Doubt

[mistwolf]

Tojo would have, on a normal day, totally agree with Nala's sarcastic comment against Scar. The words were even on his tongue, but he glanced sideways at Bakari and caught himself just in time. Quickly, he swallowed his comment and shrugged.
"I really couldn't say," he said carefully. He wasn't sure if he knew that Nala knew that he wasn't for Scar. He hoped she wouldn't be turned off by his apperent loyalty to teh false king. Nothing could be more wrong that he was loyal to Scar. It was all an act. "Scar might suprise you. He has suprised me many times with his good judgement."
Tojo had to stop himself from gritting his teeth after he payed Scar that compliment. He wanted to go rinse his mouth out. Quickly, he turned towards Bakari. He wanted to keep talking to Nala, but there wans't much he could say with a hyena around.
"Bakari, come back with me," he told her firmly. He paused before walking off.
"Nala," he said. "Are you busy this evening? Maybe we could meet....by the water hole?"
He smiled hopefully at her, hoping she'd say yes so he could explain things to her. Explain to her who he really was, what he was really doing.

[chronicler200]

Nala shook her head as she listened to Tojo, remembering that she hadn't had much to do this whole day. Scar had taken one of the things that she enjoyed away as a young lioness. It was their duty to hunt, he had absolutely no right to take it away as a king. "No I didn't have much to do at all. I just merely ran into this hyena by accident." She said as she listened to the male.

"I will meet you at the watering hole, then." She said with a soft nod and dipped her head in respect. Though it seemed like there wasn't an easy place to escape scar's wrath. Perhaps this would be the beginning of ending it, she certainly hoped.

[Scar]

The chameleon watched Nala with one eye and Bakari with the other as they proceeded to stalk towards it, it was paralyzed. And it was nothing to be surprised about, because there were a lion and a hyena after it. A lion and a hyena working together. And even a chameleon could see just how unnatural that was!

Bakari, on the other hand, couldn't care less. She was only racist towards lions when she was among other hyenas who were, but in reality she hadn't anything against the big cats... except maybe Tojo.

She still hadn't forgotten their little confrontation from the other night, only that her revenge attempt had been frustrated by Banzai: for she had tried to make a big scandal out of it, trying to get the others suspect with her that Tojo and the lionesses were plotting something, but the second-in-command had said "Shut up!" and that was the end of it. After all, Bakari had quite the bad reputation for being lazy and irresponsible; despite of her running speeds, she also came late to everything, and Shenzi's hunters would usually not wait for one single, unreliable member.

"They're waiting for me?!" Bakari barked, at the same time surprised and rather scared. She didn't know how much Tojo knew about the state of the hunt or if he was even saying the truth, but his words were grave enough to worry about.

"But I thought they'd ditched me!" She whined, running to Tojo's side, ears and head low in submission.

Uh-oh! She was in trouble now... caught skipping work, and by a lion who hated her... ... ... the only thing she could think up for her defense now was that she could certainly use the hunting classes Nala was giving her? Of course, she wasn't being completely useless! But working on her skills you see... and Tojo wouldn't deny she needed the classes, too.

[mistwolf]

Tojo smiled broadly at Nala, his heart skipping a beat. She'd said yes! She wanted to see him! This was really all he'd ever wanted!
"Okay," he said, trying to contain his excitement, trying to remain cool. "I'll see you then."
He opened his mouth to say something else, but Bakari's voice interupted his thoughts. He glanced down at the hyena, and tried to hide his dislike. Even though he could pretend to like Scar, he had trouble pretending to like hyenas. It just wasn't right. It was in his blood to dislike the scavenger things. But he sighed and glared down at her.
"They told me to find you," he said. "They're tired of you always being late. I think they have more in mind then just pushing you to the front of the hunting pack."
He flicked his tail and started towards the walls of the gorge.
"Come one," he said. "Before they get any more angry." He glanced back at Nala, his blue eyes glittering with happiness.
"I'll see you later, Nala," he said, then turned and once again headed off to where he knew the hyena hunting party was waiting.

[chronicler200]

Ooc: Misitwolf, I'll go set up a thread for Tojo and Nala on the watering hole if you want.

Bic: Nala nodded unsure of what to do, she could continue down the gorge. But there were many terrible memories that were left down there were the former king was killed. Her best friend was last reported being down there as well, seeing that she had nothing else to do she went after Tojo, turning her body slightly before she walked down the barren path. The chameleon completely forgotten about. "Wait!" She called out to Tojo and the hyena much to her dislike.

"I guess I could stay with you now, I have nothing else to do." Nala said as she started to trot to keep up to the others. Yet not out of breath from the walk. She wanted to see what the hyenas would do with Bakari now, since they wanted her so badly. After all she would possibly tell the others how she would be teaching her, or at least tried to teach her how to hunt.

"After all, the hyenas may enjoy a lesson with hunting. That would bring good news to Scar." She said, yet deep down the words were great distaste, and she guessed that Tojo recognized it.

[Scar]

Bakari followed Tojo and was greeted by a snarling pack of furious hyenas. Bakari tried smiling at them, but it only seemed to anger them more and make matters worse.

