` ` taking [ chances ] - open -

[Simba]

S I M B A

In the late night hours, below the bright silver full moon, all was quiet on the Pridelands' savannah. Beneath the ink black sky, dotted with an arrangement of bright stars, not a sound could be heard for miles across the slumbering landscape. The moon was at its highest point in the sky, illuminating the Pridelands below it, and casting eerie shadows in places they should not be. The sparse vegetation and distant rock formations appeared to be the darkened silhouettes of other creatures in the ominous lighting that nature's night-light provided.

With the glow of the moon illuminating the savannah, a lone lion moved slowly across the open grass covered plains. His four massive paws came into contact with the soft earth at his feet, in a steady, silent rhythm. The lion's shoulders rose and fell with each synchronized step, beneath his sand colored pelt that took on a silver hue in the midnight lighting. A full, russet mane blew gently around his face, with the coming of a gentle evening breeze that made the arid African air much cooler than usual. The large male's rust tinted eyes stared straight ahead of him, though he was not seeing the landscape that was outstretched before him. Instead, his mind wandered elsewhere, flashbacks of the past overtaking his vision.

The king of the Pridelands did not need to use his eyes to see where he was headed. Years of surviving on the same turf, had made him aware of everything around him, from the largest tree to the tiniest pebble. His movements were instinctual, guiding him to a place that had become permanently lodged within his subconscious. This was the first time in years he had returned to this place, but his insomnia on this particular night had seemed to urge him to do so. While the rest of the pride slept on Pride Rock, he had silently left his mate's side in the hope of finding some relief to his own inability to succumb to sleep.

Simba came to a stop in the open savannah, tall, dried up grasses brushing softly against his golden fur in the night's breeze. He stood motionless, appearing frozen in place as his eyes focused on something that was not really there. "Look at the stars." A deep and familiar voice spoke within his mind. In response, Simba raised his head, fixating his gaze on the bright stars above him. "The great kings of the past are up there, watching over us." Simba closed his eyes for a moment, remembering the time years earlier when his father had spoken the words directly to him. "So whenever you feel alone just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you..." The voice continued, as Simba's eyes opened once more. He stared up at the open sky overhead, at the stars that symbolized his father, grandfather, and many generations before his own time. Although he was still unsure of what had brought him here on this particular night, the last four words that echoed in his head brought with them a sense of comfort. "And so will I..." The words could be heard inside of his head, slowly fading away until his father's voice disappeared entirely, and Simba was left standing alone.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[Kala]

[glow=green,2,300]KALA[/glow]

Her black form was used to the dark. Her fur had no feeling, but in a sense it had seen many dark nights; nights on the run, hiding from the one who could do her harm, and would.

Scar.

He haunted her past and present, and was sure to haunt her future. But... he is dead. Reason told her he was dead, but her subconscious being was always attempting to convince herself otherwise. Her brow was furrowed in concentration and thought as her practiced paw steps lead her to nowhere. It's not that she was going 'nowhere', but she knew nothing of where she was going. Again, her subconscious attempted to overshadow her conscious.

There we shadows now, silver shadows cast on the barren ground. The shadows were still until a small creature would be frightened out of it's hiding place, ruffling the plant life and sending the greenery's shadows dancing. Her own shadow shifted with the steady change of stances it took to slowly pad across the flat earth.

Her thoughts stopped abruptly. She thought nothing. Her mind was blank and her muscles were tense. Pain turned her vision white. Her claws unsheathed and dug into the ground. Her memories returned with a flash.

She had returned to Pride Rock dreary, weak, and discouraged. Her various attempts at hunting had only resulted in a small brush finch.

Her unsure paw steps made loose stones clank down the ledge. She sat beside the other lionesses-in-waiting to be fully admitted into the pride. King Taka walked by each lioness, either nodding his approval or thrusting it aside for them to hunt again.

When he came to her catch, he glanced disgracefully at it. Venomously, he stabbed it with his claws and held it in front of her face. "What is this?", he asked. "My catch, your highness." He crunched the bones in his grasp. "No. It is a disgrace. Catch another." He turned and whacked my face with his tail.

I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes. "No." He turned, his evil green eyes widening. "What?! You will obey me, or suffer." "No," I said again. "You have chosen your own demise," he said confidently, justifying the following brutal battle as my own choosing.

