The Mysterious Force

[mistwolf]

"Simba...?" Tojo whispered the name, as if he was scared that if he said it too loudly the lion would dissapear. He raised his head slightly, looking at the male, studying him.
"It can't be....You...you're dead...."

He remembered the day when Scar had come to them, that horrible day when Tojo's life began to spin out of control. Scar had come to them, feigning sorrow, telling them that Simba, Tojo's friend, Nala's fiance, their Prince, was dead, and their King was gone, too. Tojo's life had turned upside down. Scar had taken the thrown, his mother had left, the hyenas had moved in, and the young cub had lost his childhood, been forced to grow up too fast and become Scar's right paw lion just to keep him position in the pride, while his other male friends like Chumvi, even the Northern prider Malka, had been forced to leave and never return.

But now, he was being told that Simba was alive? How could that be? He was forced to move on from his questions when Simba asked why he was in such condition.
"Scar took over the Pridelands," he answered quietly. "He had a son. A cub named Shujaa. But he died. Just a few..." he was about to say "a few days ago", but honestly, Tojo wasn't sure how long he'd been on the run. For all he knew, it could have been weeks ago that Shujaa had passed away. "Scar went mad, and a fight broke out. I....I put the others in danger."

He glanced at Nala, his blue eyes saddened and sorrowful. "And the hyenas chased me out."
Then he turned to Nala. "Did you follow me?" he asked her. "What about the others?"

[gem]

Nala coudn't look away from Simba, she studied him. She noticed how much he had grown and the mane would be handsome and full once it grew all the way out. He looked a lot like Mufasa but was he still the same? Was he still the Simba that she had always loved? Right now in this moment, all Nala wanted to do was rush to his side and put her muzzle in his mane. To touch Simba would prove that he was real but she held back because of Tojo.

Finally, Nala ripped her eyes away from Simba to take in Tojo's wounded body. Anger filled inside of her once more but she listened as he told his story. Seeing the sadness in his eyes broke her heart but she answered Tojo's questions. "Yes I did follow you. I had to make sure you were ok...that you weren't... that you weren't..." Nala looked away, tears welling up inside of her eyes. Her head bowed low as she forced herself to continue, "Scar scared the others from coming with me. I sneaked out but was chased by a few of the hyenas as well."

Nala's voice had become very quiet, almost a whisper as she showed Tojo and Simba her own wounds from the battle. There were a couple shallow but long claw marks on her lower back as well as a deep puncture wound from a hyena's teeth. There were others but they were already healing. Tojo had gotten so much worse.

Suddenly she picked up her head and looked Simba directly in the eyes, "You have to go back. You have to reclaim the Pridelands before Scar can cause even more damage."

[mistwolf]

Tojo saw the scars that Nala had. He limped over to her, licking the deeper ones. She was so brave to follow him. Tojo was so amazed that he had been able to woo her, that they were truly in love. It didn't even cross his mind that Simba might steal her from him. After all, she said he was behind her, did she? And surely she still felt the same, even though now they knew he was alive? He wasn't going to give up on her. He wasn't going to let her slip away. When Nala spoke to Simba, he turned to look at the lion, still not beleiving that it was really Simba. How could that be?
"Scar will kill the others," he said softly. "He won't let them go that easily. If not death, maybe exile."
He sighed.
"The Pridelands are in a bad way. I...I think Nala's right. If you really are Simba."

[Scar]

Wow. That was... a lot to take in.

"So my uncle has gone mad." Simba concluded, unable to take his eyes off Nala's wounds once he noticed she had them.

Tojo was one thing, but seeing his best friend hurt too made his blood boil... yet, what could he do about it?

"And he's got an army of hyenas, correct?" Simba continued, unable to believe this whole matter and wondering if this was all a weird dream and it wasn't even morning yet.

The fact how Tojo remained by Nala's side at every moment, almost possessively, also didn't escape him. Were they in love? He was a little jealous now, and before he could stop himself his eyes were asking Nala "Is it true? Do you love him??"

But he said no word on that matter. She had her own life. Instead he turned around and leaped on a mossy log that served as a natural bridge through the river.

