The Sun Rises [Narifia]

[Samaki]

Azra's eyes slowly opened to look into the star speckled sky. At first glance, one would guess that it was deep in the night, but the screaming birds' song and lightening horizon told her otherwise. The lioness growled and groaned as she dragged herself onto her feet, her claws digging into the earth. The lioness wasn't old, at least she refused to admit that she was getting there. As her mother (who had lived for a very long time) used to say, 'bad weeds grow tall'. Azra never forgot it, and she would live up to it.

The hunger that ached in her stomach made her feel nauseous and weak. For two days, she and Nuka had been unsuccessful in their hunts. Nuka ran off the night before to hunt, as well as skirt the scenes of Azra investigating a large pride nearby. A smart idea, especially from her rather.. gifted little brother. A lone lioness was safer to wander around a strange pride's borders, and having Nuka with her could end up dangerous,; neither of them were in a state to fight. It was hunger. It was survival in mind.. as well as curiosity.

The dusty brown lioness stretched her forelegs and let out a large yawn. She stood blinking against the bright sunlight of a new day that glared in her eyes. The grass parted around her thinned body as she moved forward in a awkward pace between running and walking. Closer, the smell of the strange lion pride became stronger as she entered the border of the Outlands, but of course she didn't realize it was the Outlands at all. Azra only remembered a bleak, termite infested land of pain and hunger, such as this land was not.. anymore.

"What a nice little dwelling," Azra muttered to herself with a small smile, "I hope the dwellers are just as nice." she added with a growl. Azra didn't feel like waiting around all day for a border patroller to notice her, so her muzzle contorted into an angry looking snarl and she roared with a loud might.

[Narifia]

      Mikalli half stirred awake in tune with his inner clock, which had always faithfully woken him just moments before sunrise. The little purple hornbill murmured happily and snuggled into his nest, content to steal a just a little more rest before setting out to perform his daily duties. It wasn't long until warm rays of sunlight kissed his eyelids and told him that snoozing time was over. With a little yawn he rose and stretched his wings, shook out his tail feathers, and hopped out of his nest with outstretched wings, gliding easily down from the small sapling that grew atop the Outlander cave. He ducked into the cave and flew to the back, landing neatly before his king and queen just as they, too, were waking.

      He gave them a graceful bow, then with a smile rose and chirped, "Good morning, Queen Narifia, King Morobi! Just checking in before my morning scout."

      "Good morning Mikalli," Narifia said with a smile of her own, though her expression was somber. Queen Nala--by all rights her adoptive sister, as well as Morobi's own grandmother--had been missing now for some weeks. They had all kept a watchful eye out for any signs of her, Morobi even going so far as to conduct a search of his own while out on border patrol, but so far there had been nothing. There was no need to give Mikalli the order to keep eyes and ears out for her, as the young hornbill already knew to do so. "Aiheu guide your wings," she said instead, in the traditional blessing of the Majordomo's morning scouting, then adding, "Perhaps try nearer the Kube border this morning."

      Mikalli bowed again. "Will do, my Queen. Aiheu abamami," he said in reply, then turned and took off, heading swiftly out of the cave.

      Narifia watched him go, then turned and nuzzled her mate wordlessly. Morobi nuzzled her back lovingly, taking comfort in her presence, then gave her a gentle lick on the nose. "I'm going to head out early myself. I'll start by the western border today," he said, then headed towards the cave's exit. Narifia followed behind, rousing the rest of her pridemates along the way. She stepped out into the morning sunlight and basked in it for a moment before heading out towards the main clearing. Decimus, Anasi, Ardilana, and Kurunzi followed.

      At just that moment a roar was heard by the distant border and all the pride's heads shot up in alarm. Mikalli stopped mid-flight, and Morobi paused just beneath him, nostrils flaring as an involuntary growl escaped his maw. The Four looked up in unison, recognition evident in their eyes. Anasi looked over at Decimus, "Deci, that almost sounds like..."

      "Azra," Decimus growled out.

      Mikalli looked visibly unsettled. He looked down at Morobi and called out, "My King, shall I scout ahead?"

      "No need," Decimus said as he walked up, his calm, deep voice no more than a quiet rumble. "I believe I know the intruder." He glanced at Morobi, whose stance was rigid and tail was lashing as he stared hard in the direction from which the roar had come. "I take it you are going to investigate?"

      "You're damn right I am." He glanced sideways at Decimus, who was now beside him. "And since you believe you know who we're dealing with, I take it you'll come with me?"

