The Mysterious Force

[- lauren]

What Simba said filled Sarabi with hope. It wasn't exactly a yes, but the idea that he was considering challenging Scar made Sarabi feel like the pridelands could soon return to it's former self. Sarabi smiled and nodded, nuzzling Simba and then said, "Okay." She just had to remember that wasn't a promise that he would.

When Simba moved between Kayani and Timon, Sarabi turned around to watch what was going on. She couldn't blame Kayani for being hungry, but she shot a warning look that was as sympathetic as it was disappointed. That reminded Sarabi how hungry she was, however, and so she began glancing around and sniffing the air inconspicuously in an attempt to find something other than one of her son's friends to eat.

[gem]

Nala's anger only increased at Tojo's accusinations, "I have been trying to say things but you won't listen to me! And you can't challenge Scar, no matter how much we all want you to! It's not just me that would love to see you as our new King, Tojo. But you can't, not unless all the lionesses backed you which not all of them do because thye are scared of Scar. Simba is the only one that can challenge Scar."

That was why they hadn't regained the Pridelands yet, thye had been trying to get all the lionesses on their side before Tojo opened his mouth and gave them away. But she didn't say that out loud because that would have been too cruel of her. "Instead of fighting me, you should be helping me. Or do you not want me by your side because the only way I will be your Queen is if I ma your equal."

[/size]

[mistwolf]

"What are you saying?" Tojo demanded. " That I can't fight Scar? And I suppose that SImba could do a better job then me? What do you think I've been doing for the last year of my life! I haven't been sitting in a jungle playing with my meerkat and warthog friends!"
He was really starting to feel anger towards Nala. Why was she saying these things? He could defeat Scar if he wanted! And he could be king! Simba had no right to be king, not after all of this! And he was ten times as strong as Scar! Simba wasn't some set aside individual who was destined to defeat his uncle! Why could he do it?
Kayani looked between the two lions, her own ager building on top of her hunger. She took her mind off ot Timon and glared at the two arguing lions.
"Would you two shut up?" she demanded, her voice rising above both Tojo's and Nala's. It was so surprinsing that Tojo stopped his argument and looked down at her. "We're never going to defeat anyone if you two keep arguing like that! Now the way I see it, it doesn't matter if this 'Simba' is a prince, a king, or a monkey's uncle. We need all the help we can get. Tojo, you've done a great job fighting Scar, but you're the only male we have on our side. Can't you allow Simba to help us, if he wants to? And Nala, it'snot just one lion who will make things all better. Simba isn't the answer. We are the answers. I'm trying to save our pride. I hope we're trying to save it. Together. And together doesn't mean yelling at each other. Now we're all hungry. So can we please, set all this behind us and find something to eat?"
She looked from Tojo to Nala, and then to Sarabi and Simba, hoping for some sort of positive feedback.

[Scar]

Simba smiled, but he understood his mother hadn't been completely satisfied with his answer. That left him feeling slightly uncomfortable. He was tempted to go and ask her what were her plans then, but decided against it. After all, she would probably tell him the same thing he told her, no? He couldn't hope to challenge Scar until he was a grown lion, let alone a whole army of hyenas... eh, even a grown lion would have had trouble with that.

"King?" The warthog repeated with admiration. He then proceeded to kneel before Simba and kissing one of his paws.

"Heyy!" Simba complained as he freed his paw with a yank. "I'm not the King.... not yet..." He explained.

Meanwhile, the other lions in the jungle were kind of exploding. Simba's eyes widened at all the roars and yells. Hey... what's up with these two? First they want to make me their King and now they want me dethroned so quick? Simba quirked a brow as he watched them fight. Then the youngest lion stepped in to stop the yelling match with maturity beyond her years.

"Hungry...?" Simba repeated, then he and Pumbaa exchanged worried looks.

"Well, it's time I show you around the place. Sarabi? Nala? ...Cub? Tojo, you'll have to stay here, but don't worry: we'll bring you something to eat."

[Rox]

Hopping onto Pumbaa's back, Timon put a slight grip on the warthog's ears. "Great! Let's go Pumbaa! Timon was starving, all he wanted at this point in time was a nice, fat, crunchy grub.

[- lauren]

No one could ignore Tojo and Nala's fighting any longer, and Sarabi turned to them with some surprise. It seemed there was more going on there than just the obvious, but Sarabi listened as Kayani spoke up, yet again surprising the former queen with her maturity. But yet again, Sarabi was reminded of her hunger at the cubs last few words. Simba seemed to catch on to that, however, and asked if we wanted to be shown around. Sarabi glanced at Tojo and Nala, and then at Kayani before looking back to Simba and nodding.

