen next hit his mind. He gazed back up to the sky,while hoping that his brother didn't become what he seemed to have. He hoped that he was still the same brother he used to play with,the same brother he used to watch the stars with,the same brother on which's shoulder he cried on when their father died...

He was brought back to reality when he heard Nala saying something to Tanga.

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Nala was very confused with how this cub was acting. Why was he so scared of her,why did he hide behind Mufasa. She never saw any other cub being so silent and shy. Especially since most of her time she was with Simba,who is quite a lively trouble maker. She didn't want to scare him off then,as Mufasa had already told her that she was being too loud. As the cub peeked his head from Mufasa's body,he introduced himself to her. His name was Tanga...

Upon hearing this,she saw Mufasa whispering something to him,and then giving him a gentle push with his big paw. She wanted to know why this cub was acting so shy,even more,she wanted him to break out of that shell as she has seen a very lively cub in those blue eyes,hiding in this intimidated shell. ''Why are you scared? I'm not going to bite you?'' ,she said while putting a toothily smile on her face.

[AustralianChaos]

As Tanga warily introduced himself, he saw Nala's confused expression, and realised that his scared, shy nature was confusing to her...she had obviously expected him, as a cub, to be far more energetic and adventurous. But the way he had been raised had quite literally almost beaten out his adventurous nature. Complete obedience and physical and mental strength were all that mattered to his pride. Fun and adventure were considered weak distractions, and were to be avoided at all costs.

When Mufasa leaned down, commenting that she was nice, and vaguely suggesting he should come out and stop hiding behind him, Tanga looked up at the adult. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out...exactly how could he respond to that. He knew that Nala was probably very nice...but that did not do anything to ease his fear of being mauled. He'd been betrayed by seemingly nice cubs in the past, and did not want a repeat of that. He gave a whimper of fearful protest when Mufasa pushed him out into the open, pushing back against his massive paw, but Mufasa seemed insistent on making him meet Nala properly.

When Mufasa took his paw back, Tanga wanted to run straight back behind the big lion again, but resisted the urge...he knew Mufasa would probably just push him back out again, regardless. As Tanga reluctantly turned to face Nala, he tried to hide his wounds from her, but knew it was a futile effort...the countless cuts were all over his back, and he even had a couple on his muzzle. His small, runty frame, with his ribs exposed from lack of food, could not be making a good first impression on the young cub either. Tanga kept himself standing up, his whole body tense as an instinctive self-defence mechanism, meaning that if Nala tried to hurt him in any way, he'd be out of the den and halfway across the plains before either her or Mufasa could even blink.

When Nala spoke once more, Tanga shied instinctively away from the cub's toothy smile...or rather the fangs said smile was revealing. Her words were little comfort, however. Looking at his forepaws, Tanga managed mumble a reply. "That's what they always say to me," he said, his voice carrying no emotion whatsoever. "Everyone I meet says they'll never hurt me, then, a minute later, there they are, with their real friends...and their claws and fangs..." At this point, Tanga forced himself to stop, a horrified look on his face as he realised just what he had said. He had not meant to say so much about his past, fully intending on giving Nala nothing more than his first sentence to explain why he was scared. But his strained emotions had gotten the best of him, and now he had accidentally revealed part of his past, and the violent bullying and betrayals he had sufferred from his so-called 'friends'.

[TheIvanMuse]

Nala was very willing to make the cub feel as welcomed as she could,as she knew that if Mufasa had allowed him near the cave,that he trusted him and that she would see him again too,not only on this night. As the cub tried to get back behind Mufasa after Mufasa has pushed him in front of Nala,he seemed to be really nervous. Nala noticed that her cheerful gesture didn't do any help in making the cub feel less frightened. She now knew that she had to take it a bit slower with Tanga,as she was obviously intimidating him. His response seemed to have only shocked her even more as Tanga was obviously been beaten up by his own friends,or better said so called friends. However,she didn't want to talk anymore about it to him,as he probably wouldn't have liked it anyways.

