A quiet night(Open)

[catybug]

It was odd to see her here. Allot of her time was spent at the river, not near the border, but not far from it either, thinking of that place where she had spent allot of her cubhood. The adventures she and Nuka would have, afternoons watching Kovu and Vitani. The training Zira put them under. A life long lost, a life of a lie. She wasn't sure who to be angry at, Zira, who was dead regardless, or her real mother, Sarabi, and so, for the most part, she acted out angrily against everyone. Either way there wasn't anything in that barren wasteland for her anymore.

Still it was odd to see the young female anywhere near the pride before everyone was asleep, yet currently she was sitting upon a rock near the Prideland's. Jasiri sat almost rigid, her fur darkening in the light of the setting sun,golden eyes watching carefully at anything going on around her. She remembered a bit of this place, during her brief life under king scar. Even now, cubs still play here. It was much greener than she remembered. Golden eyes turned up towards the sky where a few stars were starting to twinkle. A light breeze ruffled the trees around her, but soon even it calmed to where there was little to no noise. A quiet night.

[Army Wife]

The five stones... A peaceful location Sarabi thought to herself as she walked from Pride Rock towards the stones she use to play upon. Many of the cubs still played here, but not as many as when she was young. To many parents worried about her children and Sarabi did not blame them from keep them closer to them, with the problems that came with the new Outlanders, though Sarabi hoped Kiara and Kovu were able to find a way to change that.

As she got closer, the wind pushed a scent to her... Jasiri... Her own daughter... She could turn back, but she knew better then to do that. She continued forward and she watched her for a moment. She let out a breath and stepped on towards the Five Stone. "What are you doing down here?" Sarabi's voice was soft, as it had always been. She did love her child, but she knew that she did not love her.

[catybug]

Round ears flicked as she heard a voice, golden eyes moved from the sky to the owner of that voice. Sarabi. Or perhaps she should call her "mother", mayhaps not. The dark colored lioness tensed visibly as her alone time was intruded upon." What does it matter to you?''the young lioness muttered in a cutting tone, looking away once more. Her tail flicked slightly in irritation. The two hadn't spoken much since she had told her.

Her tone took on a slightly more civil tone for a moment. ' I was just enjoying the night." she stated " Didn't know it was such a crime." Of course, wasn't everything here a crime? Okay maybe that thought a bit of an exaggeration. Questions questions, even though maybe they were just curiosity questions. Pridelanders and their silly curiosity. She rolled her eyes once, before turning them back to the stars.

[Army Wife]

Sarabi saw her golden eyes land on her, which looked extremely like her own and Scars. It scared her for a moment, but Sarabi did not allow such a thing to cross her face as she stood there. Her daughter was beautiful, but she wished she could have been more a part of her life instead of Zira kidnapping her. If she could of gotten closer to Zira, if she could have gotten her alone... Sarabi would have had her child and then she would have had the children, those she would have loved all the same, no matter what. "What does it matter to you?'' Sarabi felt the dagger cut into her heart and she just shrugged.

"I was not trying to sound... intruding like, just a bit concerned." She said, taking a few stepped forward, but at the same time away, not wanting to crowd. She looked to the sky for a moment and then turned her head back to Jasiri. "I was just enjoying the night." She nodded for a moment, but she did not expect the next. "Didn't know it was such a crime." She looked over at her daughter and then back at the sky. She chuckled slightly and shock her head.

"I never said it was a crime... Tonight is beautiful... I use to sit out here with Mufasa before... Well, before his death..." She wanted to say Murder, but she could not. She knew that inside Jasiri respected Scar, though even Sarabi did not know how. He killed the Pridelands, he drove the animals away because of his own greed, killing his own brother to do such a thing.

She lowered her head and looked down at the ground, running her paw over the grass. "I miss him so much." Her thoughts came out of her mouth nearly as a whisper and she took in a breath and held her composure as much as she could. "You have a good eye for perfect nights... Like your grandmother." Sarabi was talking about her own mother, she always went out at night with Sarabi and her siblings to Star Gaze.

[catybug]

I use to sit out here with Mufasa before...well, before his death.' " You mean before his murder?"She knew thats what was meant.They had all heard the story not soon after the Outlander's and Pridelander's regrouped. Scar killed Mufasa. No one no longer had cared what had happened to her own father. He was a deceiver, a killer. He almost sent the lands into ruin. It didn't matter that he had a family, no matter what kind of lion he was. He was evil, yes. He had his moments, fatherly moments. Moments that were the reason she held her respect, why she held a little bit of emotion in her heart for her dastardly father. Has evil as he was, as evil as even she knew he could be, he had still been her father.

