[PRIVATE] A Loner's Pride

[Nukascar101]

Wafu stopped as looked back as Chanya entered the den, a smile came across his face mostly from just seeing her again. Perhaps her plan had gone right, Wafu hoped so and if that was the case he'd be even happier. He still wanted to get rid of these lions for insulting him, after all Chanya said so and she wouldn't lie to Wafu, she never did, or so he thought. But the one who seemed to be the leader, he didn't seem that way, no Wafu just stood there contemplating again but broke out of his thoughts when Zera ran out of the den to meet Suis. Deciding now was a good time Wafu walked back into the den and stood next to Chanya.
"I assume your plan was a success, but then again I'd expect nothing else from a lioness of such perfection" he whispered in her ear.

[xLilacVixenx]

[ O c : Sorry in advance if I mispell anything; I'm writing it straight from the computer and I don't have the time to check it on Word since all our computers are updating but this one. And as well, I only got a short summary by Simba66 so I don't know a lot that is happening.]

The eyes of Syira fluttered slightly. She was alive! Her body had been slightly revived by Dakari's medicine and also partially because of the Great Kings. They had been deeply sorry for disturbing the lioness and had helped her heal somewhat. With some struggle, Syira picked her weary body off the ground and managed to sit herself upright and gaze sleepily around. Her eyes were a little droopy, but that immediately disappeared as she looked down at her side...her infection was gone!

Her eyes light up suddenly and she felt like prancing around the room gayfully, until she remembered Chanya. That evil lioness had a plan, that was for sure; Wafu was presumably into it as well. Syira had no time to waste if she needed to stop them. By the looks of things, they were already starting to take their toll providing some of the lions were inside and some of them were out. She remembered as she was about to fall into her deep sleep that Chanya helped in saving her. Saving me is the worst choice she ever made Syira thought grinning with an evil smirk.

But all the same, she must help the small pride in two ways, to help with the obvious emotions in the air, and to get rid of Chanya as soon as possible. She lifted herself slowly off the ground and padded softly towards Sius and Zera. Her eyes sparkled slightly as she thought of how handsome Sius looked, but there were more important matters at paw. She sat beside them in pure silence before whispering softly,

"The night's very beautiful, isn't it?" she almost expected to see some astonished faces by her arrival since she had been blacked-out since their arrival at Sius' den, but she quickly whispered, "shh! You musn't be loud, please." Syira's soft sapphire eyes gazed around at the stars and breathed out slowly. Her eyes dropped to the ground for a moment and her head bowed as a soft voice whispered to her,

"Syira..." her ears pricked upwards as she continued to recall who that voice was. "Ahh..." she breathed in total bliss as The Great Kings swooped around her fur and lifted her spirits. (As you may remember, The Great Kings may form themselves as wind) Syira felt herself almost swept away from un undeniable force that led to away from Sius and Zera. The young lioness let them lead her until she suddenly came face-to-face with Chanya.

At first Syira was surprised, but then she hissed viciously and snapped completely. "Just what do you think you're doing?" she hissed through bared teeth. This lioness was too kind and girly...it almost didn't seem possible she could be that way in reality; she could only be evil. Thus, Syira continued to bare her sharp fangs and her lethal claws emerged from her paws. The young lioness almost smiled as she whispered to Chanya, "Two can play at this game."

[Nukascar101]

Wafu payed no mind to Syira at all as she did what she was doing. 'So she's finally awake, I was starting to think she was dead or something' Wafu thought and then saw Syira's face as she looked at her side and shook his head a little not really getting why waking up would be so exciting or surprising. As she left Wafu watched her leave but didn't think anything of it. As he was about to speak to Chanya again though the same lioness came back and this time came right up to her, Wafu grunted a little in annoyance as she spoke but then growled to Syira to warm her along with further extending his always visible claws believing Syira was about to harm Chanya, the grow sent a clear message, if Syira wanted to get to Chanya she'd have to go through Wafu first.

[Harvs]

As Sius walked through the rain, head hung low, his mind wandered a lonesome path. He truly was all alone. The only friend he had was his brother. Taro wanted to kill him and Eeve loved him but couldn't be with him. Maybe Zera and Syira were his friends. He had been nothing but kind to all of them. And this was the end result. Taro attempting to kill him and hurting Eeve instead. Just relax Sius. It'll all be over soon enough. Pretty soon I'll be out of here for good, and nobody'll miss me. He was so deep in thought, that he didn't even realize Zera standing in-front of him, blocking his path. She asked if he was alright or if he wanted to talk. Sius wanted to talk more than anything. He wanted to get out all of the feelings in his heart and pour them out to the only lion he could truly consider a friend.

