Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2021 7:00:24 GMT
Zuri gave Kabili a quick glare, "I. Am Fine." she said, her heavy breaths slowing as she calmed, but she turned her eyes fully on him, glancing to make sure she didn't step in the mud as she stepped off the... sled. She was angry, but.. not quite, something close to it.
"I don't know you! You really scared me!" she said, "I admit it was fun but do you really not get that not everyone's your friend?!" she panted, "I just really don't like mud and... I don't trust you! There, I said it." she proclaimed, "And I'm not the only one.!" she added defensively. "I'm playing with you but that doesn't make us... pals."
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Mar 27, 2021 20:34:17 GMT
Kabili was of course thankful she was fine.
But he was a little surprised by the lion’s outburst. All of that? Over a little mud? How had that even scared her? The hothead in him wanted to snap and say she needed to calm down and was overreacting. But at the same time he could hear Simba telling him to have patience and not freak out.
After all, he was no stranger to prejudice. Or ill-placed anger. Growing up in the era he had.
“Don’t worry it’s just a little bit of mud where we are now,” he decided not to even entertain her insults. It was the best way to keep himself calm after all. “Do you need help out of that? Or are you gonna jump down yourself?”
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2021 21:07:35 GMT
Zuri stared at him, but her expression softened. She definitely wasn't used to interacting with anyone but Kiara, but she wasn't going to reflect on that.
"No..." she said, then sighed. "No thank you." she said, stepping across the mud, taking long, awkward steps. Reducing the mud as much as possible without being off-balance. She had a look of disgust on her face as she looked in his eyes, "I. really hate mud..." she kept her eyes on him to avoid looking down.
She was perplexed that Kabili didn't get mad, but it was how Kion acted too, boys just... didn't get emotional. At least boy... lions?. She scraped her paws of the mud in the drier ground. "Let's move on to your next wild idea, hm?"
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Mar 28, 2021 8:01:32 GMT
Kabili noticed the softened look but didn't let his guard down.
Honestly, he didn't know what to say about what she'd said. It was a bit harder for him to express his emotions even if he understood he needed to. But after a moment, as she moved away from the mud. "It's OK that you don't trust me by the way. I mean, I'm a stranger. And I've only been here... What three months now?" He commented with honesty as he crossed his arms in deep thought. "I'm just thankful I had somewhere to go after my mom died. I was already expecting it from some people."
His next idea though? He tapped his chin, honestly having to think on that. He hadn't been adventuring in a long time. "Well, I mean, I guess my next question is what kind of animals even come into this place?" He asked. "I bet there's a lot of cool ones."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2021 9:27:54 GMT
Zuri looked Kabili in the eyes after he spoke, she could tell he had a lot more on his mind than he was speaking. "You're... not offended? Your family would have my hide if I said that to any of them about you."[/b] she sighed, "We're worried about stuff like that after Simba exiled Zira." she admitted.
"But... y-yeah. Animals? Nala said that scavengers like these sorts of places. Hyenas, but well... not anymore. Vultures, Jackals... " she said.
While she was listing them, indeed a vulture and a jackal were in their midst. Both of them not the best examples of their species.
A vulture circled above them, but almost in more of a spiral than a circle, while the jackal would only give away his presence by the gentle rattling of a bone against rock. As Zuri took notice of these things, she took Kabili's hand into her paw. "Hold on. It's bad news to meet anyone here." she said, perhaps she had heard Nala and Simba's story...
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Apr 1, 2021 0:16:47 GMT
Kabili was silent for a moment.
He knew that they would be angry but he also did understand her point of view. He was a stranger and again, had only been there for so long. It went without saying that he was not going to be friends with everyone right away. “Maybe, but I need to make my own path. Not just based on my family’s name alone,” he explained honestly. “That’s what my mom did too. She worked with lions. And she knew a lot of a relationship with you guys was built on respect. I just remind myself of the other thing she said: you earn that respect.”
It was a genuinely fair way of seeing things after all.
Vultures? Hyenas? Wait... But that sounded like. Oh shit, what had he gotten himself into? He felt the paw move into hers as he noticed the vulture in question. Honestly, this wasn’t good and he didn’t want to know how Simba or Nala would feel.
“So this is the shadowy place dad said not to go to?” He said. “That would have been good to know.”