She didn't answer the part about her grandmother. Her ear flicked slightly as she mentioned how much she missed Mufasa. She looked away from her again, up at the sky. " They say Mufasa is up there, with the rest of The Great Kings." she said quietly. And one day Simba would be up there, and perhaps Kovu. But her own father wasn't, nor would she ever be. " But... I wonder where Scar and Zira are?' She asked quietly. As evil as both where, they had still been her parents, adopted or not. They were all she's ever known as such.

Glowing eyes turned back to the older lioness " Where do the other lions go?" Her words weren't cold or cutting, it was genuine question, coming from the young lioness who pretended to know everything.

[Army Wife]

Sarabi knew the truth, knew her own brother in law had killed her own mate, but had never wanted to admit it herself because inside, she respected Scar and inside, she cared for him. She had grown up with Mufasa and Scar, they were friends. "You mean before his murder?" Sarabi looked at her for a moment and then looked back up at the sky. She gave a nod, knowing it was the truth. "Yes... I never wanted to admit it before he admitted it himself... Scar had been a friend to me before Ahadi had passed on and Mufasa took the throne... Then asked me to be his mate... Scar then turned his back on everyone, never spoke to me again, I was confused for a long time." Sarabi spoke the truth. Her friends had all stood by her, but Scar seemed to change completely. His brother was the rightful heir, the older brother, but he seemed to not understand it. "I had told Mufasa to grant Scar the chance to save the Outlands... They were dead as they are now, but with a King who had a good heart, they would have prospered like the Pridelands... But, he never got around to speaking to Scar about it." Sarabi said before looking at her daughter.

She knew that Jasiri loved Scar, it was after all her father and Sarabi would hate to see her hate the lion. "I did care for him... He was a good friend, I just wish he had opened up more." The truth spilled from her mouth with ease. Mufasa and Sarabi had spoken concern over Scar countless times, but with how busy the Pridelands kept them, they never got a chance to spend time with him. "They say Mufasa is up there, with the rest of The Great Kings." She had ignored the comment about her grandmother, but that was okay, Sarabi knew better then to push subjects. "But... I wonder where Scar and Zira are?" Sarabi looked at her daughter and shrugged. "I know the Great Kings are up there... But Scar drove the land to ruins, but he was still a Prince, just as you are a Princess... I never heard anything about the Queens, Princes, and Princesses, but I am sure all those of Royal would be there..." Sarabi would never know until she passed herself. She set down, her tail tapping the ground lightly.

"Where do the other lions go?" She looked over at Jasiri and then turned her head back to Pride Rock. "There is a large cave under Pride Rock for the Lions and Lioness of the Pridelands... All of our family stays in the main cave above that, if we wish... Simba and Nala, Kiara and Kovu stay there... I sometimes stay with them or below with the hunting party." Sarabi explained before she looked back at her daughter. "How much have you been hunting?" She was sure it was a lot, but she thought she could ask anyway.

[catybug]

Ears flicked, then went back as she listened to the story. She looked back to the sky " I never knew him that well, he never wanted much to do with us before he died." Again, there were those fatherly moments, if very few. She remembered the few times Zira had convinced him to stay with her and Nuka. Though as his madness grew, the crueler he became, and those days were farther between and he was no longer so fatherly.

She snorted as Sarabi said she had cared about him " Then you're one of few that did." She muttered. It was nice though, to hear something a little different about the elusive lion that had been her father.

Sarabi went on to answer her questions. Though she gave a little humorless laugh at the second one " I meant when they deid." she stated " Not everyone's a prince or princes." she said. She hardly considered herself to be royal, though by blood she was. Most of her life as an outcast changed that, she had been raised to hate Pridelander's, and their Royal family, even if just through Scar she was related. Old mindsets died hard and even some Pridelander's aren't so welcoming to the new member's.

" I hunt some." she answered " Allot of the other lioness's aren't that good though.' She crinkled her nose slightly, her arrogance, especially on her own skills shining through.

[Army Wife]

Sarabi knew Scar so well, she just wished that she could have saved him from himself. She did not want Scar to die, she cared for him too much, but she knew that when he took the Pridelands, there was only one way for him to go and she could not stop her son. ”I never knew him that well, he never wanted much to do with us before he died." Sarabi looked at her and then looked back at the sky. ”You should have known him in the older days… Before Mufasa became King.” She said to her, looking back down from the sky and ahead.

