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 Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:14 pm
 Of course, when she'd heard the awful news, Tufah had rallied her friend Asali to come with her and join the gathering search parties. She might have been thwarted in trying to woo Simi and she may be almost-a-Outlander, but the Pridelands meant everything to Tufah. Her pride was the one thing she put before herself. Why she took on as many chores like babysitting or hunting as possible, she gave a damn what others thought of her, why she'd never left when her family did. Her home was a part of her.
And while they were throne-stealing, the lot of them, Mufasa's side of the family were good rulers. The Pridelands flourished around them and they needed them back. Besides apart from the fact Tufah thought Taka should have been king, she held nothing against them. Except maybe Simi. That damn fool.
So she sat on the edge of the chaos, little Sindri snuggled between her paws, waiting for Asali to turn up and take the cub to a babysitter. Soon the search party would head out to try to find their queen and princess. Tufah didn't want to be left behind holding on to the babe when that happened!
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:23 pm
He was rushing around, trying to let everyone know just where to go if they wanted to join the search party. Others that were more worried about the state of the pride needed to just see the royal family taking action in this, so he knew it was best to be in the limelight and show that he was doing his part to help. It unnerved him, but he pushed those thoughts aside as they came. He just had to-
His eye had caught something. Through all the bodies that were rushing between him and what he saw, it was hard to tell for a moment. But seeing her face a couple times confirmed it. His heart stopped, the wind knocked out of him.
No.
It was Tufah. Tufah....but she had a cub with her.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:00 pm
She noticed Asali nearby, one of Sindri's brothers in her mouth and a 'come on!' look on her face. Unaware of Simi's presence, Tufah lowered her head to nuzzle the youngster to his paws and groomed his mini mane. He was a dear little thing, if a bit scared by all the adults rushing around. She hoped to calm him down. That swift action showed something Tufah had never known she'd had; a nuturing side. As she
And so Tufah vanished, cub at her side, to go deposit the boy. It was only as she came back she scanned the gathering and saw him. Simi. It figured he'd be here, it was his mother and sister missing, so of course he'd be here, but...
Damn it. She wasn't going to cower over here. Tufah turned to whisper to Asali to wait for her and headed over to where the prince was.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:01 pm
He had hoped that she hadn't noticed him. He tried to look busy, talking with a strange face here or there, but there was no way for him to escape. He wasn't going to be in the rescue party, as he needed to stay here and try to help the members that stayed. He needed to show a strong face for them. Right now though, he would have rather dug himself into a hole and would never come out again. He really was scared to talk to Tufah again! Ever!
s**t. She did in fact see him. It was obvious by the way that she was approaching him. Alright, Simi. Act cool. Act like you've gotten over the fact, but not enough so that she thinks you're trying too hard. Of course, he wasn't good at that, always used to showing his emtions on his face. While he did look mildly calm, it was obvious that his mind was racing with little twitches around the corners of his mouth.
He waved goodbye another stranger before looking at Tufah, letting his body slowly sway to face her. The cub's image still stuck in his mind, comfortable between her paws. It made him feel ill as it continued to flash through his mind.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:14 pm
Much more composed, an actress since her cubhood, Tufah didn't show her own nervousness so much. She cooly approached, winding her way through the other lions and stopping for a moment to greet a pale-gold male affectionately. Taking her time. Like Simi didn't matter, although the fact she was going over to him at all clearly meant he did. More than she'd care to admit. Since when do I get butterflies in my stomach? she thought, disgusted at herself, urgh I hate him!
"...Simi." A bob of the head, the most formal greeting they'd ever had and she'd let her lips half form the word 'prince' pointedly before saying his name. Slip of the tongue, really. As if she'd forgotton how he hated to be treated differently for his rank.
"I was so sorry to hear..." She trailed off. No need to recount it all. Everyone knew and Simi would know more than most Tufah reasoned. "But I'm sure we'll find them. So many have turned up to help."
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:23 pm
Simi didn't know what to say. Words failed him for a moment, and he merely bobbed his head, acknowledging her comment. The tip of his tail swayed behind him, his mind thinking about their fight not too long ago. The wounds were still fresh, so standing before her was like pouring salt into the wound. It continued to sting as he let himself look into her deep red eyes.
