[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[Mike]

Shani winced inwardly at Rahina's response. Apparently this was a lioness who kept her guard up until she was absolutely sure that the lion on the other side could be trusted. Shani proceeded cautiously, and aimed to show her how much they could benefit from each other.

"I know what you mean." Shani said, and he nodded gravely. "It's so hard to make long-term plans when you're nothing but a visitor in a stranger's home, at the mercy of their decisions about whether you can stay or go. How is anyone supposed to have a family under those circumstances? It wouldn't be fair to bring a cub into the world without being able to guarantee them a future." Shani had been speaking wistfully, but now he dropped his voice to a near whisper. "But you know what the worst part is? It's our future king. He attacked me on my own land you know, and I've herd that there's been trouble between him and you and your mate as well. He's a bit too aggressive for his own good if you know what I mean, but then, what can you expect from Zira's son?" Shani spoke the words with disgust, spitting them onto the ground. He knew though, that they were his best possible shot in casting confusion and shaking Rahina's faith in the pridelands.

"You see what I mean about us visitors having to stick together. In such an uncertain place, having friends is a welcome source of strength and comfort. I would be honored to call you my friends as well as my neighbors." Shani finished his small speech with a small bow, and waited for Rahina's reaction with deeply concealed, but intense anticipation.

[KiarasMate]

Having made her way over to The Private Waterhole at a leisurely pace, the cream colored queen arrived and started to make her way towards the calm looking waters. Two things caught her attention however, keeping her from doing what she had originally planned to. The first thing was the sight of a new lion, who seemed to be engaging in a conversation with Rahina. As this did spark Nala’s curiosity as to who this new feline was, the other sight that caught her eye was far more important. Blinking in disbelief as she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, Nala strained her eyes to get a better look ahead of her, focusing upon the small, yet slightly visible reddish ball that seemed to be wandering through the grass. Moving in slowly and speaking in a gentle tone as not to frighten the young cub, Nala addressed Taraji in a confused manner.

”Taraji? What are you doing out here and where is Kovu?”

Stopping next to the little crystal eyed cub, blocking her way towards the edge of the waterhole as the caring queen didn’t want her to accidentally fall in, Nala waited for a reply as she gazed down at the disoriented cub with a tender stare.

[Lodrill]

Taraji looked up to Nala releaved to see someone she knew. "I am searching for mommy. I am hungry." she answered very silent and hid under the queen as if she was afraid of the surrounding. "He is sleeping." she stated the second question of Nala. Her little belly was growling and she snuggled her small body against the legs of Nala.

[hr][/hr]

Rahina's distrust grew stronger with any minute. She noticed the purpose of the lion in front of her to seed trouble. She had no intention of joining sides with him against this prides leaders even less if Kopa really was the son of the king. Due Kopa must be older than his sister he would probably be king before Kovu and she knew he was with her all the time. Either Shani misinterpreted the situation or he wanted to play around with her. Rahinas mood got worse by any word of Shani.

Then Shani did the big mistake. He mentioned Zira. If there was something that was like a red rag to a bull for Rahina it was the name of Zira. She jump on her paws and her hind paw hit Kopa a bit. She bared her fangs and her muscles tensed up.
Her else so soft and warm voice had a dangerous tone inside and she advanced very close to Shani. Her onyx black eyes pierced into Shanis eyes.

"Never ever say this name again when I am around." a deep growl emitted in her throat. It was clear that Shani had gone to far - even if he had not known that Zira was a forbidden name before Rahina.
"I think it will be the best for your health if you take your paws and get your sly smile out of here." The last sentence was louder so that is echoed through the den. Rahina had snapped by Ziras name. Her claws extended, her fangs bared and with a dangerous glimmer in her black eyes she looked like she was tough enough to follow her words with actions.

Her muscles tensed up even more to be ready to jump forward any time. With every second that passed she seemed to lose her patient more and more. It was only a matter of seconds until she would attack if this lion would not retreat.

[KiarasMate]

Listening to Taraji’s soft little voice, Nala couldn’t help but adore the crystal eyed cub as she leaned down to speak quietly to her.

”Well, you shouldn’t wander off on your own Hun, you might get lost and that wouldn’t be a good thing. Why don’t we…”

Nala’s voice fell silent as the uproar from the nearby den caught her attention. By the looks of the situation, it seemed as though the new lion to whom Nala was not familiar with yet, had struck a wrong chord with Rahina. Under any other circumstances, the cream colored queen would have stepped in to intervene however, having a precious little cub tucked underneath her now, Nala’s number one priority was to make sure that Taraji didn’t bear witness to what might happen next. Knowing that Rahina was perfectly capable of handling herself and knowing that she had her mate to back her up, Nala quickly leaned down and spoke softly to Taraji before she picked up the red furred cub by the nape.