She was definitely interested in learning what the trio ate around here. Surely Timon and Pumbaa didn't eat gazelle and zebra. So...what did Simba eat? And what were Sarabi and the others going to eat? She followed Timon, Pumbaa and Simba with one last worried glance in the others' direction.

[Scar]

The sudden re-appearance of his friends and family turned Simba very talkative. All the way he bombarded them with stories about a family of grumpy gorillas, and a large clan of leopards with no better attitude that also lived in this jungle. He led the group through a steep path in the wilderness. A wall of leaves was now all that stood between them and the jungle's top buffet. Simba parted the leaves with a paw and announced:

"It's here!"

Pumbaa was the first to come in the vibrant green valley.

"Well, so..." Simba attempted to explain.

"You might find our culinary tastes exotic. But those who know what they're talking about hold that things found in a more traditional diet, such a zebra and giraffe, have high concentrations of fat that you know aren't good for the figure!" The teenager explained as the warthog used his snout to lift a large fallen log. Revealing countless bugs of all colors and shapes.

How are they gonna take this? Simba wondered inside.

[mistwolf]

Tojo had quit arguing with Nala. He supposed they'd speak more later, but instead of staying behind like Sarabi said, he followed Simba and his "friends" into the forest, anxious to see what food they had in store for them. He gave explicit instructions to Kayani to stay put, and, quite to his surprise, she consented to his request easily and remained behind. She was definatly different. She was growing up.
Tojo followed Sarabi, barely enduring Simba's stories. He found them rather frivoulous, wishing he could teel the prince of all the thing he'd seen back at home, of all the death and destruction and pain and suffering. A tiny voice in the back of his head told him that these thought were wrong. Simba was obviously happy out here, and was only trying to regale them with his own anectdotes. But yet, Tojo still was reluctant to see the lion as a friend, even though he had been in their cubhood. But now, he wasn't so sure.
And then there was the "food".
Simba showed them the log, and underneath crawled and squiremed hundreds of-
"Bugs?" Tojo demanded. "Bugs? This has to be a joke. This is a joke, right?"
He couldn't beleive this. This was what Simba ate? No wonder he had the courage of a mouse and the maturity of a cub!

[- lauren]

Sarabi listened to her sons stories, watching him with an odd feeling. This is what she wanted, right? To have Simba back? But looking at him, hearing the tales of his life in the jungle, Sarabi wondered if he was even the same lion. She felt detached, and the feeling scared her. She'd missed so much... However, Sarabi shoved the thoughts aside. She had her son back. She had to focus on that, rather than the lost time. She'd make up for that.

Simba and the others led the former-pridelanders though the jungle until they reach a valley. Sarabi scanned the valley looking for a herd of some kind; imagine, a famine in the pridelands when all the food was here? But Pumbaa did something that shocked her, lifting a log and exposing bugs. Bugs?? They had to be kidding. Sarabi hesitated, grimacing until she realized Simba was serious. "Um...Simba, you really eat this?" she said after Tojo's denial. This must be a practical joke of some kind.

[gem]

Nala too stopped arguing once Kayani stood her ground and made some valid points. She was too angry to admit it but she was proud of the cub that was quickly growing into a lioness. Saying nothing for now, Nala just followed the group, trying to push her anger out along the way.

It actually seemed to work, which suprised her and she was even more suprised when Simba showed them bugs and she wrinkled her nose at them. "I don't want to eat those. Have you been living off of these all these years?"

[/size]

[Scar]

Simba felt rather ashamed by their reaction, but he let none of it show. He picked a large grub with one paw and devoured it in no time at all. The teenage lion then proceeded to burp loudly, his lack of refinement making him everything but Kingly.

"Aw, come on! At least try one! They don't bite. Well, most don't."

