I'm Still Kickin' (Open)

[Samwel Igwe]

Five days, three hours, and twenty-eight minutes.

That's how long Sam had been trying to find his way in this place. His legs burned, likely somewhat hurt in his crash-landing here to be exact. But really, it was the hunger and dehydration that was starting to take its toll on him. Taking a deep breath as he attempted to keep himself going, he was nearly dying of relief when he finally came across the watering hole. A single, empty one, free of animals of any kind at that point - the one thing keeping him from the others thus far.

Without a second thought, he sprinted, with all of his might. Dropping to his knees, the exhausted boy cupped water into his hands and breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe he can do this after all, he figured, he wasn't going to die out here. Even if everyone else... Well, he didn't want to think about that, like at all.

He hadn't even realized he'd passed out until he heard voices around him.

That was when he opened his eyes again to... Animals. Crap. Sitting up with a slight groan of pain, the teenager stared around... Though they looked just as startled to see him. Was that his brain overthinking things again? Or were they actually crowding him and looking around. Where had the voices he'd heard gone? Just as he'd thought about it, however, a voice came from a hippo at the front. "What IS it?"

Oh great, Sam thought, now he was hallucinating. "Damn, maybe I am gonna die." He groaned, too weak to get up at the moment. 

At least he didn't see any carnivores yet - so he may have been able to get out of this. When he had the energy. ”Looks and sounds young… And hurt,” Another voice spoke up. Sam was getting more nervous by the moment. Tensing, was he losing it? He couldn’t tell. ”Don’t crowd it, you’re frightening the poor thing!”

What the heck was going on? “Y-You’re talking,” he managed interrupting more murmurs. “Animals don’t do that. Animals can’t - what? How?” He asked, wanting to leap up but groaning in pain as he failed.

[Kiara]

K I A R A
RENEA | Princess | Kovu | Click Here

The early morning rays of the sun shown against her pelt as she walked along the border of the Eastern Pridelands. The Guard was known for their patrols, but the Princess rarely allowed them all the fun after all. Especially when she had heard news on the wings of birds of something strange landing in the lands somewhere. Many of the birds could not recall where they had seen it land, but they had told her it was large and frightening. They had fled the area due to fear.

The Princess had yet to see anything odd, but with so many reports, it was no-doubt true. After taking a much needed morning rest, she had continued on her way, following the border until a bird fluttered towards her in a frenzy. "Princess!" Kiara came to a halt and looked to the Kingfisher, who's small chest was heaving from his flight. "The watering hole... there is some strange creature!" Kiara's ears perked on her head and she nodded, taking off at a strong run across the grasslands towards the watering hole.

"Go and find Kovu, your King and Queen, and the Guard once we get in view of the watering hold, Mfaluvi," Kiara said as they came over a small hill and she stopped to get her general bearings before she rushed in the direction that she knew the watering hole was in. It did not take long before she saw the gathering crowd and she let out a low huff, earning their attention.

"Princess Kiara..."

"Look, the Princess is here!"

Kiara came to a slower pace and the animals began to part, many bowing and she nodded in return. When she came to the center of the crowd, she looked at the odd creature... it had little fur, its skin appeared smooth and in place of fur, it had strange items on it's body. "Please, everyone, as your Princess, please back away so that we have some space," she said calmly, turning so her larger body blocked him from the other animals. Kiara was a full grown lioness, she was easily larger than this strange creature. Turning her attention back to the creature, she set her amber eyes upon him.

"What is your name, creature?" she asked calmly.

TAG: Samwel Igwe
LOCATION: Watering Hole in the Pride Lands
COMMENTS: ^_^

[Samwel Igwe]

Sam nearly crapped himself.

A full grown lionness? Normally, when he was around his subject of research, David was around. But now David was dead... And what was this about princess? Sam suddenly felt very small and confused. What the hell was going on? These animals were actually talking? It was the only thing he could process as they all acted rather... Odd. But still. The animal didn't seem to become at all hostile - so there was a chance... No matter how weird this was that he could talk himself out of it.

First, he tried to be respectful, struggling to his feet with a slight bow.

He guessed lion's were the king - or in this case, princess of the jungle after all. "S-Sam, my name is Sam. I'm uh... Sorry for causing a fuss?" He asked nervously, his eyes looking around at all the creatures. At least most of them had given him a little space. "Look I'm not sure what's going on here. But I'm guessing this is the first time a lot of you have seen a human... Heck this is the first time I've seen... Uh... Talking animals?"

