[Request] TLK 3: Mohatu's Journey

[Zoketi]

"If only we knew." Uru replied, blinking fast to keep tears from coming. "I hope its somewhere safe." She added, knowing this was a completely false hope--nowhere were they truly safe. Uru sighed shakily, then spoke again. "We might as well get started with the day." She pulled away from Asani. "It's no use mourning, we can only hope." She licked her mate again and then turned, heading back to greet the other lions.

Jioni plodded onwards. He acknowledged Jiirani's comment with a flick of his ear, but was too weak to do much more. He walked for quite awhile, the only sound being his endless pawsteps on the dry ground. The sun burned above him, and Jioni began to pant. Finally, he spotted a few gazelle in the distance, attempting to get food from the desolate place. Jioni crouched, and began to creep nearer. He had little hope of catching one. Jioni sprang, causing the deer to flee. This time, Jioni had some luck, be it rather ironic. The gazelles were also starving, and Jioni managed to pin one down. He nearly let go in surprise, but clasped the deer 'round the neck. Its life force soon was extinguished, and Jioni let go, staring in shock at his lucky kill. He began to drag it back, feeling even sicker from the heat. At last he saw the Pride, and dropped the gazelle. Jioni could carry it no further. He let out a weak roar, calling them to him, and slumped by the carcass, utterly spent.

[Jiirani]

Jiirani smiled, glad that Issa had managed to get some decent rest in. Although when he asked about food her ears lowered slightly. They wouldn't have any food left or Jioni wouldn't have went hunting. "I'm not sure sweetie. Jioni went hunting, though, and he may get lucky..." She said, looking up to see if she could spot the young male. She had no luck, but after a few minutes of bathing Issa the weak roar could be heard. Jioni had returned and he was carrying something. "There he is, and it looks like he's caught something too!" Jiirani stated, but the lion was obviously exhausted, the poor boy.

"Issa, I'll carry Relena, you head over there, make sure Jioni is OK. I'll be right behind you." Lifting Relena up by the scruff of the neck, the older lioness padded slowly over to Jioni. It was difficult to carry her own weight, let alone the cubs in her jaws, but Relena was still asleep, and Jiirani was beginning to get worried about her.

All the while, Mohatu plodded on. He gasped, spotting what appeared to be an oasis. It was beautiful, with a rivers and large trees of a type he had never seen before. He tried to pull himself toward it, convinced it wasn't an illusion, and boy, it wasn't. He was glad of the small space, and managed to break free of the spell for some time, whatever was guiding him obviously knew he wouldn't survive without some decent water, food and rest, so for a while being he drank and ate anything that looked safe, mostly bugs and a few fruits of some kind. The force controlling him tugged at his throat sharply at certain things, making him aware that they were probably dangerous, and he believed his controller.

[Kopalover]

Issa smiled "Food!" He yelled, running alongside his mother to eat. Also noticing how tired Jioni looked, he ran towards him. Instead of the food. Like his mother told him to do, he rushed to Jioni. "Are you okay?" He asked, licking his cheek. In attempt to make him feel a little better. A frown was upon the cubs face instead of smiles. Jioni was exhausted from trying to catch the food, though he succeeded. He still didn't look like he did.

---

Asani gathered himself. He was still king, and had to take care of these lands too. Sighing he went to hte tip of PrideRock. Instead of a sorrow roar, it was the roar to wake the animals. The sun was high in the sky, by now most animals would be up. Yet this morning, it was slowed. Turning around, he went in the den, to send the lionesses hunting for today's breakfast.

Walking into the den, the lionesses were just awakening. "Ladies, gentlemen. The animals will be just awakening soon, they'll be tired. It's a perfect time for hunting." He smiled, trying to make the best of this dark day.

[Zoketi]

Jioni let out a huff of breath. "I think so." He gasped. He felt a little better at the cub's comforts. Pulling himself upright, Jioni stood by the gazelle. He bent down and ripped it open, so that Issa could feed. He spotted Jiirani approaching with Relena dangling from her mouth. Jioni stepped back with a flick of his tail. "Here. Eat." He called weakly to her.