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2021 6:28:27 GMT
Zuri nodded along as he spoke, "Yeah.... that's, well part of it. You get it." she smiled softly, she wasn't sure if he was capable, but he at least thought himself to be. That much was admirable. "It's going to be very hard for you to earn respect, you kind of... well? With... a not small group are digging yourself a hole..." she said. There was always someone, but it meant something to have someone say it.
She looked up, "You. You disobeyed his majesty?" she would have yelled if the vulture didn't come closer. Zuri knew how to not get herself in more trouble, and she looked the vulture in the eyes, as it approached.
It was a wrinkled vulture, a yellow beak tipped with red. "Oi! I haven't seen a lion cub 'round here in quite some time!" he said to Zuri. "And 'e was smaller than you!" he turned to Kabili. "Don't be scared now! We vultures only eat carrion!"
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Apr 1, 2021 6:41:41 GMT
Kabili shrugged a little. Of course he was probably digging himself a little hole as an outsider. But he would venture to guess he was hardly the first outsider to do it. Maybe just the first of his generation. Or kind. "I mean, I always knew that. I'm the first human anyone's seen. And it's not like I came to you as a baby," he then admitted. "Probably better off that way too. We aren't exactly the "lion friendly" type of baby. If we got picked up by the back of the neck a lioness would definitely snap it."
"They didn't tell me this was the dark place! He never mentioned an Elephant Graveyard!" Kabili argued back. Like hell he'd have actually gone here... Or maybe found himself caught here if he knew Simba would have had a heart attack. "Oh God. I am in so much trouble when I get back."
He did however narrow his eyes a little when the vulture approached. A little nervous, but not exactly for him. He was too big for this vulture to pick a real fight with... But Zuri? "The cub's with me," he tried to keep a respectful wall between the two of them. Making sure to stand at least a bit straighter and tougher. "What's a carrion..." He asked nervously.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2021 7:11:19 GMT
Zuri sighed, "I... I don't mean like that. Yeah, I understand... it's more about-" she couldn't explain before the Vulture came to them, and she didn't seem to want to talk about it unless it was just them.
"We'll... we'll figure something out! It's part of why I didn't want to get muddy after all... we'll er..." she paused to think, but mostly thought about how she really wanted to slap him for what he said. The foolish boy had practically given the vulture leverage over them.
She glared at Kabili "Uh? Excuse me. We're together. Just some kids out playing." she smiled a sweet, fake smile. She shrugged at the question, but the vulture was happy to answer. Too happy. "Oi, ya know. Leftovers, the meat you lions leave on the bone." he spoke focused on Zuri, but seemed to know Kabili's status well enough. Everyone should of course, there was a presentation.
The vulture leered, "Yes, out playing... in the Elephant Graveyard, the outlands within the pridelands. Aren't you Kiara's friend?" He asked Zuri. "And you, her brother?" he was quite amicable, but it was clear he knew enough that they were in big trouble.
Zuri nodded, "Yeah... Well if you aren't here to eat us..." she leaned forward and sighed, "You're here to use us, or you'll sic hyenas on us, or tell Simba... or both!" she accused. The vulture chuckled and backed away, "My my, you are clever after all." He did find himself too close to the lion and honorary lion to fly away, backing away on foot. He was slow, and clumsy... despite his great potential for threat, Kabili did have plenty of opportunity to stop him... if he thought he had any way of dealing with the vulture.
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Apr 7, 2021 23:32:57 GMT
Kabili shot Zuri a look. Really? She was going to argue about that?
Honestly, he had just meant it because he had the size on this bird. But it didn’t help if she acted like he wasn’t even her friend. Lord, she was a pain in the ass sometimes. Her brother? Oh right! He almost forgot about the fact he probably should know about that. “That’s right, I’m Kiara’s brother. Aka the prince,” Kabili attempted to sound tough. Maybe sounding a little too much like cub Simba in his bravado. “Which means I wouldn’t try anything funny... If people out here actually do I mean.”
Wait? Sic hyenas? He swallowed his bile in his throat. The thought was not a pleasant one. He always heard bad stories about the hyenas do that was hardly a good thing. “I mean, if you’re going to do something that stupid I’ll have you know. I’m armed,” he noted as he brought out his pocket knife. Again trying to act a little tough. “I’m not the same kid who fell out of the sky. So I’d like to see you try.”
He hoped he wouldn’t call his bluff.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2021 15:04:39 GMT
Zuri was as much an antagonist here as the vulture was! At least she just had an attitude problem.
