Has the Outcast Found a Home?

[Narifia]

Narifia shook her head and responded, "No, Decimus. Thank you for your concern, but Kivuli here is an invited guest."

"Kivuli," Narifia said as as she turned to Kivuli, "I would like for you to meet Decumus. And, Decimus," she turned to Decimus, her tone indicating clearly for Decimus to at least not be rude, "This is Kivuli."

[Kai]

Ah, one who was unwelcoming. There was bound to be one in the pride. He seemed to regard himself with an air of superiority over Kivuli. As if Kivuli were something to be disposed of, an inconvienence. Nonetheless, he intended to make an effort to be friendly, although he didn't expect it returned. Not by the look Narifia was giving Decimus, and the feeling she gave off in that one glance told him much. He nodded politely, his eyes always on one who was a stranger to him. He was friendly, but not unwary. This was still a new place, and Decimus seemed one to watch more then any.
"Greetings, Decimus."
He was equally as polite as he was to any of the others. And just as talkative.

[ZDS]

Decimus was about to protest that the last time a guest showed they’d got landed with a Pridelander for a King but both tact and respect kept his mouth shut. He merely gave a miniature shrug at the look of his Queen, not about to be recriminated in front of this arrival.

“Welcome to our home Kivuli. I’m sure it’ll compare nicely to yours,” A tiny smirk played on his face, he couldn’t resist. “Or lack thereof…”

Unable to stay without argument and too tired and irritated to put up a show, he began to depart, his murmur of “I’m thirsty.” serving as excuse. There were only three creatures he could vent all his honest thoughts to, and he flicked Kurunzi with his tail as a means of beckoning.

“You three coming?” He added over his shoulder, unpausing as he padded away. Oh really, as if he needed to ask. They’d want to talk about this as much as him.

[Narifia]

Narifia shook her head, but was noticeably thankful that it had gone even as well as it did. Decimus, fiercely loyal to her, was no friend to strangers.

After being flicked by Decimus' tail, Kurunzi rubbed the spot on his nose that had been flicked and immediately stood and followed.

"Right behind ya, buddy," Kurunzi offered, a smirk playing across his face at recalling the comment Decimus had made to Kivuli.

Anasi sighed, but followed. Someone had to be the one to correct Decimus' rude behavior, after all. Ardilana, ready simply to be away from all the new lions in her life and to be only around those she really cared about, followed faithfully.

Morobi had only laid back and listened. He sighed, knowing that Decimus was as keen to Kivuli as he was to Morobi. Nevertheless, though there seemed to be no threat Morobi was wise enough to know that Kivuli should at least be watched.

"I have to apologize, Kivuli," Narifia said as Decimus, Kurunzi, Anasi, and Ardilana cleared out, "They've had a hard life up until now. Decimus is only concerned with protecting this pride. It's still rather new, after all. A short-lived paradise is worse than none at all. I'm sure he'll come around."

[Kai]

Kivuli had the urge to respond in kind to Decimus's snide remark. First of all pointing out how Decimus' could have known that he didn't just arrive from another place. But he had finally found a place where he hadn't been driven off, he would just have to deal with the negative feelings he gave off, and perhaps (in time) Decimus would not be so unfriendly. Though he doubted it somehow, in the back of his mind he doubted it. At least others were friendly, their Queen most of all.
"Don't worry, Queen Narifia. Thats a better reception then I'm used to, and although he is under your leadership, others do not always share your feelings and you need not apologize for it. Besides, they don't even know me, I just wandered in from the land outside. It would be rediculous for me to expect them to trust some random wanderer quite so quickly."
He sat on his pale hauches and curled his tail around his large paws calmly.

[Narifia]

Narifia nodded and responded, "They'll grow to accept you. I have no doubts."

Kurunzi, following Decimus, grinned, "Fresh meat, eh Deci? How long do you think we'll let him stay for? A day, a week maybe?"

"You three were utterly rude to that lion," Anasi said with a snort, "I'm ashamed of you."

