[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

At first, Umeme started to grow more worried when Muroki described what was going on, but her worries dissipated when he mentioned that there was't anything to be concerned about. "I think he will be better now," she said, "he's out of the caves now, and with Lina. She will be able to comfort him if needed to."

Again, the two of the walked in silence, and once again Umeme felt like saying something. "You know..." she finally said, "it might be a good idea to hunt something. And it will allow the two of us to work together, right?" She grinned. "I'll be able to run with you, not from you." It was her way of showing that she didn't forget about that.

---

Delano looked over at Lina, and smiled when he saw that her eyes were closed. He then also closed his eyes, letting his head lean on hers, so that they were supporting each other. "I really missed you," he whispered, not remembering if he said it before or not, "I'm glad to be with you again." He reached out and wrapped a paw around Lina.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki nodded at what Umeme said, knowing that Lina was the one who will be the most important in helping Delano put this horrible experience behind and move on. He considered Umeme's offer about going to hunt for a short moment and then smiled at her. "Good idea, I bet Delano's starving..." he didn't need to ask in order to know that his brother had had no food for the past three days.

---

Lina smiled as Delano wrapped a paw around her. "I missed you too." despite not being imprisoned inside a dark cave and having her family with her the entire time, Lina couldn't remember ever feeling lonelier in her entire life. Surely it was nothing compared to what Delano went through while he was gone, but that didn't make it any more tolerable. She was glad that they were again together and hoped that they wouldn't have to be separated ever again.

[DGFone]

Umeme nodded, but as she didn't see any prey yet around them, she stayed next to Muroki. "So how fast do you reckon you can catch something?" she asked, "after all, with all your training, I am sure they taught you a few things..." She grinned and nudged his shoulder, "but something tells me that nothing you are taught can compare to the real deal." She looked at him smugly, completely believing that she was still better than him at hunting.

---

Delano relaxed somewhat when Lina said that she also missed him. One of the things he was most afraid of was to come back and see that she no longer liked him, or even worse, as in some of his nightmares, hated him. Her simple statement brought him much more comfort than he expected, and he turned his head to look at her, smiling. "I think I'm going to be alright," he said softly, "I'l be alright."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki looked at Umeme with a chuckle, "What they did to us when I was still there was basically to get us in shape, so I didn't really learn anything about hunting... Perhaps Delano did learn something useful some stage later when I stayed behind with you."

---

Lina smiled softly, her eyes still closed. "And with you back with me I will also be alright."

(( Sorry for the short post. I have this Chemistry test tomorrow which I have to study for but I don't want to leave you hanging. Next post will be normal though ))

[DGFone]

Umeme grinned, getting an answer she liked. "Well, then I guess there is something I am still better than you," she teased, "so just do as I tell you to, and both of us will be happy in the end." Despite her joking tone, she meant her words. Umeme did not want something happening to Muroki due to his hunting inexperience, and so it would be better if he simply followed her lead.

---

Delano rubbed his head against Lina's, enjoying the feeling of her head against his. "I'm glad you're fine," he said, "I was sometimes afraid that... that you won't be." He was scared to admit to her that several times in the darkness, he was convinced that she was already dead. But feeling her next to him brought him comfort and he was able to smile. "Seeing you again, I'm so happy."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki was about to argue back like he usually did on such occasions, but he decided to not say anything. He never really tried comparing himself to Umeme as a hunter to a huntress. It didn't really matter to him whether she was better than him or not, and since he wasn't interested in finding out he didn't mind agreeing with her. "You're the boss." he said with a chuckle, not really caring about how they were going to hunt as long as they caught something so that his brother will finally have something to eat after more than three days.

---

Lina had no idea as to what reason Delano possibly had for worrying that she won't be alright, considering that she was not imprisoned in a cave and was not being denied food and water, but she didn't ask about it. [b]"I was so worried about you, because of the trial and everything..." she however had every reason to be concerned about him, since he was a prisoner who recieved no food or water along with the posibility of the police having him executed eventually.

[DGFone]

Umeme grinned and nodded, leading Muroki further into the savanna on the search of a good meal. After some time, she spotted a potential target: a lone zebra walking around, seemingly lost. Umeme frowned when she saw that the zebra was sporting a severe limp, and for a moment, hesitated. "I think we found our target," she whispered to Muroki, "but it looks so hurt... should we just leave it alone?" On the other had, this zebra would be very easy to catch, and if they don't get it, someone else will.

---

Delano nuzzled Lina, trying to comfort her. "Hey, I'll be fine," he reassured her, "I'm out of there now, remember? You don't need to worry about me." Despite what he said, he still gripped onto her as though he was afraid that he was going to lose her again.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki came to a halt when they noticed the zebra. The first thought that went through his mind was similar to the one that went through Umeme's mind; that some predator will take the zebra down at one stage or another. "If we don't take it down somebody else will..." he looked at the zebra as it continued limping. "Beside, it's all alone because it's hurt. That's probably why it's separated from the rest of the herd." he remembered, right after his parents died, that he felt as if he didn't belong anywhere. Sure, he and his brother never were part of a pride before, but back then they had their parents with them. "Believe me when I say that this zebra's physical pain is not as great as the emotional one. It misses its family which it will never see again."

---

Lina was feeling so happy to be with Delano again that she didn't even feel that he was holding her a little tightly. "You're right." she said calmly, deciding to finally stop thinking about all the time during which Delano was not with her and in danger. "This is all over, time to move on." she closed her eyes again and rested her head in his mane.

[DGFone]

Muroki's answer worried Umeme. "So should we get it?" she asked, "or do what?" She got an idea that she thought absurd, but before she could stop herself, "should we try and help it?" she asked. Almost immediately, she winced at the realization at how futile such an effort would be. Not only were the chances of finding the herd tiny, but that zebra looked hurt badly. Even if it found the herd again, it would only be left alone and killed off by something else.

What also unnerved Umeme was how Muroki sounded when he said how the zebra felt. She looked between Muroki and the zebra, worried. For the first time in her life while on a hunt, Umeme didn't know what to do.

---

Time to move on. Lina's words echoed in Delano's mind several times. He liked their sound, as well as their meaning. He was now with Lina, and can start enjoying his life properly with her again. There would be no point in looking back now.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki was a little surprised at Umeme's suggestion. "Help it?" he did not expect her to say that. "How can we help a zebra?" he wasn't sure whether the zebra will be able to understand what they said if they approached, having never actually attempted to have a conversation with one. "Even if we did help it, herds are always on the move, it'll be left on its own again." like Umeme, he finally felt lost and didn't know what to do.