[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[Lodrill]

Rahina had mixed feelings after Kopas response. As Kovu joined them she was so focused on Kopa still thinking on what to say that she took some time to recognize him. She just nodded and directly turned to Kopa again.

Kopa could not know why Rahina had mixed feelings about his statement. It was clear that Almasi had become a burden for her mate as he was curiously asking for this duty to be taken off. Rahina finally wanted to tell him about her pregnacy if they had returned to their den but again uncertaincy struck her. If Kopa did not want to care for a cub how would he react if she was to tell him about her being pregnant?

"So, you wish someone else would care for her? You don't like to care for a cub?" Rahina asked with innocent voice. She covered her growing rage well so that no growl was emitted during her words. For the first time they met Rahina had something like... ...anger towards her mate. What would he do if she told him about the cub? Would he leave her? Would it be too much for him to care for an own cub? This words from Kopa made her sad and together with her uncertaincy if she would be able to care for the cub his clear resistance in caring for one made everything even worst.
"If you don't want to care for her I think the king will find someone to care for her. Maybe someone who already has a cub like his daughter and the prince." for the first time Rahina left her eyes and looked at Kovu. Her black eyes pierced him as if to drive him to take part in the conversation.

[hr][/hr]

Taraji did not completely understand what Kiara meant but she did understand the basics.

A lion and a lioness play a game that will result to a cub being born and then the lioness gave milk or somewhat like that.

"Why do you and Kovu not play this game?" Kiara had told about this game as something fun and Taraji did not understand why they would not play a fun game. The curious crystal eyes were still focused on Kiara.
As Kiara asked about breakfirst the eyes sparkled. "Yea... I really love to." her voice seemed to be very excited and she raised to her small paws and instinctively walked directly under Kiara like she was used to when she was goind outside. She felt safe and protected under the belly of Kiara.

[JaguarOne]

"For starters," The lion replied with a chuckle before taking another bite of his meal, having the manners to chew and swallow before he spoke again. "Your build is that of a skilled fighter. And you just look tough." Santiago would know considering he generally went after the lionesses like Vitani, valuing their ability to take care of themselves if they need to and not needing him to come running every time a fight seems to be ready to break out.

"Judging from that quiet growl I think I heard, I can only imagine how that went," The lion replied with a chuckle as he continued feasting on his meal. One of the things that set Santiago apart from most lions was that he had a rather acute sense of hearing which meant that he could hear some sounds that most other lions wouldn't. Finishing up the meal, the lion stretched before getting back up, not wanting to admit that it felt good lie down for once. Usually when he was roving Santiago would have to eat on the run to avoid potential rivals from attacking him.

[LionPrincess]

Almasi turned to see the lioness who was talking to her "nobody was attacking me, i couldnt see over the grass" Almasi blushed as she was embarrased that she had shouted so loud "im Almasi, and who are you" she said as she walked out of the grass and stood looking up to Laini as she had never seen this lioness before

[KiarasMate]

Kopa shook his head as he replied in a casual manner to his beloved mate.

”No, it’s not that Hina. I just don’t know what to do now is all. I mean, do we wait for Almasi to come back to us? Do we wait at our den for her? How am I supposed to know what to do when we’ve never had cubs of our own to look after? Sorry if I seem ignorant here my precious, but I just don’t want to screw anything up is all. I know how much Almasi must mean to you, seeing how you volunteered to look after her and all and I just wouldn’t want you to be disappointed in me if I wasn’t able to help you out with caring for her.”

Lowering his eyes back down to the partially eaten wildebeest, not wishing to meet with his mate’s gaze in fear that she was cross with him from his lack of experience with cubs, Kopa felt uneasy, a feeling he hadn’t felt in quite some time. Sighing quietly to himself, the stressed male waited for his mate’s response, unknowing what was exactly going through her mind at this point in time.

==========

Feeling herself at a loss for words when Taraji asked her yet another innocent question, Kiara stammered to come up with a reply that both suited the situation, as well as one that would hopefully resolve Taraji’s curiosity for the time being.

