[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Umeme couldn't believe what she heard. She had expected Muroki to say something else, to try and clam them down.

While Moto and Fadhili rushed to comfort Lina when she dropped, Umeme instead walked over to Muroki and hit him hard over the head with a paw. "Why did you do that?" She demanded angrily, "Why did you say that? Couldn't you have said something else... like... not that!" She raised her paw to hit him again, but her energy left her, and she let it drop back to the ground.

Muroki was just as lost as they were, and also had a lot to lose. She really didn't have an excuse to hit him the way she did. Umeme leaned over and licked Muroki where her paw connected with his head. "I'm sorry for losing my temper," she said, "but we can't take any more bad news. Especially Lina. It's just that... she needed to hear something else, that's all.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki certainly did not expect Umeme to hit him like that. It hurt, but not because of how hard the blow actually was. When she raised her paw to hit him again, he shut his eyes like a cub would when scolded by his mother and waited for the blow to come, only that it didn't. Instead Muroki could feel Umeme licking him gently, causing him to slowly open his eyes. "Should I have lied to her?" while Umeme was right about Lina being in need for good news for a chance, lying to her wouldn't be the right thing to do. He sighed and said. "We have to prove to them that he's innocent somehow..." he looked over at Lina who was some feet away being comforted by her parents.

[DGFone]

Umeme shook her head. "No, lying would have been even worse. But it's just that you left, and Lina relied on you to bring Delano back. So when you came back alone, saying that he might die... it's not what she had to hear."

She sat down next to Muroki, leaning her head on his. "But how do we do that? How do we prove that Delano is innocent?" she asked, looking at Lina. "We know he is, but can we actually prove it?" Nervously, she reached out to hold one of Muroki's paws. "I don't know."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki couldn't help but agree, "It isn't, but I couldn't bring myself to lie and say otherwise." he sighed when she leaned her head against his and reached over for his paw, gently placing his paw on top of hers. "There has to be a way." he said after a short silence. There had to be a way and they had to find it in three days. That might not prove to be a lot of time. "You know, when I was there I told Delano that he'll be back with Lina soon and that they'll be able to live happily together and start a family of their own." he looked at her with a slight smile, "I'll get him out of there." somehow.

[DGFone]

Umeme smiled and nuzzled Muroki. "I know you will, he's your brother," she said, "it's not a question of if but when." She rested against him, for despite what she said, she didn't feel as optimistic.

Moto tried to comfort Lina, but knew that there was not much he can do. "Fadhili, can you take Lina down into the den?" He asked, "I want to talk to Muroki." He gave Lina a reassuring lick before getting up and moving over to Muroki and Umeme. "Umeme, would you mind letting me talk to Muroki for a little?" He asked. "The others are in the den."

Umeme wanted to stay with Muroki, but she figured that Moto had his reasons for wanting to talk with Muroki. She nodded and got up before walking into the den.

Moto sat himself down next to Muroki and sighed. "I think I know how to get Delano out," he said, "but it won't be easy."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki smiled slightly and returned his mate's nuzzle. "I know." it really was only a question of when rather than if, even if getting Delano out would not be easy at all. The most important thing was that they will get him out, but the 'when' part was still playing some role in this whole thing, since the longer Delano stayed there the more he would suffer. Muroki knew that it was not fun to be there all on your own, and he doubted they were planning to give him any food or water. The sooner he was out the better for him and for Lina.

Suddenly he heard Moto speak to them and noticed he was coming forward. When he asked Umeme to live Muroki couldn't help but grow slightly nervous. He wasn't going to scold him for what he said to Lina was he? Instead of panicking, Muroki decided to first listen to what Moto had to say, his expression lighting up as Moto said that he had an idea to get Delano free. "I'm listening." he would do anything to help his brother get out, no matter how difficult it might be.

[DGFone]

Moto didn't really have much to say though. "Tomorrow morning, I'm going down to the police and talk to them. They might tell me something that might help us get Delano out." He smiled slightly. "I'll advice that you don't try to talk to them anymore. You're his brother, and so they are careful around you. I doubt they will do anything to you, but they won't say things with you around."

Moto looked at the sunset, feeling bad for panning to enjoy it with the family and not getting the chance to. "If you see Kasi or his parents, don't tell them what about what happened, let me." He said. "Kasi's your cousin, so he won't take it well." He glanced at the sunset again. "Let's go inside. A lot has happened today, and it will help to get some sleep."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki listened to Moto. What the lion said made sense, and even if his plan would prove to be a waste of time, it still wouldn't hurt if they tried. "Alright." he nodded, slowly getting up and walking towards the den, "I can still go see him right? I promised him I'll visit him again." he just wouldn't be able to handle leaving Delano all on his own like that, not after promising to come back again. The two went ahead and entered the den. Lina was already asleep somehow and was lying next to her mother who was holding her close as if she was a cub. Muroki went ahead and lay beside Umeme who was already at the spot where she and Muroki slept every night.

[DGFone]

Moto nodded. "Yeah, you can go and see him. Just be careful of what you say." He walked with Muroki into the den and lay down next to Fadhili. He smiled softly when he saw how his mate was holding Lina close. "Good night," he whispered and closed his eyes.

Umeme felt Muroki lie down next to her and smiled. She edged closer to him, seeking his comfort and warmth before falling asleep completely.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki nodded at what Moto said, knowing that he was right. Fadhili smiled silently at her mate and rested her head next to Lina's so to provide her with warmth. Muroki put his arm around Umeme, smiling at how peaceful her breathing was now that she was asleep. He hoped that Moto would accomplish something by going over to the police tomorrow. He placed his head down next to Umeme's and also went to sleep.