Private [DGF and Noah]

[DGFone]

Mufasa shook his head at Delano and Nahaai's direction. "What have you decided to do with these two?" he asked his son. "Are they safe enough to join in with the celebration, or will we have to find someplace for them to spend the time?" Still not fully trustworthy of the two lions, Mufasa wouldn't mind finding a small den for Delano and Nahaai to spend the time being in.

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Delano watched Mufasa anxiously. The large lion still scared him quite a bit. "Do you know what he might be needing to talk about us for?" He asked Nala.

Nala thought about it. "Not sure. But most likely just how to include you into the celebrations," she answered, "With you two, we might need to readjust the plans." Noticing Delano and Nahaai look disappointed in themselves, she quickly added, "It won't be a problem. You won't ruin anything."

[Noah]

Simba shook his head as he laughing "Oh father. Why do you always to want to cram visitor into that small den?" Simba thought his father wasn't telling him the whole story, as if something in the past wasn't exactly. Mufasa then glared at his son to let him know he meant business "Well, I personally think they are fine." With a quick glance behind his shoulder he added "Why? Is there someone you aren't telling me?"

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"He's looking over at us." Nahaai said. "Do you see?" Delano turned around, but not fast enough to catch Simba peeping at them. He proceeded to shake his head.

[DGFone]

Mufasa sighed. It was time to tell Simba. "It's not these two that I'm worried about, but where they came from," he said. Simba gave him a confused look, but Mufasa ignored it. "They said that they lived with humans. It's the humans that are the problem..." Mufasa knew that he had to explain this to Simba. "Before you were born, before I was even king, actually, a lion showed up much like these two. Said he lived with humans as well. He didn't seem hostile, so we let him stay with us, regain his bearings."

He hesitated, but Simba asked him to finish the story. "Well, one morning, we woke up, and the lion was gone. Vanished without a trace. And what's more, the lioness we assigned to watch over him... We found her dead. And with a wound that you've never seen before. A deep hole. Not a gash as though from a claw, but almost as though something bit her hard. But there was only one wound..." Mufasa sighed. "We never did find any proof if it was the humans or not. We didn't see anything. But still, I'm worried."

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Delano had seen that both Simba and Mufasa occasionally looked at them. And he didn't like it one bit. "Can't they finish up already?" He asked. "They're making me nervous."

[Noah]

"That's an awful story" Simba was shocked but not entirely convinced "Are you sure that he was responsible. What about the humans?" Mufasa grunted. "Don't you think you are jumping to conclusions that shouldn't be reached. These lions seem harmless, you should be more careful." Mufasa didn't say anything at first, he was angry, but didn't like to argue with his son, especially in the company of Nala AND guests.

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Nahaai decided to take his mind off the pair behind him by switching topics. "So Nala. What all happens at these celebrations?" He had overheard zookeepers discuss their parties but he didn't know if felines operated in the same manner. Nala thought about how to respond.

[DGFone]

Mufasa sighed. "I really don't know. I might be over-reacting. But I fear that I am not." Despite that, Simba still didn't look like he was going to change his mind. "Alright, son, I trust you. I'll let you decide on what to do with them, but please... be careful." With that, he left Simba, giving the two new lions a slight nod of his had as he walked past them.

----

Nala grinned. She didn't want to spoil the fun for Delano and Nahaai. "It'll be better if you find out with me telling you," she replied, "but don't worry, you'll do fine."

Delano frowned. He wanted to find out what to do from Nala, but it looked like she won't talk. At that moment, Mufasa walked by, and Delano shrunk back involuntarily, even as Mufasa nodded towards them. He managed to give a small smile in reply.

[Noah]

Nahaai tried to pick up with Simba where Delano left off with Nala. "So Simba. What can we expect from the celebrations?" Simba smiled a special little smile, one only his handsome facial features could pull off. "Oh you'll see tonight" Nahaai wondered what it could be that neither of the lions were willing to give out information. "You didn't spoil it, did you dear?" He turned to his expectant mate as he said those words.

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Mufasa hurried off towards the east. He knew there was something that had to be done before tonight.