The leader of the hunting team, Vangr, came forth. He was one of the few high-ranked males, and the complete opposite of Bakari: calm, reliable, unstoppable, whenever Shenzi wanted something done, she could ask him and take it for granted.

Vangr reluctantly dipped his head before Tojo as submissive greeting. He watched Nala and made a pause before he spoke. Had he not been the serious hyena he was, he would've laughed in her face. But since Scar's orders of getting along were still at the back of his mind, Vangr merely c.ocked an eyebrow.

"We know the game rules, miss. We don't need to take classes." Was all he said, and many hyenas barked in agreement.

Then Vangr turned towards Bakari, and his mane bristled.

"Bakari!" He growled. "You're always late!"

"We had a great herd of zebra. But we ran into that rhinoceros. We needed a bait, but there was none. Everything was a disaster." Vangr snarled, showing his big teeth.

Bakari lowered herself on her front knees and whined:

"I'm sorry, boss. I thought you didn't need me."

Vangr's lips covered his fangs once more. He looked at the submissive hyena and said:

"May this not repeat itself."

Bakari smiled and her ears perked upon being given a second chance. Vangr nodded a goodbye to Tojo and ran off with the whole pack.

The Pridelanders would eat zebra tonight.

[mistwolf]

((ooc: I can make it, chronicler. I haven't created a thread yet.))

Tojo looked ove rhis shoulder, his anger towards Bakari levening as Nala ran up behind him. Did she really like him? He felt like such a cub thinking it, but he really hoped she did. He had wanted her to for so long.
She mentioned something about the hyenas and a hunting lesson. He was about to laugh, when the hyena Vangr approached them and told Nala exactlywhat he thought of that idea. But it was in a very professional way. Tojo usually didn't like hyenas, but he had to admit, Vangr was...tolerable. He even gave Tojo some respect, which was nice. Not that he was selfish and always demanded it, of course.
Tojo nodded respectfully to the hyena himself.
"Forgive her," he said. "She meant no ill respect."
He glanced sideways at Nala, which he hoped was a reassuring look. Then he stepped away as Vangr punished Bakari. After the punishment was dealt, Tojo nodded respectfully to Vangr and turned, beckoning Nala to follow.
"So, tonight at the waterhole?" he asked her. "I'll be there."

[chronicler200]

Ooc: Alright, that works.

Bic: Nala studied this older hyena with some curiousity, obviously Bakari hadn't mentioned to him the chameleon inncodent moments before. But Tojo seemed to have respect for him, perhaps he was good. She only shrugged it off watching the two for a bit and turned back to the older male lion in front of her.

"Yes the watering hole. I won't forget." Her words were an assuring promise to him. Yet, she wondered how he felt towards her, only barely knowing him she felt like he wasn't much. Simba had been a loyal friend before his reported disappearing after the former king's death. Now, she found herself mostly alone without much contact from other lions except for close family members.

Perhaps now was time for change. There was hope deep down that Simba would return. These dark times would soon come to an end. After all, the darkest moment in history usually came right before the beginning of a bright hour. But for now she had to move on and stay in a relationship with some lions. No matter how badly Scar treated them, they always had the group and worked as the Pride landers.

[mistwolf]

((ooc: Creating thread now...))

bic:
Tojo smiled brightly and nodded at Nala.
"Okay, awesome," he said. "I'll see you there."
He looked up at the sky and frowned, then sighed.
"I have to go," he said. "Scar is expecting me to choose some lionesses for a hunt. I have to go and tell him which ones I want to choose."
He shook his short adolescent mane and started to walk off. Then he paused and looked back over his shoulder.
"Nala?" he asked. "It's been really great talking with you. I....it's really nice to know I have a friend here."

[chronicler200]

Nala nodded as she watched Tojo, "After the fall of the Prince..." However her memories were consumed by the younger days when she was a carefree lion cub. However, she shook them away as she tried to speak.

"I realised that we need to be as close as we can get." She said as she paused to look back at the others.

After Tojo would leave, she'd make her trek back to Priderock. Someone would probably be worried about her. Yet, she was old enough now that she no longer needed to be watched by someone. After all, she was almost nearing adulthood, and the instincts of a fierce hunter were still burning inside.

[mistwolf]

Tojo smiled at her, his heart suddenly thudding in his chest.
"Yeah," he agreed. "As close as we can get...."
He cut himself off and cleared his throat awkwardly. He glanced around, trying to find something to distract himself with, change the subject. But he didn't have to look far. And it wasn't even a made-up distraction. His blue eyes settled on Pride Rock and he sighed. Scar would probably be waiting for him to report on the hyenas, and tell which lionesses he had chosen to join him on a hunt.
"I have to go," he apologized to her. "Scar will be waiting. Being his assistant keeps me busy to say the least!" He laughed, then turned and walked towards the large rocks.
"See you later," he said over his shoulder. But he suddenly felt awkward again and quickly walked away. He'd see her tonight. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. He really liked her, but he had never liked anyone like this before. What if....
No, no what if's. Just go along with it, take it slow.
He nodded to himself, then made his way up the rocky side of Pride Rock to where Scar had his cave.