But the only words that came from his mouth were "No... I'll be fine once Kasi is safe." Why don't you just talk to her? She cares about you, you moron! Just tell her! Sius kicked himself in his mind. He just couldn't bring himself to talk to Zera about his feelings. Males were naturally not as emotional as females. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't tell of the pain he felt in his heart. But he did have something more to say. "Thank you Zera. You're the best... the only real friend I've ever had. When this is all over, I-." His sentence was interrupted by Syira's appearance. It was great to see her out and about. And most importantly, the infection looked like it was gone. How? Did something happen while Sius was out? Well whatever happened, Syira was alive, and that was all that mattered.

Syira probably didn't know what had been happening with the four heartbroken lions, so Sius thought it best not to bring her into the sorrowful knowledge. Ignorance is bliss. But she'd have to know sometime. And better now than later. But just as Sius was about to tell her of the troubles they'd faced not long ago, Syira just walked away, back towards the den. ... Oookay? He didn't know what just happened here, but he didn't think anything of it.

Turning back around to Zera, Sius found something in his heart to talk more about the subject. Unsure what to say, he dug deep inside his heart to find the words he was searching for. Without taking too much time to think, Sius asked a question that would ultimately define how strong the friendship of Sius and Zera. "Zera, in the half-a-day you've known me, can you name one thing that I've done right?" Depending on Zera's answer, he would tell her of his plan to save his brother, make Taro the king, and leave. But he wanted to see just how much she cared for him as a friend.

[XxRinaRoguexX]

Chanya cocked her head sideways whilst still looking up at her 'love'. Her plan was going well, and her ego was being stroked as she was very happily praised by her new follower and it was all getting so much better before her very eyes. "You'd be correct-- about both those statements. And soon enough, we'll be breaking these--". The dark lioness stopped on account of an unwanted approach from Syira, who looked like she was now up and moving for the worst of her plans. Although she didn't expect anything for Syira to do to be able to mend the damage she had already sunken her claws into by now. "'Game'? No time for that when there are so many broken hearts to mend" she looked at Syira with curved eyebrows and she made her way to the corner of the cave and started to lay her body down.

-----

Outside looking up at her friend, she waited for him to say something. When he almost moved past her, she had already gotten herself in front of him before there was the dismissal of her confrontation towards him. She wasn't being pushy nor was she forcing him to say anything to her, but she could see there was something in his eyes that was screaming out for someone to give him a break. "You're lying; there's something you're not telling me" she replied when she was told the only thing that would make him happy would be Kasi being in a safe place-- there was no doubt that would put him at ease, but him being in love with Eeve was something that he wanted to desperately scream about. But then he started to speak again, and it was making Zera feel like she was getting somewhere with someone today. Praise felt nice and it seemed to ease her back down from being the cold wall she had become with Taro and the others earlier, and so her shoulders slumped and she sighed looking back up at him. "Don't mention it, buddy" the sarcasm lined her words clearly, signalling she wasn't feeling the same about how she was thinking of herself to him.

But the hesitation in his voice caught her interest all over again. When this was all over he was going to, what? She drew herself closer to him as she figured he wanted to tell her something in secret this obviously being the only way since there was a pride around them and only little space to give themselves for this speech. It was quiet between them before Syira made her way into the scene and without even making much of an enterance she was gone. The lioness rose her brow but went back to the male who clearly needed her attention.

Depending on the one thing he did right? She could only answer the best way she could, "you haven't made me want to push you down a hill" sarcastic and witty. But that wasn't the best way she imagined, and so she sighed out and let herself open up a little. Her eyes went soft with tints of clear shine when she moved in the right light under the moon and her figure went lighter looking than she led it on to ever look. "You just...you don't," she shook her head and was unsure of herself in the heat of the moment, "you don't get it. You're just you, and you...are a pretty amazing lion". Against her better judgement, she put her head in his chest letting her head being taken in by his mane, "but you're pretty dumb, so I guess that's why you have me." Scoffing to herself with a smile, she kept her head down and her eyes focused on the ground in front of her before she looked back up at him. "You're my best friend" she smiled a genuine smile and not the sarcastic kind she pulled off all the time without even trying, "so you're kinda stuck with me. How about letting down the walls and telling me what your eyes are screaming?"