”Let’s go get you somewhere safe Hun. I’ll take you back to Kovu and give you some nice milk, okay?”

Being as gentle as possible, Nala hightailed it out of The Private Waterhole, making her way back towards Kiara and Kovu’s den. She would have brought Taraji to where Kiara was, but Nala figured that the sight of Vitani being injured was something that the little cub could do without seeing. It didn’t take the queen of the lands, very long to arrive at the homely abode, entering silently as not to wake Kovu from his sleep, knowing that he had had quite the eventful day previously. Carefully making her way around him, Nala lightly set Taraji down upon the cool den floor before she too, took up a comfy position next to the little cub, speaking in a gentle voice to her as she did so.

”I’m sure Kiara will be back soon Hun. Why don’t you come have some yummy milk and then I’ll go tell her to come back to you, okay?”

Smiling happily at the adorable cub, Nala rested her head on the den floor as her creamy belly was exposed for Taraji.

==========

Back at The Private Waterhole, Rahina’s ruckus and light nudge had finally brought Kopa out from his slumber. Quickly surveying the situation, seeing how flustered his mate was, Kopa quickly rose to his paws, forcing his way in between Shani and his beloved lioness, more so, for the sake of the new lion who Kopa didn’t have any idea who he was, than for his mate’s, since he knew that she could probably take this new lion easily, but not wishing for any unnecessary bloodshed, Kopa tried to calm the situation as he spoke soothingly to his precious mate.

”Easy there Hina. What’s going on my precious? Did this lion do something to you?”

Flashing Shani a stern gaze, as if to warn him to back off a bit, Kopa waited for a reply from her, gently nuzzling his beloved lioness to try and ease her tension, all the while, keeping a close watch over the other feline.

[Lodrill]

Taraji listened to the words of Nala with her head close to the ground. As Nala picked her up she stayed still until she was let down in the den of Kovu and Kiara again. Her hunger won over her sulking and so for the lecture and she advanced on the belly of Nala and finally got her breakfirst. During the last weeks she had grown a bit and now turned 6 month soon. Her teeth also had grown a bit more and were all out now even if still to weak to chew regulary. But Nala felt the teeth clear as Taraji suckled her milk.

[hr][/hr]

Rahina calmed down a bit by Kopas licks but still gazes hatefully at Shani. "I think he just wanted to leave." she just said. It was not only the name of Zira that had made her so angry. It was more the way this lion used her name and the fact that Rahina felt a lot of the sly atitude of Jelani back in the jungle. This lion before them tried to drag them into something. She was not sure about what this was but her instinct told her that it was something bad.

[Mike]

Shani responded to the agitation he'd caused in Rahina with a bland smile. How he would have replied if Rahina hadn't finally disturbed her mate was unknown, but he had no intention of leaving with his tail between his legs. Dignity was important to Shani.

As Kopa woke up, Shani directed his words to him now - pointedly ignoring Rahina - who was now radiating hostility like the sun. He didn't want to leave the impression that he could be bossed around by threats and a snarling face. It always paid to ask nicely with Shani.

"I think your charming mate mistook me for a friend of the Lioness-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It seems that we have a common enemy." Shani spoke mildly, as though remarking that the den could do with another sleeping pelt or two. "I'm Shani by the way, and I'm your new neighbor in the pridelands. I came to introduce myself, and now that this is done, and I'm clearly no longer welcome in your borrowed home, I'll take my leave." With this, Shani gave Kopa a nod of respect and farewell, and turned to leave the den without acknowledging Rahina's presence.

[KiarasMate]

Having had two cubs previous to the one she was already carrying, Nala was used to the way Taraji’s new teeth irritated her to some degree. Being a very patient lioness though, she made no complaints about it, knowing that nourishing the young cub was more important than her own comfort. She hoped that Kiara and Kovu would start weaning her onto solid foods soon though, as her visits to feed the young cub would have to cease soon, until her mate knew of her status and her own cub’s health was satisfied. For now though, Nala happily allowed the famished cub to have her fill of her nutrient rich milk. From the way Taraji was positioned, Nala had to adjust her body, more so, her hind quarters to keep the little cub content with her breakfast. This left her in quite the revealing position towards the slumbering future king of the lands. Nala just hoped that Kovu would remain asleep, since she didn’t feel like exposing herself to him if she could help it.

