[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

"So what are we going to do, then?" Delano asked. "I don't want to wait... I can't stand just sitting around. If we do, someone else will die. I just know it." He leaned against Muroki. "Whatever happens, I don't want to lose you. You, nor Kasi, not anyone..." He broke away, but left a paw on Muroki's shoulder. "No matter what happens, I need to know that you will be with me, by my side, no matter what."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki managed to smile slightly at his brother, "Of course I will, that's obvious." worrying would obviously do them no good either, so Muroki always tried his best not to. "I say we go there again, but not now... After things calm down a little, right now our family needs us here." he sat still for a few more moments before lying back down next to Umeme. He felt most comforted with her by her side, plus he wanted to be next to her when she woke up. Since he promised to stay with her today he didn't want her to look for him even just to find out that he was behind her or anything else which might arouse a short and unnecessary worry from her side.

[DGFone]

Delano didn't know if he should tell it to Muroki, but he knew that he had to. "It's just that, I was thinking..." Delano looked away from Muroki's eyes. It was impossible for him to say it while looking at his brother. "Once things quiet down somewhat. When it's safe to do so, I will rejoin the police... I want to go undercover. If they can't tell us anything, I will."

After saying this, Delano was able to look at Muroki again, but only slightly. He still saw the shock in his brother's eyes. "Don't try to stop me. I've made up my mind." With that, he left Muroki with Umeme and lay down next to Lina, feeling awful.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki really was shocked to hear this. Maybe it was just the craziness things were bringing upon everyone now and maybe his brother would turn out to be really serious about this. But Muroki felt that if he wanted to protect those dear to him, that he had to be there with them and not seeking information someplace far away. But that was just his opinion. He lay his head back down next to Umeme' and closed his eyes, trying to think over things.

[DGFone]

Umeme woke up quickly, but felt Muroki next to her. She smiled, grateful that he had kept his promise and stayed, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that he was already awake. "Good morning," she whispered, but didn't really feel like it, "how was your night?"

Yawning, she looked around the den, and saw Delano next to Lina. Kasi was still with his parents, for once looking remotely peaceful in his sleep. "You think it will be safe to go outside today?" She asked, turning back to Muroki.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki felt the smile come back to his face when Umeme woke up. He nuzzled her lovingly and whispered back, "Good morning. Surprisingly I managed to sleep through the night without waking up... I don't know how, but I did." He thought about her 2nd question. Dakari and Laini nearly died even while being both together, and Muroki and Umeme were still younger than them. Muroki was still smaller than Dakari and Umeme was about the same size as Laini, since male lions usually grew to become bigger than the females. "I think it'll be risky even if we're together... I mean look at Kasi's parents... The two of them were together the entire time and look what happened..."

[DGFone]

Umeme nodded. "I understand. I just didn't want to spend another day cooped up in the den again, but if it's safer to stay inside, then I guess I'll do it." She looked at Kasi. "He looks much better now," she muttered, "but how will he be once he wakes up? I remember how you and your brother were when you first came here. Almost walking dead. Kasi now, he didn't lose his parents, they at leas survived, but he did lose Tango... and he doesn't have a brother to help him." She sighed. "I hope he gets better soon. He was scary after Tango died... I want this entire thing to be over."

She leaned into Muroki's mane. "So that we'll be able to enjoy our company without worry again. Seems like such a long time since we last did that, but it was only a few days ago..."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki sighed, "He also lost the brother or sister he was going to have..." Muroki imagined losing Delano for a moment and a shiver went through his spine. he smiled slightly when she leaned against him and rested his head on top of hers. "I know what you mean... It seems so far." he got an idea, "Would you like to sit outside by the entrance? As long as the den is within sight we'll be safe. I also don't really feel like staying in here so much."

[DGFone]

Umeme smiled and nodded. "That would be nice, thanks." Together, she and Muroki went over to the entrance of the den and sat down together, enjoying the light and warmth the emerging sun offered. It wasn't as good as outside, but it was better than nothing.

Looking outside, Umeme watched the grass sway in the wind, wishing that she was running around in it. But for right now, she had to stay inside. "It looks so peaceful from here," she said, "with the sun, clouds, the wind... You can almost forget that anything was wrong in the first place."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki also watched the scenery outside. Like Umeme he wished that they could both just forget everything and run through the savannah together. "Yes, almost..." he looked at her and smiled. She was probably the only explanation to how he had managed to keep his sanity so far. "Look, with all of what's going around I've become really worried... But I wasn't afraid of what might happen to my own life, I was afraid of what might happen to you..." he nuzzled her gently, "It made me realize just how much I care about you, more than I care about myself."