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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2021 20:05:32 GMT
Having a clouded leopard keep an eye on you was a very cool experience, and partly because of all he knew. Yun Mibu that was, said leopard. He made a point to make friends, probably what had lead to him being so willing to watch out for Tara. That or the story swapping they had been doing, her telling him all she could make him understand about human civilization and he about his forest home.
They were somewhere in the middle of that and other lands now, very near the Pride Lands, which the more Tara heard about seemed to be a legend within themselves! Not that she was looking for them. No right now she was on the hunt of Zebras, but only to look. Golden ones. Or one Golden one.
She also knew not to wander away from the leopard that was probably her best survival strategy of the moment, though she'd been doing well enough for weeks. That was what gave her the confidence to now wander a bit away from Yun Mibu looking for this zebra herd he had mentioned spotting once.
Of course she knew it was probably a yellow or albino zebra but...well the expedition had been talking of a fabled city, who knew what this land may hold!
Only...and this was a very embarrassing thing for a pilot's daughter to admit...she'd gotten lost and came upon a watering hole where she saw more than just Zebras, though there were those.
Oh...she must have unknowingly entered the Pride Lands...
Oh well, maybe they knew where these special ones of their kind were. She walked up to one, "Excuse me can you...".
If Tara had known about the Pride Lands, and Thurston, she would have been more careful. The Zebra leader raised his head and...despite this one being of the familiar species as the king's new son, he didn't think long enough to not react in typical fashion.
"Panic and run!", he startled off not only his herd but the others at the watering hole, thankfully everyone charging back away from where Tara stood, and further into the Pride Lands, though Thurston ran around still near her in not having a clear sense of his direction. "Whoa, sorry, hold on...", she tried, "I just...I wanted to ask...hey I'm not gonna hurt you?". She turned around and around to follow the zebra's path, trying to catch the his attention, but it seemed no good.
She sighed, "Will you just..."
"Ah!", Thurston replied to her raising her voice by yelling as well, "Now it's threatening me!". He ran around even more panicked if that was possible.
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Samwel Igwe
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Human Prince of the Pridelands
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Feb 15, 2021 20:18:15 GMT
Kabili was down by the watering hole as usual this time of the day.
Learning to be a royal prince was a little exhausting, even with the best teachers in the world. But the young human still needed a break as he’d hardly gotten one between the presentation and learning now how to carry himself and act as royalty should. So he was thankful when he’d been given a little off day.
Of course, he didn’t see the initial chaos of when Tara had wandered in. First of all, he would have freaked out. But at that moment, he’d been conversing with some friends....
It was only after he heard Thurston freak out that he decided to get up and actually see what the trouble was. He may not have been Kion, but as the son of the king, he still had a duty to step in when necessary he supposed. And it gave him time to at least work on the whole “commanding presence” thing.
“Thurston, what’s going o-?”
He stopped dead in his tracks when he’d wandered over and saw the first human in three months. Holy crap! So it wasn’t just a bunch of rumors, they had survived! “Tara!” He shouted the girls name, almost immediately getting between the two of them before they could cause any *more* of a scene. “It’s OK, Thurston. She’s not going to hurt you! She’s a friend. She’s from my plane.”
God he hoped he could de escalate this without Simba around.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2021 22:19:37 GMT
Even with the chaos about her, Tara put a hand to her forehead and shook her head slightly. Maybe a Golden zebra wouldn't be that great of a find if...
It was hard to say why, when the animals were speaking English (or Tara understood them at any rate) another voice in the midst of so many struck her as human instantly. Or maybe it was just the familiar tone, even after so many months. But, no it was still different than if she'd heard Yun Mibu, who she knew now.
Either-way she glanced over with almost just as stunned a look to the boy standing there. One who somehow knew her name? It wasn't the three months, it was the changes in them.
Tara just stood there useless, still staring, now at Sam's back, as he got between them and tried to calm the zebra....wait, Sam?!
Tara already recognized him even before the further words that proved he was him. "Sam?!", she exclaimed in utter bewilderment, "What...what...", she took in his appearance, "What the he-ck", she actually changed the word midway though it might have gone unnoticed. Her father was not around, but his spirit or whatever would not catch her cussing even a bit.
