[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[NightmareMoon]

Nala's words were enough to help Mila overcome her stress. Her mother had a magical way of doing things like so and it never ceased to amaze her, never. Her frown slowly disappeared and she calmed down enough to stop the tears that fell. Her mothers comforting also helped wonders, calming the lioness down to a quiet purr to listen to her speech.

After a little second of thought, Mila responded towards her mothers advice. "Hopefully it happens soon." She answered briefly. She had no desire to explain further, but directly after saying so Nala spoke up once more. Her words caused a slightly embarrassed blush to form on the cheeks of Mila as she thought of what she would say back.

Making something up on the spot, she quickly replied as to not let on that she had to think about it. "Well, he was out alone in the rain last night and I just had to get him to some shelter, seeing as he was new and all and that I felt the need to introduce myself. Once I took him to some shelter, we just began casually talking.." She recalled the beginning of the almost never-ending conversation between Kivuli and Mila that had taken place. "..and we just kept talking.. and talking.. we stayed up all night just talking about everything a lion could think of. I really found him quite amazing and I liked him a lot. He seemed like a nice lion..." She broke her speech for a second before saying anymore. "... and I don't think Simba has given him a chance... he's sweet and adorable, caring and compassionate, strong and... well.. handsome.." Upon saying her last word her blush came back with a greater intensity then before, almost turning her cheeks pink as she looked towards the sleeping pelt lazily. She can't believe she had just rambled like that about how good Kivuli was in her eyes to the mate of the one forbidding her to see him, even if it was her mother. She just didn't feel comfortable saying something like that around her, but it had slipped because of her lack of time to choose her words carefully and her thoughts were now out. She just waited for a reply as she blushed even harder then before.

[KingKivuli]

After Kivuli finished inspectin his den, and making renovation plans, he made his way to the waterhole to tend to his paw. The bleedng had settled but the pain had not, and it was still bloody. As he arrived, and paced into the shallows to do his buisness, 2 familiar voices caught his ears. As the gray lion lifted his head and look over, Nala and Mila caught his eyes as they left. Kivuli leant over to drink and clean his paw.

After the clean, the paw was better and he could walk again, so decided to take a walk round his old home of priderock. It didnt take long to arrive, straight away Kivuli wanted to go to the top to see the view. He never really saw what the real Pridelands. All Kivuli saw was death an destruction. Now was his chance, so he made his way up

On the way he was about to pass Mila's den, when he heard his name mentioned, in a conversation between Mila and Nala. Instantly curious, Kivuli hid behind the wall to listen in. He was smiling at all the things she was saying. Then was was caught off guard, when se called Kivuli handsome. He actually lost some footing yet reamained standing. The chat in the den went silent. Kivuli decided to keep walkign forward. As e passed the entrance, he looked in at Mila, giving a smile and a wink, before continuing on

[KiarasMate]

Nala smiled to herself as Mila’s words slipped out. Secretly, the cream colored queen had a feeling that this was going to be the case, so it came as no surprise to her. Spotting Mila’s flushed cheeks, Nala let a small giggle escape her muzzle as she replied in an understanding voice.

”No need to feel embarrassed Hun. I was in love at one point too you know. I know how it feels. I suppose the only difference was, that Simba and I were destine to be together from the very start. That doesn’t mean that you and Kivuli weren’t meant to be together though Mila. If you feel in your heart that he would be a good mate to you, than that’s all that matters. Don’t worry about Simba. He’ll see the light soon enough.”

Giving Mila a sly wink as to indicate just what she meant, Nala casually rose to her paws as she stretched out her frame, figuring that she had spent enough time away from her mate to allow him to cool down. Glancing over at Mila, Nala politely excused herself.

”Well, speaking of that, I should go find Simba. I still have to see how things went with…well, don’t worry about that Mila. But I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you and Kivuli Hun. Why don’t you get some rest and come to the main den for dinner later, okay?”