      "Gladly," Decimus said, the simple statement laced with the subtlest of growls. He still wasn't entirely fond of his Pridelander king, but even he had to admit that King Morobi took his duties quite seriously, and for that Decimus could find no fault. Morobi was certainly better as a ruler than some prospects, even former Outlander ones... one in particular coming to mind right now. And she was standing right on their border. "Whenever you're ready," he said.

      Narifia was beside them in an instant. "I'll come as well. Kurunzi, you'll look over things here, won't you?" she called behind her.

      "I will," Kurunzi said with a nod and a wink. "Just take care of yourself, ok?"

      Morobi glared at her, "Are you sure you should be coming? This rogue could be dangerous, and I've already run off several other rogues recently besides. There's no guarantee this rogue's alone."

      "I've got you and Deci for backup, and you seem to forget that I can hold my own, and did so for years on my own unlike a certain spoiled prince," she said with a smirk, then quickly grew serious again. "Besides, I'm the Queen. Whoever it is obviously wants to be met. I'd be a pretty poor monarch if I didn't go to meet with this lion personally. This could even be a lead to Nala, and if it is then I want to be there." When Morobi still looked skeptical, Narifia added, "Mikalli will come with us, and at the first sign of trouble can fly back for help. Satisfied?"

      Morobi didn't look satisfied, but he let the matter drop. She would go whether he "allowed" it or not. With a grudging sigh he said, "Let's go then."


      Before long the four of them were near the border, where the distant figure of a lioness waited for them. They approached cautiously, though all held an air of authority and a dominant presence. When they were a mere few tail-lengths away, Narifia, who was in the middle with Decimus on her right and Morobi on her left, looked the stranger up and down. As she stood there taking the rogue lioness in, she had the uncanny feeling that she'd seen those green eyes somewhere before... in fact, everything about this lioness seemed eerily familiar.

      Her head held high, Narifia took a step forward and offered a friendly smile. "Hello there," she said genially, "My name is Narifia, the Queen of this land. This is my mate Morobi, and my adviser Decimus," she gestured to each of them as she said their names. "Welcome to the Outlands." A playful little smirk came to her face as she added, "You called?"

      Decimus was glowering at Azra. His eyes never left her as he rumbled, "My Queen, you are far too accommodating. This disloyal piece of filth needs no welcome. Azra," he growled, "I had to see it with my own eyes to believe it. We had all heard that you had died. It's a shame to see you didn't stay that way."

      "Decimus...!" Narifia began, shocked and outraged that he would behave this way, but Decimus cut her off.

      "I do apologize, but you should know before you organize the welcoming party that this lioness is a traitor who abandoned your mother at her greatest hour of need." He spat the word "lioness" out as if it disgusted him to even give her that much respect.

[Samaki]

Azra waited as patiently as she could, but keeping her focus away from her rambling thoughts that persisted to give her a bother on how the pride's lions would react to a rogue one like she, or how many there might be to greet her, was difficult. In truth, it wasn't as hard as she made it seem, since hearing her thoughts over her rumbling stomach wasn't an easy task. The aging lioness was really pretty healthy, besides the fact that she had been half starving.. Her fur was scruffy and her ribs stuck out, but her eyes gleamed with the same spark she held in her youth.

The lioness didn't need to wait long. The sun's early rays peaked over the distant horizon and shone down on three approaching lions. From this distance, a lioness in the middle and two lions at her side walked in a proud, but respectful manner, their long shadows stalking along behind them. As they approached, Azra's eyes widened slightly and she raised her eyebrows. The lioness looked like the very image of her mother, Zira, only giving out a few differences, and this caught Azra a bit off guard. At first it was surprise she felt. Azra's eyes narrowed as they approached, and the lion on the far right seemed to become more and more familiar.

Decimus.. Oh of course. His snide remark on her death and about her mother sent her into a tumult of inner anger. Her fur bristled and her green eyes narrowed, but she bit her tongue, at least for the moment. Perhaps she would deal with him later, but right now she needed to wait, she needed to at least try to earn a bit of trust from her.. old family. Her eyes flicked back to Narifia, "Ah yes, I remember you, though it was quite long ago indeed.. You are an image of your mother. Of our mother," she added, forgetting that this Queen of the Outlands was her own blood, if not half of it at least. The Outlands were surprisingly fresh in appearance, not nearly as dry or barren as she remembered it to be. Her eyes flicked to the King, Kiara's son, it was. The irony could've made her laugh if her back were not so stiff or her demeanour so presently serious. The daughter of Zira, mates with the family's long time enemy. Then they flicked back to Decimus. Yes, she remembered him, and he always seemed so against Azra. "Sorry to disappoint you. Abandon my mother? I never would have abandoned her," she hissed, as if disgusted with his accusation, "but if need be, we can discuss details of the matter later, as we do indeed have much to catch up on," she added, her lips curling into a smile and her green eyes glancing back to her sister.