"So WHAT do you want me to do about it?" Simba asked, almost laughing because of the shock and the ridiculous nature of the situation.

"Hey Scar! It's my Kingdom, give back!" The Prince joked, acting as if Scar was standing before him and he had returned as his old friends begged.

Then he sat down and half-closed his eyes to look down like Scar did.

"Make me." He mimicked his uncle's elegant voice.

"No, no, Scar, wait! Not the hyenas! Don't sic the hyenas on--"

Splash.

Backing off from imaginary hyenas, he ran out of bridge and ended underwater. After a little while, his red head emerged from the crystalline river, and he merely watched the two.

No. This wasn't the same Simba we all knew.

[mistwolf]

Tojo's ears lay back against his head after Simba's childish show.
"This isn't funny, Simba," he snarled. "It isn't a childhood game anymore. Lions have died. Your own mother is in serious danger. Scar isn't going to let her go that easily. Lionesses are starving. This isn't a simple joke anymore!"

He knew he couldn't force Simba to do anything, especially not in his condition. But he was extremely dissapointed at the adolescent's show. Did he think this was all a game? What had he been doing al this time? Anger rose in Tojo's chest. While he was fighting Scar, risking his life to keep his friends alive, protecting Simba's mother and family, and doing everything he could to try and overthrow the horrible tyrant, and keep the hopes of the pride alive! And what had Simba been doing? Living a life in a jungle where he never knew hunger, or thirst, and all he had to do was goof off all day, lounging in the shade of trees and swimming? While he and Nala were fighting for their lives? It made him want to scream!

[gem]

Nala knew it was a lot for Simba to take in but didn't he see that he had to go back? Simba was the real future King. He was the only one who could help them restore things back to the way they were. Nala was just about to say that when Tojo limped over to her and licked her face. She stood speechless trying to not look from the lion she might love now and the lion she loved all along. She was scared to admit to herself that she did love Tojo and it had been because Simba was dead. Now that he was alive, what was she supposed to do?

The lioness saw Simba's eyes and forced herself to look away. But then she watched as Simba fooled around with the fact that he had to go back. He was not taking them seriously. That fact made her want to choose Tojo right then and there, make it final but something held her back. "How dare you! Your mother is being punished right now and all you can do is joke around!! Fine, it's obvious you aren't the King I always thought you could be..."

Her voice had started out furious but ended with great sadness. Backing away from both of them, Nala just walked off to go sit with her head down and think. She certainly had a lot to think about. One thing was certain, Nala would go back and fight. As soon as everyone healed up. The lioness sighed, this was just too much.

[/size]

[Scar]

Simba's face changed when he heard the bit about his mother.

"Mom?! What...." He stammered, feeling as if a sword had just stabbed him in the soul. He gasped, out of breath, and had to get out of the water.

He slowly crawled out of the river, sitting on the ground and not wanting to look at them. Horrible images were being played in his head about Sarabi being pursued by hyenas. She ran, but came into a dead end. The shadows of the hyenas loomed over her.

"No!" He roared.

Then he turned towards them, teeth bared, ears pinned.

"Stop torturing me!" He cried at them. He didn't want to hear any more, he wanted to cover his ears and run away screaming, honestly. This wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare. And he hoped he woke up soon.

"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!" He yelled atop his lungs.

Like, wow: if there were dead lions, how did they expect him to resurrect them? If Scar had become an insane tyrant with a Clan of hyenas under his command, what was he expected to do about it? He was only a kid. He was not Superman.... sheesh...

"No, I'm not the King!" He yelled at Nala.

"Scar is! And he wouldn't do any of these horrible things you've said!" Simba growled, and turned his back on the two, returning to the fallen log.

Nala stormed off, but Tojo remained. Simba shot him a killer sideways glare.

"And you're not Tojo! Where's your bird!" Simba hissed.

[mistwolf]

Tojo's eyes narrowed when Simba demanded where his birds were.

"I sent them away," he answered, coldly. Sencng his winged friends away, besides his mother leaving, was one of the worst things Tojo had had to go through. "I couldn't let them stay. Priderock's no place for children."

