[Private] Kiarasmate and Kivuli

[Baya]

Kovu waited until Vitani gathered more lionesses. He stood up when he noticed Vitani and the other lionesses she had gathered coming out from the den. "So are we ready?" Kovu asked quietly examining the lionesses. They were all past outlanders. Kovu smiled and nodded. "This looks like it is all set. Vitani, please stay calm. The last thing I need is for you to lose your temper like you used to do with Nuka. As irritable as they maybe you must keep your cool." Kovu explained.

[KiarasMate]

Upon exiting the main den to present the group of lionesses she had gathered for her brother’s approval, Vitani scowled slightly from his comment about her temper. While it was true that she often times, had a rather short fuse, in her eyes, she never lost her temper if the situation didn’t call for it. Wishing to not cause any trouble for Kovu’s first first day as king however, Vitani swallowed her pride and replied in a reassuring fashion.

”I will try to keep my temper under control Kovu, but if things get out of paw, I won’t hesitate to fight, especially if our lives are at steak.”

Taking a stance next to her brother as she gazed towards the distant Outlands with a thoughtful stare, Vitani waited for Kovu’s signal before they would move out.

[Baya]

"Thank you Vitani. Now we must make our way there quickly. The quicker we get this over with, the quicker Kiara can stop worrying." Kovu muttered as he began to make his way down pride rock. He stopped at the base of pride rock, and broke into a small trot towards his old home, the outlands. Just thinking about getting near there gave him the creeps. He also felt that if he went there he'd actually see his mother again. He shook his head. "No Kovu, she's dead. Do not be afraid. They are just rogues..." He thought to himself as he made his way towards the outlands.

[KiarasMate]

Following her brother’s lead, Vitani rallied the group of lionesses she had wrangled together, speaking in a firm, yet understandable voice.

”You heard your king, let’s move!”

Keeping pace so that she was alongside Kovu, having the group of lionesses directly behind them, Vitani looked over at her brother, noticing that look of angst that was unmistakable in his eyes. Keeping her voice low enough so that only she and her brother could hear, Vitani quietly inquired.

”You okay Kovu? Look, if you’re worried about leaving Kiara behind, she’ll be fine. There’s plenty of others back there to look after her and she’s a tough lioness in her own way.”

Having no idea that it was something other than his mate’s wellbeing that was on Kovu’s mind, Vitani didn’t expect that going back to their old stomping grounds would be that big of a deal to her brother. While they moved along, the dark furred lioness kept her guard up as the distant lands grew closer and closer with each passing stride.

[Baya]

Kovu stopped as they reached the border, and gazed out into the barren land. Memories flashed through his head, of his relentless training, hunger, and suffering. He shook his head free of those memories and began to step over the border. "Be on your guard..." Kovu murmured as he looked around for any signs of the rogues. His paws began to make prints in the sand as they were actually getting into the desert like region. His eyes locked onto his old den, and he sighed. "They are in there." Kovu muttered. He closed his eyes and let out a loud roar, expecting to see the rogues pile out to see what he commotion was about. Only one actually did. This one's fur was dark like Kovu's, but his mane was gray.

Kivuli growled towards Kovu threateningly as he came out from the den. "What business do you have?" Kivuli asked darkly. Kovu glared at the rogue.

"I wish to speak with all of you rogues. I am Kovu, king of the pride lands." Kovu explained. Kivuli looked at Kovu for a moment.

"We are not on your lands. What do you want with us?" Kivuli asked in a calm tone.

"Nothing. I just find it odd that a group of rogues are taking up home in these barren lands of death." Kovu said quietly.

"One beast's trash, is another beast's treasure..." A voice came from within the den, as Ayari stepped out, and walked beside Kivuli. "I am Ayari, leader of this pride, and king of rogues..." Ayari said in a confident tone.

"A-Ayari?" Kovu asked as he looked directly at the pale furred lion. Kovu remembered an Ayari when he was little, but Zira said Ayari was killed by rogues.

[KiarasMate]

Despite the situation, Vitani seemed to react quite the opposite of her brother as they arrived at their former lands. Unlike Kovu, Vitani herself, felt more at home being back within The Outlands, bringing a sly smile to her muzzle as the small group advanced towards their old home, which seemed to still be standing miraculously. Keeping herself next to her brother, Vitani watched as Kovu let out a roar to alert the rogues of their presence. Preparing herself for the worst case scenario, ejecting her claws and taking up an aggressive stance at the first sight of movement that came from within their former termite mound. Upon spotting the first rogue to emerge, Vitani quickly scanned him over, sizing him up in every aspect. He didn’t appear to be much of a threat however, Vitani was never the type to underestimate anyone. Listening to her brother and this new male conversing, Vitani’s eyes never left the scene before her, watching for any signs of aggression from this stranger.

Her focus was cut rather short however, from the next voice that cut through the barren landscape, causing Vitani’s attention to drift towards the sound of the voice. As soon as her eyes fell upon who the voice belonged to, the same sense of nostalgia that she had experienced back in The Pride Lands, seemed to swirl around her once again as a flood of past memories flashed in her mind.

It can’t be… Vitani thought to herself as her eyes seemed fixated upon the large male, his light blonde fur and brown mane painting a very familiar picture within her mind as she stared with a disbelieving gaze.

Upon hearing the second male introducing himself, it was as though her suspicions were confirmed, causing Vitani’s behavior to alter as she slowly stepped forward, coming more into view as she spoke in a hesitant voice towards the large male.