"No, dear, I think we have all the right to dislike outsiders in our realm. It was an... outsider..." Ardilana said with a cringe at the thought of Kiara luring Kovu away, "that brought our first downfall. We don't need it to happen again."

"I know we should be cautious, but we shouldn't be cruel to every lion that walks in here! We're a civilized pride now, in a fruitful land and we should not only protect it but invite others to share it as well. We should be to others what no one was to us," Anasi declared, "It is Aiheu's way."

"Oh don't start preaching to us about 'Aiheu's way' again." Kurunzi stated, "Just because he seems nice doesn't mean we should just invite him in like that. Narifia as a queen should know better than that. I like the guy and all, but it just doesn't make any sense."

[decimus]

"Fresh meat indeed.." Decimus confirmed, half to himself as they strolled. " He was silent for a time, listening to the opinionated and very different voices of his companions, throwing the occasional glance to let them know they had his attention.

He kept striding until he was at a safe distance, completely out of earshot. He then stopped beside a collection of large rocks that he and his companions must’ve had sat by hundreds of times and stretched out, his lazily tail brushing a fly from his back.

He kept his eyes closed for a while, waiting for the three to pad around him before he spoke. “So,” He began, his posture relaxed but his eyes now open and alert. “Rude or not, the point is, is it a threat? What do you think? Aside from the fact that Narifia’s too old to be dragging home things she finds in Kube.." There was a brief moment of scorn in his voice.

"After all," He continued. "He can be the nastiest, ghostliest lion here for all I care, but our priority is the Pride... and its dangerously liberal attitude to unchecked, unknown and unprectable guests.” His head tilted towards Anasi, their resident peacemaker. “Well?”

[Narifia]

"Things have changed, Decimus," Anasi told him, "Can't you see it? In our queen's eyes, the eyes of Zira's daughter, is a hope for a new beginning. Narifia is a very trusting young lioness, but in no way a dumb one. Can you not remember, Decimus, how when we first met her, she picked you out as being leader? From knowing you for a second, she could figure a rough outline of who you are."

"This is different, Anasi," Kurunzi argued, "What lion wouldn't be able to pick Decimus out as leader? Narifia doesn't know what she's getting us into, inviting strangers into our pride without question or trial."

[decimus]

Decimus listened gravely to Anasi’s reponse, and was about to interject bitterly to shut her up, before dear loyal Kurunzi cut in.

“No, no Kuru.” He added smoothly, his tone light and approving. “You can’t discount Anasi’s thoughts. After all this is a new beginning… And our numbers are still slim.” He’s already assessed this new lion as a probable and worthy hunter.

“However, we serve not only to start anew, but to preserve what once was, through our origins, through Narifia’s origin. That is something that countless others have tried to twist and destroy and our survival alone is a miracle. We’ve seen first hand how an outsider can wreck havoc and destruction on a growing pride... on a Queen. Surely Anasi, you won’t blame me for my wariness, stemming wholly from my love of my family?”

He turned in a moment of reflection to look at the outline of his Queen in the distance. He’d invested so much trust and faith. Took a gamble as it were. Sworn his entire allegiance and made he and his friends vulnerable. Narifia’s position of Queen was now being tested… Shouldn’t he support her on this, if only this once?

His head was beginning to hurt. “So quiet ‘Lana?” He added after a pause.

[Narifia]

Anasi listened, nodding quietly. She relaxed at hearing the wise words coming from Decimus, and was content in reclining from her soap box with a simple answer, "No, I can't blame you."

Ardilana, quiet as ever, just shook her head and lay down, facing away from them. "Putting all our faith... in a pair of Pridelanders," she muttered with a scoff of slight disgust. It was true, Ardilana saw Narifia as a Pridelander and nothing more.

Kurunzi snarled a bit, "What did you call her?!" He obviously didn't care that she'd referred to Morobi as well, he WAS a Pridelander after all. But he was one that they could, and had to, live with.

Ardilana turned to them, sitting up only slightly, and replied, "Don't you all realize we've done nothing but fall at the feet of the Pridelanders since Narifia showed up?" She sat up fully now, "We're following starry-eyed at the heels of lions from our enemy pride! Zira's daughter or not, they've had control of her since cubhood! As far as I care, she's one of them, and putting our faith in her is meaningless."