It was an odd point, and more of an honoring of him now to keep to it, but with her aviation dreams, and hanging around hangers, any pilots caught cussing in front of Mr. Walker's daughter were swiftly reprimanded.
She caught on that there was still a panicked zebra to be dealt with. "Uh...yeah, I'm...a friend". Was that still true even if Sam had gone crazy out in the Savannah heat? Well yeah, and she had her own odd things, paling around with a clouded leopard now, and unaware that that did not take the prize of craziest things to have happened since the crash...
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Samwel Igwe
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Human Prince of the Pridelands
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Feb 15, 2021 22:31:18 GMT
Kabili stared down Thurston a moment.
It was really tense, but Thurston seemed to calm down after a few moments. Or at least calm down as much as someone like Thurston was capable of. ”I’m sorry, your highness. I had no idea she was with you,” Kabili tried not to sweat bullets at the respectful bow of his head. ”Your responsibility then. Keep it out of trouble - and away from me!”
Kabili only relaxed when he seemed to go back to his grazing. God had he had to do the “your highness” bit? That was going to make things just infinitely more awkward to explain. “Sorry about him, Thurston’s just a bundle of nerves,” he explained honestly. Or at least that was how it was explained to him. “Man, I was starting to think I was the only one left... My new mom and dad have been sending people all over the Pridelands looking for everyone.”
Right, he had explaining to do. And wasn’t helping to make things any easier to understand - at all. “C’mon, follow me. No one’ll bother you like that as long as you’re with me,” he explained honestly. “Probably should give you the short version. But - I was found by a monarchy and I’m kind of a “prince” now. I promise it makes a lot more sense than it sounds like... But I’ll explain when we’re somewhere alone to talk.”
Honestly, he probably sounded like a crazy kid, rambling off to himself. As he turned to her and motioned for her to follow. “By the way, if anyone asks, it’s uh... Kabili now,” he explained. “It’s Swahili, tradition and all... Lions are big on that.”
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2021 23:10:32 GMT
Because the whole thing couldn't get any odder...
Freaking out a zebra and saved by her friend who had been making due for three months same as her. Her own clothes were beyond a washing's help at this point and she was just glad her dad had supplied her with a sturdy aviator's jacket of her own and pants made for hiking and wilderness. Not this kind, but it meant they did better than most.
She could reconcile the prior things...
Not the zebra next bowing and calling Sam Your Highness...
Wait, did she just next get called It? Tara frowned at the zebra's back as he walked away and maybe to not think about the rest, though that was not an option for long.
"Oh, no...I imagine Zebra's would be...", somehow she found a normal response. She next smiled sympathetically and relieved at what Sam said about thinking he was the only one. "Me too...". She was actually just wondering if hugging Sam because she was happy she wasn't the only one alive would be odd when she was once again sidetracked by what he said next.
New mom and dad...
"Oh well, I wasn't in what was the Pride Lands I think, or not if this is them. The cockpit...rolled I think and even after that I headed the wrong way, into forests". Again these were the easy answers to give. Not asking the a million questions fighting to be the first one asked in her head.
She just followed and listened. "Prince? Of...like a tribal leader?". She, the ward of a leopard didn't get it at first and not until she glanced at some gazelle who passed them at a safe distance. "Wait...or do you mean...".
His saying Lions seemed to answer that.
"Kabili...they...changed your name? Wait...", Tara stopped walking, shaking her head and waving her hands, "Sam...Billy...whatever it is, this make no sense...I...". She suddenly stepped up and placed the back of her hand to his forehead, "Did you catch fever?".
He had asked she just follow and he would explain. Stepping back she sighed, "Right, make more sense later, alright...sorry...lead the way".
As they walked, she realized she should catch him up herself, but she could wait until they were swapping facts. "Oh...uh, but...if a clouded leopard comes looking for me, he's not lying, I know him", she added, "Kind of a big part of why I made it, but...your insane story first".
She didn't mean it in a bad way, and whatever had lead to what she'd just heard had to be.
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Samwel Igwe
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Feb 15, 2021 23:37:40 GMT
Kabili frowned.