He threw up his arms though. "Look, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I came from the sky... Maybe you saw it or didn't," He winced as pain flared up in his leg. "But I'm just a kid, OK? I'm not armed... I'm pretty injured actually... I just wanted some water. I've been out here alone for five days and my guardian died in the crash."

That part was at least obvious. They had to have noticed his shredded leg, the blood, and multiple other bruises from the crash.

[Kovu]

If anyone was right behind Kiara, it was going to be Kovu, and with him running for the chance for something to do it could look a bit suspicious too... but that wasn't important right now. The black-maned lion followed the princess' lead, "Yeah, you heard her." he repeated with a somewhat stern tone, while she approached he got the crowd to give her proper distance, and also a bit of distraction and more chatter.

The lion's head tilted... he was sheltered but not to where he didn't know animals talked... his head turned upward at the boy's description, mouth opening, closing, and then he looked upward again. "Five days?" he hrmed, how had no one noticed? He wasn't familiar with the lands yet to answer. "You'll be taken care of. he assured, with a look toward Kiara.

[Kiara]

K I A R A
RENEA | Princess | Kovu | Click Here

When she heard the sound of Kovu's voice, she smiled and then returned her attention to the young boy. Her sense of smell told her the boy was badly injured. They would need to find Rafiki as well, with quick eyes, she saw another bird, a weaver. "Excuse me, sir," she said kindly, gaining the bird's full attention. He gave a bow and jumped down to the ground for her. "Thank you... Can you go see if Rafiki is at his tree... We might need his medicines." The bird was quick to adhere to the request and flew off in the direction of the large tree.

"Now... Sam... Please, do not get up, you need to be looked at by our royal Mjuzi, he will be able to tend to your injures," she said in a calm voice before she looked around again. At this point, the Guard was not needed, but she did wish her parents were here. This would take a rather big choice and she felt it was likely the only thing to do.

Looking to Kovu, she smiled at him and nodded in agreement. "Yes, you will be looked after... I am Kiara and this is Kovu, Sam," she said kindly to him. "We need to get you to Priderock, it is safer there and it will give you a place to rest."

TAG: Samwel Igwe & Kovu
LOCATION: Watering Hole in the Pride Lands
COMMENTS: ^_^

[Samwel Igwe]

Rafiki?

Well at least h head read the room correctly. To be honest, Sam had been more worried he’d be eaten - especially at a fully grown male lion too. But whatever the heck was going on at the very least it did seem the talking animals were intelligent… And capable of rational thought. What the heck was going on here exactly?

Wait, Pride Rock? Pridelands… It took Sam a minute to put two and two together but…

“Wait is this the Pridelands?” He asked almost blurting it out in shock. They’d actually made it? “Holy crap, we actually made it…” he managed after a moment.

Letting that sink in for a good few moments, he shook his thoughts away a moment, then decided to address what they’d said. “It’s uh… Nice to meet you. Sorry for my shock at first I just… When we went looking for this place this wasn’t what I was expecting,” he admitted. Deciding to get comfortable as it’d be a minute he figured. He may as well explain. “You see I’m part of a group of humans… We came looking for this place a few weeks ago doing research. But there was this huge storm…”

He paused, shaking his head a little. “We were knocked out of the sky. I don’t know if anyone survived either… I was thrown from the plane,” he explained. If they didn’t know what a plane was he could explain later after all. “I guess when you started talking I thought I hit my head a little too hard. Can… Everyone around here talk?”

That was still the biggest shock of the day - to say the least.

[Kovu]

Kovu watched, "Might?" he shook his head some. "We surely will need them." He nodded at his name of course, "You've heard of the Pridelands?" he tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "You came looking for- Why have you come here?" he asked with suspicion. As an outsider himself he knew how well Pridelanders took to them, and perhaps as well learned their ways in the wrong direction, that.

Though he did know humor was wise in these situations, though the 'human' didn't look stressed, it wouldn't do well to make him so. Everyone here can talk, though at times they haven't much to say." he looked toward the crowd, who surely were demonstrating such as it was, and he seemed to want them to allow for himself and Kiara to handle things, at least the talking while they waited for that Mjuzi.

[Kiara]

K I A R A
RENEA | Princess | Kovu | Click Here

The look that Kiara shot Kovu was one of amusement and temper, but she smiled at the strange creature and nodded when he asked if this was the Pridelands. So, he had heard of the Pridelands? This caused alarm to her, because never had they seen such a creature before. He did look slightly like a monkey, which is hands and feet. Rafiki would be able to help, she was sure of that.

"You said, we?" Kiara asked cautiously, taking a glance at Kovu before she looked at the other animals about them. It might have been best to continue this conversation elsewhere. Maybe Pride Rock? The guard was not near either, as they had not arrived. "I have heard of something that fell from the sky, but you are the first to seem to know about it." It was true, she had heard enough about the strange thing falling from the sky, but she had not seen it.

