[~ Private RP with NukaKun ~]

[Applejack]

Vitani looked over at Baya wish a soft, understanding smile. "You know," she said, "I used to live only for the fight. I used to not care about anything but the blood I spilled. I mean, look at my name." She flattened her ears. "Demon of War..." She shook her head. "I didn't want to live only for the fight. I wanted both peace and war. I wanted to find a way to be able to fight for something only if it had reason. I eventually quelled my demon. I went from Demon of War to Decisive Fighter." She slowly pulled one of his paws to the dirt and eased a claw out. Then she lightly traced a small heart with his claw and put his paw back on his chest. "It isn't that hard to learn. You just have to dedicate yourself to it."

It was Vitani's turn to look away, embarassed, when Baya spoke about cubs. For a second, she ignored his question, answering his previous statement. "I wouldn't mind you staying with me either, Baya. I could help you learn inner peace, as I am now. And, Honestly... I just..." She looked at him, then away again. "I don't want you going anywhere." She then turned to look at him, shifting to laying on her side. "Cubs... I've always had a debate with myself. Would a cub really be worth it? I decided not to pursue cubs until I was sure I could raise them in a safe environment, and the Outlands were not a place to raise a cub. Maybe, though..." she trailed off, looking down at herself, then back at Baya. No one would want to have a cub with her. She was unattractive. "I do want cubs."

[Baya]

Baya's ears twitched, and he smirked slightly. He began to cackle at what she said. "Well, I have all the more reason to fight for Zira now, don't I? That's assuming we can even win this war." Baya muttered as he looked at his own paws. Even the demon of the desert had his insecurities. He doubted his fighting ability would be able to match up to that of three or four lionesses at once. They would tear him apart with due time.

Baya looked over at Vitani as she fret about her own name. "My real name isn't even Baya. It was the name that was placed upon me, and I adopted it as my own. In reality, I have no name. Baya just fits the bill, because I was simply the demon of the desert..." Baya murmured as he looked to Vitani. "The irony comes to play when I think about how many cubs I have killed, how many mothers..." Baya said quietly. He did not so much feel regret, but fear. Fear that his cub might fall some ill fate because of what he had done in the past. Or maybe even Vitani.

The rogue's ears flattened slightly as he pushed his head against Vitani's. "If you want cubs, you will have them when this is all over. I'm trying my best not to be mushy about it, but I won't let any harm come to you or any of our off spring. I will not let them have my life...wandering in the desert for purpose..." Baya muttered quietly.

[Applejack]

Vitani smiled softly. "I would love to mother your cubs, Baya." She looked at him, her head pressed gently against him, and stretched a paw out for a second. "If your name isn't Baya, what is it?" She shifted slightly so that she could see him better, then tucked her head under his. The fact that Baya was offering her a cub was like fire through her veins. It gave her all the more reason to fight this war. She nodded, making a silent promise that she would do everything she could to provide Baya with a cub worthy of him. And then, when this was all over? She could finally settle down and teach him the true meaning of peace within, if he'd listen.

[Baya]

"Like I said. I have no name. My mother didn't even give me that." Baya murmured quietly, as his eyes were only half open. He figured out why Vitani was such a good substitute to his fighting urges. At first, he respected her strength and thought that fighting her was what gave him the rush that it did. He then realized, that wasn't the case. When they embraced like they were right now, it gave him that exact same feeling. Baya had clouded his own mind that his purpose in life was to kill and to fight until he was killed. Though that was far from the bulls eye. His purpose was alot different now, but his experience in fighting would help him succeed to that purpose.

"Do you want to go back to the den, or stay here a bit?" Baya asked quietly gazing into her blue eyes with admiration in his green ones.

[Applejack]

Vitani closed her eyes with a small smile, remembering back to when she had been a cub in the Pridelands, then past, to when she had been a teen in the Outlands, growing up. A dream had come to her, Kopa smiling, and had told her something that she would always remember. Maybe it would help Baya. She smiled up and said, "Amani ya ndani kupata wewe, kama tu kufungua moyo wako kwa hilo.' Its something an old friend once told me that helped me find my way. 'Inner peace will find you, if only you open your heart to it.'" She smiled again, deep in thought. "What if... what if I gave you a name? One with meaning?" She shook her head at the thought of leaving and said, "I'd love to stay here." She opened her eyes, concidering what she could call Baya. Something that fit him more than Demon of the desert.

[Baya]

"You can call me what you wish, but my name will always be Baya. It'll remind me of what I was, so I never tread on that path again. Without you, I'd be back in the desert by now." Baya muttered. When she agreed to stay, he looked back up at the stars. He then gave in to the impulse that came to him, and pushed his nose up to hers. Before he could complete the kiss by touching his muzzle to hers there was a loud crack as something struck Baya in the head.

"Ow!" Baya roared as he stood rubbing his head. He looked around for the source, his eyes fierce with rage. This was not at all helping the inner peace thing.

"Eh eh! Bozibozi! You took too long!" The with doctor mongoose cackled as he stood in front of the two. Baya felt a growl rumble in his throat.

"Why won't you leave us alone? Better yet, why won't you leave ME alone?" Baya growled as his claws extended once more.