He assumed that meant that her dad hadn’t made it. But who knew at this point huh? If they were both separated there was no telling who was alive and who wasn’t. As she explained what happened with the cockpit though it sort of pieced together. “I’m uh... Sorry about your dad, he seemed like a great guy,” he admitted. “My mom... Uh she didn’t make it either.”
He let her feel his forehead and try and get a sense of what was going on. But honestly, at this point he figured he was just freaking her out. Great. Taking a deep breath, he decided to just spill once they were at least a little alone. “Mom and I got ejected, and I landed in the middle of this place,” he said as he motioned around. “I was dying... Like barely alive but after about three weeks on my own I found someone to help. Took me to Pride Rock.” He motioned to the giant rock formation in the distance.
“I mean it was supposed to be temporary until we found the others. But after a few weeks, we weren’t sure what was going on,” Kabili explained honestly. “So King Simba... The lion who rules everything until about until the Backlands and Outlands . Offered me a home. A place in his family. He was adopted too, I mean not by royalty. But that’s a whole other story.”
He paused, a part of him feeling a little embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “They actually made it official a couple of days ago. The whole kingdom came - it was really cool,” he admitted. “But basically, I guess I’m sort of royalty here now? It’s kind of crazy. But they’ve treated me so well. I sleep in their huddle, get to share the food and all of that... I even got a brother and sister.”
He paused, leaning against a tree he crossed his arms a bit. “And yeah, the name change was my idea. I wanted to fit in,” he responded in all honesty. “It means “brave”, pretty cool huh?”
Realizing that had ended up an even longer explanation than he had expected it to. He tilted his head and thought about her mention of the leopard. Honestly, he’d had both good and bad interactions with them so far - but he figured she probably didn’t run into Makucha at least.
“So you’ve been hanging out with the Leopards huh?” He asked. “That must be interesting...”
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2021 2:50:22 GMT
Her dad and his mom...
"I'm sorry too...about your mom", she said softly, then gave a small smile. "She was kind and I liked her stories, she seemed to...get animals". And maybe Sa- Kabili had some of that to fit in so well. There was a more serious consideration (perhaps) without their parents.
"So that means if anyone's left of the Expedition it's...Mr. MacHenry. Dixon, Hawking and the others...", she almost muttered just thoughtfully and thinking through it. She got that as serious adults, maybe she just couldn't read them right but...she wasn't sure how she felt about that prospect. There was another zoologist who was alright too, but not as personable as Mrs. Irons had been.
Hawking probably worried her the most, and she wouldn't wish anyone of the Expedition dead, not after the death that had occurred, still...it was like a group of strangers had survived in most ways. That isolated feeling sort of settled again but she shook it off and listened to the rest of Kabili's story.
With the connecting pieces, it made a bit more sense. "Wow, that's...well surprising to be sure", and she couldn't argue it had turned out well for him. "Yeah, and cool", she chuckled. "Alright, so Kabili, I'll remember that, but I am not calling you Your Highness like that weird zebra did".
For all she knew she was insulting the ways of this land, but that was just a step farther than she could go and as the only other human maybe they would give her grace.
"Who helped you to Pride Rock?", she asked.
"Just one leopard, a clouded leopard, Yun Mibu. I mean I had to make it pretty long before that but he definitely helped out and right when my candy bar stash was running low...gotta remember the tree I stashed my lucky pack in", she added half to herself, "And yeah it is, but nothing to being a Lion Prince!"
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Samwel Igwe
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Feb 16, 2021 3:54:28 GMT
Sometimes, Kabili felt like she got animals far more than she knew.
A part of him wished she was still here, the part of him that hadn’t properly grieved yet. But he tried his best to not let himself dwell on what was too hard. “I just wish she’d lived long enough to see this place,” he explained. “It’s basically everything she ever wanted. Though she’d probably freak a little if she knew I was living with lions. She loved them but she was always saying they’re beautiful and dangerous.” He joked.
After a moment he did add. “Your dad was pretty cool too though. Honestly, seemed like one of those chill dudes,” he then admitted. “Y’know when he wasn’t correcting me about my language.”
He tried to make a mental note of who was left. Before adding. “I’ll bet twenty bucks Dixon shot at Timon...” he muttered.
