The Best Part Of Waking Up [Kaza]

[zahara]

Walnut colored irises watched dust particles float through the air as the lioness who possessed them lay with her head on her paws. She was bored and therefore miserable, it had been so wet and rainy lately that it was getting hard to move around the lowland territory without being swallowed whole by some type of mud hole. She knew from trying that it was rather difficult to avoid these, she'd come back a few times drenched and covered in mud. So for now she was holing up in the dens while the others milled about their business, with no one to entertain her but herself and the dust.

She would have rather been out doing something, hunting or maybe even playing in one of the ponds around their home. Not even the cubs could get out to play with her today, their mothers were well aware that their children would come back dirty from a play date with Zahara. She wasn't a bad lion, just...well maybe a bit of a bad influence but how was life any fun if you never played. She'd seen some of the others grow wrinkled with worry and constant seriousness but she didn't plan to be that way. If she was going to die it would be going out with some sort of bang if she had anything to say about it. Thoughts like these weren't morbid to her, just simply part of her train of thought.

It was getting to the point to where she was counting paw steps to a rhythm, her bottom and tail bouncing as she counted under her breath when when saw a pair of paws she'd recognize anywhere. Kaza, their fearless leader. He was far enough away that she could hunker down and peer out without him seeing her, the den she was in was one of the smaller ones, not even really a den but more like a hole that had formed. Her tail flicked rhythmically as she waited for him to get close enough for her plan. She really did enjoy the little things in life.

When he was in reach she sprang out and grabbed his tail in between her paws. "Morning!" she sang out and released his tail with a gleeful and devious grin.

[Kazabu]

Kazabu

Kazabu's own little den was situated not far from one of the main enterances. He was curled up in a ball with his chin resting on his large front paws and his tail idly flicking inches from his face. Sleep seeped from him as he opened his sharp green eyes. Standing up in the spacious underground home Kaza stretched his large pale golden body and shook his glossy midnight mane. He walked out of his den to one of the tunnels that led out on his way to patrol his land again. Last night had been interesting with the break in good weather and meeting the Highlands King. It seemed that Kaza had gotten off on the right paw with the male as it had been established they both wanted the same thing. Kazabu wanted his pride safe and so did Maliki. So the solution? Peaceful nieghbors, one stay of the others land and nothing would happen.

He was making his lazy way through the tunnels when suddenly something jumped out from behind him, grabbing his tail and yelling with a resounding 'Mornging!' As Kaza had not been paying attention and was rather into his thoughts his fur stood on end and his lips peeled back while frantically whirling around to face Zahara, a female that the pride had found a while before he had come to reign. A growl burst out of his maw before he could help it and his eyes narrowed at Zahara. "Zahara!" He yelled at her, more out of surprise than any real anger. For a few moments he stared at her troubling with himself on his reaction to what happened. Finally he let a breath out followed by a chuckle.

He picked a paw up to playfully bat at Zahara's face and he smiled at her. "Good morning to you Zahara" He cocked his head while backing out, leading her away from the inner den. "You know it's not nice to sneak up on me like that" He told her in a grave voice, though a hint of humor was hidden in his emerald eyes. His back end emerged from the darker tunnel and the rain from yesterday made the ground moist. Kaza had a feeling it was going to be a muddy day.

[zahara]

The overtly angry reaction she got from Kazabu didn't sway the lioness one bit except to put a hint of wariness in her walnut colored eyes. His yell made her flick her ears back for a moment to ward off the loud sound before they returned to their normal position and she gave him a slightly cool look in return. He seemed to realize what he'd done was over the top and when he released a breath along with a chuckle her own good natured expression returned and the tension melted from her body. She liked playing with Kazabu but she knew was sure she didn't want him to be mad at her. If not because he was scary when he was angry then because she just didn't like others angry with her.

His paw swiped playfully at her face and she took the blow with amusement letting it push her head to the side. His head cocked to the side and this time when he answered her it was in a much friendlier tone that before. She followed his slowly backing aware form and admired the sheen to his coat, what, a lioness could always look. That's all she usually did, she wasn't serious enough to settle down yet, having cubs of her own was never one of her first and foremost dreams. Now traveling around with her pride would have been nice even travelling along would have been fun. However she knew she'd never leave the pride, they were her family and family stuck together. That was as it should be.

She tried to look apologetic when he mentioned her sneaking up on him not being nice but she knew she failed and instead just looked impish. "Well what is a lioness to do when she's bored out of her head" she countered, the fresh air from outside had invaded her nose by now and it was sweet but heavy. His haunches had barely cleared the opening when she managed to squeeze by him rustling her sandy fur against his own pelt. Perhaps she was too bold around him but she knew that Kaza would know she meant no disrespect to him. The air and the ground still felt moist and she made sure to tread carefully along the ground.

Her body turned to face him and she planted her rear firmly on the ground and fixed him with a steady look. "So what were you headed to do today my King?" the formality was slightly ruined by the humorous tones in her voice but she didn't laugh. She knew that Kazabu likely had a lot on his plate but if she could perhaps she could tag along with him today, it didn't sound like such a bad idea to her. "Maybe you'd like some company?" she ventured and let her head slip to the side in slight curiosity. If he turned her down she was going to go crazy, that or end up going out on her own as she'd done so many times before.

[Kazabu]

Kazabu

Kaza chuckled at Zahara's response and he could only grin at her. Truthfully with all the rain there wasn't much to do, patrol was wet and hunting was dangerous in the muddy plains. Zahara was an interesting member of the Lowland pride. She was unpreturbed by Kaza's anger, didn't care really about getting too close or saying something she shouldn't. She was bold and Kazabu liked that. She was a good member and despite her obvious lack of responsibility Zahara was loyal to Kaza.

