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Muujiza knew that she had to get Dinah introduced to the clan soon. Otherwise they might leave without her if she continued to pretend that she was sick! It was a blessing that the nvwati hadn't seeked her out yet - maybe there were enough small injuries from all the hunting sessions to keep him busy. Still, it was hard to worry about it too much when she was enjoying the company of Dinah. For once she felt like she had a friend, and it was a comforting feeling.

"Did you want me to find something to eat?" she asked. It had been a while since the last meal, and Muujiza was getting a touch hungry herself.

Muujiza glanced towards the better hunting grounds before glancing back at Dinah. "Perhaps you'd want to join too? We can shoot for something easy, to get you warmed back up!"



"May I join in?" a deep voice asked as he peered around the rock outcropping. He had known where Muujiza had been, since she had been seen coming and going with small game, presumed her signs of recovering. Except it had been nearly a week, and it was high time that the lioness should have recovered. Skan had decided to investigate himself, his Seer abilities not giving him a clear picture, but a bit of a feeling that he should show up to see what was going on. And now it was quite clear.

"W-wanidatsi Skan Kanati!" Muujiza blurted out, feeling her heart nearly burst from her chest. How...wait...oh no!

Muujiza laughed nervously. "I....I was going to find you or the alu'nadi, but not until Dinah was fully recovered." Was that a good excuse? She knew that it could be, but it was hard to describe what was wrong with Dinah. She looked so much better than she had when Muujiza first found her. Would he believe that she had been harmed at all?

Skan patiently glanced from member to stranger, familiar face to not familiar face. He suppressed a sigh, thinking that it wouldn't really help in this position. The look on this Dinah's face told him more than what Muujiza could have. She looked terrified, while Muujiza looked like a cub who knew the lecture and punishment was coming.

"You're not in trouble," he said calmly to the peach-coloured lioness. "You, on the other hand..." he said sternly as he glanced at Muujiza. "You should have come to me or the alu'nadi immediately. You know my sentiments on strangers."

Muujiza was not too pleased with what Skan said. She knew that he was talking about being responsible, but she still felt like she had acted correctly. Being deceitful was not a good trait, but she felt that there was no other choice she could have taken. Dinah had not been in a state to be around other lions, especially if she had felt out numbered. "She hadn't been ready. I think if you and the alu'nadi had asked her too many questions she would have broken past the point of healing. Even further than what the nvwati could have done. I did what was right. I would have come to you directly to tell you the situation. I realize I am in the wrong in some aspects, but not all."

Skan listened intently. That was what he was supposed to do. He was the ultimate authority over the alu'nadi, though situations were rarely brought to his attention. The pride was peaceful, and he could only hope that it would stay that way.

He couldn't resist. He sighed and shook his head. "Regardless, you could have asked for a private conversation with me to work out the details. I would have left you alone if I'd have known."

Muujiza knew that her eyes were watering a bit. She had been so angry, but now it switched back to surprise. "..wha? But...but I know you don't like strangers here. I had hoped to..."

Skan grinned, a bit unwillingly. "To continue to deceive me? Don't forget, Muujiza, that I can See the truth when it comes to me. I would have found out eventually."

Muujiza hung her head, feeling a bit ashamed. She glanced over towards Dinah, and back at Skan.

"We'll see," he replied, and turned to the peach lioness. "Your thoughts?"

Skan was a bit intrigued about how passionate Muujiza had been. He observed as much of the pride as he could, and he always assumed that she was just a quiet lioness to mostly kept to herself. It was interesting to discover that he had been wrong about a lot of her. She was just waiting for someone like Dinah to come along and open her shell up.

Muujiza was feeling her stomach twist in knots. She just wanted to make this work, and she was willing to fight for it even if it was the wanidatsi. She...yeah. Even if.

"Alright," he finally said, breaking the silence. Obviously he had stepped into something that he probably shouldn't have, at least not in the way he had done. "Dinah, even as a stranger to me, you are clearly not a threat to anyone. You are welcome to stay here and rest. I will meet you again when you're feeling recovered."

He turned to Muujiza, still intrigued. "I came to fetch you as it is time for us to move on. You should stay here with her until she feels ready to come within the clan. Then we will meet, the three of us, and decide what will happen next."

Muujiza didn't think she could ask for a better outcome than what she got. "Oooh, thank you wanidatsi Skan!" She laughed as she picked herself up to bow to the leader, giddy as she turned to Dinah. She just couldn't believe their luck! "Yes, we'll find you as soon as she's ready to be part of the clan."

Skan smiled. "Alright. That sounds like a deal to me." He stretched a bit, readying himself to return to the clan. "Don't let it be too long so I don't have to worry about you two being out here alone." And with that, he turned to leave.

Muujiza was grinning ear to ear to Dinah. "I'm so happy for us! I never expected him to find out, I'm so sorry about that Dinah."