He turned his head away, looked at Simba out of the corner of his eye.

"You know," he said, his voice a snarl. "We don't expect you to be a hero. We just expect you to do your job. But it's fine. Really. Nala and I can't go back home, and the others have probably either been chased out or killed by now anyways. The Pridelands will die, and it will just sit there and never be used again. I'm not saying there are any 'Great King of the Past', but if there were, they'd be really dissapointed in you. I said that Priderock wasn't a place for children. So it's not a place for you, either."

He turned away from Simba and walked slowly away, which was as fast as he could move. He went to seek out Nala. At least he could talk to someone who understood.

[Scar]

Simba remained with his back turned on them. He intended to stay that way, with his tail swatting at the moss angrily and rhythmically like a clock. Tic, tac. He wasn't in the mood to listen to Tojo's angry rant, seriously, who he thought he was...

But it was the Mufasa part which really brought a reaction from him.

"You have no idea what I've been through!" Simba snapped over his shoulder, then looked away and raised his muzzle into the air in a manner that reminded of Sarabi.

It was an unfair thing to say. But like you could see, Simba's life had been far from just sun and daisies. He had lost his father, and it had been his fault. Of course the lion looking down at him from the stars must have been angry at him. And in case their words were true, he might have just lost his mother now. And that might have been his fault too!

Simba couldn't take it anymore. He got up and ran away.

[mistwolf]

"You don't even care what we've been through!" Tojo shouted after the fleeing Simba. He snarled, baring his teeth angrily. He turned his back on Simba, seeking out Nala.

Seriously, the Simba he had known was gone. Or had he always been this way? Had Simba always been a wimpy coward? He hadn't remebered his childhood friend that way. It made his furious. Simba didn't even care that he and Nala had almost been killed by hyenas, that for the greater part of their existance they had been fighitng just to stay alive. While Simba did what? Swing from vines and play in rivers all day? This jungle was paradise. So, so different from what Priderock had become. And yet he told Tojo that he didn't know what Simba had been through. What a joke! He didn't want to know. Endless stories of days spent basking in the sun on some cool tropical pond, he was sure.

"I can't beleive you were ever betrothed to him, Nala," Tojo said softly to the female. He lay down beside her, too tired to sit up.

[gem]

The lioness listened to Tojo and Simba, both of them furious but for different reasons that all led to the same thing. There was no point in trying to continue to talk to Simba about what he needed to do. Nala had seen that just by watching his reaction to what they had first told him. Simba needed to think alone. She was not suprised to hear Simba racing away from them. But it hurt, a lot. It felt like he was ripping himself away from her again.

Nala knew that all of this was unfair to Tojo. All of these thoughts and how well she knew Simba, how it all came rushing back. She had been falling for Tojo, she really had. But this changed things, or did it? All Simba had to do was challenge Scar and win. She knew it was easier said then done but it wasn't like Simba was going in alone. Or did he think he had to? Nala was suddenly very afraid of what would happen if Simba didn't go back. "Simba was different in the past. We all are."

The blue-eyed lioness looked at Tojo, fear in her eyes, "Tojo, what happens if Simba doesn't go back? What will we do?" She nervously laid her head against his paws and chest after he laid down.

[/size]

[- lauren]

Sarabi was lost.

As much as she didn't want to admit it, she knew she couldn't deny it. Her stomach growled and she sighed. She'd been following Nala's scent for a long time, trying to keep up as best she could. She knew there wasn't a very good chance that Nala knew about this; after all she'd said she wasn't coming. But Sarabi couldn't just let her once future daughter-in-law just wander after Tojo alone. In the jungle? Who knew what was out here! Sarabi finally admitted to herself that she needed water, so she stopped at a small puddle and knelt to take a sip. The water was refreshing, and Sarabi couldn't remember when the last time she had a drink was. She savored each and every drop that went down her throat.