”Well Cutie, erm, Daddy and I, um, you see…we love each other very much but we have a lot of responsibilities to deal with and besides, if Mommy had another cub, then I wouldn’t be able to give you all my attention Cutie.”

Biting her tongue from her last words, knowing that it wouldn’t be the truth but having no other option to go with, Kiara just hoped that Taraji would let the subject be. This was the type of thing that she needed her mate to be with her for, yet he was still off, most likely with that new lion and her father. Hearing her daughter’s willingness to leave now, Kiara sighed softly in relief as she rose to her paws, replying in a happy voice.

”Okay then Cutie, let’s go.”

Making her way outside of the den, back into the peaceful afternoon atmosphere, Kiara paused in mid stride as she gave Taraji’s butt a gentle nudge with her muzzle as she stated.

”C’mon Cutie, you’re going to lead us to the big rock today. I want you to show Mommy how brave you are.”

[Lodrill]

Laini smiled at the cub not that she was sure no danger was waiting here. "My name is Laini. I was just on the way to the waterhole." She looked at the grass around and the cub. It was clear that the cub could not see over the grass but what for she wanted to do this Laini had no clue. "Where was the problem in not being able to look over the grass? Did you think something dangerous was sneeking up on you?" She waited for the answer of the cub.

[hr][/hr]

Taraji looked at Kiara and she had the next question in her muzzle but Kiaras comment about her leading the way completely erased the question.

"Erm...." Taraji did not know where to go exactly. She had ever been either on piggyback or directly with Kiara or Kovu. She never really cared about the way as long as they were with her and also most of the time she was rather startled by everything.

"Where...." her crystal cubby eyes looked at Kiara and it was clear that Taraji had no clue where to go.

[hr][/hr]

"Volunteered?" Rahina was supprised. It was not really volunteer work to care about Almasi nor did the adolescent lioness mean a lot to her. She barely knew her and she just cared about her like she would for any cub. The main reason she had taken Almasi with her into the den was that both Nala and Almasi asked her to. Also in Rahinas eyes Kopa seemed to blame her for that. Also what he said made no sense. At the one hand he told her about not knowing what to do, on the other hand he did say he did not want to disappoint her. Rahinas rage grew. Maybe it was from the exhaustion from the hunt or from her hormones that were produced due her pregnacy or maybe also by the fact that she finally wanted to tell him about the cub and now he let her know that he did not want to care for a cub (or that was what she understood) but Rahina was very displeased by this answer that only bet around the bush.

"So this does not mean anything for you if I understand right." Rahinas voice was filled with disbelieve. She meant not Almasi specifically but more the responsibility that both of them took. "You don't want to screw up. First time I heard you complaining about something like that. Or is it that you want to be released from looking after the cub? I did not know it was too much for you. I really believed in you." Rahina talked herself more and more in rage. She did not really want to tell her mate this. She normally really loved him but at this moment she felt totally betrayed by him.

"You do not need to bother to wait or go looking for her. I will now look for her. And maybe we can find someone to take care of her when I am on a hunt if it is too much work for you. You said you do not know what to do because we never had cubs? You think you instantly know by having a cub how to care for it or not? Like a flash or what? But I understood you right. I will now go looking for Almasi but I bet she can take care of herself better than you do."

Rahina jumped on her paws and stormed out of the den. As she was out of the den she could not hold back the tears of disappointment. They dripped to the ground while she was running. She slipped a bit on the way down due she did not use the claws like she usually did not do. Luckily for her she did not go off the cliff but managed to get back the balance. As she reached the high gras that was growing on the way towards the public waterhole she stopped and licked her paw to run over her eyes. She did not know why she had yelled at Kopa or even blamed him for what he said. She knew he had no bad intention but it had come over her just... well maybe because she felt their cub being rejected by Kopa. This had been the first real quarrel between Kopa and her and she felt guilty. She did not know what to do. Nala would know an advise but Rahina did not want to go back to the main den now. So she padded towards the waterhole while trying to get a scent of Almasi. It took a while until she got her scent and followed the track of the scent. What was the cub doing out here alone? Or no, wait she was not alone. The scent of another lioness was also in the air. Rahina padded into the direction not knowing if the other lioness would mean harm for the cub.