She heard her snort and turned her head slightly to look at her. ”Then you're one of few that did." Sarabi knew this, though it was a terrible thought, but she knew the others thought Scar was a evil Lion, but he was just a lion that was gather was Jealous and Greed. ”He was just a Lion and he was over taken by emotions we all have… I wish I knew how I could have helped him.” Sarabi never did know and only hoped that he was somewhere, somewhere nice and showed lot of care.

She heard a laughter and looked over at her daughter slightly confused. ” meant when they died” She could not help but laughed. She had mistaken that question. "Not everyone's a prince or princes." She nodded slightly and looked up to the sky. ”I don’t know… That would be a question that had to be answered by those who are there.” Sarabi knew that Mufasa lead those in their family and even those who were not, but she did not know about that of the others. ”I am sure they have a place, a place for them to be happy.” She said, looking at her for a moment. ”Forgive my oldness… I’m not as young as I once was.” She said with her own laughter and then she looked back at the sky.

She knew her daughter probably did not consider herself a Princess, but she was. Sarabi did not know how to make her happy, not after she had been pushed into the Outlands. She had tried to save her before she left, but there was no use trying. She was with Zira and Simba did not know how to rescue her without having a fight on his hands. ”I hunt some…. Allot of the other lioness's aren't that good though.” Sarabi chuckled slightly at her and then looked over at her. ”They are good… They just need to learn to work together…” She said to her before looking at the sky once again, contemplating everything before smiling and looking at her daughter. ”I need to go on a hunt tomorrow and I need a partner.”

[catybug]

"You should have known him back in the older days...before Mufasa became king." The young lioness heaved a deep sigh. " Maybe..." Sarabi continued on about how he was just another lion and she had to roll her eyes slightly " Yes, yes. He was consumed by his own hate and greed. I've heard it all." she stated. " Apparently everyone was to busy to even try and set him straight."[.b] More biting words, but it what it sounded like. One had to think, what had been behind his hate and jealousy? What is it that pushed him to insanity. " It seems as if that could happen to anyone though."

Golden eyes moved back to the sky as she continued speaking. " Well, I guess it doesn't matter anyways." she shrugged " Dead, is well...dead." ”Forgive my oldness… I’m not as young as I once was.” The beginnings of a smile twitched at the corners of her scarred muzzle " Aint that right. Apparently you're getting hard of hearing too."

She paused at her last sentence. Was that an invitation. She hesitated a moment, unsure. Things had been so tense between them, and still were to an extent. Sarabi was a lion she had been raised to hate, but still she was her mother. " Hmph. Alright then. Maybe I can show you a thing or too bout hunting." That arrogant tone returned a little smirk appearing over her dark muzzle.

[Army Wife]

Sarabi looked at the young lioness as she let out a sigh. "Maybe..." Sarabi nodded slightly before she continued on slightly. She looked at the sky before she heard her voice once again. "Yes, yes. He was consumed by his own hate and greed. I've heard it all." Sarabi nodded. "Apparently everyone was to busy to even try and set him straight." Sarabi looked down... She was half way right... Sarabi tried, but once he realized something was going on, he dodged her more and more. "I wish I could have." She said, looking down at the ground, the breeze causing the grass to turn and move around the dirt. "It seems as if that could happen to anyone though." She looked at her daughter and nodded. "It can... To anyone at anytime."

She looked to the sky, closing her eyes, thinking to herself and speaking the Mufasa in silent and unknowing words. She did not know what else to do, she just wanted to have a normal life again, she wanted her mate and she wanted her children to love her. She knew Simba loved her, but Jasiri... She knew the lioness hated her, she was raised to hate Sarabi and the old Queen could do nothing about it.

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter anyways... Dead, is well...dead." Sarabi looked over at her and gave a quick nod, before allowing herself to look back ahead, the fireflies flying around them both. "Aint that right. Apparently you're getting hard of hearing too." Sarabi looked at her with a smile. "My hearing is not that bad child nor am I that old... You just confused me." Sarabi said, sitting up and looking at her own Golden eyes. Her daughter was beautiful, but she did not know how to gain the trust of her and be the mother she was to Simba.

"Hmph. Alright then. Maybe I can show you a thing or too bout hunting." She looked at her daughter and laughed, standing and walking a few feet, looking over her shoulder as she went to the edge of the Five Stones. "I am better then you think... I was raised hunting and there is a reason I am still head of the hunt."