As I stared defiantly into his eyes as his paw retracted and then slashed down my shoulder and into my underbelly. I roared in pain and lodged my claws into his shoulders, flipping him onto his back. He yowled and sprang at me again. I dodged to the left, spilling my blood over the age-old stone. He lunged again and caught me in the cheek. I lashed out with my claws in pain, making him flee to the edge of the cliff. My body shuddered from the loss of blood. The pain threatened to overwhelm me and send me into the void, but I resisted with an iron will. I launched myself across the last few paw-steps between the King and I. Frightened, he fell over the edge. If he has died, all my problems would have been solved. He had not. He landed on a ledge and successfully climbed back up. As he sat up, he roared to the group that had assembled around us. "Enough! Leave, before I order the lionesses on you!"

The rest was lost in a cloud of pain and suffering.

She collapsed in a heap with the sudden surge of emotions; the pain, the suffering, the hurt....

She clenched her jaw and shut her eyes, just as she had so many seasons ago. This time, in the place of a fight, came tears. She didn't know which she preferred. Spasms of suffering wracked her body. She opened her eyes and saw the ground. The only thing she focused on was the ground. She focused so hard that all thoughts of the horrible king were gone and she regained control of herself.

She looked up through the leaves of the tree she stood under and saw the dimmest star in the sky, overwhelmed by all his brothers.

"There you are, King Taka. Your rightful place." Her stance was bold and strong, and her eyes were adamant. "You are the one king I do not seek for guidance."[/blockquote]

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Simba]

S I M B A

The Pridelands' king stared up at the dark sky overhead. He allowed his copper eyes to move over the infinite number of stars that glittered like tiny diamonds against a black backdrop. Some were much larger than others that were but tiny specks among trillions of glowing stars. As Simba's gaze shifted from one cluster of stars to the next, he wondered how life had been for the past kings that had made it into the night sky. Out of all the stars above him, at least one had to have experienced something similar to all the things he had gone through in his years on Earth. Had one of past kings besides his own father had a brother who was sadistic enough to murder his own brother? To plot it in such a way that his young nephew would be blamed for his father’s death? Had this power hungry king chased the heir to the throne away and claimed the title for himself, only to destroy the kingdom over which he ruled?


Simba shook his head, trying to clear the thoughts of the past that swirled within his mind. He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing the memories back into his subconscious. The thought of his uncle filled the Pridelands’ king with a concoction of rage, sadness, guilt, and betrayal, as he tried to block himself from reliving that fateful day many years ago. No matter how hard he tried though, the king could not prevent the image of his father falling to his death from replaying itself over and over again in his mind. If only he had not been so young, so naïve in believing his uncle in the first place…


No. He could not think that way and would refused to let the guilt take over him. Guilt had been the force that had prevented him from returning to the Pridelands to take his rightful place on the throne after hyenas had chased him away. It had been what kept him from returning home when Nala had told him the pride needed his help. A soft breeze of cool night air swirled around Simba’s head, sending the long russet strands of his mane billowing in different directions. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the new intake of breath. He slowly opened his eyes, finding his gaze fixated on the largest star in the night sky. It was this particular star that Simba had always attributed to King Mufassa.


Gazing up at the single star, the Pridelands’ king felt his mind clear. The haunting images of the past had seemed to vanish without a trace from his mind. He felt the surge of emotions that had coursed through his veins subside, until he felt nothing but an overwhelming sense of tranquility. Thank you. Simba directed toward the star above him. A soft smile played across his lips, as he dropped his head from the starry sky and back to the landscape that surrounded him. He turned to head back in the direction of Pride Rock, moving at a slow but even pace. His eyes focused on the savannah before him, taking in the surrounding landscape. His gaze locked on a nearby tree that cast a dark, crooked shadow on the earth below it. Beneath its canopy of sparse leaves, Simba could make out the silhouette of another creature in the shadows. The king slowed his pace slightly, as his nostrils flared to take in the other’s scent. It was one he recognized instantly as a member of his own pride.


”Kala, is that you?” He directed toward the shadows ”What are you doing out here this late at night?

[Kala]

[glow=green,2,300]KALA[/glow]

She had seen the great king when he was still far off, without needing the wind to send his scent her way. The broad, muscular shoulders and flowing mane could be seen from miles away, even so long after twilight.

She stood still, her dark pelt swept away and her sense of being with the shadows; her spirit melded with the darkness. Simba slowed his return home to test the wind that blew over his sandy mane.

"Kala, is that you?" She smirked, although he wouldn't be able to see. Why does he doubt his senses? "What are you doing out this late at night?" Questions... questions... Still, she chuckled low and cheery. "I should ask you the same question, Simba."