The vulture stopped at the threat, it appeared he didn't trust his speed to get him out of dagger range. That and he had no idea what humans were capable of... Zuri was also there, and he probably didn't know the girl would be useless in stopping him... probably.
He squawked! "Of course n- did you say armed?" he looked at the dagger, a visible gulp going down his throat. "Well, I mean... hyenas tend to prowl around here, like ah said, it's the Outlands within the Pridelands!" he said, taking on a more helpful tone.
Zuri hid her fear behind her attitude, which honestly worked quite well, she still shook but kept it to her hindquarters where the vulture wouldn't as easily pick up on it. "Yeah, no one wants trouble."
The vulture raised an eyebrow, it was clear he wanted trouble, if not danger to his own feathers. "Fine, no hyenas.. but 'ey, I do have to tell his majesty." he smirked, he clearly knew even without Kabili confirming they weren't supposed to come here.
"Oi! Maybe we can work somethin' out? You make it worth my while to keep my beak shut." he grinned smugly, he was not leaving the two be...
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Apr 9, 2021 20:46:46 GMT
Oh wow, this guy wasn't nearly as brave as he expected.
But at the same time, Kabili wasn't backing down, after all the kid had grown up in New York and knew what a fight looked like when he saw one. But still, he wasn't exactly afraid of this guy anymore. Let alone should he be given the fact they were indeed in the Outlands. "I'm not afraid of hyenas. Considering they're supposed to be kind of a bunch of idiots," He pointed out point blank. "But I've always heard vultures were cunning. And I'm not about to be stupid."
Tell his dad?
TELL HIS DAD? That was the best he could do? Well, he guessed actually that was a pretty good threat considering he wasn't supposed to be out here. And the neverending firm stance on that. Well. He was not ready for that at all. "What exactly do you want from me? I mean I haven't got much leverage on anything yet," He replied honestly. "And I'm not promising anything that gets me into more trouble."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 22:45:14 GMT
Zuri's attitude faded, as Kabili gave in to their situation. She wasn't a fighter but wondered if he would still want her to try pouncing, and she didn't think it would work the longer this threatening conversation went.
The vulture chuckled into his wing, "Thanks for the compliment, but you would be good to fear hyenas. That's not a threat, just a warning." he was practically a card-carrying villain, totally amicable and openly evil. He looked to Zuri. "Yeah, no one wants to be in trouble." he had taken Zuri's words and twisted them. "Prince, and you too lioness, I want you to come with me... and just say some kind words about us vultures. Easy enough, roit?"
Zuri's ears went down, and her mouth opened. "What? No!" she looked at Kabili. "You want us to-"
The vulture grinned, "-Honor us with your presence?" he interrupted, "Yes. Some kind words to make up for our dreadful reputation."
Zuri growled, "From the mouth of a prince, and the snout of a royal advisor. I don't think so!"
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Apr 15, 2021 0:50:31 GMT
Compliment? Hardly.
If anything he had just reaffirmed that they weren't exactly nice people! Was this guy stupid or something? Then again, maybe that was somehow a compliment in his eyes? Who knew. Either way, he paused as the vulture made his deal. Say what? Go deeper into the Outlands? With a vulture of all things? A part of him thought that it was a terrible idea. But the other half was a little afraid of what Simba was going to do at this point.
After all, he had screwed up. And no matter what happened at that point he couldn't avoid it.
"We don't have to actually say nice things. Just make him think we are," He whispered Zuri's way. After all, how hard would that be to fake? "What would you rather do? Pretend to be "nice" or get into trouble with my dad?" He asked in a continued hush voice.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2021 16:35:58 GMT
Zuri looked at Kabili, "Uh, Kabili... he's an Outlander." she whispered back, "It's really not a good idea." she said, if she had more maturity she certainly would choose to face Simba, to do the right thing. But that was far from what she was. "But I can too act nice." she said. A new fear grew in her... if she got blamed for his trouble.
She looked in Kabili's eyes, speaking deliberately louder to push aside the vulture's suspicion of the whispering. "You're right." she said, then turned to the vulture. "I'm sorry." she said, putting up her left paw to nervously scratch, genuine nerves but playing it as part of the apology. "Don't say a word about it to his highness, and we certainly could put in some kind words."
The vulture grinned at her change of tune, "Delightful! Prince Kabili..." the bird took a deep bow, showing his genuine delight. His plan was working. "Walk lively, right this way! Honored guests.". The bird himself walked, raising his wing after a bit to show them to a small cave, one which only children, and small creatures like birds could fit through.
|
|