Azra dipped her head in an odd sort of bow, her smile becoming more of a sly looking grin as she looked up at Narifia, but it was not a smile of ill-thoughts against her family. No, that wasn't at all what she needed. She needed a pride to stay with, her brother too. They couldn't go on like this on their own forever. "Yes, I did call.." she trailed off in reply, "My brother and I have been living as rogues as of late, but in our current state, this is becoming hard, especially with his injuries. I came to meet the pride here and perhaps become friendly, but meeting family is ever so convenient. Surely you will hear my pleas, sister?" she asked seriously. If she ever cared for anything it was her brother, Nuka.

[Narifia]

      "Ah yes, I remember you, though it was quite long ago indeed.. You are an image of your mother. Of our mother."

      “'Our mother...?'” Narifia's brow wrinkled inquisitively as her mind raced to make sense of the lioness's statement. Her eyes widened at the realization of it, that the stranger standing before her was none other than another daughter of Zira, a blood sister. Narifia was awestruck. With piqued curiosity she studied the lioness's face more thoroughly. She knew her mother's looks only through the vague, hazy representation she'd had of Zira through her ghostly appearance so long ago, but it was enough of an image to compare with Azra. The curve of her nose, the contour of her jawline, her cheekbones, and the general shape of her face was almost identical to Zira's. A few features, however, reminded her of a much more prominent figure in her life, her father, whom she had seen alive for a short time. Azra had Scar's chin, but most hauntingly of all, she had Scar's eyes.

      Narifia paused on those eyes. Somehow, they seemed more familiar than Narifia expected them to be. It was almost like she had seen them just this morning, as she'd roused up her pridemates from their peaceful sleep...

      "Sorry to disappoint you. Abandon my mother? I never would have abandoned her, but if need be, we can discuss details of the matter later, as we do indeed have much to catch up on."[/i]

      Watching the exchange between Azra and Decimus piqued Narifia's curiosity and confusion even more. It made her realize how little she actually knew about the history of her own pride, of all that had happened in the distant past. While Narifia trusted Decimus' judgment, she realized that she knew nothing about what had happened back in those times, which made her feel more than a little awkward and uncertain. She realized however that she wanted to hear Azra speak more than anything right now, so when Decimus appeared ready to bite back with some quick retort Narifia caught his eye and shook her head decisively. The message was clear: she would hear what Azra had to say.

      "Yes, I did call.. My brother and I have been living as rogues as of late, but in our current state, this is becoming hard, especially with his injuries. I came to meet the pride here and perhaps become friendly, but meeting family is ever so convenient. Surely you will hear my pleas, sister?"

      Decimus would not stand for Azra spouting what he believed to be such contrived zebra dung. No doubt that Narifia's gentle, nurturing demeanor would elicit instant pity on the half-starved lioness before her. He would have to see to it that she would not be so quick to be so sympathetic—not this time. “How very like you to appeal to 'family' in your desperation when in truth family means nothing to you,” he said smoothly. “Oh, that's right—except for that waste of flesh that you cast Zira aside for! It disgusts me to hear that that thing is still alive. It should have been left buried under those logs where it belonged,” he sneered.

      “That's quite enough of that, Decimus,” Narifia said firmly, a rare, scolding snarl punctuating her statement. It was uncanny how even her snarl seemed no more threatening than a teacher correcting an unruly pupil. It left Decimus feeling somewhat unnerved, but he held his tongue. Perhaps he had opened his mouth just a little too much. 'You need to remember to deal with your Queen with a little more finesse,' he reminded himself silently, nevertheless glaring at Azra as if she were to blame for the entire exchange.

      The young queen's gaze was thoughtful as she turned back to Azra, her expression softening as she recalled the anxious look in the lioness's eyes, the genuine concern behind that grin that on the surface looked sly and deceitful but seemed to almost be a mask for the pain she endured within. Narifia looked over to Morobi. He had been hanging back and observing the entire time, his own personal philosophy when it came to disputes between Narifia and Decimus being to just stay out of it. Nevertheless that did not mean that the solemn, quiet young king was not watching, listening, and forming his own conclusions on the matter. He came forward a bit until he was standing side by side with Narifia. As he suddenly spoke up, his thoughtful words seemed to echo his mate's own feelings, “No, Deci,” he said thoughtfully, “I believe family is something that is very important to her.” He met Azra's eyes and spoke to her directly, “Azra, you were very cautious, weren't you? I can tell by scent that you and your brother parted ways not far from here. You care for him enough that you would risk coming into potentially hostile territory to plead for help while he remained a safe distance away, able to escape if he needed to. That is very noble of you. Whatever my mate decides, you will not be met with any hostility from me.”