''So... Ermmm,I know some great places around here. Me and Simba could show them to you next morning.'' With that said,she once again smiled at Tanga,but not showing her teeth,as she would probably avoid that for quite some time after what she has heard him saying about his past. She hoped that she found herself a new friend in Tanga,as he didn't seem like someone she wouldn't like. But she did however want to help him with his obvious fear of socializing. ''It'll be fun!'' ,she said while giving a gaze up to Mufasa,as she was seeking for his approval for the little adventure she wanted to go to with Simba and Tanga tomorrow.

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Mufasa didn't want Tanga to hide behind him anymore,and with that,he gave him one more push as Tanga tried to push back at Mufasa's paw,obviously not very willing to do what Mufasa intended him to do. As Mufasa's thoughts about what might be going on with Scar got interrupted by Nala's comment about Tanga's shyness,what he heard next,has made the whole image of what Tanga's life used to be like seem even worse. Apparently,Tanga was even bullied by his friends,or at least by the people who seemed to introduce themselves as his friends. Mufasa felt even more bad for him,it seemed as if the poor cub had no joy in life whatsoever. Tanga didn't seem to like what he had just slipped out.

Before Mufasa could say anything,Nala jumped at Tanga with another request. He didn't hold her down though,as he thought it was for the best if they actually did that. ''Yes,Tanga,you should do so.'' ,Mufasa said approvingly,while nodding to Nala. ''Simba is my son,I'm sure you three should have a great time.'' But danger could be lurking out there,now more than anytime else,as the group of lions Tanga used to be part of could be somewhere out there. Mufasa didn't want to leave them off on their own. His previous statement was then followed up by a more stern one:''But I will go with you!'' After that,Mufasa gave out a big yawn,opening his muzzle as much as he could.

[AustralianChaos]

As Nala talked, Tanga noted with some relief that she did not seem to notice his little revelation, and slowly released the breath he had been unknowingly holding. He did not want to draw attention to himself, and those sort of comments were exactly the thing for him to get such unwanted attention. He did not like being all alone...but he did not like being overprotected and generally 'mothered', either. He was used to solitude, and for the most part liked it...company had always meant pain for him...until today.

As Nala suggested she and another cub called Simba...the name was familiar somehow...take him to see some of the great places around her home, Tanga shuffled, hesitant. His fear of company was still holding strong. "I don't know..." he said reluctantly, only for Nala to speak up again, insisting it would be fun. But Tanga still was not so sure...if Nala was like the others, and just trying to gain his trust to hurt him later, this would be the perfect time to do so. The addition of a second cub was not helping Tanga's confidence, either.

Then Mufasa spoke up, the one lion Tanga even mildly trusted so far, suggesting it would be a good idea to go with Nala and Simba...even mentioning that simba was his own son. Well, that explains why I knew his name, he thought flatly, whilst still listening to Mufasa. "I just...I'm not sure..." he said, right before Mufasa shot back a stern command that he would go with the cubs, which actually had the nearly impossible effect of easing Tanga's fears slightly. "I...okay, I'll go, but only if you're there," he finally relented, looking straight at Mufasa.

After a brief moment, Mufasa gave a huge yawn, which not only told Tanga that the king was tired, but reminded him that it was rather late, and he was exhausted, too. "Sorry," he mumbled, lowering his head and shying away in submission, instinct telling him that punishment was forthcoming for keeping a lion awake like this. "You must be tired...both of you. I'll just leave you lot to sleep," he said hurriedly, turning to head back to the rock Mufasa had designated as his previous sleeping spot...he still could not contemplate the idea of staying with a large crowd of lions...it was just too much for his traumatised mind to handle right now.

[TheIvanMuse]

Nala was happy to see that Tanga was just a bit shy,as he seemed as if he wanted to come with her and Simba,but was only a afriad. As Mufasa approved Nala's idea of her and Simba showing Tanga around,she was quite relieved that he let them go,as she knew Mufasa would be worried to just let them off on their own with an unknown cub. But suspicion of why Mufasa would let the off that lightly was swiftly brought to justice,as Mufasa insisted that he will go with them. She would usually be very pouted if someone like Zazu would keep watch on them,but she liked Mufasa,because no matter how frightening he was,he was still a very funny lion once you got to his good side.