Leaning down to give the younger lioness one last tender nuzzle, Nala silently slipped out of the den, making her way towards the promontory of Pride Rock, taking note of Kivuli, who seemed to be on route to the very same place. Picking up the pace, Nala closed the gap between herself and the grey furred male as she spoke up casually.

”So, did you find a suitable den Kivuli?”

Keeping her strides matched with his, Nala followed Kivuli up the majestic structure, passing by her mate, who was still slumbering peacefully under the afternoon sun.

[KingKivuli]

As Kivuli walked on, almost at his destination, He never heard the queen coming behind him. At her word he almost jumped out his fur. Finally realizing who it was, he calmed down and greeted her Oh its you, Nala. By the love of the great kings you scared the livng life out of me, sneaking up like that After slowing a little to wat for her they began walking on. I have found a nice den, one of the bigger ones. Not too far from the water, but a good distance for privacy

As the went past the slumbering Simba, Kivuli gave a look down at him. He was such and easy target. Kivuli could have his long time vengence forfilled. He decided not to. Since coming home, his solid heart wa softening, and he was learning to move on from the past. Kivuli and Nala made the promontory. The view took Kivuli's breath away. By the Kings. Its amazing. In all my years of travel I have never seen such a sight. I never had the chance before Kivuli trailed off. Reality hit him. After years of hardship, he was home, and never been more happier. In fact, the thought of it was to much. Tears were beginning to rundown his scarred cheeks, and dropping onto the smooth rock below

[NightmareMoon]

Mila was barely able to comprehend the words of Nala and let them sink in to the back of her mind. She was on the verge of going unconscious again, and upon giving Nala a very gracious smile and a lick back, set her head down for some rest. She was thankful that Nala was going to put in a good word for Kivuli. She wanted to spend more time with him, even though they hadn't met too long ago. She wanted to give him the chance to steal her heart and see if he was what she really thought he was.

She wouldn't say that she was in love with Kivuli. Nothing like that yet, she just had a crush for the lion. Maybe it would turn into love. The current condition of their relationship couldn't let such a thing happen, but only time would tell what would happen between them and what changes would be made if such a thing as love occurred between them. But for the current moment, and seeing as Mila was still very weak from sleep deprivation, she closed her eyes slowly, and drifted off into the deep dark shadows of sleep.

[Mike]

In her wanderings Vitani found very little potential food, and even less water, which probably explained why she had never been in the area or considered it worth traveling through. The lack of sustenance didn’t disturb her, the pridelands were at her back, as bountiful as ever, and she would be able to return there long before she succumbed to thirst or starvation. She wasn’t ready to rejoin her pride yet though, and so she began searching for a waterhole.

After searching the unfamiliar land for some time Vitani finally found a small pool of water. It was cradled in a depression between two large rocky hills. Again she noted the lack of any other animals in the area, she would have thought that they would gather here because of the scarceness of water, but perhaps there were simply no animals in the region to gather. She reached the shore of the pool and lowered her head to drink, but as she did so she was disturbed by a low, cold voice behind her.

”You know it’s awfully rude of you to drink from my waterhole without first asking permission.” It said.

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Kovu initially followed the directions where Vitani was last seen, but after a while it became clear that his sister had not remained in the pridelands, and that he would have to use his own skills to track her down. Kovu was a fair tracker, and he knew Vitani’s scent better than almost any other, but he was by no means a specialist in that art. He was disturbed by the fact that Vitani had left the pridelands behind without even alerting anyone to the fact that she was leaving. He seemed to be getting more than he’d bargained for from Simba’s innocent sounding request.

It was too late to turn back now though; Kovu had recently passed across the boundaries of the pridelands and followed Vitani’s scent into a deserted land. He found it harder to pick up Vitan’s scent in the rocky and plain environment, but he continued on. It would be no use to just return to Pride Rock now.