Surprising and cool both summed up the situation perfectly. Though he blushed and chuckled a little at her comment about the “Your highness” thing. “Yeah, that’s pretty new for me. It started with literally all of them bowing to me a the “presentation” and now everyone treats me like that,” he responded. Shaking his head. “It’s pretty weird for a kid who grew up in like the bad side of New York City. But dad says he wants to make sure no one treats me any different than his other kids, so.”
Who helped him to Pride Rock? Wasn’t that a loaded question. But he wasn’t keen on telling her about the nagging voice in his head from back then. So he instead found common ground. “A leopard named Akachi,” he explained honestly. “Most of the way anyway. He didn’t really want to go onto Pride Rock. So he just took me close enough that I’d be found.”
Well at least she seemed to have run into the kind leopards too. Given he knew they had a reputation around the Pridelands. “That’s good. The animals here are really friendly. They tend to help each other out,” he explained with all honesty. “I don’t know a lot of leopards. Sounds like you were in the Backlands though - that’s where most of them are.”
A lion prince? He chuckled, again blushing. “Honestly they could have been a bunch of nobodies and it’d have been exciting. They’re really nice animals,” he then admitted. “Though it’s going to be a hell of a time explaining to the others that I’m not going back. Like... This happened so quickly, but that ceremony was pretty binding. And it’s not like I want to leave now - y’know? Especially since there’s nothing for me to go home to.”
That much was obvious. Why would he have agreed to it if there was after all? “I mean they’re my family now. I really want to stay with them. The others gotta understand right?” It was clear he had bonded quite hard to his new parents in the time there. They had made him feel loved and safe after all
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2021 16:37:06 GMT
Tara wanted to tell him his mom wasn't wrong, but even her own perception of predatory cats had been changed in her time since the crash. "What do you eat though? I mean...do they understand fire". She imagined that would just freak out a pride of lions, but maybe not.
She gave a small smile as Kabili brought up how her dad had been known to correct even his language. "Yeah...sorry about that, protectiveness ya know...and we're Southern, though don't worry I never heard him make Yankee comments so I think he liked you well enough as well".
Somehow it was easier to talk about her dad than she had figured it would be. "You're probably right", she nodded about shoot-and-ask-later Dixon, "...who's Timon? Sorry, I'm sure there's too much catch up", she admitted.
Of both of them, it was the city kid who was having to get used to all this. "Oh that's right...I mean, I'm not much better prepared, but at least back before I was used to keeping coyotes away from the livestock, you went from skyscrapers to all this".
She shook her head again as he answered about who helped him find Pride Rock. "All this help from predatory cats...and I know what the adults would say".
"The Backlands...", she repeated the name, "Yun Mibu didn't really refer to them as much but individual territories, not as...unified it seems like, I mean I think everyone gets along well enough".
Her slight smile fell, just to a serious sort of neutral expression as he said, for sure, he wasn't going back. It made sense, of course, since he just said he'd been adopted and renamed but still...Tara hadn't realized until just then that was what it would mean.
"You're serious...", it wasn't a question. "I mean...I get it of course, but...phew", she blew out a breath, "It's gonna be something explaining this to the others...though...come to it, I'm not doing it".
She actually had no desire to find the group again, oddly enough...except that they were her ticket back to civilization and aviation but...what in the meantime? And as for committing to living here. That was a whole other thing.
As she thought through both Kabili and her own situation, she glanced to the sky, then back down, grimacing as he said the others had to understand. "Them? I'm not actually sure...this could turn...bad" she admitted. She hated to be the voice of reason, but there it was.
And what did he want her to do? Advocate for his living with the lions? She guessed she would, but...it was not something she was looking forward to either-way.
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Samwel Igwe
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Feb 16, 2021 20:36:46 GMT
Kabili chuckled that was absolutely a good question. One that he had to figure out himself, but he wasn’t too worried. “They understand that I need to cook my food which is fine. It’s like other lion prides, lionesses hunt. Sometimes I help,” he admitted honestly. “I have fruit and vegetables everywhere too. It’s kind of crazy. I’ve eaten more than I have in a long time since I got here.”
Meanwhile he only snorted at the Yankee comment. Though he paused a moment, oh right who was Timon? “Uh he’s another part of my family. Simba’s adoptive dad. Little Meerkat guy,” he explained. “He and this warthog named Pumbaa anyway.”