As Tanga accepted to go with them all around the Pride Lands,Nala just jumped up in happiness,she always liked an adventure. It seemed as if Tanga and Mufasa got to know each other better than she knew,as he seemed to trust him the most. ''Great,I can't wait!'',she said while looking at Tanga and then turning her gaze to Mufasa who gave out a giant yawn. She was almost frightened by his yawn,as it seemed that she could fit in his muzzle completely. With his yawn,she became aware just how late it is for her to be outside,as she was starting to feel tired as well. As Tanga responded to Mufasa's yawn,she was just standing there,waiting for Mufasa to reply to him.

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As Mufasa's request of him joining them in their adventure was more than gladly accepted by Tanga,he was happy that trusted him that much. Nala didn't seem to mind him joining the either,even if she did,he couldn't let them out there on their own,or with Zazu,as any message he transferred would probably come too late,if the lions that harmed Tanga,attacked the group of cubs. He then smiled at Tanga,not saying anything,just giving him a non-verbal message that it's all going to be just fine and that he'll probably have a good time himself.

As Mufasa yawned,Tanga reacted rather weird,he apologized to him,while lowering his head,as if he did something terribly wrong. ''It's ok,but we should all go to sleep now.'' ,he said,but then realizing that Tanga had no intentions of going inside the cave,as he was determined to sleep where Mufasa showed him earlier. He then turned to Nala and told her: ''Nala,you go inside,I'll come later.''

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When Mufasa told her to go inside the cave,Nala just smiled and nodded to Mufasa. ''On my way.'',she said while turning around. Only then she realized that she forgot to say good night to them. She turned around and said: ''Good night Mufasa! Good night,Tanga!'' Then she went inside the cave and curled up next to her mother and dozed off in a matter of seconds it seemed.

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''Good night,Nala!'',Mufasa said as Nala turned around to salute them. When Nala left,Mufasa walked up to Tanga and told him. ''Tanga,I know you are afraid,and I understand why you are. You can sleep here,but you are more then welcome to come inside the cave if you want to. It is a cold night...'' Mufasa then walked inside the cave and picked up the meat he had left there before. He walked back outside and placed the meat next to Tanga's sleeping spot. He then smiled at the young cub who he grew to like by this point,not only because he felt sorry for him,but because he knew there was more to him than meets the eye. ''Good night,Tanga.'',he said,while walking back to his cave.

He didn't however enter the cave completely,but stayed at the entrance,as he couldn't let Tanga be exposed to danger just so he could have a warm place to sleep. He laid down and rested his head on his paws,while slowly closing his eyes...

[AustralianChaos]

As Tanga padded back towards the rock he was determined to use as his sleeping spot, he stopped and turned around as he heard Nala bid Mufasa goodnight, before giving the same sentiments to him as well. Slightly stunned by this simple polite gesture, Tanga could only nod his head briefly in response, before Nala took off back into the den, obviously wanting some sleep. But for a few moments, Tanga was left rooted to the spot...no-one had ever given him as much as a simple goodnight...his parents might have done it once or twice, but he could barely remember if they had or not.

But as Tanga reached the rock he planned to sleep beside, Mufasa was once more beside him, and Tanga shied away slightly, wondering what the big lion wanted this time...he might trust Mufasa somewhat now, but that did not stop the young cub from being intimidated by his massive, obviously strong build. As Mufasa spoke, saying he understood why he was afraid, Tanga took a step back, fearing that Mufasa would try and make him enter the cave...something he could not do. But then Tanga's fears were eased by Mufasa's next words, as he did the one thing Tanga knew meant that he could trust this lion...he gave Tanga the choice to make himself.