Uru followed Asani into the den. "I'll lead the huntresses." She meowed limply. She padded over to the females, motioning to the exit. Then she turned and sprang out, slipping and sliding to the bottom of Pride Rock. There she sat to wait, sniffing the air.

[Jiirani]

Jiirani watched as her cub rushed toward the older Pride member and picked up her pace, although being careful not to hurt Relena. She put the cub gently down beside the food and smiled gratefully at Jioni. "Thank you, but you should too. You're exhausted and need to keep up your strength." She said, wanting to keep the younger generation in the best shape she could. The dark lioness bent down and ripped a piece of flesh from the thin prey, chewing slowly.

-

Uchawi glanced up as Asani and Uru entered the den. She rose up from the place she had been sitting and smiled sadly before following the queen out of the den and down Pride Rock. She wasn't as fast as she once was, but the King and Queen would need a lot of support with their son missing.

[Zoketi]

Jioni nodded his thanks and bent to eat as well. The still-warm flesh filled his stomach, giving him hope. Though scrawny, the gazelle tasted as wonderful as a fat zebra. Jioni sat up, licking his jaws. He began to wash his paws. He felt better after a meal, but couldn't help but worry when their next would be.

Uru glanced at Uchawi. "Shall we go?" She meowed, voice stiff and depressed. She stood and began to walk, feeling older than ever--though it was just her sadness that put her in this state. The other lionesses followed, keeping a slow pace for the benefit of their mourning Queen. Uru plodded towards the herds, eyes half open. Her mind danced far off in the memories of Mohatu, tumbling with no worries in the cave of Pride Rock.

[Jiirani]

Jiirani smiled, also savoring the food before her, it felt like it had been years since she had last eaten. She licked her chops, glancing around, feeling much better than before. "I wonder where Aria went this morning? Hunting probably, I hope she's Ok." Jiirani said as she tried to awaken Relena so she could eat before there was no food left.

Uchawi nodded solemly at Uru, following the queen slowly. It was worrying that she was in such a distracted mood. Understandable, but worrying. The pride didn't want her to get injured, Asani needed his family now more than ever. All the while, Mohatu was fast asleep in the small oasis he had found, but soon he would be on the move again. Uchawi couldn't understand why Mohatu would even want to leave, or the fact that no-one had seemed to notice him do so.

[Nitro]

Relena opened her eyes carefully, trying to lift herself up onto her paws. Her ribs showed clearly through her thin fur and overall, she was quite sickly. She wobbled forward and hesitantly took a bite of the meat, savoring it as much as she could. She knew she was not going to get anymore anytime soon. She looked to her brother. "Issy, how come there are no more cubs to play with?" she asked innocently. Her eyes curiously peered up towards Issa.

Jato yawned, just finally coming to join his pride members in The Land of the Living, awakened by his father's roar. He knew he would be leaving it soon courtesy of his mother if he was not up by the time the sun rose. He stretched out his legs and rolled his shoulders before heaving himself up form his spot on the cool ground. He lazily looked around for his parents and older brother and growled in frustration when he couldn't find them. "Uchawi, Mom!" he called. "Where is Mohatu and Dad?"

[Zoketi]

Jioni sighed. "I hope she can bring something back." He replied, referring to Aria. He watched as the cubs ate, feeling a little more determined to survive. He stretched his front paws, yawning.

Uru shook her head. She couldn't be in this state, she must focus on the hunt. The light lioness walked with strength, urging her body to stop moping. Suddenly she halted, hearing her younger son's call. She glanced around, as Uchawi nearly walked into her. "Jato!" She roared back. "Uchawi and I are going hunting!" She couldn't bring herself to tell him the news, especially through shouting. She hoped that if Asani did that Jato wouldn't take it badly.

[Nitro]

Jato huffed in annoyance. "I asked a question," he muttered. He blew his mane out of his face when it drooped down and his eyes crinkled. "Where are they?"