Skyscrapers, right. He couldn’t even think about that right now, it was so hard to picture New York these days. “Yeah I think the adults would have a field day that’s for sure. Between the two of us out in the middle of nowhere with big cats.” He laughed. “I mean sometimes I think I’m crazy.”
He frowned himself at her surprise... And disappointment. He looked her in the eyes as she spoke and shook his head. “I mean I’ll miss New York, don’t get me wrong. But my dad left a long, long time ago. I don’t even know his name,” he explained honestly. “If I go back they’ll throw me in an orphanage, or worse I’ll be sent to a workhouse.”
At best, it’d be foster care. But in that day in age it was far less preferable anyway. Lots of families barely had anything, and he would just be another mouth to feed that some of them couldn’t afford. “I mean at least here I have a chance. A family. Even if it is a little weird.”
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2021 21:46:07 GMT
"Of course", Tara smirked. She knew that about lion prides already, and Kabili did say he helped. "Wait, like you've...speared something?". She wasn't sure if she found that odd or was impressed. Or both.
What amounted to both of their early childhood, during the depression and then a bit of the war, had been hard on everyone, but Tara was reminded of just how poor Kabili had said he and his mom were. As farmers her family had struggled, but then the war had made a need of machines and planes and...they'd been ok. Not rich, but ok, with all the guilt that brought of why and how.
He really was probably better here.
His dad, the lion, had also been adopted by a meerkat and warthog...
"Wow...quite the...family tree. Uh, you said your...new mom's a lioness right?". At this rate she didn't know what to take for granted anymore.
"Maybe we both just are" she conceded, since they had both been surviving in the Savannah and such for months. "Though I know this much, Mr. MacHenry can think whatever he wants, but can't tell me what to do". It was an odd admission, and while Tara was still figuring that out, but that much was clear. It would be her choice.
She'd heard a rumor about having one crazy aunt, but didn't even know how valid that was. But yeah, if they returned her to Kansas while they searched she could just...disappear and figure it out. Sam Kabili would have it rougher in the city.
Tara met his gaze back seriously and thoughtfully then sighed, "Yeah, you're right...alright if I...get found and have to...pretend I didn't find you...I will, if it helps", she glanced aside then back. Not that she would relish lying, or knew if she could pull it off, but again when they crossed that bridge.
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Samwel Igwe
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Feb 17, 2021 5:36:00 GMT
Kabili nodded his head.
It was really hard to kill things even if it were for food and clothing. But once in a while it just had to be done. “Not often. The lionesses don’t always want us on hunts,” he explained honestly. It was after all their job, and something they were proud of. “But part of them teaching me to be a lion was teaching me to hunt and why they do. It’s really interesting. They’ve got this thing here called “The Circle of Life”.”
He laughed, of course she would ask that question about his mom. Honestly who wouldn’t at that point. “Nala’s a lioness yeah,” he assured her. “Dad was just raised by Timon and Pumbaa when his dad died and his jerkass uncle took over. It’s a long story. I don’t know all of it.”
Oh he could relate to that. The adults could always argue with him, but they couldn’t argue with lions. And he wasn’t going to move. He kind of smirked at the way she said that, honestly they were two peas in a pod in that sense, eh?
“... What about you? I mean if you lost your dad...” he hadn't even thought about that until it really hit him. That she was probably in the same boat he was. “I mean I don’t know how things go in more country places but...”
When she mentioned helping by saying she’d say she hadn’t found him. He felt grateful honestly. Even if he had to confront them at some point. “That’ll help. But I’ll have to face them eventually anyway,” he replied. “Dad’s really worried about them causing trouble here. They’re probably still looking for Zion and they honestly may not be too far off with everything I’ve been learning.”
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2021 19:18:44 GMT
Tara nodded like she was understanding what he said, when really she was more trying to understand it. A human boy becoming a functioning member of a lion pride was uncharted territory, or as near as she knew. She did get it though. "Right...well no, you...seem somewhat committed in that you've...gone full native". That was what she would call the style of dress anyway.
"Although I also wondered if you just ran out of options, Dad wasn't wrong about these pants though I don't think he expected them to make it months on end".