[catybug]

The subject fell away, and even Sarabi grew quiet. It could happen to anyone...at anytime. Golden gaze moved away, instead focusing on the fireflies dancing around her head. One landed on her scared muzzle, moving towards her noze, a her sneeze scattered them. " Stupid bugs."

" I'll give you the hearing, but you aren't getting any younger." she looked back to the older lioness, a hint of a playful tone entering her voice. Her last comment just earned her a gentle laugh, and she crinkled her nose at it. " For now." A little smile twitched at the corner of her mouth, she hadn't meat any hidden threat behind it. " You never know when someone younger and better will com along." she gave a playful little wink, watching as the older lioness got down from the rock and started walking awway. ( sorry for the shortness)

[Army Wife]

Sarabi was happy the subject had fallen from Scar, the murder who took her mates life, but also a lion she did care so much about. She smiled at the lightning bugs that were coming around them and even landed on her own paw. It crawled over her hand and then flew away when Jasiri sneezed. "Stupid bugs." Sarabi smiled and watched as they landed in the trees.

"They give light to the night." She said, looking up at them for a moment and then over to Jasiri. Her daughter was not raised to respect everything in the world, and Sarabi knew it was best just to show her respect for everything and the knowledge she held without being a complete teacher to her. "I'll give you the hearing, but you aren't getting any younger." Sarabi chuckled at Jasiri and just gave a little nod. She knew this, but she was still young and she was going to take each day as they came. "For now." Sarabi looked at her, smiling at the young lioness and then looking back at the grassland. "You never know when someone younger and better will com along."

Sarabi at this point had moved and walked towards the grassland more. "True... Very true." She set down away from the rocks some and looked out at the grassland. She looked over at Jasiri for a moment. "What are you going to do tonight? It is getting late... Most everyone is heading to bed." Sarabi was wide awake, but she was just curious.

[catybug]

" Doesn't make them any less annoying." she stated, rising up on hind legs to bat at a few that lingered behind, she couldn't help but give a little chuckle. She snapped at one that flew near her face again. Of course, in the outland's anything and everything you could get your hands on was food. It wouldn't have been uncommon to see even the highest of rank snapping a bug from thin air from time to time. Though of course at the moment, she wasn't trying to actually catch it.

Golden eyes watched as the older lioness stepped a few feet away from the rock.An ear flicked at the next question. " Pridelanders must have a reason for everything,hm?' Not that Zira had been any better, she saw a traitor in everyone after Kovu's betrayal and before her own death though she was pretty bad before that even. " I'm just not tired yet, besides I think I'm allowed a few minutes to think?"

[Army Wife]

"Doesn't make them any less annoying." Sarabi chuckled slightly, looking at the young lioness and then looked out at the dark grasslands. She looked out, seeing something, what seemed to be a gazelle, one of the fastest creatures on the grasslands. Sarabi smiled as she saw it. She had not eaten much at dinner and this one was a small one, but she knew better. She was part of a Pride and unless someone else ate with her, she would feel bad about not providing for the others.

She let her golden eyes follow the sweet tasting animal and then looked around for a moment, worried her daughter would not come to the main den and sleep during the night. "Pridelanders must have a reason for everything,hm?" Sarabi chuckled. "No... That is a concerned mother who has worried about her daughter the moment she was born..." She said, looking over at her daughter with eyes full of care and love. "I just want you to be careful and safe... For years I tried to get you back, but each attempt was failure... Now, I have you back to where I can actually speak you without Zira nearly killing me." Sarabi said and then looked back at the grasslands.

"I'm just not tired yet, besides I think I'm allowed a few minutes to think?" Sarabi nodded for a moment. "Only a few... Then the cubs come around... Wanting to play and make sure everyone see them."

[catybug]

Jasiri was silent for a moment, not having an answer to the older lionesses first statement. If she was so loved than why was she banished to the Outland's with the other, why did no one tell Simba that his half-sister was among them? She didn't voice these thoughts though, she wasn't sure if she would have stayed even if it had been an option at the time. Instead her own eyes transfixed on the gazelle, though she hadn't eaten that much at dinner, bt Outlanders were used to eating little food.

A little smile twitted at the corners of her mouth at the mention of the Pride's cubs. ' They aren't as bothersome as the adults." It wasn't a secret that cubs were of few things that could break through the lionesses stone walls. Love for young was also one of few traits she shared with her mother. Though she did not have any of her own yet, seeing as she was with out a mate.