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Makatas eyes widened at the lion, picking her paws from the sand and smiling, her confidence boosted that she had the attention of a fellow african creature. Her voice was stronger. "Please, sir. May you tell me where a river runs? And where I may be?" She said, having no familarity with where she was. I hope that I can home... The worring thoughts haunted her mind...What if mother and father dont want me anymore?... Trying to supress her tears she focused her attention back on Mwali. Hoping that he would know where she had come from and where she was. Her parched tongue was still lolling out of her maw, and she seriously needed to find water soon. The journey across the sand had a tenious and hardwearing one.

Mwali was a bit annoyed by this…. If she couldn’t find her own water why was she in the desert in the first place? And with her state did she expect him to carry her to the water if he did tell her? That would be a laugh, all he needed was to walk through his pride with a stranger draped across his back. They’d give him hell about it for months on end. His father wouldn’t be happy either- of course his father wouldn’t be pleased with his plan to seek out his sister and another land. He very well might be signing his own death certificate if he just up and left. Suppose he wanted to return? His father might see him as a traitor and kill him on sight. If not him, then perhaps the pride. He might have more luck asking his father’s permission to do so- at least his father might give him directions. Once again he caught himself daydreaming and shook himself back into the present situation.

“It’s a little past here… an oasis lays just before some brush, but you have to cross our pride’s cavernous home to get there…” Why was he bothering in helping this one? She was obviously weak and couldn’t handle herself. Perhaps it was pity? Or guilt? Perhaps he’d hope for the same treatment if it had been him on his belly instead of her. Who knew… and not knowing annoyed him a bit more. “But you’ll have to walk to get there.”

Jasi ran at full speed. The thicket was only a few yards away now, and she had to be quick. She pounced into the thicket rollingover some. She sat upright and shook her head, and went riged at the sight of a female lioness, with 6 cubs. She then turned her head and saw Kiu, pacing outside the thicked. She began to shake. She knew she was in worse trouble now then if she had just stayed at the den. She looked at Kinja, and thought she looked familur somehow, but she quickly shook it off.

Kimeti was right beside his brother. Teeth bared as he growled as deeply as he possibly could for one so young.

Kinja was taken by surprise when the dark cub appeared. A growl had also escaped her but as the little one began to tremble Kinja walked over to her and stepped over her sons, not letting them by her. "Who are you and why are you here?" She asked in a soft voice before giving her sons a look.

Kimeti saw his mother protect the other cub and was a bit put out that he wouldn't get to defend everyone. He plopped his rear end on the ground wanting to see what would happen.

Mwali ignored both her grin and any comments she had spouted off afterward. She was no longer any of his concern. He had other matters to attend to. For the moment, he was debating his plans on leaving the pride again…. Something he caught himself doing far too much for his liking. He hated that he could never come to a sound decision on anything, that he would let his opinion be swayed by things like a bird, or a small daydream. He needed to speak to his father. Though the king was a tyrant most of the time, he would listen when approached by one of his own kin. Mwali wasn’t his favorite offspring but he was his son. He began out towards the desert. At least he knew where his father might be. He was always out patrolling his territory at this time of day and he seemed to have a normal pattern as well. Mwali and Kui both had been taken along the route to see the desert as cubs, he’d often walk it with Kui when they were at play as young cubs.

Days long past… things were different now. Kui had a female that he had taken to and cubs of his own now. He had a kingdom to think of, and the both of them knew their father was getting older. Though Mwali was never to be the king, he wasn’t bitter about it. He hardly cared for that fact. He’d never looked at a female and wanted her, he’d never wanted to care for anyone other than himself and perhaps his intermediate family members, and he didn’t want the responsibility of fending off potential foes. It was just too much for him to handle so in this case, the goddess chose well to make him the second born male.

He wanted to speak with his father, though… to know what he knew of his sister’s disappearance, where she might have gone off to, and if she was to be punished for her crime in leaving the pride. If there was no punishment, then he would have no reason to leave the pride in knowing that he wouldn’t be punished if he were to return. On the other hand- if she were to be punished he might as well not go after her for if she were found they both would be in danger. Perhaps she was better off where she was now and perfectly happy in her new home. Perhaps a new pride had accepted her and she was queen. Who knew?

Or- if out of curiosity, he could tell his father that he was going out to seek more slaves for the pride. Their two slaves had gone from them… so it was a good enough excuse. The worst he’d get for coming back empty pawed was a good scolding about how useless he was. That was something he was used to though. It would give him an excuse to leave if he wanted to and perhaps a better standing with his father. He could explore during that time and see what he wanted to see. Perhaps he’d find his sister and warn her, or lead her home depending on the case. Perhaps he’d find there was no reason to leave the desert and pick up a few slaves…. Or become a slave himself. That was an unsetting thought that he pushed back further into his mind.

He could smell his father now, and hear his angry roars. Someone had invaded, no doubt, and he wasn’t happy about it…. It sounded more annoyed than anything. Perhaps he was getting too old to catch his quarry this time, or the prey was quicker than he and giving him a good work out. Either way he knew well to keep his distance from his father until told to do other wise. After a few more moments, Mwali reached the top of a dune and spotted his father towards the bottom, snarling and clawing at a den where his prey was most likely well out of his reach. He sat himself down and watched quietly. He knew better than to interrupt, but he was within sight if his father cared to notice and address him.

The small trembling fox jumped as she was spoken to.. then gave a determended look looking at the two brother cubs, she'd protect them. Like she had been ordered to, no need to anger the gods.
She muttered under her breath to the cubs "go around behind him, i'll run around in front and try to distract him for a moment. go as quick as you can ok?"

Wokovu nodded reading himself to run, tiny body trembling with fear.. but. he kept his hopes up, they'd all make it.. they'd be fine.. right? yea. yea?..
He waited for his brother to start, then he'd keep up.

The fox slowly crept foreward, silently as possible behind the huge lion, looking at the two cubs out of the corner of her eye waiting for them to go.

Matakas fur bristled against the ground, eyes closed in half contentment. Her tail wrapped around her legs as she sighed and fell into a daze. Where was mother and father? She wondered if she would ever see her siblings again. Her past could reveal itself to her at any moment because she was only in consussed amnesia and any memories could trigger a full account of her small adventure... She rolled over and got caught in suprise by falling into the icy lake. It was refreshing, but when she got out she began to shiver. It was an odd sensation, being warm and cold at almost the same times. She turned her blue eyes to the cloudless blue sky and blinked deeply, closing her eyes for a few moments. Sooner that she knew it she had drifted off under a parched tree.