[[Sorry it kinda sucked tonight; not in the zone ^^;]]

[zorayda]

When everything was said and done, and all the lions surrounding them were gone, Eeve looked to Taro, the blood on her face drying to a crust and sealing her eye shut. It still throbbed with pain, and the hit was more than just a scratch--it was a deep gash with, more than likely, a huge bruise forming under it. She pressed a paw gently to it and winced before realizing that there was an uncomfortable silence stretching between the two friends. Normally, they'd be bawling their eyes out and holding each other, with Taro being the tougher one and comforting his overly emotional friend. However... Taro's attack had broken that circle of trust. A fracture that would need to heal.

Eeve cleared her throat before standing, placing a paw upon the large lion's shoulder, and slinking her way inside, leaving him alone. As she walked through the dim den, she caught a glimpse of Zera leaning against Sius and speaking quietly to him. She averted her eyes and pretended not to notice, though with the thought of the lioness touching the lion she loved, a white hot needle pierced her heart. She choked back a sob before opening her mouth to speak, directing her words at Sius even though she did not look at him.

"Sius, I just thought you would want to know...I'm keeping my promise and I'm going to help with those rogues. I'm pretty certain Taro will, too. So I will stay until my promise has been fulfilled, and then I shall leave. I'll go and find a new pride." After standing there for a second, she left without waiting for Sius's reply and passed by them, head held high, even though she felt like crumpling to the ground. Eeve made her way to an unoccupied corner of the cave and circled around a few times before lying down. Though her tears and the action of the day exhausted her, she would not find sleep until the wee hours of the morning.

Taro sat with his back hunched over, the weight of the world crushing his lungs and back so that it pressed him close to the ground. The golden lion felt degraded, betrayed, immoral, and out-of-control. First his heart was ripped out, and now he'd been the one who had attacked his friend, his best friend whom he'd tried to protect since his and her cubhood. He didn't deserve her charming company. He didn't deserve to be around such a genuine and naive lioness. Eeve was a rainbow of emotion, a being of an array of feelings. She could burn you like fire, or soothe you like a salve. She was vibrant and alive and loyal. And Taro had caused her to distrust him. Just one fit of rage, just one loss of control, and this happened. It wasn't fair.

He settled down to lay on the ground outside the den, opting to stay away from everyone to think. And what of Zera? That absolutely beautiful and strong lioness, so unique and lovely, had chosen Sius over him. If what Chanya had said held truth, she'd been in love with Sius a long time before Taro had ever met her. So he was defeated before he'd ever met her. A rush of air went through his nostrils as he sighed miserably before shutting his eyes to the world. Sleep was what he needed right now... a way to escape his pain. Maybe he'd have the strength to deal with it all in the morning... maybe one day he'd become the king he was destined to be, but it wasn't going to happen tonight, that was for sure.

[Harvs]

Sius patiently awaited Zera's answer... if she could even think of one. Thinking about it this way, Sius had done a few things right at first, but in the long run, they turned out for the worse. He had risked his life for Taro and Eeve... and now both of them hated Sius. Eeve's hate was more of a love/hate feeling. Odd, but then again so was everything they'd been through today. He'd befriended Zera, and he wouldn't have it any other way. But it soon turned into a mistake on his part which cost him Eeve's love. It looked like the only thing he might be doing right is trusting this Dakari fellow. He seemed to be very trustworthy and might have played a part in Syira's revival. Well, that's one thing. He would just have to wait and see. Finally, he came back to from his thoughts, still awaiting Zera's response.

A small chuckle escaped Sius' mouth. He'd expected nothing less from Zera but an answer of pure sarcasm. He'd hoped for a real answer this time, but beggars can't be choosers. But as Zera's response continued, Sius saw just how strong their friendship was. So, she thinks of me as her best friend too... I guess that's something By the time Zera finished her statement, she was in a very loving position, which didn't seem to bring Eeve up from her depression. Eeve and Taro were still going to help with the rogues. So, Eeve was planning on leaving too. Sius wondered if Taro would leave with her. That would put a damper on Sius' plan to make Taro king of the pride. He would have to make him king before Eeve decided to leave.