He pulled himself away, looking to where the lions began to gather. "Yeah," he said, very informally. He couldn't bring himself to act like a pompous prince in front of her. She knew him so well, didn't she? Even if it had all been a lie, there were still some truths within their old friendship.
A bit of silence washed over the male as he let his eyes look past her head. What was he to say? "Are you going to look as well?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:33 pm
She studied him a moment in silence, hating the fact he looked as good as ever, and had obviously been fine traveling. She meanwhile felt a failure and a cub-nibbled one at that. He should have been hers by now. Wrapped around her dew claw and her (dearest) companion. Instead the only impact she'd made was he was wearing her gem. No matter. Ugly stone anyway, never suited her. And as for Simi himself she could always just find another prince or a strong hunter worthy of her time. Yes. Any other would do...she was just stung because her plan had failed...
"Of course. My queen is missing, and her daughter." If she'd hadn't known it'd ruin her composure, she'd have demanded Simi to grow a spine and look her in the eyes. Coward. She'd been the one who'd been accused, who'd failed...but then these were difficult times for the royals right now and would be until they found the missing pair. She'd let it slip. Even if she found it unforgivably rude.
"I've always been loyal - " To the Pridelands, to you, (to myself), "- whatever anyone might say."
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:56 pm
The prince was never a good one at keeping his thoughts to himself. He swayed for a moment, letting his eyes dance over hers before looking past her, or at her shoulder. He couldn't help it. It felt like his stomache was at war with his heart, and neither one was coming out a victor.
"That's....good to hear," he said calmly, his voice drifting away towards the end. "I wish I could go." His last statement was so quiet he wasn't sure she would be able to hear it over the normal buzz of life that hovered around Pride Rock, but regardless he had said it. He hated that he couldn't go, but knew that it was the best choice for everyone. Everyone but perhaps himself.
He shuffled around, his feet flexing as he tried to calm his nerves. The weight of the two rocks around his neck seemed to multiply in moments. Had she noticed that he still kept that stone? Was it still special to her in some way? Maybe she really didn't care anymore, maybe she had already moved on. A flare of envy and anger against the mystery male grew in his chest, but she cubbishly tried to push it away. Why should he get angry over something he had no control over? He needed to grow up, forget everything and start over.
Maybe...he and Tufah could start over, bit by bit? It was too hard to read her, to see if she had any thoughts of that. All it looked like was that she was ready to search for Mother and Sarakiva, and leave him again.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:09 pm
"...come with us then?" Oh Tufah had heard, Simi had her entire attention "You've other siblings who're here to hold down the fort."
While Tufah knew it was best he stay like he did, that he was expected to stay she liked to think if her Sara was taken, she, Tahka and the others would be after their sister in a flash. Regardless of anything else. But more importantly it gave her oppertunity to ask about something Tufah was wildly curious about.
"Besides, in your travels you've got experience in heading outside the Pridelands. Could be useful. How was that, by the way? I heard you'd left." Not long after their fight, which seemed both like it was just yesterday and long ago. Where had he gone to? What had he seen, who had he met...?
Oh why the hell do I care?
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:18 pm
Simi shook his head, the two small stones making a small noise as they bumped into one another. "I cannot. There might be unrest if more of the royals disappear." He didn't want to include other things. He hadn't seen his other sibilings for a while, either. How were they? It felt like everything was falling apart, though most of it was probably in his own mind.
Another awkward question. He sighed softly before answering, feeling a bit of tension grow. "I can say that it was a good experience, and I certainly learned many things while fending for myself," he said in a strong voice. Why was he being so weak? He didn't want to make it sound like he enjoyed it, because he didn't. He didn't enjoy coming back though, either. "They do things out there much differently, it was a good change of pace."
He flicked his tail, looking at her eye to eye now. "Things here I'm sure didn't change much, besides...well, my mother and sister, I suppose." He hadn't heard of anything, but this would give her the chance to say anything about that cub he saw earlier....would she mention it? His heart beat faster as his anxiety grew.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:31 pm
She nodded to show she'd heard, but didn't dwell on his answers in the conversation, though she turned his replies about traveling over and over in her mind.