A light flew across the sky, illuminating her silhouette and drawing her face to watch its progress. She had seen the same supernatural occurrence the night of Simba's return, far off from the Pridelands.

"A King has returned."

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[´´miyuki]

[glow=white,2,300]Weather Goddess[/glow]

The wind blows the dry savanna dust into lions' eyes and whips a lion's mane in a frenzy. It sweeps below, in the Gorge, and climbs up its steep slope. It carries dust, debris, and other assorted plants across lands. The wind is gentle enough to stand unnoticed until it affects the vision of its target(s).

[Simba]

S I M B A

At the familiar sound of Kala's voice, the Pridelands' king moved closer to his fellow pride member. Shortening the distance between the two of them, Simba could make out the lioness more clearly in the shadows of the night. The sparse leaves of the tree under which Kala stood allowed some of the moon's silver light to illuminate her dark frame. Without the presence of the moon, the lioness would have faded away entirely into the darkness.

The king stopped a short distance from Kala, rust tinted eyes looking into the blackened space where he knew the lioness stood. Her response to his inquiry caught the king off guard and for that moment, he was glad that she could not make out his face in the dark. ”It’s a nice night.” He replied. ”I just thought I’d take a walk and enjoy it.” Simba’s response was not entirely true, nor was it a lie. It was in fact a nice night, though his reasons for being away from Pride Rock had nothing to do with the current weather conditions. The king did not want to tell his fellow pride member that his real reason for being out here tonight was because of recent insomnia. He did not want her to know that after all these years his dreams were still haunted by events of the past.

A sudden light in the distance sky temporarily illuminated the two lions, diverting their attention from one another. As he stared up into the dark sky above him, Simba was once again captivated by the stars. Were these supernatural occurrences a way for the great kings of the past to communicate with those who survived them? ”It’s amazing isn’t it?” Simba asked, still fixated on the night sky. A breeze, slightly stronger than those that came before it, suddenly swept across the Pridelands. Simba’s russet mane whipped in every direction, pulling his attention back to the world around him. Various objects carried in the wind gust, swirled in the air around the two lions. Simba turned his head slightly in the direction of the wind, avoiding facing flying debris head on. The king wondered if this sudden breeze was associated with the light that had just shot across the sky above them, or if it was something else entirely.

[Kala]

[glow=green,2,300]KALA[/glow]

She saw the light passing over the Serengeti, followed by the swift wind that carried debree from lands far away. She let the wind caress her dark fur. The wind even carried a scent, filled with water and plant life. This could be the new king's territory, or just some wind. The air also carried various clouds of sand mixed in the scent of grass. She had no idea what this could mean, sand and grass did not mix.

"It's amazing isn't it?"
Her eyes opened and looked up at the twinkling kings above. Her eyes fell on the light that seemed faded and her anger returned.

"Some kings deserve a place high above." She added with an icy tone, "Some do not."

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Simba]

S I M B A

As the wind swirled the air around them, the two felines stood motionless, enchanted by the sudden change in the night's breeze. As the moving atmosphere played with the fine hair of his pelt, the king closed his eyes, inhaling the scents that moved in a current about the two Pridelanders. A concoction of aromas filled his senses, making indicating one from another a difficult task for any creature's acute senses. As the wind stroked his golden pelt, Simba wondered why certain natural events took place. He wondered why stars occasionally shot across the night sky or how the the clouds could part to allow a few rays of sunlight to break through. In his nine years of life, these occurrences never ceased to amaze the king, who felt deep down that there was some other supernatural force causing it all.

Simba opened his eyes, turning his attention back to Kala. Her gaze was fixated once more on the billions of tiny, glowing stars above them. The king allowed his own eyes to follow her gaze onto a small, faded star against the inky backdrop, as the lioness's voice entered his ears. Simba knew instantly to which king the lioness was referring to. The scars that cut through her ebony pelt were a permanent reminder of the events that had taken place Scar's reign as king of the Pridelands.

The king felt a surge of guilt seize him. For he knew that his absence, following his father's death, had allowed his uncle to destroy Pride and its homeland. He dropped his head from the sky above, staring out at the vast savanna engulfed in the darkness of the night. "Some kings cannot escape the darkness that prevents them from becoming as great as other past kings..." Simba's voice trailed off as he thought about the ruler of the Pridelands before he took his place. "Kings like Scar."

[Kala]

[glow=green,2,300]KALA[/glow]

She had felt the guilt that the Pridelands King had felt for her, her and her scars. She was going to pardon the guilt, because it was not his to bear, until she heard him speak.

