|
Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2020 23:21:03 GMT
It was the perfect time. The perfect plan. Or at least, Vitani hoped it was. She had been waiting for this moment for a while, between spending time with family and noticing when the pride was out of the den. Trying to straighten out schedules and everything had been a big job for her, but she had pulled it off! The den was empty! Well, nearly empty. Empty enough towards the back of it anyway. Vitani felt the thin whiskers on her muzzle brush against the dark cave walls as she squished herself near a wall, trying to appear to be small and unnoticeable to anyone who came by. She had one goal in mind today, and she was going to succeed no matter what.
After one last glance to check if the coast was clear behind her, Vitani turned her gaze towards the very back of the cave. The path to Sacred Peak! Vitani felt her paws quiver slightly at the thought. The last time she had been up there... she had been very young. She could barely grasp the memory, it had been so long ago, and so much had changed since then. It was a distant memory... but a good one. And she wanted to strengthen it. And the only way she could see to do that was to go up there.
Problem was?
She wasn't allowed up there. No cubs. Including her. But if she went up there quickly and back, before anyone noticed... well that wouldn't be a problem would it? As long as no one found out, there wouldn't be a problem. That was the plan, as Vitani stretched her muzzle out, feeling warm sunlight on it. Almost out and in the clear - until she heard someone come up behind her. Immediately, the cub turned around to face whoever it was, her fur bristling slightly as she took a defensive position, with little claws unsheathing. "I wasn't doing anything!" And yet that claim probably incriminated her - just a little. Dang it.
|
|
|
Post by Faraja;; on Nov 6, 2020 0:56:43 GMT
If nothing else she was very good at pretending. She was rather adept at pretending to be fast asleep when in all reality she was awake and aware of her surroundings. Her ears twitched silently as she listened to the pride leave,at least the majority left to start their particular duties of the day. That was something she did not have to worry about this day, for she had a day off. The entire day was free of all duties, it was something she had earned as of late by keeping a eye on the newest member of the royal family. Faraja had considered it a honor to watch over the newborn prince, he was adorable. His gold coat reminded her so much of her brother Mufasa, even the tiny red tail puff. Kiongozi was indeed something special for that she had no doubt.
A peaceful silence resumed in the massive den, and real sleep teased at her eyelids. What a better way to spend her day off then resting and working on all that sleep she lost in the last few years. Just as she was about to zone off into lala land, the familiar scent of her niece Vitani tickled her nose. She almost opened her eyes but decided to pretend to be fast asleep instead. Honestly she hadn't seen her niece since Simba had returned to take back his birth right. Zira and her offspring and seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth, much to her concern. She always hoped they were okay. As the young lioness moved past her, she opened one mossy green eye to follow her shadow.
It became quite obvious that the cub was going for the sacred peak. A place that cubs were never supposed to go without a adult to guide them. With a slight exhale the yellow coated lioness silently stood and moved after her. She knew the rules better then anything and with the growing rift between the various groups in the pride. Surely no one would take kindly to Vitani sneaking around and going somewhere even the heirs dare not go. The cub turned and spoke out. "I wasn't doing anything." Ahh, just that statement alone seemed rather guilty and slight smirk crossed her features.
"Cubs are not allowed on sacred peak. Not unless they have a adult to accompany them. Even your father abide by that rule. Lucky for you I am your aunt and a adult." Faraja stated simply with a roll of her shoulders. She hadn't been on Sacred Peak in many years ever since she herself was a wee cub. When her father Ahadi had taken all three of his cubs to the top, it had been a wonderful day. It was now a wonderful memory.
"Lead on."
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2020 3:12:06 GMT
After seeing who it was, Vitani felt the fur beneath her coat grow hot with embarrassment, and the bristling alongside her backside stopped. She supposed she hadn't been as sneaky as she would have liked - she'd have to work on that, she decided, as she retracted her tiny claws and hunched her shoulders slightly, curl tailing around her side in displeasure. She should have... calculated more. That was right. Been more aware of her surroundings, taken note of who was sleeping. Of course Aunt Faraja had noticed her.