"Not much has changed, really, life goes on. I found Asali and spend much more of the time with the cubs." Tufah didn't realise that Simi was bound to take this the wrong way, unaware he'd spotted her earlier with Sindri curled between her paws. The male could have passed as a cub of hers with his gauntlets, albeit one who resembled their father somewhat. Plus he was young enough to have been born since Simi was gone - indeed he had been - except he'd been born to Asali, not Tufah. Though Tufah had been there almost all his life and is name was one Tufah had suggested to her friend, she was most definitly not the boys mother. More like an 'aunty'.
"You know cub-sitting was never my strong suit. I'm much better now. Remember that time I got you to come and play hookie rather than sit around with babies all day?" Tufah reminisced without thinking, her cool smile flickering into a frown. It'd been a fun day, back when they'd been younger and she'd not yet managed to land more hunting tasks than cub-sitting chores. But then, she figured after their fight they were almost enemies. Enemies didn't tend to chat about the good old days that much.
She'd really only meant to come over, satisfy her curiousities then get the hell away from him. All the time showing herself off and how she was utterly fine without him of course.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:44 pm
Alright. That in his mind just confirmed everything that his mind and tossed around. Cubs. She might not have directly claimed that the cubs were hers, but that still didn't mean that they weren't. Tufah was a tricky one, he knew this. She was good at avoiding direct answers if she wanted to, so it would be nearly impossible for her to directly say yes or no. Wouldn't it? Maybe she had changed while he was gone. It wouldn't surprise him, since he did feel a bit different. Just seeing her so freshly after finding out about his mother made him all twisted up inside, that's all.
"Well, I see you've kept yourself busy," he said with a nod, obviously not looking too pleased. "And you'll keep yourself busy I hope."
He was dancing around something that he didn't want to talk about, and it seemed like she didn't want to either. He wanted to talk about their fight, but how? It seemed to important, yet not at the same time.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:53 pm
"Busy as ever...?" She echoed, obviously questioning. He was just confirming her theory they were enemies. The very vague idea she had of trying to half salvage the scheme (an advantageous friendship again if she couldn't claim his heart as hers) was obviously a dud. If the reminiscing had worked to get him to relax, maybe then, but he was clearly less than pleased to remember those days they'd spent together. Unless she'd done something else wrong. Huh. She used to read him so well. What could she have said?
How she could offend by mentioning she was now practically a ruddy nanny to her friends cubs whenever the other female was away was beyond her. That was a good deed. Entirely not-evil. The opposite of evil. It was frolicking in fields of butterflies and bunnies territory - far from planning and plotting and the like. Unless he'd thought...oh. Oh that was just funny. Maybe he though she'd meant cubs of her own and was pissed she'd got over him so easily.
"Oh my..." She smirked, the old teasing sly smile and lidded eyes. "You think I've a denful of cubs don't you? Mummy Tufah?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:00 pm
Simi couldn't believe his ears! What? Hmph! He wasn't going to just roll over and give up like he would have when he was a cub.
With a small snort, he looked away with a glare, taking his anger out at the ground (only if looks could kill, though). "I never assumed such a thing!"
He was thoroughly confused now. Then how to explain that cub? It....sort of looked like her, right? And it was very comfortable between her paws. He didn't know where it disappeared to, but regardless!
Wait...didn't she mention cub sitting? He played with the idea, but she herself said she wasn't good at it, right? The male was crawling all over his thoughts like he was stuck in a circle.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:08 pm
"Then what's got you so mad Simi? If not jealousy at the thought someone could fill your pawprints that quickly, what is it? Not that that'd be a hard feat. All they'd have to do was trust me." She needled him, pouncing on the idea. Oh she could be kind, Tufah but she was still so mad at him and relished being cruel. She didn't raise her voice, just swished her tail and smiled that smile. Cocky maybe but pleased. The anger allowed her to ignore how much it hurt that he was still mad at her.
"Is it my mere presence that offends? Because you'll have to order me to leave the lands - prince - because I'm not going anywhere and the Pridelands are big enough for the both of us anyway. Now if you'll excuse me...I think the search parties are splitting into groups and I'd rather like to be in one with my friend."
Spun on her heels and walked back to her friend, proud and pretty. Who needed him anyway? Fool!
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