Where to Start

[Narifia]

Continued From Disappointment after Disappointment[/b][/size]


"Good morning, Decimus."

Narifia offered a jovial smile as she padded up to the lounging figure of Decimus. The first thought that had entered the young queen's mind when she had awoke was to straighten things out with Decimus. For some reason she couldn't admit it openly, but Narifia looked up to and admired Decimus in a way. The last thing she wanted was for there to be any sort of a rift between her and the near-black lion, or between him and the pride for that matter.

Decimus was lounging beneath a tree, his incredibly dark pelt highlighted flatteringly by the rays of the early morning sun. He had heard his queen's footsteps approaching long before she had announced herself, and he had thus been waiting for her.

'Such a cheerful greeting, even after the ordeal last night,' Decimus thought to himself, not being able to help noticing. 'My queen doesn't seem to hold grudges. So unlike her mother... and yet I must admit that her optimism is heartening...

... That same optimism could also get the entire pride killed one day. And I need to somehow convince her of that.'

His face and voice grim and stern, Decimus stood and replied to Narifia, "Good morning, my Queen. We need to talk."

Narifia was somewhat taken aback by Decimus' bluntness. Reading the concern in his voice and features however, she relented and sat down. Inviting him to do the same, she looked him square in the eyes and said, "I believe we do. Thing is Deci, I don't quite know where to start."

[Narifia]

"Luckily for us, my Queen, I quite do know where to start."

Decimus accepted her invitation to sit, and he curled his almost-black tail tightly around himself. He looked her in the eyes and began, "Narifia, in the past two moons you've invited two complete strangers to stay as 'guests' here in our land without so much as questioning them as to their intents. While I do admit that your kindness is... admirable... you must certainly realize how dangerous it can be to trust those you do not know so willingly."

He paused there expectantly, awaiting the response that he knew would come from his queen. 'She's going to tell me how wrong I am; how I should get used to peace and harmony and happiness. She'll defend her naive ideals with vigor--of that I can be certain. I must wear that vigor down with a dose of reality.'

Narifia, surprisingly to Decimus, closed her eyes, lowered her head, and let out a light chuckle. This made Decimus' brow wrinkle with curiosity as to what she was now thinking.

Narifia relieved him of that curiosity nary a moment later. She looked up at him again with her bright, blue eyes and replied, "Deci, you're nothing if not wholeheartedly dedicated to this pride, aren't you?"

Decimus hadn't expected such a response, but nevertheless he swelled up with gallant resolve and replied in his deep, booming voice, "What else would you expect of me, my Queen?"

"Nothing less, because it's obvious how much devotion you have. Of all of my pride members, it is you that I know is the first lion that I can depend on should we ever face any danger. Hmm," Narifia closed her eyes for a moment as she receded into her memories, "But do you know, Decimus, when we first met how much of a gamble it was for me to trust the notorious Four?"

She looked up to see Decimus somewhat taken aback. Narifia smiled and continued, "'Decimus the Blackhearted'--that's what you were known as throughout the Pridelands where I grew up. And when I came face to face with the Blackheart himself, what do you think ran through my mind? Considering my background, do you not believe that it was a dangerous and foolish thing for me to do to not only trust but also join forces with The Four?"

Narifia gave him a sideways glance, a genuine smile playing across her features. "Because I took that chance I now have four of the most loyal pride members that I could have ever asked for. Had I given in to caution back then rather than giving you guys the chance, well, we wouldn't have the pride that we do now."

[Narifia]

"My Queen..."

It was evident on Decimus' face that he could never have predicted this kind of a response from what he had believed had been a young, naive lioness. It wasn't just that she had a kind heart or that she automatically believed in the overall good of others because she knew no better--it was much more than that. She wanted to believe in the good of others not because she thought that everyone was naturally good, but because the gamble was inherently worth it.

Still, Deci wouldn't quite let it go. He shook his head and stood as he looked her right in the eyes and replied, "But my Queen, that and this are completely different. Although you didn't know Kurunzi, Anasi, Ardilana and I personally, you did know of us. You obviously knew of our dedication to your mother Zira before you even met us. How could you not have decided to put your faith in us? As loyal as we were to Zira, we were certain to have been just as loyal to her only surviving Heir. This Kivuli and Shetani... you've just taken them in out of the wilds without so much as an inkling of who they are and what they desire!"

