[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Delano clung onto Muroki as his brother began to walk forwards. He had to then let go so that he won't fall over, but with Muroki with him, he had enough confidence to walk slowly forwards, and out of the cave that had trapped him for so long. With his broken leg, he had to lean heavily on Muroki as not to fall right away.

The lions heard Muroki and Delano walk forward, and so the two of them walked out, leading the way. "Follow us," one of them instructed, slightly more at ease now that it seemed like Delano was cooperating.

When they got to where a little of light penetrated the tunnels, Delano stopped, realizing that he was able to see again. He waved a paw in front of him eyeing as he saw the difference in his eyes as the paw moved passed them, but was quickly nudged forwards into a walk again. They walked somewhat faster than Delano wanted, and a few times he stumbled painfully, but he forced himself to keep up.

The lions lead Muroki and Delano to a dimply lit cave where they motioned for Muroki to drop Delano off in the middle of. "You must leave now," one of them said, "wait outside until we come and get you." Already inside the cave were two other lions, who watched Delano as Muroki left him on the ground.

Delano watched Muroki leave, growing more scared when his brother vanished out of sight. He turned his gaze at the lions who lead him here as they sat down next to those who were already sitting in the cave. He gulped slightly as he awaited his fate.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki held back a frown as the guards motioned for him to drop Delano in the middle of the cave. He hated the idea of leaving his brother on his own, but it didn't seem like he had too much of a choice. Still, he wasn't taking any chances, and he waited just outside of the cave. If his brother would suddenly start making scared noises again Muroki will take a look, and if he would see that the reason was not only Delano's paranoia then he would come and try to help him.

[DGFone]

The lions looked at Delano, who simply stared back, not knowing what else to do. Eventually, they started speaking. "Do you know why you're here?" one of them asked. Delano stared back until he finally shook his head. "You are here because we have come to the belief that you have betrayed these lands, and betrayed us, and everyone we are trusted to protect."

Delano continued to stare at them, growing more afraid by the moment. Muroki told him that he was brought here to be freed, which wasn't what he was seeing. He looked around nervously, hoping that Muroki would be near enough for him to help.

The lions saw that Delano wasn't going to say anything, so they continued on. "We are going to ask you some questions, which you will have to answer. Do you understand?" Delano nodded slowly.

[TheWhistlerify]

While to Delano it might appear as if Muroki was far gone, Muroki was still standing right outside and was listening to every single word that was spoken in there. There shouldn't be any problems with that 'interview' that was about to take place, since Delano obviously did not commit any sort of treason. Also, any lion will have to be completely blind or crazy in order to think that Delano was a traitor. It was clear that he was not, Muroki was certain about that. The two guards wouldn't have brought him water and kept him alive when they should have killed him unless they thought so.

[DGFone]

The lions waited a little before talking to Delano again. "Why were you trying to hide with a family in our lands?" One of them asked.

Delano was shocked. "What?" he gasped, "no... they... are my family!" He struggled to his feet so that he could face the lions at a more level. "They are my family!" he repeated, ignoring the pain his throat was in. "I live with them because I have nowhere else to go. I-"

"And why is that?" a lion asked Delano, cutting him off.

Delano hesitated. "Because..." he faltered, unsure if he was able to get himself to continue or not. "Because my parents are dead!" he suddenly shouted at them, feeling angry and cornered. "Killed by the very lions you think I was working for!" He tried charging at them, but fell over and landed painfully on the ground. He didn't try to get back up after that.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki was still listening from outside. It might be a good idea to mention that their aunt lived in this pride, since that was something they will be able to prove without any difficulty. When he heard his brother fall over, he got a little nervous and peeked with his head, but he withdrew as soon as he realized that Delano simply fell over and was not actually knocked over or attacked by anyone. It was a good thing that his leg was broken, for if he charged at those lions they would have killed him for sure.

[DGFone]

The lions who were questioning Delano didn't react to him trying to attack them. He was in no shape to hurt them even if he tried, and seeing at he was now on the floor, there was no more he would attempt. "So you are saying that you are not a traitor, and that you lived with your family here?" One of them asked.

Delano tried to get up again, but his strength left him, and he flopped back on the ground. "I didn't do anything," he said quietly, "kill me if you want, but I am no traitor." He didn't care anymore. He didn't care about the lions who were now deciding hit future, and he didn't care about himself anymore. He lay his head on the ground, simply giving up.

The lions looked at each other, deciding silently on what to do. It didn't look like Delano would say anything more. One of the lions cleared his throat. "Unless one of us has anything else they would like to find out from you," he said, "I would recommend that we go to the next stage and finish this once and for all." He paused, letting the others speak up, but they didn't, and he continued. "Alright, let's get on with it." He looked out at the entrance of the cave, where he had seen Muroki peek in a few times. "You there! You can come in now!"

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki continued to listen. The only good thing until now was that they lion speaking to Delano and asking him questions did not seem to be angry. Muroki figured that the lions would be somewhat upset towards a lion who they thought to be a traitor, but since the lion speaking sounded rather calm... Muroki hoped that it really was a reason for a small relief. When he was called in he came as quickly as possible. "Now what?" he asked, looking at the lion. He hoped that everybody else were already here, because the more that came to defend Delano in the trial the better impression it will make.

[DGFone]

The lion stared back at Muroki. "Now we wait," he replied, "until the others arrive. But you can't do anything before that."

---

Umeme was starting to grow bored waiting when finally, yet another lion walked over to the group. Moto seemed to recognize this lion, and sure enough, almost right away, they were walking through more tunnels.

The lion who was leading them stopped when they reached the entrance of one of the many caves in the system. "Walk in here," he said, "and just do what your're told." With that, he left them.

Moto peered inside the cave quickly before turning back to the others. "They're here," he said, "Delano and Muroki are in the cave." He looked at Lina, giving her a reassuring smile, while at the same time trying not to look worried. "So let's go?" he suggested.

Umeme almost had to force Lina not to rush into the cave when Moto said that Delano was there. "Yeah, dad," she said, "let's go."

Together, all of them walked into the cave.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki nodded at the lion and said nothing. Before he even realized it the others were suddenly there, and before he had a chance to react Lina was already free of her sister's grip and running towards Delano with a huge smile on her face. She pulled Delano into a tight hug but remembered to not hold him too tightly so to not choke him accidentally. "I missed you so much!" After a long moment she finally released him and looked him over, noticing how messed up his leg looked. "What happened to you?"