Zera asked once more for Sius to let down his defensive shell and talk to her. Something that he would no doubt regret. But then again, Zera felt as he did to her. What did he have to fear from letting her in on his little secret? Probably more than I'll ever know... Sius thought as he sighed his signature sigh.

"I really blew it this time... I thought that I might have had a chance with Eeve." Though they had all met at the waterhole, Eeve seemed like a long lost mate, brought to Sius by some unknown force. It couldn't have been Mufasa for two reasons. One, what did Mufasa care of Sius' love life? And two, why would Mufasa send him a potential mate just so he could mess it all up? It all seemed somewhat superfluous. He looked up at the cloudy sky. The rain poured harder than ever, as if to match the intense feelings in his heart. Something else occupied his mind now. He wasn't the only one who'd lost a love... Zera had done something terrible to Taro. She'd broken his heart. Shattered it beyond repair. And like always, Sius was accused for the atrocity. Eeve had been hurt in the crossfire. Zera had lost most, if not all, chance of being with Taro... and it all came back to Sius. He looked back at Zera and with a serious tone, said "You shouldn't have done that to Taro. I see how you act around him." Sius walked past, lightly bumping into Zera and then giving a friendly smile. Before he was too far away, he called back "You can probably still fix it. Just cause I can't have a mate, doesn't mean you shouldn't."

He didn't wait for Zera to reply, he would give her time to think before she blurted out an 'oh yeah?!' comeback. Upon entering the den, he saw Taro outside. At first, Sius wanted to say something like 'Ya know, the den is a lot less... wet' but he substituted a random, rhetorical, sarcastic outburst for a simple "That's no way to sleep, Taro. You comin' or what?" Probably not the best idea to agitate this already agitated lion, but even though he had tried to kill Sius earlier, he cared for him. He loved Taro just as much as he had before the misconceptions. But he didn't wait for Taro to reply. It seemed to be his thing tonight. Making statements and then leaving the lions to think about what he'd said. It was pretty fun actually. It gave him a feeling of wisdom he'd never felt before. Besides, if Taro was to be king, he'd have to start acting like it and stop brooding.

Finally back in his home. The first thing he noticed was Syira and Chanya having a stare down, and Wafu looking at Syira in an intimidating way. Sius didn't know their ages, but he already knew that he was older than all of them, and the king besides. He walked over to the small group and said "Simmer down you three. Wafu, sheath your claws." He had to show his authority somehow. Giving orders wasn't his forte, but he was the king. What had to be done, had to be done. Simple as that. "We're moving out tomorrow, so get some shuteye. I won't have any sloths tomorrow." And with that, he walked away to find a comfortable place to sleep.

Sius also noticed Dakari. He seemed to be just floating around the den trying to find someone to hang out with. Sius could tell simply from the way he looked that there was more to him than meets the eye. Ushujaa also occupied the cave. Doing much the same as Dakari, not really associating with anyone else. So what exactly is the relationship between Ushujaa and Kasi? And how come I've never heard of Ushujaa before today? Eeve also lay in the cave, facing away from the rest of the pride. Suddenly, Sius' heart felt heavy. If only he hadn't have stayed with Zera when last they were in the den. All of this drama could have been avoided. Sadly, the past was done. And the only thing to do is move on and try again tomorrow.

Eyelids becoming like weights, Sius closed his eyes and thought more about how tomorrow would go. And whether or not he would tell Zera of his plan. This was all happening so fast. There was so much to focus on. So much to think about. But there was no point thinking with a tired mind. "Don't worry Eeve... soon you'll see my real colors. You'll see just how expanding my love for you is." Sius quietly whispered before letting his mind go blank. Stomach slowly rising and falling in steady rhythm, Sius lay asleep on his back, patiently awaiting the morning.

[Nukascar101]

Wafu looked at Chanya and then Suis, he then turned his gaze to his paws. When he sheathed his claws the only went about alway in. Wafu sat down and bright one paw up to his face and stared at it. Since as far as he could remember his claws where always at least halfway out and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't fully sheath them and as of yet he couldn't understand why. He tried hard this time and stared as the claws slowly went in, after a hard effort for the first time Wafu fully retracted the claws in his paw, he smiled and laughed a little in near excitement as he did so, he turned to show Chanya but as soon as he put the paw on the ground the claw sprung back out. Growling Wafu decided to just leave it be, and now though of how odd it seemed, he couldn't sheath his and Chanya couldn't unsheathe hers. 'It's like we were meant to be' he thought as he walked over to Chanya.
"Um, I'm not used to sleeping in dens and such so this kinda feels awkward for me. I hope you don't mind if I go back outside, you know me and trees" he said to her with a slightly embarrased tone and a chuckle at the end.