==========

Listening to Shani’s words before he watched him taking his leave, Kopa didn’t have time to think of anything to say to him, only returning his gesture as best he could, trying not to displease his mate, who still seemed quite furious at Shani. Turning to face Rahina now, Kopa sighed softly as he spoke to her once again.

”You look as though you want to claw his eyes out Hina. Are you sure he didn’t do anything to you? If he even laid a single paw toe on you, I will personally go set him straight.”

Kopa’s untrusting nature had obviously spawned from Jelani’s actions back when they had lived in their peaceful oasis home. The horrible memories of what that heartless lion tried to do with his precious mate still made his blood boil to this very day whenever he thought about it. Holding back his own temper however, Kopa continued to settle his mate down, not wishing for her to cause any unwanted trouble for them, seeing as the two felines still weren’t on Simba’s good side, or so it would seem.

[Lodrill]

Rahina needed some time to calm down and then started to explain Kopa her reasons.
"Well darling the feeling I got from him were like from this Jelani who evaded out lands. Since he steped inside the den he badmouthed the king and prince of this land and I had a feeling like he thought we would help him with overthrowing the king and set him to the throne. He babbled something about the future king attacked him. He really teased my nerves and then he even dared to call.... her name. I guess I lost my temper there. But I do not regret it. This lion is trouble and I just hope he will never set a food inside of our den."

Maybe Rahina was a bit more cautious and nervous about Shani's aproach than she normally would have been but her new status of baring a cub made her very short tempered and protective. Even the small hints towards Shanis purposes and her experience with Jelani made her snap. To fresh were the experience with Jelani and to much her fear for the danger that would dawn over her cub and not to mention her mate if a story like in the jungle would repeat itself. She did not show it to Kopa but she felt already that her stamina did already go down big time due to the pregnancy. Not long and it would even be visible that she was baring and the last nights before they had reached the pride land the hunting had been very hard for Rahina. Not only because of her wound paws, that healed pretty good with the rest she had now, but also because her stamina was not even half as good as at the peek of her strength.

[KiarasMate]

Nodding in an understanding fashion to what his mate was telling him, knowing how agitated she could be in any given situation with a creature she didn’t trust, Kopa waited for her to finish explaining her reasons for going off on Shani. Once his beloved lioness had concluded, Kopa spoke in response, smiling from his mate’s fiery personality.

”Well, you always do have a pretty good judgment of character Hina, so I’ll be sure to keep an eye on that lion. I doubt he would cause as much trouble as Jelani did but I guess we can’t be too careful, even with being out of our own lands. Let’s just keep our distance from him until we know more. You especially my precious. If he’s willing to try and cause treason here in someone else’s kingdom, than who knows what else he might attempt.”

Stretching his body now that he was awake, Kopa figured that he and his precious mate shouldn’t waste the rest of the day just merely lying about.

”So, what do you say we go exploring today Hina? If I know you, there must be a ton of energy stored up in that beautiful body of yours. We can take a run around the lands and see all the sites. What do you say my precious?”

Still being unaware to Rahina’s new condition, figuring that his precious mate was always up for a good run, since she always liked to keep her frame in top shape, as did Kopa, thanks to Rahina’s training and lessons. Feeling quite energetic himself, Kopa playfully moved around his mate, giving her small love bites to show his affection as he waited for her response.

[Mike]

Shani left the den, but paused out of site to eavesdrop on Rahina’s private reaction with her mate. It was unfortunate, he thought, that he had not known about this Jelani. Every piece of the puzzle that was a lion’s life was cruial to understanding them, and then manipulating them. Kopa’s loyalty to his mate might be a problem, but it also might be a potential angle to work from if he managed to get the lion alone and delicately explain that Rahina was just not safe here, and would need his help to live in the pridelands without being threatened... Not wanting to push his luck any further, Shani left the compromising area to think. He puttered about the waterhole that was just outside the visitor dens. Kivuli would be his next target perhaps, or Daxis. The other lions in the pride were too well connected with Simba.

Though his first attempt had not been a resounding success, Shani had new information to work with, and didn’t consider his visit to have been a wasted effort by any means. He was troubled though —not to mention frustrated - that Rahina had been so suspicious of his behaviour. Perhaps a lion in a dozen was able to resist Shani’s charm when he concentrated on winning their trust, loyalty, or persuaded them that to follow his directions was in their own interests. Rahina might be a tough lioness to crack, but she was not the only troubled soul in the pridelands by any means, and others would be more open to Shani’s methods.