      Narifia smiled and gave Morobi a little nuzzle. “You took the words right out of my mouth. You may not be such a hopeless case after all,” she said with a private little smirk, then turned to Azra once again. “Azra, call your brother—our brother!” she said, her eyes widening again with the realization of what she was saying. Brother—she had a brother! And a sister, who was standing right in front of her! Suddenly she felt excited and somewhat giddy like a little cub, and a little sparkle in her eyes reflected that feeling. She smiled warmly and added, “And if you don't mind me saying, you look terrible! Please, come in and rest. As soon as we get back and introduce you to everyone, we will hunt for you both right away.”

      Decimus looked indignant, as if he'd just been slapped in the face. “My Queen...!” he began, but a sharp look and a firm little snort from 'his Queen' silenced any further protests. With a low, almost inaudible growl he nodded his grudging assent, but inwardly he smirked and thought, 'Indeed, Azra. We certainly must discuss this matter later. I'll be quite looking forward to it, as I'm sure Kuru, 'Nas, and 'Lana will as well...'

[Samaki]

After hearing this, she breathed a sigh of relief, though still casting a wary eye towards Decimus, she took note to watch out for Nuka around him. She had finally found a place of safety and perhaps even a permanent home, but she wouldn't be so quick to wear out her welcome. "I can't thank you enough, Narifia." it wasn't entirely noticeable, but from both excitement and hunger, Azra couldn't help but shake a bit underneath her fur.

Azra took a deep breath and nodded, "he shouldn't be far, so I'll be back soon. I'll find my way back if you three wanted to go back," she wanted to say 'go back home' but it didn't quite fit on her tongue yet. With that she thanked them again and turned, walking briskly back whence she had come. There were many things Azra wanted to tell her younger sister, but now simply wasn't the time. It was almost a strange sensation, Azra had never really wanted this before, the sort of bond sisters should have.

(Should we PM about how Nuka is introduced? I know Kai wanted to play him,)

[Narifia]

      "I can't thank you enough, Narifia. He shouldn't be far, so I'll be back soon. I'll find my way back if you three wanted to go back."

      'Go back?' As Narifia watched Azra's retreating form, she somehow felt that she didn't quite want to go back home yet. It felt too soon to leave Azra's side when she had only just met her, and that aside she was anxious to meet her brother for the first time as well. Still, she didn't want to push herself onto Azra too fast if the older lioness wasn't ready. "A-actually, if you don't mind, I would love to go with you," she offered tentatively, her voice soft. She watched Azra expectantly, her expression hopeful, almost cublike.

      "As for me," Morobi said, clearing his throat to politely interject as he looked at his mate, "I should get back to my search."

      Narifia nodded, her mind instantly returning to the search for Nala. "Of course," she said somberly.

      Morobi nuzzled her. "Don't worry, leave everything to me and Mikalli. You enjoy your time with your sister and brother, I'll be back soon."

      As he turned to leave, Morobi caught Decimus' eyes. He wouldn't say it with words, but the look was guarded and serious, and told Decimus to watch over Narifia in his absence. While he didn't see any reason to be suspicious of Azra, he still was cautious all the same. Decimus was somewhat caught off guard by the look, both surprised and a little impressed. That his king would have the confidence in him to entrust Narifia to his watchful eye was unexpected and sudden. Truthfully, Decimus even felt a little bit touched. He nodded, his eyes meeting his king's with a respect that was slowly but surely cultivating within the dark lion. Morobi nodded back, then turned and went on his way.

[Samaki]

Come with me? Azra raised her brows in surprise, turning her head to look at Narifia in an almost questioning manner. Her eyes were tired, but the corners of her mouth turned up in a genuine smile. "Now why didn't I think of that; of course you can come," her green eyes looked into her sister's with a sort of growing fondness, but she soon looked to Decimus in a far more disapproving manner. Yes, things were starting to get quite tense between them, but Azra knew as far as Narifia was within their presence, the situation couldn't get a chance to escalate into something violent with either words or actions..

The elder lioness watched as Morobi turned away and started walking off. Azra then raised her shoulders and smiled in a rather fake manner (like when your least favourite aunt pinches your cheeks), "Well! We should be going now," with the look still plastered onto her muzzle, she turned briskly and started walking towards the arranged meeting point and immediately her smile dropped away completely.

(I'll continue this on A Lost Son Returns. ))