"Some kings cannot escape the darkness that prevents them from becoming as great as other past kings..." Simba looked down. "Kings like Scar."

She nearly shook with anger, but she did not. She tried to keep her voice level as she replied. A hint of fury escaped from her tongue as she spoke.

"Simba, if I didn't know better it sounds like you're defending him. It sounds to me like you believe this 'darkness' is to blame. If there was no Taka there would have been no darkness. The darkness did not scar me, Taka did. Was it darkness that killed Kopa?" She paused, anger now running through her voice. "No. Taka's mate killed your firstborn. He did many other things besides, Simba. Don't excuse him."

She realized was was nearly hissing at her king, but she would not take back the rebuke. King or not, defend the defenseless not the merciless.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

[Simba]

S I M B A

The undertone of fury that came with Kala's words, came as no surprise to the Pridelands' king. The lioness before him had every right to be angered by anything regarding his uncle. Although Simba had not been there at the time, the scars that his uncle had marked her with were still visible through her dark pelt. To him, they served as a constant reminder of what his disappearance had done to his pride, but to Kala, they had a much deeper and painful meaning. He could not imagine what she, or the rest of the pride, must have gone through at the mercy of King Scar. Nala had informed him of things that had gone on, though he always felt as though some details were left out. Details that would uncover the reasons for why Kala's flesh had been torn apart by vicious claws.

The king lowered his head to the ground, staring at his paws while Kala's words swirled in his mind. Everything that she said was true. Scar had brutally murdered his father, chased him away and attempted to have him killed. He had wrongfully taken over Simba's throne, destroyed the Pridelands, and attacked members of the pride. The only time he had ever told the truth was when he admitted to murdering Mufassa, and even then, there was no hint of remorse in his words. It was Scar's mate who had murdered Simba's firstborn son out of rage and then plotted to kill him too.

Simba raised his eyes back to Kala, who's fury seemed emanate from within her. "You're right, Kala..." his voice was soft and apologetic. "I know all of the terrible things that Scar has done." He turned away from the lioness, his eyes wandering up to the dark sky above them once again. "I want to believe that darkness was to blame, but deep down I know that darkness had nothing to do with it."

[ ooc: i am so sorry for taking forever to reply and for disappearing off the face of the earth for so long ]

[Kala]

[glow=yellow,2,300]KALA[/glow]

The moment Simba spoke, all traces of anger deserted her. "I want to believe that darkness was to blame, but deep down I know darkness has nothing to do with it."

"It wasn't your fault Simba, and I shouldn't have yelled at you like it was." She swiveled her head to look away from Simba, to hide the shimmering effect on her eyes that she dreaded whenever she spoke of her treatment. "Taka did a horrible thing, you and I both know that, but I shouldn't yell at you for the past. It is the past. It is done and cannot be redone. I should let it go." With her head still facing opposite Simba, she closed her eyes as a tear ran down her cheek. I'm sorry.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"

OOC:: Nahh it's ok... I'm just glad you're back ^_^

[Simba]

S I M B A

As the lioness spoke, the King could clearly see the sincerity of her apology. Kala was perhaps the only lioness in the pride who had spoken to her king in that way, however anger toward her was impossible for Simba to feel. Everything that Kala had said was true, and the king knew that their was no denying it. He had not been their at the time when his Pride had needed him. When those, like Kala, had been subject to Scar's violence and destruction of the Pridelands. Simba could only imagine the pain Scar must have cause her, knowing from personal experience the evil and cold hearted nature of his uncle.

The lioness pulled her gaze from him, turning away in shame of the words she had expressed toward him. In the dim lighting provided by the stars over head, Simba swore he saw the faintest trace of moisture glistening on her cheek. "It's alright, Kala." The king replied, his voice calm and even. "I understand where your anger comes from. It has been years and I haven't been able to fully let go of everything he has done..." Simba took a few steps closer to Kala, before lowing his haunches to the dry earth beneath him. "It seems like everyone says to forget the past, but sometimes, it's impossible to let things go completely..."

[Kala]

[glow=yellow,2,300]KALA[/glow]

She took a deep, fluttering sigh, still facing away from the great King.

She knew that Simba spoke the truth, and words couldn't describe how much she wanted to speak, but her mouth refused to open. Instead, she turned to face Simba and sat next to him. Slowly, her head turned back toward the starry sky. A bolt of light shot across the black blanket of twinkling lights and faded into the distance. She watched its progress until it disappeared and then sat silent and still, words still unreachable. She took another deep breath, this one more stable, and looked spaciously at the night sky.

Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"