Turning to the gathered animals, she lifted her voice. "Animals of the Pridelands... All is well... Please, return to your day... Oh... Ma Tembo!" She caught the attention of the Elephant, the matriarch of the herd. "I do wish you might stay... We might need your help."

"Of course, your highness," Ma Tembo said with a bow of her head.

Kiara returned her attention to the young creature and nodded, giving Kovu a little nudge with her shoulder at his words about them all talking. As she was about to speak further, the bird returned. "Princess... Rafiki said to meet him at Pride Rock." She smiled and nodded before she returned her gaze to the boy.

"Well, we will help you to Pride Rock, Sam," she said with a smile and looked at Ma Tembo who lumbered over to the group.

TAG: Samwel Igwe, Kovu
LOCATION: Watering Hole in the Pride Lands
COMMENTS: ^_^

[Samwel Igwe]

Sam guessed he’d have to say what the “we” was.

Thankfully to his knowledge no one in the party was dangerous. Or at least acted dangerous. Most of them were animal lovers and explorers, it was hardly something to gawk or be worried about… Bur on the other hand. “Yeah, there was a group of us. I was traveling with my mentor, he uh… Ironically he studied lions,” he paused after a moment. “But he didn’t make it when we crashed. I don’t know if anyone else survived. But we’re not bad people - I promise. A lot of them are here to learn…”

Well that and… “We also think there’s something from our history in the Pridelands,” he explained. “The point is I promise we’re not here to cause trouble. Just to study. Least that’s what David told me.”

Every time he thought of his mentor, he felt pain. He’d really thought he’d had a future when he’d gone under his guidance, and now what? He was alone again. Go figure.

Taking a deep breath, he then assured. “The good news is. I think most of the others are adults,” Sam explained as he stared up at Mama Tembo in awe. “They can probably explain better than I could… Wow, you’re beautiful by the way. Sorry. Just wow. I’ve never seen an elephant this close before.”

And him without his camera.

[Kovu]

Kovu moved his lips some, ensuring his smile was one of friendliness and not of smugness. He nodded at the princess' words, there would be plenty to discuss later. The dark lion moved to be ready to follow on one side of Ma Tembo, as he assumed she would be doing the lifting. It only made sense.

"Hrm..." So they came looking for the Pridelands, but also for something else. Kovu wasn't sure how he felt about that, or how the Pridelanders proper would. He had his guesses, and they weren't favorable toward the boy. He held his tongue on the matter, but thoughts of that would be at the front of his mind for a while.

[Kiara]

K I A R A
RENEA | Princess | Kovu | Click Here

Studied Lions? The idea was quite strange to her, mostly because she was a lion and being studied just seemed... Wrong? Rafiki studied plants and medicines, maybe it was something like that? How did one study lions? Did they go to their homes and live with them? Maybe there were other Prides that allowed it elsewhere?

Kiara glanced over at Kovu and then nodded. If they weren't here for trouble, that was a good thing, but something made her feel uneasy about the unknown. Just because someone said they weren't here to cause problems, didn't mean that was true. "Well, we will do our best to help you find the others," she said with a calm smile, though it was really to make sure they knew if they were here to cause trouble or not...

The memory of some jackals crossed her mind... Rey-Rey had given the Pridelands enough trouble years back. They had come into the Pridelands speaking of peace and second chances... Only to be plotting to harm the animals of the Pridelands.

As Sam spoke to Ma Tembo, the elephant chuckled and using her trunk, helped the young man up onto her back. It would be good to get him back to Pride Rock to have Rafiki help him. Kiara nodded for the elephant to head on to Pride Rock and she shrunk back.

"Will you go find Vitani and the Lion Guard? We need to find these others and make sure Sam is right," Kiara said in a hushed tone so no one else but Ma Tembo could hear. She would be the only one with good enough hearing to hear. Kiara was worried about these adults... They could have been holding bad intentions.

TAG: Samwel Igwe, Kovu
LOCATION: Watering Hole in the Pride Lands
COMMENTS: ^_^

[Kovu]

Though he was letting Kiara do all the talking, Kovu wasn't standing completely on the sidelines, he examined and thought as best he could about what this could mean, particularly where things could turn to trouble. He took Kiara's second meaning, starting to think of how they would handle that... both the finding and the meeting.

"You understand if we have much to think... and talk, about..." Kovu said to the boy, "This is all most unusual." He had a thoughtful look about him, "Still, Welcome to the Pridelands."