When Zahara squeezed past Kaza he paused for a moment, glancing at her curiously before backing out fully and smiling. "Well I suppose you can come along Zahara, are you going to stay out of trouble?" The large male already knew what that answer would be. No, hell no, and he was excited to finally be able to relax atleast a little bit. The pressure of ruling was a comfort but it was also stressing. If you let yourself get to caught up with the pressure of responsibility and didn't allow yourself to relax, even once, than you'll splinter and break. Kaza saw that very well in his father, he didn't want that to happen to him.

The large light tan lion padded along a slim path that made it's way towards the sticky muddy lowlands. One thing about living in a mudd place was that muscle was built from an early age. Kaza was slimmer and a bit more muscular because it took so much more to move through the muck. It took alot of energy and muscle to catch an antelope or even a wildebeast in the muddy terrain. So as the two walked down a well beaten muddy path the muscles under their soft hide rippling with every move Kaza smiled down at Zahara. "Tell me, what do you think of the Highlands King?" He asked lightly, his tone a bit playful and the question was asked just for conversation, no real purpose or worry.

[zahara]

She was overjoyed that her boredom would be broken now that he had accepted her presence. His question however made the sandy lioness chuckle herself as she lifted her haunches from the ground and waited for him to pass her so she could walk at his side. "Kazabu, I avoid trouble at all costs" she said slightly reproachfully and with a mock look of hurt before grinning "it just seems to find me wherever I go and I've never been one to turn away company" she said jokingly. She always viewed it as trouble being the one to find her not the other way around as it actually was. She took her spot walking next to him and watched him carefully from the corner of her eyes.

Zahara might be cub like but she knew when silence was required and she let him sort through some of his thoughts. He'd seemed extremely stressed lately, not frayed yet but getting there. It wasn't healthy for someone to worry so much but being King she supposed it came with the territory. She dropped behind him when they made it to the thin path leading down into the lowlands but caught back up to his side when it widened again. His smile down at her had her curious and she met his gaze steadily with that cool calm expression on her face, only a glint of humor in her eyes that seemed ever present.

His question about the Highland King made her slightly smirk "Maliki? Hmmm" she let herself lapse into thought for a moment. His question wasn't one of seriousness, she could tell that much by his tone but she could always feel that it was part of what had been troubling him. Perhaps a semi serious council from her would help him, and she was all for that. "Most see him as a tail chasing imbusile but...I think there's more to him than that. Sometimes it's the ones who don't look dangerous you have to look out for" she let her gaze hold his purposefully and a softer expression took over her features. "You can tell a lot about a lion from his eyes" she said and smiled slightly, she had often looked into her own in the ponds.

She was always so afraid of losing herself, that it had become a regular habit of hers. "However" she said breaking the tension and shrugging her shoulders slightly while she padded along the mud entrenched trail. "He is young and much less experienced than yourself, I wouldn't let him worry you too much" she said lightheartedly. Her tail flicked behind her and she let her eyes wander over the mud, it really was a shame there was so much mud but then again it was fun to play in. She slyly glanced over at the King, should she roll him in the mud? Decisions, decisions.

[Kazabu]

Zahara's words brought a chuckle from him, one that started deep within his chest. She walked beside him and he found that he liked her company. She was funny and seemed to know when silence was needed. When asked about Maliki she became more than just the playful Zahara. She became insightful and her words brought peace to him. She was right about not underestimating the Highland King. While he was young and seemed to have a fetish for the females he was also dangerous and someone to watch out for. But Kaza would not show anyone he was worried nor afraid of Maliki. Thier walk became a small chat and when the quiet took over he was content to feel the mud squeesh between his pads and he sunk his claws into the mud with each step.

He glanced at Zahara and saw the sly look cross her face. He looked away, pretending not to notice as his gaze caught sight of the mud. Was she really planning on pushing him in there? The thought made him a little angry, why how dare she try and get her king muddy. But a part of him, the one that was a cub, was excited by that prospect and on instinct Kaza bunched his muscles and dove at Zahara. He hit her softly, wrapping his paws around her as they both crashed into the mud. He would roll once before letting go and laughing, standing a bit away from her and panting, his green eyes gleaming. "And how was that Zahara?" He laughed again. "I bet you didn't expect that did you?" He laughed again, playfully swipping at her as a feeling of ease swept over him.

[zahara]

She saw the muscles under Kazabu's coat tense and she was only able to wonder briefly if he had noticed her look before he was springing at her. His paws wrapped around her but the hit was gentle enough not to hurt, and they both crashed into the mud on either side of the trail they had been walking on. She was of course coated on one side but he evened it out as they rolled once on the ground before he sprang away again. She stayed on her back for a moment her legs bent against her body as she stared upside down at him with a grin on her muzzle and watched his eyes sparkle at her. He for once seemed at ease and she rolled to her feet dripping mud from her coat.

His question had her shaking her head spraying mud slightly from side to side. "Completely unexpected, a masterful sneak attack if I must say so myself" she said with humor filling her tone. She finished shaking the mud and flicked some at him with her tail before crouching down, "King or not, that means war" she said playfully and sprang away from his batting paw and raising onto her hind legs and batting at him herself. It seemed that perhaps she had a use after all, she could help him relax. She had lost track of where they had ended up at this point, her feet sinking slightly deeper into the mud but nothing to be alarming.