"Baya's mum done asked me to follow de demon of de desert. Keep my eye on you, is your moders wish!" The mongoose said as he hit Baya on the head again.

"Of all the things my mother would leave me..." Baya growled as he dodged the stick the third time. He looked to Vitani apologetically. "Hold on a second. What do you know about my mother?" Baya asked, leering at the mongoose.

"Plenty does I know. I know de name of your moder. I know how your moder dinks and what she done did!"

Baya frowned slightly as he looked to Vitani again, wondering if he should dare question further or just leave it at this mongoose being insane.

[Applejack]

As Vitani leaned in as well, feeling the urge to kiss him back, she heard the loud crack and recoiled as Baya roared. She turned on the mongoose as well and hissed, ears completely flat against her head. She stood by as Baya confronted the creature, wishing nothing more than him to pop its head clean off, but then she sighed and relaxed. "Let the thing talk, Baya," she said. "It may be crazy, but, who knows. It might actually have something worth saying. Even if it did interrupt our kiss..." She shook her head and settled onto her paws, attempting to slide Baya back down next to her"

[Baya]

"Eh eh! Reason she speakin'! Zira look like you do, but brains of her fader she has!" The mongoose cackled. Baya was really confused as to how this little thing could know so much not only of himself, but Vitani.

"Now, moder of Baya be gentle lioness. She no want to raise cub in desert, but no choice her mate left her! Give birth to de Baya she did, but could not eat for days! Rogue came to kill de Baya, but mum done go and change his eyes! Rogue died, but so did mums!" The mongoose explained. Baya held no expression, fully understanding what the mongoose had said, regardless of his odd way of saying things.

"My mother sacrificed herself?" Baya asked quietly, his ears flattening slightly.

"Yeh! Bozibozi! She told me to watch and protect cubby Baya! Good friend she was! Spirits rest her soul!" The mongoose said sadly. "Your fader, vicious like the sands that torture creatures! Heart he had for your moder, but he was killed by pride lion! Try to challenge him for land, and his blood fed de trees!"

"Why are you telling me this now? Why didn't tell me earlier in the desert!?" Baya said, his temper rising. This creature had known all along, and had been following him throughout his life, though to what avail?

"Why I no tell bozi? Because I watch you grow! It made you fight and grow strong. Now you have dis, and stop fighting. Now I tell you of your moder." The mongoose said pointing to Vitani.

Baya tried to mentally digest what he had just heard. This thing suggested that his mother sacrificed herself for Baya to live. His father was killed trying to get land, more than likely so that they could live outside the desert as he was suggesting to Vitani.

"Dos you love her?" The mangoose asked, breaking Baya's train of thought. Baya looked to Vitani, never really thinking of the word love when he would describe the feeling he felt. Though, what else could it be?

"Just say yes Bozibozi! Don't dink about it!" The mongoose said with a cackle as he poked Vitani's tummy. "Dat be the home of your cubs. Star's say alot. Stars tell me more dan one, and bod be pure as rain!"

"You said earlier that darkness would follow them..." Baya murmured quietly, thinking it was because of something he'd do that caused it.

"Bozi bozi bozi bozi!" The mongoose growled as he hit Baya in the head again. "Darkness follows them, but that does not mean they are the dark ones! Bozi!" The mongoose said one more time as he looked to Vitani. "You will have to make a choice very soon. One dat will challenge everyding you love and everyding you stand for." The mongoose said boldly. "You will know what it is when it happens." The mongoose said with a small grin.

"Why didn't you introduce yourself to me earlier? Why wait till now?" Baya asked with a slight frown. The mongoose cackled again as he pat Baya's paw.

"De stars tell me to tell you now. De stars always know what is right." The mongoose replied as he stepped back and scampered off quickly.

[Applejack]

Vitani cocked her head once more and looked at Baya, a look of tenderness and understanding on her face. So that was what had happened... Suddenly she jerked back as the mongoose touched her stomahc and growled softly, holding her ground. Then her eyes widened, ears flat. "More.. more than one cub..." she trailed, looking at Baya. What if it came true? What would he do? Would he abandon her? She shook her head, trying to rid herself of those thoughts, Baya surely wouldn't abandon her if they had cubs. He'd said he'd protect them, and she believed him 100%. After the mongoose left, She stepped closer to Baya, not sure what to think he would do. She was pretty sure that, knowing him, he'd pad off, wanting to be alone. "If you want to be alone, I'll understand," she said. "I know you have a lot to think about, so, if you want to cancel tonight and go back to the den, I.. I'll understand." She sighed softly, looking down. She had a lot to think abot now too, but she didn't want to have to do it alone.

[Baya]

"No. I'll be fine." Baya murmured as he looked to Vitani. "I was just..." Baya looked down for a moment. "I assumed the worst of my mother because I was born in the desert. I never thought she was a loving lioness and my father...I thought he was just some random rogue. Though it does not change anything. I grew up how I did, and I cannot change it. What I do have in my power is my present and future." Baya said looking at Vitani. He cackled.

"More than one cub. We will have our paws full I suppose." Baya murmured quietly as he laid down on his side again. He really didn't want to go back to the den and have Zira scorn them for being so late.