Ardilana was fuming, she had obviously been holding that in for a long time. Anasi looked quite upset, but not so much surprised, at her dear friend's outburst. She only shook her head and uttered Ardilana's name scoldingly.

[decimus]

Decimus raised his head, fazed for the first time in years as the pent up thoughts of his companion came viciously spilling out. There was a few moments of silence, absorption. Then he spoke again.

“Ardilana... you are of course entitled to your opinion. But you seem to forget…”

He padded towards her with a slow menace, like a predator taking its time, before he could resist no longer “But you seem to forget…” In a sudden movement he raised a large front paw and swiftly swiped it at her face. His claws were not fully extended and he left no mark. But it was a strong action, a warning shot and one he’d never used against his friends

“Your opinion reflects mine!” He snarled, all smoothness and consideration now missing from his voice. “And Kurunzi’s, and Anasi’s! This kind of treachery poisons our oaths and our friendships! And if you insist on spitting on this opportunity, on our Pride you spit on all of us!!” He did not expect retaliation from such an old friend. But he she was feisty and he was prepared for it. Besides which he knew his other two allies would give him all the protection he needed. They wouldn’t fight, but they’d break one up.

“Now, any other little pent-up woes!? Any more treason, in full view of our Queen?!” he growled. “Because frankly ‘Lana, I’m sick of the sound of you…”

That was it. He’d invested all he had in Narifia. He could only hope she’d never fail him…

[Narifia]

Ardilana roared in surprise and in pain. The pain came not so much as from the swipe of her old friend's paw, but rather the meaning behind it. As she soaked in his words, she refused to look him in the eyes.

Kurunzi and Anasi stood back in shock, only watching the terrible scene. Never before had they witnessed anything like this among them. They were The Four! Unbreakable, fiercely loyal to one another to the very end, and they'd been through so much already! And... and the one thing that was supposed to bring them even closer together, to bring them back to the paradise they deserved... was driving them apart?

No. To Kurunzi, it could only be Ardilana's problem. Narifia was their queen. Ardilana was trying to stand in the way of the Outlander's revival, and this could not be tolerated. "I'm only glad," he thought, "That Decimus is the one to discipline her and not I. I could... never do that to her. I'm not as strong as Decimus is."

Ardilana growled slightly as Decimus finished with "...I'm sick of the sound of you." She stood, still staring at the ground as her body shook with anger. With the feeling of betrayal. As she looked up finally, she caught his eyes and held them fast. She poured every word she could ever need to say into that one glance. The fact that Decimus had struck her was nothing, but when he chose a Pridelander over his own friend who had done nothing but be there for him from the beginning is when he died in her heart.

"You're a romantic fool, Decimus," She finally said. Decimus had hit her in the hardest way possible by choosing Narifia over his true friend, and now she would hit him as hard as she could. "You follow the Prideland Queen and King... and chase a Prideland princess for her love. I'd say go join them already, but unlike the Queen and King, the Princess you'll never have."

With that, she turned and ran off, roaring her anger out to the very sky above. "Let him have his Pridelanders. I'm true to my real family, and to myself."

"Ardilana!" Anasi called out.

Anasi could never betray her loyalty to Narifia. She owed it to Zira and to Scar. Never, however, would she lose Ardilana. Anasi knew that her loyalty to everyone was unwavering. She could find a way to bring them all together. She turned to Decimus, "I'm going after her, maybe I can smooth things over..."

[decimus]

Mentioning Zurina was a cheap shot and it hit Decimus harder than he thought it would. But his hypocritical obsession had been playing on his mind so deeply recently it was no wonder. And so he said nothing, watching after her steadily as she stormed away.

“Go ahead Nas,” He said adding a comforting “She’ll come round.” Anasi’s upset added unnecessary turbulence. He turned to his remaining comrade.

“Waterhole Kurunzi? Think we can use cooling off…”


Continued On: "Cooling Off"[/size]
Continued On: "Ardilana's Plight"[/size]