"Circle of life...not even Yun Mibu mentioned that, what is it?". She had come along with her dad on this trip for adventure and a lion's life philosophy sort of counted in that.
She looked caught off guard by a question she should honestly already have an answer to, except that...again she'd been willfully avoiding it. But for the small considerations where she couldn't such as a few moments ago.
She glanced to the sky again, as if that was her answer. Really it was her main consideration. "I...I'm not honestly sure...disappear and live in a corn field, then find a plane and become a pilot?". She grimaced. "Ok, when you make me say the plan...no that wouldn't work and...", she broke off on the thought of orphanages.
"I dunno, I might have some weird aunts back home, but...honestly I don't even know if that's true, they're more of a rumor than people I've met and even so I heard they're...fussy". Wouldn't buy into the idea of a young woman pilot...
Oh gosh...was that really the best her future held? That or foster care?
"I don't know, I'll figure it out later", she dodged the issue again, "And Yun Mibu's cool so I'm good for the moment".
It was sort of like they were allies now, more so than just being the two kids on the Expedition, and if she was going to keep his secret. "I'll get used to you calling a lion dad, I swear, it's just...still odd", she grinned, then looked thoughtful again at the mention of Zion. "Yeah...and the animals...I mean something is either off with them or us that we can communicate like this, so...maybe some of the story is true. You heard more on it? The legend? Like what?". Was it cursed? She probably read too many adventure stories, but that was a thought she couldn't help thinking.
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Samwel Igwe
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Feb 18, 2021 2:14:13 GMT
Full native?
Kabili guessed he had. Given he didn’t even really miss his shirt or pants anymore, his new duds left him a lot of room to run and he was faster... Stronger, he couldn’t complain much. “My clothes were shredded and I was wearing red when I got here,” he explained honestly. “Plus it helps me run faster, a lot less weight on me. It’s pretty freeing if I’m being honest.”
What was the circle of life? She’d been here as long as him! Did not everyone live by it? “It’s uh... Kind of hard to explain. It’s kind of like a life cycle. The idea everyone has one and has a purpose,” he said. “Like my family eats the Antelope and Zebra. But when they die - when *we* die. We go back to the Earth and become the grass they eat. That kind of thing.”
Live in a cornfield? Man, he’d rather live with the aunt! That was probably a worse thought than being stuck in that Outlands place his dad kept going on about. He listened calmly as she mentioned how the leopard was at least cool, until she figured it out. “I mean I’m sure there’s gotta be a solution,” he explained. “Somewhere between raised like Tarzan and living in hell.”
At the mention of getting used to him calling a lion dad though. He couldn’t help but giggle. “Sometimes it’s kinda weird calling him dad for me too. But then I think about all the times I wake up in the morning nuzzled next to him,” he admitted. “And realize he’s pretty much earned it. I’d be insulting him if I didn't.”
His face became neutral as she asked him what he’d heard of Zion. “Nothing specific. But I mean the kingdoms aren’t all... Easy to get along with,” he replied. “Make the wrong step and things could end very differently. Unless Zion were in the Pridelands. We pretty much would have to figure out how to get in and not get killed or violate some treaty.”
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2021 4:44:23 GMT
Well yeah that made sense about his clothes. Red...Tara glanced to her aviator's jacket that...wasn't exactly red? Like a muted sort of maroon? "Well I'm not loosing the jacket, I haven't been spotted yet and...it was a birthday gift so".
She didn't specify from her dad, but it maybe went without saying, him being a pilot and all.
"Oh! Just being fair, yeah I heard of that out in the Backlands, I just didn't know it had a name". She laughed, "Yeah I'll leave the Tarzan act to you". Her grin fell a bit and she sighed, maybe the comments that were helping her come to terms with it all were being taken wrong, or could, if she made too many.
"Look, just 'cause I'm kidding...I do think it's great you found a family. I don't want you to think I don't".
But to the point...figuring out the next step...
"...and yeah, I'm sure I will".
Two kids, even teens, weren't supposed to be able to figure out what to do about something like Zion probably, but well one of them was royalty now and Tara couldn't help giving it her best pondering as well as he explained. "Yeah...and the others probably don't know that, that there's...animals they could offend, they'll just charge in".
And that could be the least of their problems if there was anything magical in there.
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