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Despite the chitter chatter of the jungle birds, Moo felt the place to be empty, devoid of... well, all what mattered. Time had passed, and with time the cubs had grown into strong, worthy lions. He'd watched them walk away, some younger than others, into the rogue lands. He'd been around when the two brothers had slipped off together in the dead of night; he'd seen them vanish into the darkness, together, willing to help each other out and he'd let them go. He'd watched the smaller female walk off to lead her own life one day, and after that... he'd felt rather than seen Shetani leave the jungle.

His daughter had been missing for many moons now, and all that remained within the jungle foliage was Moo and surprisingly enough, Shetani's 'mate'. The lad had done his job well, he'd had to admit. He'd started out grudgingly, but he seen the change; he'd noticed how the smaller male's gaze had softened for his cubs and for their mother.

Niruzu had remain loyal... and Shetani was gone. The irony of it all stung at the large male's insides. He felt old, worn and much too heavy to move, really. Idly, he wonder what he was going to do... what Niruzu was going to do. There was nothing left for either of them here but ghosts of the past.

Time goes by and the wounds only turn into scars.

The birds continued their restless chattering; Moo had grown accustomed to it. He could remember how Shetani had pouted about the endless sound when she'd first arrived here and the notion only made him frown further as he lay on a large flat rock, sunbathing under the few rays of that filtered through the foliage. He knew he was hardly young any more, but damn it all, he felt older than he had any right to; he felt like closing his eyes and never opening them again.

In fact, he was seriously entertaining the notion of just... closing his eyes when his name rung through the jungle, above the horrible squawking sounds, "Here, lad," he called back, without bothering to lift his head from the rock, "M'here," the voice sounded tired, as if he'd not slept the previous night. Or maybe he was simply in a bad mood; it was always hard to tell with the usually gruff, grumpy lion.

He'd only ever softened when around the cubs, whom he recalled had climbed over him, going as far as slobbering his ears and biting at his paws. He'd endured it all without a wink; honestly, cubs had always been his weak point. He really enjoyed watching the play and grow up. They'd been perfectly safe around him; in fact, it was likely that no there was no one brave enough to near the damned cubs if he was there, "What're you up to? Finally leaving too, eh?" it was not an acquisition, amusingly enough, and his eyes opened even as he left his head on the ground. It was as if he'd been expecting this. Not only that, but it was obvious he wasn't going to move a finger to stop him, "You as well. Nothing left here but ghosts. Bloody hell, what's become of us?" the later was murmured under his breath.

"Have you now, lad?" he murmured, his red eyes focusing on the smaller lion's form before he closed them again, allowing the sun to warm his bulky body, "So 'ave I," this was spoken softly, mostly to himself, "So 'ave I," There was nothing left here after all, so why stay? At first, he'd been seeking out a place where Shetani could grow up protected, and he'd found the perfect place within the refuge of the jungle. Now though, there was nothing to protect and the trees were a painful reminder of the childish cries and laughter he'd heard what seemed like so long ago now.

"Bloody persistent bastards, that they are," he murmured, eyes still closed, no doubt referring to these 'ghosts'. The memories had kept him up many a night, and he'd found himself idly wondering where they'd gone wrong. Or if they had, indeed even gone wrong. Had they? Maybe they hadn't and it was just the way things were meant to be. He'd never been the type to think, or figure out philosophical meanings to things, but lately he'd had too much time on his paws.

As Niruzu spoke, the large male's eyes snapped back open, "Eh?" he seemed startled for a moment, something that was rare and almost out of character as he turned watch him, "Come with you?" for a moment he considered asking him why he'd ever want that, but stopped before the words even formed in his mouth; he already knew the answer to that. Moo was the only family the younger male had left. They were the only two left, "Where would you go, lad? M'old," it was the first time he'd admitted to any sort of weakness.

A snort from Moo as he he watched the other male; the sound wasn't aim to offend though, it was almost a broken chuckle, "M'telling you I'm old, lad. Listen to your bloody elders. Never liked to listen to your elders, did you? Bloody kid," it was grumped, but devoid of anger, and there was actually a spark that somewhat resembled mirth shinning in his eyes. As the other spoke, the old lion felt himself sigh; it was a rattled breath that he felt to his very core, "Eh," he heard himself murmur, "I used to be that lion," but then... everything worth fighting for had left. Everyone had left, moved one, without so much as a goodbye. Granted, his grandchild had had the decency to give him a last nuzzle and a goodbye, and he could forgive the two rowdy boys for leaving without wanting to cause a commotion, but he could not forgive his own daughter's disappearance.

It hurt to know that his daughter... his only daughter, had left and had not so much as bothered to say good bye. On some days, his mind reasons that perhaps she'd gone out to hunt and she'd been killed, or something had happened to her, but that option was more painful and he'd soon ignored it, "It does hurt here," he agreed, "It does," and with those words, he pushed himself up into a sitting position; he'd been saddened for too long and he'd remain here for far, far, more time than he should have. The way his bones creaked and popped and he pushed himself to a standing position made that obvious.

The large male grimaced slightly, but pulled himself together, padding off the rock to stretch down on the floor in an attempt to rid of the kinks in his muscles. Lord only knew how long he'd been laying on that rock, "You're right though. It does hurt here. It hurts like bloody hell," as he straightened up, the male flicked an ear, "Where would you have us go?" it was not mocking, but an honest question, as if for once, talking to an equal, asking for an opinion.

Another snort from the large black lion; he knew fully well it was not 'them' that had made him soft, or weak, but their leaving. Still, it was less of a blow for his ego to think otherwise. Idly, he wondered if Niruzu knew, and was thus, basically lending him a hand to climb out of the dark hole he'd allowed himself to fall into, "Soft, eh? You think m'soft," he stretched again, opening his large maw into a yawn that displayed his teeth to the light that filtered the branched, "I'll show you soft," the later was murmured under his breath, barely audible, contradicting what he'd said about being old only just seconds ago.

But by god, if the lad was going to offer him an exit and a leading hand, he was sure as hell going to take it. He had nothing else to live for here, so why stay? Niruzu had been stronger than him in that he'd decided to leave... where as Moo had almost decided to close his eyes against the pain and merely stay there; let time pass over him and wash him away.

As the younger male spoke, Moo stood back up to his full height again, "Right," he said, and then paused just as he was going to take the lead. He arched a brow and lifted a paw, making a waving motion, a silent hint for Niruzu to lead the way, "Have at 'em then. Let's go find this 'somewhere' you talk of," as he began to pad, the male yawned again, "Anywhere's better than here..."