Her stance got even lower as Aunt Faraja began talking - a lecture. Of course there was going to be one. Vitani had brought this upon herself, and was still internally scolding herself when her ears prickled at the talk of her father - and even more so, at the words following. Wait... was she? For a few moments, a somewhat wary expression passed over the cub's face. Was this some sort of trickery? Some sort of trap that if she followed through, she would get some sort of punishment? For a few heartbeats, Vitani stood still, trying to guess if it was. When she sensed no such trap, a small smile - rare for the young cub in the presence of anyone but her family broke out across her face replacing the disappointed scowl from before. "Thank you, Aunt Faraja!" And she wouldn't forget her manners after her previous mistake. While she didn't like most of the others members of the pride, being polite always paid off. In terms of getting out of punishment, or in terms of getting away from stares. And using politeness on someone she liked rather than someone she pretended to like... well it felt better.
Turning tail, Vitani nearly made the mistake of bounding out in excitement - instead, she took a small breath before stepping out carefully, tail wagging behind her. Her aunt's words reminded her that while it seemed like a silly rule that most no one could get out here, it was still dangerous. Plus, she didn't want to look too much like an over-excited cub to her aunt. Because she wasn't. And yet, Vitani turned to her aunt as she walked, a spark of interest in her blue eye's. "Did dad really never break this rule?" Having Aunt Faraja mention her father first... was admittedly also nice. Vitani always felt she had to step on eggshells talking about him to anyone else in the pride. Either they were uncomfortable - or her mom was going to look sad or go on a lecture - or she'd be reminded to not talk to Kovu about it, because he was the 'heir' of him. And so, Aunt Faraja approaching the subject... well, it made it so Vitani felt she could ask a question without feeling too bad about it.
She almost added on a line to her question - 'I always imagined him to be a rulebreaker' - before breaking it off, and deciding to wait for what Aunt Faraja had to say. She didn't want it to be seen as a challenging line. Plus... she didn't want to admit she didn't know as much as she would have liked about her father before his death.
|
|
|
Post by Faraja;; on Nov 6, 2020 4:23:19 GMT
A small smile wormed it's way across her face, it brought her some amount of joy to see her niece actually happy. The conversation turned quickly to her brother Scar, and the smile became more sad then anything else. Even though most of the pride had tried to erase him from their memory it was not something she could ever do. Faraja grieved for both of her brothers, both of which were taken far before their time. If anything she blamed her father for this entire situation. Ahadi had a way of turning his boys against one another, always in jest or for a lesson. However, it would seem that some sort of damage had been done. Scar had never been good enough to make Ahadi proud. Even when he became the next leader of the Lion Guard. Even that was meant with contempt and a roll of his eye. Exhaling softly, she shook her head trying to swipe the memories away.
"Your father was a kind hearted cub, he had a big heart and a even bigger mind. He obeyed the rules most of the time growing up for by ignoring them would bring our father's wrath. King Ahadi was very strict with us, and we would get slapped around if we broke any of the rules... Your father was always a cunning sort.. He was a wonderful leader of the Lion Guard."
Moving over some rocks, she dug her claws into the dirt as a way to not slip on the path. She knew there was a chance she would catch hell from someone for letting one of -his- cubs up here. Like previously mentioned the pride wanted to forget him completely. No one spoke his name and grieving seemed to be frowned upon. Faraja often left the large rock when she felt like crying, not wanting to bring more drama into her life.
"When your dad became a teenager he started to be more rebellious. That's when he became friends with Shenzi and the hyena clan. They accepted him more then the pride did.. Honestly my dear, your father was a very misunderstood individual." That was the honest truth. Scar had such a large heart when he was young, he would do anything for a friend. He would take on the most dangerous enemy to help someone in need. It was hard to accept that he had become dark and murderous.
The duo continued their climb, honestly she hoped the girl would keep talking about him. Someone needed to remember him. Who better then his daughter?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2020 23:14:12 GMT
As she listened to her aunt, Vitani felt her paws slow slightly so she could pay extra attention to both her words and the steep rocky path upward, craning her head back slightly to peer at her with bright blue eyes glimmering as she took in the words Faraja was saying. It was definitely... nice to hear about her father from someone other than her mother, and it certainly gave her more perspective. Hearing that her father had been kind-hearted and that he obeyed the rules - well, it seemed a bit strange compared to other advice she had heard, about hardening one's heart. She tilted her head slightly, taking that in, though another thought crossed her mind. The Lion Guard... she had heard of it, perhaps once or twice from her mother, but nothing more than that. Ears prickling, Vitani decided to voice another question. "I think I've heard of it before but..." Vitani started, feeling a bit silly to even have to ask such a question. "What's the Lion Guard?"