[DGFone]

Nala laughed. "Nah, why would I ruin it?" She grinned at the confused looks that both Delano and Nahaai had. "Oh, come on you two," she teased, "don't look so gloomy, you'll do fine! Trust me!"

Delano frowned. Sure, he trusted Nala, but not this much. He still didn't know if these lions were going to pull some prank on him and Nahaai, or if not that, just that they might do something that would embarrass them. "Well, its' not that I don't trust you," he said, "but I still would really like to know."

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Mufasa made his way to Rafiki's tree. Still confused about the two new lions, he figured that talking to the shaman would help him understand in what to do. Walking over to the wide trunk, Mufasa looked up at the branches, but didn't see the odd mandrill. "Hey, Rafiki, are you up there?" He called up, hoping to get an answer.

[Noah]

Nala was about to comment when her line of vision caught sight of the sun. She motioned towards it and Simba wisely picked up on the hint. "You know: Simba began, trying to the change the subject "I believe the hunting party is about to make their final trip before the party. Care to join them?". Delano was about to pass when Nahaai surprised everyone with an enthusiastic "Yes".

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"Hello!" Rafiki slowly began descending his tree. He normally could do this task with the gentlest of ease, but he was a little immobile from his back injury. As he reached the bottom, Mufasa outstretched his forepaw to give his old friend a grand lionhug. ""No! No hugging!" Mufasa chuckled "No! Not Funny either. You big lion, you hurt Old Rafiki"

Spoiler: show

I hope its okay that I took over Rafiki

[DGFone]

Delano was shocked. "But you never hunted in your life, Nahaai!" He protested. "What are you going to do?" Yes, this will provide a good opportunity to meet up with some of the pride beforehand, but Delano was certain that joining a hunt was a wrong move.

Nala looked at the two lions in surprise. "You two never hunted?" She asked. Delano and Nahaai shook their heads. "Never?" Again, shaking heads. "Well, then I guess that you should join the hunt, but just watch. You can learn." Nala said finally. "Come on. You too, Simba. You can provide a commentary on the hunt." She got up, and lead the others to the gathering party.

----

Mufasa chuckled when Rafiki shied away from a hug. He never did that before, but Mufasa had to give the mandrill the slip after his fall. "I trust things are getting along rather nicely for you, Rafiki," he said, to which the monkey nodded. "Listen, I've come to ask you for some advice." Mufasa then proceeded to tell about Delano and Nahaai, and his doubts and worries about letting the two lions stay in the Pridelands.

"... and Simba thinks that it's fine to let them stay, and really, I don't know." Mufasa finished. "What should I do?"

[Noah]

As Delano and his friend followed behind Nala and her mate, Nahaai whispered in an angry tone "Why did you have to mention we hadn't hunted before?" Delano seemed confused. "They already think we're weird enough, now we have to join in with them.". Simba then inadvertently cut him off. "OK. We're here."

With a roar he signaled the hunting party and all the lionesses came to his attention. "Listen up everyone. We have two guests who will be joining you for this hunt. This is Delano and Nahaai. They have never hunted before." Nahaai could here the various reactions of either shock or snickering. He felt like he was joining to die from the awkwardness of the situation.

Nala stepped forward to lead the others as it was normally her job, something she had acquired from Sarabi when she, along with her own mother, stepped down. "Where do you think you're going?" Simba said in a joking yet commanding and serious tone. "Surely you aren't thinking of hunting in your condition. Getting a small kill for our friends is one thing, but leading the pack is another."

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Rafiki listened intently and then proceeded to speak. "It seems like you have a bug on your shoulder." Mufasa nodded in agreement, but Rafiki spoke up again. "No I mean you have a spider in your fur." Rafiki used his thumb and index finger to get rid of it, something that Mufasa found himself jealous of. "That's better, now what were you saying? Ah. Yes. The Outsiders."

Mufasa sat up so as to concentrate more on his words. "Many a king has lost his kingdom because of outsiders, but many a king has also lost his kingdom from fear of outsiders. Do you know what I mean?" Rafiki said as he eyed the ginormous lion.