”Ayari? Is it really you? Do you remember who I am?”

Ignoring her better judgment that told her to keep back, as these two males were still very foreign to her, Vitani found herself letting her guard down, which was quite unusual for her but the unmistakable look and name of this new male triggered something deep within the back of her mind that forced her to react the way she did. Keeping her eyes locked upon Ayari’s, meeting his stare as she seemed lost in thought, Vitani waited for him to speak, wondering if this was just a strange coincidence or if in fact, this was the same lion she had met so long ago back during her cub days.

[Baya]

Ayari's eyes focued onto Vitani's and a large grin spread on his face. "It would've been stupid of me to forget. If it were not for my pride, I would not have returned because of your threat." Ayari said quietly. Kovu looked from Vitani, to Ayari. "I also remember you, little Kovu." Ayari said looking to Kovu again, but without any expression.

Kovu figured he should gather himself, and ask some questions. Kovu knew Ayari well enough to understand that he wasn't any much of a threat. When Kovu was little, Ayari and Vitani were the ones that kept him safe during his intense training. Ayari was the only one that ever encouraged him, and gave him much praise. "You are the same Ayari then. What happened to you? One day you just...disappeared." Kovu muttered.

"I didn't disappear. I ran away. I only stayed here long enough to learn how to defend myself in the dark corrupt world. Your mother black mailed me into joining your cause in the first place, and I promised myself I wouldn't stay and do her bidding. I am a rogue Kovu, I do not follow anyone's direction." Ayari murmured. Kovu sighed at the response.

"It's good to know you are alive to say the least. Why have you returned?" Kovu asked sternly, and with much intensity.

"My pride cannot continue traveling. I want to settle them down in a land, and I'm just browsing for one that isn't occupied. I would only be here for a while, and then we are going to move on again." Ayari replied.

"I guess that's alright. I heard things about rogues Ayari, and I was just afraid you'd all harm my pride. With you leading them, I'm sure no harm will come to the pride landers." Kovu said with a small smile. Kivuli snorted at the comment.

"Don't be so quick to judge us. We are not mindless beasts, but we are still rogues." Kivuli growled. "We do not follow your rules, and never will we bow to you...king..." Kivuli snarled. Ayari roared towards Kivuli, to get him to shut up.

"Excuse him. He isn't the most refined of us..." Ayari said with a sigh.

[KiarasMate]

A broad smile worked its way upon Vitani’s muzzle, knowing that Ayari still remembered who she was. Ayari was one of the few friends that she had had during her younger years that wasn’t family or forced upon her by her mother’s tyrannical ways and Vitani hoped that there was still that bond of friendship between herself and Ayari, but knowing that there were more important matters at paw and realizing that there would be plenty of time to get reacquainted once business had been dealt with, Vitani returned herself to Kovu’s side, staying quiet while the males conversed amongst themselves, only flashing Kivuli a stern gaze from the way he acted towards her brother. There were a few characteristics that the observant lioness noticed within Kivuli that mirrored herself at times but feeling as though that despite Ayari’s and her families ties, they were still treading on thin ice and should know their place in the current situation.

Once there was a break in the conversation, Vitani looked over to Ayari, addressing him in a civil manner as she inquired.

”So, we were informed that you had three others with you Ayari. Mind introducing us to them, or should we save the formalities for later, hmm?”

[Baya]

"The others are hunting, and bringing us some food. The one over here is Kivuli." Ayari said quietly as he nodded in Kivuli's direction.

"It's a bit ironic. I thought rogues always traveled and lived by themselves." Kovu said quietly. Ayari chuckled quietly.

"There's always room for improvement Kovu. I traveled alone for a long time..." Ayari said looking down slightly. "I missed the outlands for most of that time. The desert...isn't a friendly place. It was far worse then any fight me and Vitani had. In the desert their hearts as blank as their minds. Everyone fights, kills and eats for themselves. They have no morals, or boundaries..." Ayari said as he looked at Kivuli.

"You preferred that over being around us?" Kovu said, sounding slightly offended. Ayari chuckled again, shaking his head.

"If my decision was dependent on who my friends were...I would never have left..." Ayari said quietly looking at Vitani directly.

"Ugh, don't you go soft now Ayari!" Kivuli muttered.

[KiarasMate]

Vitani smiled at Ayari as her gaze met with his. Typically, Vitani kept her feelings tightly guarded however, there was just something about Ayari that made her feelings surface rather easily. Perhaps it was the memories they shared together, or perhaps it was something deeper but whatever the case may have been, the former Outlander found herself unable to take her eyes off of him. Hearing Ayari’s comment about his other members, Vitani couldn’t help but to comment as she spoke in a joking fashion.

”Well, I know there is nothing worth hunting for here in The Outlands, so I’m assuming you sent your allies to raid our backyard, hmm Ayari? Not exactly the best way to gain favor with my brother but since you’re an old friend, I’m sure we can make an exception, isn’t that right Kovu?”

Turning to face the small group of lionesses behind her, Vitani motioned to one of them as she informed her to head back to The Pride lands to let Kiara know that things were okay and to keep a look out for any of Ayari’s fellow pride members as well. Watching as her fellow lioness took off with her orders, Vitani turned back to Kivuli as she took the opportunity to introduce herself as well, seeing as Ayari had already taken the liberty in doing the same on his behalf.

”It’s nice to meet you Kivuli. My name is Vitani if you haven’t guessed that by now.”