[KiarasMate]

As the two felines reached the tip of Pride Rock, Nala watched intently as Kivuli enjoyed the view. Noticing the tears that lightly dribbled down the grey furred male’s cheeks, Nala knew that there was more to this situation than just a mere view of the lands. Taking a seat next to Kivuli, Nala spoke in a calm and soft tone. Seeing as they were out of ear shot from her dozing mate, Nala inquired about Kivuli’s feelings at the moment.

”Something on your mind Kivuli? I know it’s a nice view up here but I didn’t think it was worth crying over.” Nala stated, trying to keep a humorous air about her as she looked into Kivuli’s fiery orbs.

Deep down, Nala herself had a special place for Kivuli, as she had known him during Scar’s horrible reign, although he had been a lot younger then. Much too young for her to interact with on a typical basis however, knowing what the grey furred male had to endure, growing up in such harsh times, Nala couldn’t help but feel a sense of compassion towards him. Perhaps this might have led her to what she stated next.

”You know, my mate can seem very stubborn at times but deep down, he’s very understanding. Despite the past that you two share Kivuli, I think he’s moved on from that point. He only does what he does for the protection of his family you know. It’s not anything personal and with a little effort on your part, I think you could really get on his good side. That would mean that he’d ease up on you and give you more freedom to do what you like here. If anyone knows him and how to get on his good side, that would have to be me.” Leaning in a bit closer to Kivuli, Nala lowered her tone slightly, just to make sure that what she said next, only was heard for Kivuli’s ears alone. ”The best way to get on his good side is to show that you’re a productive member of his pride. Help out when you can and even if you disagree with what he asks of you, simply smile and do it anyways. You’ll earn his respect and trust that way. Why am I telling you this? Well, let’s just say that I have my reasons and the sooner you get accepted into our ranks, the sooner a certain someone will be much happier.”

Giving a wink to Kivuli, as Nala was pretty sure that he could figure out her subtle little hint, the cream colored queen backed up a few paces to give them a bit of room in between one another as she gazed over the landscape before them, listening for anything that Kivuli might have to say in regards to what she had just revealed to him.

[KingKivuli]

Kivuli's tears were begining to fade away. Your right its mre than the view. I used to sit here and all I saw was destruction. Dead trees, animals skulls, dried up waterholes. When I went rouge i saw amazing things, tring to imagine what my home would be like. I thought I had an idea. I was wrong. Its so much better. It warms my heart to see my home in its real beauty Kivuli then felt Nala come over to him. Listening to her words, and then her wink action, he thought on what she was on about. Then it hit him. Kivuli looked into Nala's blue eyes and realzed what she ment. Leanign down to her he said Your talking about Mila. Whats she said about me?

[KiarasMate]

Blushing slightly from just how straight forward Kivuli’s inquiry was, Nala raised a fore paw, placing it gently over Kivuli’s muzzle as she stated in a lecturing tone.

”Slow down big fellow. Besides, us girls don’t tell our secrets now.”

Lowering her fore paw, the cream colored queen presented a warm smile to the grey furred male as she spoke once again.

”That should just give you a bit more incentive to get on my mate’s good side, so you can ask her yourself Kivuli. Things will work out in due time, just as long as you believe.”

Rising to her paws now, Nala figured that she should return to the business that she had originally intended on doing before she got sidetracked with Kivuli’s presence. Politely excusing herself, Nala bid her fellow pride mate a fond farewell.

”I think I better go rouse our king, before he sleeps the rest of the day away. It was nice talking to you Kivuli and just remember what I told you.”

Turning to leave, Nala gave a casual flick of her tail before she retraced her steps back down to where Simba was slumbering at.

[KingKivuli]

Kivuli's words were soon cut out by Nalas soft paw on his muzzle. After listening to her he spoke Fine, keep the secret. I will find out, and thank you Nala left his view. Kivuli turned his back to the Pridelands. After taking in the amazing view, Kivuli decided it was time to make his move. Time to get on Simba's good side. In order to do that, Kivuli thought a good meal would be the best option. Without wasting a second he ran down Priderock, into the grass and dirt to begin his afternoon hunt, picking up the scent of nearby prey.