"You're wrong there, Decimus. How was I to know for certain that you would show me the same loyalty that you showed my mother? After all, as much as I had heard of your dedication to Zira I equally had heard of your hatred for the Pridelands and the former Outsiders that joined Simba's pride. I was both raised by Pridelanders and mated to a Pridelander--and not just any Pridelander, but the son of Kovu, the traitor of Zira's pride. You could have easily turned your hatred against me, but I took that chance anyway."

As Decimus reflected on this, he remained dead silent and simply stared into Narifia's eyes. He had to admit it--she was right. Given the history between the Pridelanders and the original Outsiders, from Narifia's perspective he could easily have turned against her. 'I know I would never have done it... but how could she have known that at the time? She's right... she really did take a chance on us.'

Narifia tilted her head to the side inquiringly and asked, "In the same way, you've opened up and trusted me without really knowing me, haven't you? And all just based on the fact that I am Zira's Heir. So I ask you, can't you open up--just a little--and show Kivuli and Shetani the same courtesy? Our pride does need to grow, after all."

[Narifia]

After a long, reflective pause, Decimus relented and answered Narifia's question.

"This Kivuli--he wanders around here like an apparition, and damn well looks like one too. He talks circles around his past, and that does not sit well with me. However..." Decimus let out a puff of a sigh, and continued, "I can not deny that although his physique is lacking in power and size, his specter-like... abilities... could come in useful."

Narifia nodded in satisfaction, quite agreeing with him. With a smile she replied, "And Shetani?"

Decimus frowned, nearly scowling. "Shetani is a different matter. The circumstances under which she came here are questionable, and the overwhelming hyena stink gives me no huge comfort; she could end up leading her attackers here and putting our pride in danger. That coupled with the fact that she is here on some agenda of 'business' does nothing but bring me the feeling of ill omen. I cannot bring myself to trust a rouge who seems to attract nothing but trouble."

"Decimus," Narifia sighed, "You don't know the full story. Shetani came to us searching for her family."

He asked with a scowl, "What does her family have to do with us?"

"We aren't sure yet, but her foster-parents have reason to believe she should start her search here. You should also know the truth about her heritage, Decimus, and you should try to understand. She smells heavily of hyena not just because she was attacked by them, but also because she lives with them. Her foster parents are the leaders of the Teikan Hyena Clan, and on her way here she was attacked by hyenas from the Graveyard Clan. The two clans are apparently enemy clans."

At this, Decimus rose to his feet in shock and disgust. "She was raised by those... those vermin?" He growled, "This can mean absolutely no good, Narifia. What if she is leading us into a trap? We can't invite such trouble into our lands!"

"Calm down, Decimus. She's searching for her real parents, so I'm guessing that means she wants to leave her hyena heritage behind. She went to great lengths to get here, even trudging through the Graveyard Clan's territory to get to us--and you know how dreadful the hyenas of that clan are. The likeliness of any of her clan showing up here is slim to none."

Of course, Narifia had to stretch the truth a little bit about Shetani's incentives. She knew that, considering how fondly Shetani spoke of her adoptive family, she would never leave her hyena heritage behind. Narifia also knew that, considering Kugo and company's story, not all hyenas of the Graveyard Clan were probably that bad. Given how Decimus was reacting, however, a little fibbing seemed necessary to calm him down. She added a little something else, too.

"Also, to be fair, wouldn't you say that we're lacking in the amount of females we have in this pride? Think about it; with you, Morobi, Kuru, and Kivi, that's four males to three females--a far cry away from the normal gender ratio of a pride. More females means more cubs, and more cubs means a brighter and more secure future for this pride."

Decimus took all of what Narifia said in, and considered it heavily. Gravely, and with a hint of a growl, he finally said, "I suppose what you say makes sense. Perhaps the lioness finally figured out that she was living with Hell's mutts and had enough sense to get out of there. Or, perhaps not. In any case, I will be keeping an eye on her. Kivuli as well, for that matter. But I will, as you request, 'give them a chance.'"

Narifia smiled, a huge relief sweeping over her. "That's all I ask, Deci. Do keep an eye on them if you feel you must; I greatly appreciate your caution and careful eye."

This stroke to the ego seemed to satisfy Decimus as he nodded in reply. "Will do, my Queen. Now, if you don't mind, I do believe I will go gather my comrades and head out for a hunt," he said, with the whimsical notion in the back of his mind that if Narifia were indeed right about Shetani, it would be a nice change of pace to finally have a real lioness hunting party to go hunt for the males of the pride rather than everyone having to put in their efforts. The thought of the pride evolving into what a real, structured pride should be was actually quite exciting. With a respectful nod, he dismissed himself and set out to gather Kurunzi, Anasi, and Ardilana.


Continued On Lost in Thought...