As Mufasa went back into the cave, Tanga sat down, looking at his paws as he thought on Mufasa's offer. The lion did have a point when he said it was a cold night, a light breeze causing Tanga to shiver lightly. But his fear of crowds...even sleeping ones...was still too great. Sighing lightly as Mufasa came back out, carrying the piece of meat Tanga had half-eaten already, Tanga found the most comfortable part of the rocky floor he could find and settled down, curling his body and wrapping his tail around his small frame. As Mufasa placed the meat down, he paused long enough to say a quick good night, which had Tanga lifting his head out from inside his curled-up position, looking up at the big lion. "Uh...good night...Mufasa," he said hesitantly.

But he did not put his head back down as Mufasa wandered off, watching him as he curled up by the den's mouth, obviously intending on keeping an eye out for him during the night. The thought briefly passed through Tanga's mind that Mufasa could be keeping an eye on him, making sure he did not do anything nasty, but Tanga's mind tossed aside the thought inexplicably fast...he trusted Mufasa, and was sure the big lion was just trying to look out for him. But even as the pride leader settled down, Tanga felt one last piece of inner conflict rise up. It was cold outside...and even if he could not sum up the courage to enter the den proper, there may just be another way...

Acting on pure instinct, Tanga slowly uncurled and got up. A part of him was protesting this, claiming he was putting too much trust in Mufasa...but he had never had someone be this kind and considerate towards him, and Tanga just simply wanted to experience more of it...to know what it was like to be truly cared for. Moving slowly, trying not to disturb Mufasa, who seemed to be drifting off to sleep, the little cub slowly approached the bigger lion, hesitating as he got closer, his fear of other lions starting to take over. But his desire for protection won over once more, and Tanga finally took the last steps, coming up beside Mufasa, before curling up as best he could, right next to the big lion's neck, attempting to partially bury himself in Mufasa's thick mane. Despite the fact that he was now in extremely close proximity to a lion he barely knew, Tanga actually found himself drifting off rather quickly as he settled himself more comfortably, drawing warmth from Mufasa's mane, and comfort from his presence. Just before Tanga drifted off, the faintest hint of a purr, barely even audible, could be heard rumbling faintly in his throat.

[TheIvanMuse]

The next morning...

As the sun rose,sunlights hit Mufasa's closed eyes. He slowly began to wake up while opening his eyes to only vaguely look around him. He gave out another yawn,but suddenly realized that someone was leaning on him. As he looked to check who it was,he was rather cheerful to see that Tanga summoned up his trust and courage to come to sleep next to Mufasa. Poor guy,he must have been freezing... he thought to himself,while gazing down on the still deeply asleep cub. He then got up and stretched out. Before he did anything,he threw a look in the cave,looking if everything was alright. Everyone was still asleep and everything seemed to be normal. He was always awake before everyone else was. Well,until recently that is,as now Simba got to always outrun him in that.


Upon seeing that everything is being just fine,he turned and walked up to the top of Pride Rock. He took a deep breath of the refreshing morning air and looked down on his kingdom. A feeling of pride filled his heart. He got where his father used to tell him he was born to be,a king,a ruler... Just how his father told him,now Mufasa would begin in teaching Simba what he is meant to be,the follower to the throne. He would follow in his pawprints,just like Mufasa did in his father's. As he gazed back to his kingdom,his sight turned towards the Northern borders. It reminded him of his brother. ''Scar...'' ,he said while giving out a silent sigh. He remembered what Tanga told him about the lions who harmed him. Is Scar really part of that? He had to find out.... Now...

Mufasa walked down from the tip of Pride Rock to check back to the cave. Everyone was still asleep,including Tanga. He then walked away from the cave and headed down to Scar's den. On the way,he constantly kept his ears peered up and his attention steady,the lions that hurt Tanga could be nearby. He thought about why Scar even moved away from the Pride Rock cave,what was making him feel so uncomfortable there... When finally approaching the cave,he entered but couldn't find anyone in there. Scar was gone. He got out again and looked around. No one was there,at least it seemed that way. Mufasa knew his brothers smell well,and he knew that Scar was nearby,very near...