[TheWhistlerify]

(( I can't come up with a post right now, so I'm letting you know that Dakari goes to sleep even if I didn't post okay? ))

[XxRinaRoguexX]

"You can probably still fix it. Just cause I can't have a mate, doesn't mean you shouldn't." Those were the words the lioness was left with as she watched her best friend, who had probably just found out what he was to her just now, walk away from her to think about the past events in the rain. While her fur was glazed with water and she was starting to drip rapidly, she tilted her head downwards so the drops were falling from her nose and mouth and she just thought. Though she was thinking about it all, she didn't have a way of looking like she was deep in it; her mouth was squished to the side and she looked in one direction all the while tapping her tail on the ground. "I can probably fix this, huh? Hmm..." she grumbled mildly to herself with a doubtful tone. Sius obviously didn't know her as well as he thought he did since she was going to tell him that she would rather have him over a mate-- love comes and goes like seasons, but friends are forever. And if she knew anything about anything, it was the way dynamics of the pride and friends worked. Finally she placed her behind down on the ground, probably having mud seeping into her coat by now, but she didn't mind as it would all be washed off soon enough when she stood up if the current of rainfall kept up like it was now. Even if I were to try and make Taro my mate, like Eeve would let me have a fair chance? She already hates my guts, and there's no doubt that Taro doesn't want anything to do with me. Hunched over and soaked, the lioness decided it be about time she walked back into the den for some release from the damp feel on her fur and the feeling of not belonging anywhere. But that probably wasn't a good idea for her to have.

There, in the den, she had her eye caught by Sius as he made his way over to Dakari from the others. She studied him in secret, and there was something that she couldn't take her eyes off of when he was walking and talking. The way he moved was sluggish, probably because he was tired and upset, but she could tell her butt was under the fire for his displeasure. He settled down while she merely looked from the enterance of the den and waited for a while to be proven wrong. This wrench in her stomach and this grasp on her heart strings were beginning to make her feel like she was a larger part of the problem than Sius would lead on. The rogue lioness waited for a while before slipping out of eye view of the others. He'd never tell me but him and I both know he regrets us being as close as we are now. She knew it; she had seen it and witnessed what it had done to this pre-mature pride of theirs. But would she confront him about it? ...not tonight. Maybe, perhaps, but not tonight. "You shouldn't have done that to Taro. I see how you act around him." Those words were now starting to ripple through her brain waves without stop while she shook her head in attempt to push them to the side. Don't tell me that...don't tell me what I should and shouldn't have done. I was looking out for me..., she selfishly thought to herself whilst remembering what Taro looked like when she admitted to being annoyed. She was annoyed; whenever she saw him, heard him, smelled him...she had this overwhelming feeling to just, being a lioness she was never used to being. She was strong, sarcastic, and calm-- not emotional, feeble, and excited like a yearling. It wasn't the way she was raised and it wasn't the way she was meant to be. She wasn't bred to have such feelings that most lionesses would be having with their mates at this point in their life time. Despite the fact that it bothered her that she was still in that frame of mind though she was miles, perhaps even light years, away from her parents and family pride, she couldn't help but feel like her mother and father were looking over her shoulder at every movement, thought, and feeling she had and made. Those kinds of things just couldn't be pushed out from solid years of antagonizing work and dedication to their daughter.

This isn't all my fault, but I'm more than responsible for the mess that I can't afford to clean up, thought Zera. "This sucks" mumbled the lioness without any kind of bodily movement and then she sprung into a sprint, plunging into the grasses and trees around them and beyond. Just what Eeve and Sius-- and no doubt Chanya and Taro-- want; for me not to be around. With that, she escaped the scent of the other lions and broke away from the expectations she felt were put on her from being there.

-----

The lioness sighed out and rolled over so her back was facing him, "do whatever you'd like" she replied in a not-so-sweet tone as she usually did. All she needed now was some rest and she would be fully ready for tomorrow. The day to where their plan would finally finish the tale of this pride and be branded a happy ending for her, but not so much the others.

[[...I hate being so dramatic, and making my characters that way. Especially Zera. And okay WF :3]]