As the trail grew steeper, Vitani let her own tiny claws dig into the gravel below paw while striding forward confidently - while she was grateful for her aunt, she still felt like she could have done it alone had she had the chance - and she wanted to prove she wasn't a small cub anymore. She was growing bigger and stronger each day and she was going to eventually prove herself. Just... not now, evidently enough.
"And... he sounds like it," Vitani declared, after a moment of listening, thinking on the most recent words, suddenly her confidence seeming to be put out like a flame in rain, as she stopped - finally seeing the top! But also... hesitating. He also wasn't accepted by the pride? Despite not having known him for long - just a distant memory in the back of her mind, Vitani's tail drooped suddenly. It sounded like he wasn't that different from her and her siblings - both her sisters and brothers, she decided. For a moment, Vitani looked up at Faraji, opening her jaws to ask one more question, before promptly shutting it again, thinking better of it once more. She had thought to ask something silly - something her mom would probably disapprove of also. Instead, she fluffed out her chest slightly. She didn't need the rest of the pride if they weren't going to see her as one of them!
"Thank you, for telling me a bit more about him." That was instead the line that Vitani went with, a smile on her face again before she took the lead again, bounding forward slightly - but still a good number of feet from the edge.
Already, Vitani felt... small, looking out, and she wasn't even at the edge. Sure, Pride Rock made her feel tiny enough already, but this was a whole other level. This was how big the Pridelands were compared to everything else - even Priderock that watched over it! And despite the stirrings of that, she looked around - eyes taking in the scene and nodding slightly as if to cement the place in her memory - and to hopefully enhance her first one of the place.
Yet, another question bubbled to the surface - this one, which she didn't have such trepidation about answering. "Why is almost no one allowed out here? This is such a cool spot!"
|
|
|
Post by Faraja;; on Nov 12, 2020 3:58:50 GMT
"The Lion Guard consists of five members, all of which have special abilities to protect the Pride Lands and the ruling family. Your father was the leader of his generations Lion Guard. His title was the fiercest. He and his friends defended the Circle of Life. It was a hard job but he perfected it. --- When Mufasa died and Scar took over as King he lost his Lion Guard abilities. We haven't had a lion guard since then... perhaps a new one will be chosen."
Faraja had often wondered why no new Lion Guard had been formed since Scar had lead them. Her nephew Simba's generation had no guard as did Kiara's group of cubs. Maybe now that a second born royal cub was born a new Guard would begin? Kiongozi however was a tiny little baby at the moment, in time surely they would know. She hoped that a new guard was formed to help defend the circle and keep the balance. Together they walked in silence for a moment before she heard Vitani's voice yet again. "You are welcome my dear. I have tons of memories and stories for you and your brothers should you ever want to hear them."
Even though other pride members hated to hear about Scar, everyone acted like he had the plague. She just felt like he should be remembered for who he was prior to his darkness. He had been a kind lion once upon a time. A gentle soul that wanted to protect his family from danger. Faraja hated reminding the pride of these things due to them scoffing and making mean comments. She wouldn't even attempt to talk with Simba or Nala about him. It just wasn't a good idea. Did that mean she hated Mufasa? No. She loved him too, he had been a great brother and wonderful ruler.
Life had been hard on both of the brothers, and so their destiny had been changed. She always believed it was her father's strict ways was why the brothers fell apart. With a firm shake of the head she cleared her thoughts and came back to the present time and place with her darling niece. They had crowned the peak and could now relax here for as long as they desired to do so. Vitani asked her a question and she smiled softly.
"Many cubs have fallen from this place over the generations. So have a few royal lions over the years. It can be dangerous if a gust of wind would blow or if someone had bad intentions." She said simply before taking a seat to gaze out at the massive expanse of land she had always called home. Faraja was glad she had been able to let Vitani see such a thing. She hoped the girl would remember it for a long time to come.
|
|