[mistwolf]

Everyone had gone on without her, so Kayani had followed them, unwilling to be left alone. She wasn't really appreciating how they still saw her as a cub. She sighed and followed on the heels of Tojo and Nala. She paused and listened as they argued about dinner. Apparently, Simba enjoyed eating bugs. Tojo, Sarabi, and Nala were all disgusted. As Kayani watched the show as Simba carefully picked out his insectile dinner. Her tail swished as thoughts of her own disgust whisked through her head. But as she watched, her stomach growled. She couldn't really remember when the last time it was she'd eaten. Sighing, she stepped forward and looked under the log. She reached out, stealing herself, and picked out a large, pinkish grub. Taking a breath, she slurped it up, barely chewing, then swallowed it. It was down. And surprisingly, not that bad.
"It...wasn't that bad," she admitted.
Tojo looked at her with wide eyes. She'd really eaten one. There were few things that Tojo wouldn't do. But this....
"I am not eating those," he said, backing away. "You can help yourself. I'm going to find a bird or something."
He wasn't sure how he was going to grab one. He was still unsteady and exhausted. But he was at least going to try. And he couldn't bear to eat those bugs.

[- lauren]

Nala and Tojo seemed just as shocked as the older lioness, and Sarabi felt bad for feeling that way about Simba's eating habits. But bugs? Really? It was then Simba picked up a grub and, shockingly, slurped it down like it was fresh zebra. She shuddered a little while watching.

Having thought Kayani had stayed behind, Sarabi was surprised to see the young lioness walk past them and up to the log. She said nothing as she did, and simply lifted a grub from the log before eating it, just as Simba had. Sarabi felt the stunned expression on her face but couldn't shake it. Tojo spoke up beside her, deciding to try his luck at something else. His harsh tone made Sarabi look back at Simba thoughtfully. He was trying to share this with them, his jungle lifestyle. He was helping them the way she was sure his companions helped him.

After a moment, she approached the log. She looked at Kayani with a 'here goes nothing' expression and took a deep breath. Then she picked a crunchy blue beetle and lifted it to eye level. Don't over think it Sarabi.. she thought to herself. So she closed her eyes and opened her mouth, chewing quickly and swallowing. She opened her eyes slowly. It was different...but not that bad. Not great, kind of tart, but not nearly like she'd imagined. In fact, she had the feeling she could get used to it.

Sarabi looked at Nala. "Kayani's right," she said, surprise coloring her tone. She looked at Simba and furrowed her brows. "This day is just full of surprises," she said softly.

[Rox]

The small meerkat momentarily disappeared underneath a nearby log, popping back out with a large grub in his hands. "Just LOOK at the size of this one! he beamed while staring at it. The poor grub was squirming around and wiggling probably causing the on-lookers some discomfort. Quickly popping it into his mouth he began to chew. "Ohh...this one is so divine!" he sighed as he ate the crunchy bug, before swallowing and smacking his lips together. Not wanting to dismiss his guests he grabbed a nearby leaf and piled up the bugs upon it, walking over to the group. "Come on try one..." he coaxed as he stood in front of the lions, hoping one would eventually eat one.

[mistwolf]

Tojo glanced over his shoulder when the meerket spoke, endorsing the eating of insects. Tojo shuddered, then turned and continued his solitart walk. He didn't care if Nala followed him. Honestly, he didn't care. He hoped she wasn't falling for that immature, childish, cowardly.....
He shook his head, trying to shake the thoughts of Simba out. he didn't want this. He didn't want Simba to come back. Sure, it was a miracle he was alive, but he was beginning to beleive that he was wrong that Simba could overthrow Scar. He didn't want Simba to overthrow Scar. Heck, he wanted the lion to crawl back under whatever rock he'd lived beneath for these last two years or whatever. After all, if Simba returned, and overthrew Scar, what would Tojo look like? He'd been trying to do the same for his entire life, and then Simba just came in and did it all? No, he couldn't let that happen.
And then there was Nala. Everyone knew that she and Simba had been betrothed as cubs. But Nala loved him. Not Simba. Him. He couldn't let Simba take her away from him. She was the only one he'd ever loved. And no cowardly bug-eater was going to take her from him.
Tojo paused in his steps as he saw something up in a tree. A bird. Small, but enough for him. Anything was enough for him right now.
Well, he thought. Anything but bugs.
He crouched in the bushes, the bird in his sight. He could catch it if he jumped. He manuevered stealthily through the bushes, then leaped. His exhausted musceles gave it their all, and he, only by luck, took the creature down with a paw. He landed heavily, panting from his exertions, the bird pinned under his claw. He lay on the ground for a minute or so, as the bird thrashed desperatly. He looked at it, watching its struggled. Oh, how long he had waited and planned to see Scar look like this bird. And there was no way he was going to let Simba take that feeling of triumph from him.
Tojo shifted his claws and ended the birds life in a flash. Then he brought closer to his body, and ate. He wouldn't let Simba ruin his life. He had everything planned out. Simba couldn't destroy that.