[Mike]

Vitani was pleased in spite of herself that Santiago had taken such a positive view of her admittedly rugged style. It wasn't every lion that appreciated that. Vitani knew that she was sometimes quick to blow her top, but never shy about what she wanted, and liked to be thoroughly in control of whatever situation she found herself in. She stifled a laugh at Santiago's knowing appraisal of Kovu's displeasure. Then, having just about finished her meal, Vitani decided to see if she could show off her own insights into Santiago's character.

"All right then," Vitani said, squaring off against Santiago in a mock-confrontational way, "I'll have a go now. You don't play fast and casual with your feelings, you usually don't feel comfortable around strangers, and you don't go picking fights, but if something turns nasty your strength almost always carries you through it anyway."

At that moment though, Rahina started to make a bit of a scene, and Vitani gestured down Pride Rock with a flick of her head.

"But I think we'd better be going now, wouldn't you say?"

-------------------------

Kovu was momentarily distracted by his sister's smart comment, and spent a few moments promising himself that he'd get her back for that. She knew better than to bring up those old scars. Trust Vitani. He thought. It was only when Rahina was knee deep in her rant that Kovu realized she'd made an opening for him in the conversation. It was too late now though, and Kovu winced with each new low blow that Rahina threw out at her mate. Kovu hadn't gotten a great first impression of Rahina, what with her stalking and then abandoning him and Kiara the other day, and this did nothing but reinforce his opinion of her as a volatile and even unbalanced lioness.

When Rahina finally stormed off, Kovu looked up from the wildebeest that he'd buried his head in to weather the storm. Kopa was left alone. For a nasty moment Kovu imagined yelling out something in awful taste to break up the tension. Nala! he'd shout, Mental breakdown in the den, mind taking care of it?" Suppressing this nasty impulse, he tried to catch Kopa's eyes.

"Just a hint bud:" Kovu said out of the corner of his mouth. "Send a lioness in first." Kovu didn't want to be ugly about it, but he had huge respect for Nala's, or Kiara's though she wasn't here, ability to cope with such situations.

----------------

Deciding that he'd beaten himself up enough for one day, and once again in control of his emotions and appearance, Shani began to take the trail that connected Pride Rock to the Private Waterhole and guest dens. He was headed for Pride Rock. The awkwardness between him and Caine would smooth out eventually; time had a knack for those things. Best to let him sort himself out than intrude in his sulking. Before long Shani was again approaching Pride Rock. He had some idea of going up there to meet the newcomer to the lands who was being escorted up to Simba earlier.

[KiarasMate]

Laying on her belly next to Taraji so she was around the same height as the little cub, hearing and seeing the uncertainty in her daughter’s voice and gaze, Kiara smiled as she replied in a helpful manner.

”Use your senses Cutie. Those adorable little ears and nose of yours aren’t just for good looks. See if you can hear any sounds that sound familiar to you, besides Mommy’s voice of course.” Kiara stated, giving her own ears a twitch and swivel as to indicate to Taraji that she should try and focus her hearing in one certain direction.

Waiting for a second for taraji to try, knowing that this would be a good lesson for her to learn, especially with her being a lioness, Kiara laid patiently until she felt as though her daughter could use a helping paw.

”Try to pick up Daddy’s scent Cutie. Use that nose of yours and see if you can sense which direction he went.”

Wrinkling her own nose to once again, show Taraji what she was talking about, glancing in the general direction of Pride Rock to give the struggling cub a bit of a hint, Kiara waited once more for Taraji to try and hone her skills as she looked on with an encouraging stare.

==========

Kopa sat, flabbergasted by his mate’s sudden emotional outburst. Completely at a loss for words as he watched her depart, Kopa’s ears lowered quicker than leaves in a heavy storm, a harsh sick feeling growing in his stomach, causing the baffled male to look quite the pathetic picture. It wasn’t until Kovu’s subtle words met with his ears, did he even react. Looking up at the black maned male, an obvious look of perplexity within his eyes, Kopa managed to stammer.

