Pacing, Mkorogo glared at nothing in particular. What was wrong with Kohpi? He'd noticed her acting... Different... But he couldn't put his paw on it. The leopard had witnessed her eating more than before, as well as begin to get bigger. What was going on?
Kumboko wiggled before she jumped from one fallen tree to another, doing her best to keep balance. Where a tree formed a natural bridge across a small ravine, she crossed it, claws pricking into the wood to keep her upright. The lands around were interesting, a fascination of scents and sounds for the cub to explore. One scent that reached her, she'd smelled on her aunt time and again. As her paws touched the ground, she made for the leopard, ears perked up
Turning again in a circle, Mkorogo's line of vision came upon a cub. It certainly stood out... Especially in this area. When it got closer, he recognized it to be Kohpi's niece. A happy cub... He went over, tail curling just a bit. "What are you doing all the way out here? It's dangerous for a cub!"
When she got close to him, Kumbuko sat down, tilting her head. "Why? How is it dangerous?" A smile took over her face, stretching the white part of it into the purple. "You can't mean yourself!" As if to prove a point, she stood, bounding over and play-attacking his tail.
Mkorogo let out a startled sound, dancing away from the cub. "Hey, now, my tail is for nobody to touch!" Except maybe Kohpi... Turning so that his front was to the cub, the leopard scowled. "I don't mean myself!" Or did he? "There's lions and things out there who won't think twice about killing a cub!" Like her brother...
A frown took over the cub's face. "Why would they hurt a cub?" The little lioness shook her head, then went over, rubbing on Mkorogo. "You would never hurt me, would you?" Looking up, she offered him a smile. For a moment, though, it flickered. His past... It scared her just a bit.
Looking to the cub, the leopard sighed. "Others have their own reasons for harming cubs..." Sitting down, he moved his paw away from her. "The colony I came from... They don't like other felines. Especially my father..." Shaking his head, Mkorogo let out a heavy sigh. "If he comes here... And finds Kohpi... He'll kill her, without a second thought. He hates lions and cheetahs... Enough to kill."
The smile vanished completely from Kumbuko's face. "He'd... He'd do that? But... Why? Why would he hate somebody for what they are?" In her small world, it made no sense to her. Why would anybody hate another enough to kill? But then... Somebody hated her mother enough to kill her... The cub fell into silence, simply looking down.
Ears moving back, Mkorogo nudged Kumbuko. "Hey, now... No sad faces!" He offered a bit of a smile. "If my father comes here... I'll keep you safe, alright?" It was a tall promise to make. He didn't know if he'd ever stand a chance against Lakshmana. It was worth a shot, though, wasn't it? "Why don't we get back to the rest of the pride? It can't be safe for us out here."
Nodding, Kumbuko got up, padding across the log. Towards the center, she paused, looking up as Mkorogo stepped over her. "Will you stay, Mkorogo? Stay here, in these lands?" Somehow, she'd feel safer if he did. Like she felt safer with her father there, and Uncle-Momma Shotonin, and Grandma. They were a welcome presence to her, as would his be.
Tip of his tail resting on Kumbuko's head, Mkorogo paused. After a moment, he looked back at the cub. "Sure.. Besides... Kohpi's staying here... I'd rather be where she is..." He couldn't bring himself to say he loved her, without being in the same place. Without another word, the leopard continued walking, slowly leading the cub back to the pride's center.