Whilst lost in thought, something broke through to Sarabi's consciousness. What was....was that...food? Sarabi lifted her head quickly, almost dizzying with the motion, and sniffed the air. Could it be there was still something alive out here? Had the hyenas missed a wild pig? Sarabi thought of the lionesses and cubs back home, wishing she could share the potential meal with them. But there was no way she could bring it back to the pridelands, let alone get it past the hyenas who were both starved, and on a mission to hunt her down. Scar would surely kill her now.

Sarabi forced the depressing thoughts from her mind and tried to track down the scent. Before long, she figured she was on the trail and crept slowly through the jungle, hoping that luck would be on her side.


OOC:// if this doesn't work, lemme know!

[mistwolf]

Tojo didn't look at Nala. He gazed straight ahead, his eyes hard.
"Then we will go back and fight Scar ourselves. We don't need Simba, Nala. We've been doing perfectly fine on our own. This is just a little setback. We'll return and finish the job."
He didn't understand Nala's fear. He didn't understand it at all. Why was she so worried about if Simba refused to come back? He wasn't some sort of a superhero who'd save the day, whom had some sort of special powers and would destroy Scar just because he was Mufasa's son. No, they didn't need him at all. Why was Nala so worried?
He sighed, thinking of the coward that called himself Simba. He was so clueless. So, so clueless...
He stood, rather shakily, once more and returned to the water, to drink once again. He was beginning to feel stronger. A few days, and he and Nala could return to the pride, rally the lionesses, and defeat Scar forever. He sighed as he gazed at his reflection. Suddenly, a scent came to his nose. What was that?
He sniffed the air again, and a single word left his lips.
"Sarabi?"

[gem]

Nala raised her head and looked at Tojo with eyes filling with concern. No matter what happened, the choice that would be made would be an extremely hard one for her. Another problem was that is wasn't even just this one problem anymore. Didn't Tojo see that? Even if they were going to go back and fight, defeat Scar, and regain the Pridelands; the only lion who could claim it was Simba. Or was it?

"But we haven't been doing well enough on our own. We need help. Scar and Zira almost killed you, Tojo." Nala said quietly, trying not to make him even more furious then he already was. "You need to get better and then we need a really good plan." She watched as Tojo struggled to his paws and got another drink. Soon after Nala joined him and heard him say, "Sarabi?" "Sarabi's here?! How is that even... Is she alright?"

[mistwolf]

Tojo barely heard Nala's concerns. He'd be fine. Zira and Scar couldn't kill him that easily. They'd jjust take a little time to regroup, then return to the Pridelands. And maybe...Heh, it was a silly thought. Maybe he could assume the thrown, with Nala by his side as Queen.
King Tojo. It didn't sound too bad,
But these thoughts were pushed aside by the certain knowledge that Sarabi was here.
"I don't know," he answered Nala's questions. "But she's close. Come on, let's see if we can find her."
He started off in the direction of her scent, wishing he could move faster than he was at the moment. But he knew his could not. Still fear gnawed at the back of his mind. She wasn't as young as he and Nala. What if she was injured, or worse? What if she was dying?
Oh, please, he thought. Don't let her be dying...

Kayani had followed Sarabi, but had fallen a little ways behind when the older lioness had gone after the wild pig. Kayani had not come with Nala, but instead had followed Sarabi. She just had a feeling that she needed to stay with the older lioness.
A strange transformation had come over the once-innocent cub. Though Kayani was only about six months now, she seemed older. No longer was she the carefree, playful cub. She was solemn, more mature, and her once wildly curious blue-green eyes had a kind of sadness behind them. She had grown a bit, but her adult attitude made her seem taller than she was.
Now, this cub who was young, yet old at the same time, walked slowly through the desert towards the green in front of her. She lifted her nose to the air and sifted through the scents, finding Sarabi's easily. Nala's and Tojo's were also there, and she had remembered smelling them earlier. Yes, their friends were here.
The first trees over her were a welcome releif from the unrelenting sun. She was unsure where Sarabi, Nala, or Tojo were, so instead she wandered deeper into the unknown jungle. And, unbeknowst to her, she was walking away from her friends and towards a despondent young teenaged lion who at one time had been the Crowned Prince of Pride Rock.