”A lioness? But…”

Unable to find the right words, Kopa stumbled over his own tongue, feeling more lost than he ever had been. He had no idea what he had done to bring his beloved mate to such a state and the more he tried to reason the situation within his own mind, the less it made sense. Taking a minute to gather himself, Kopa finally spoke in a more understandable tone to Kovu.

”Kovu, can I talk to you in private for a minute?” Kopa asked, a genuinely concerned look now etched upon his face as he waited for a reply.

=========

Rahina’s emotional outburst hadn’t gone unnoticed by Nala, who quickly took action. Politely excusing herself to her mate, the cream colored queen was about to go after Rahina, when Simba’s voice halted her.

”Stay and eat Love. I’ll go see what’s wrong.”

A bit taken aback by her mate’s offer, yet figuring that Simba was just as capable enough to help the given situation, Nala nodded as she returned herself to feasting upon the wildebeest in front of her. Giving her a loving nuzzle, Simba casually moved off, leaving his fellow pride members to their own accord as he trailed after Rahina.

[JaguarOne]

Santiago chuckled and nodded at Vitani's rather flattering description of his character, the lioness getting quite a few things correct. Although it wasn't that he was uncomfortable around strangers that made him cautious, he was actually cautious just in case he met any hostile lions or lionesses during his journey. He didn't mind strangers all too much. It was at that moment that Rahina ended up storming off, the lion having not paid much attention to the argument that had broken out, looked over to where the lioness was headed.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," The black maned lion replied as he rose to his paws and looked over to Vitani as if to say "lead the way." He was actually glad that something had distracted Vitani enough that it would cause her to recommend them going on their way and headed towards the dens. It meant that he could try and flirt with her a little more openly and not have to worry about the others passing judgment on him.

-------------------------

It wasn't long before Caine woke up from his brief nap feeling refreshed and happy to have managed to calm himself down from his breakdown earlier. Stretching from his perch atop the rock he had slept on, the gold furred, nutmeg maned lion hopped off of the rock and made his way back through the jungle, passing a few meerkats along the way before approaching Pride Rock once more, hoping to find Shani and apologize for his actions.

[Lodrill]

Taraji closed her eyes and tried to hear something. The only noise next to the chirping of the birts made her jump directly at the chest of Kiara and snuggle against her. A lion or lioness had roared from somewhere. Or it sounded like this at least.

Shivering she tried to sniff in the air. She got the scent of Kovu. It came from inside the den. She looked into the corner where they normally slepts together and where the sleeping pelt had Kovus scent on it. But she did not risk to leave Kiaras side yet due she still had the shock of this roar inside her.

[Mike]

"Nope, never mind, there she-" Kovu's follow up was halted in it's tracks as not Nala, but Simba followed Rahina inside. "Huh," he said, a bit bemused. He could only assume that Simba had some other reason to want to talk to Rahina alone. That or he was treating Nala with a bit of over protectiveness considering her pregnancy. Though Kovu hadn't heard whether Nala had spilled those beans just yet, so maybe that wasn't the reason after all.

Hearing Kopa's rather serious-toned question, Kovu brought his eyes back to the other. He saw that Kopa was still not in the best of shape. The initial surprise and hurt had faded into a deep concern that seemed to be eating away at the Simba lookalike. Whatever Kopa was angling at, he was serious about it.

"Okay" Kopa said slowly, seeing no harm in a quick talk before he rejoined his mate, and it did look like Kopa needed the support. "Want to take a walk or something?"

-------------------

Leading Santiago down Pride Rock, Vitani mostly concentrated on not taking a bad step on her healing paw. As they broke onto the soft earth and grass of the plains though, Vitani freed up her attention to again consider Santiago. She let her legs guide her along the familiar route through habit. She was momentarily startled to see Shani appear, not having been expecting him. Shani, as always, seemed unperturbed, and continued up to the base of Pride Rock with an exagerrated nod at Vitani before turning an unashamedly calculating gaze on Santiago.

"He does that to everyone." Vitani grumbled "I'd just ignore it."