OPEN: (and needing a title)

[emmettandme]

Gozi

I ran to the edge of priderock. I wanted to see the sunrise. Simba told me it was beautiful, and I want to believe him. My paws scuffed the large rock. I watched as it finally rose, smiling. I had made it. Impalas were rising, as if they wanted to see it too. Today would be the day. I will catch my first prey today- even if no one wants me too. I will catch a wildebeast, an impala, an antelope, something. Something edible and something somelion can eat.

[Kiara ♥]

*Kiara*

Princess Kiara eased her way out of the lions den where her father, mother, and brother slept. She was always the early bird seeing as it was the only time she could go out alone without her father frantically sending escorts, whether it was her brother Koda, Timon and Pumbaa, or even Zazu she hated being followed. It was one thing she would always be jealous about, Koda got to roam around as he pleased while she was kept under close watch like some sort of prisoner. The pretty burnt gold lioness sighed would they ever trust her to life her life? Princess or not she wanted a sense of freedom, freedom to choose her own path not one set out for her. Her oval ears flicked in thought as she glanced back at her sleeping family. They all wanted Koda to rule the Pridelands that much was certain, she could see it in her parents proud eyes when they watched him bring back that prey. When they looked at her she could have sworn she saw sympathy from her mother, and a slight bit of disappointment from her father, and pity from everyone else. She wanted desperately to prove that she could make a great queen some day, but did she really have to change who she was to do it? Nala once told her that Simba was exactly like her and he turned out to be a pretty great King so why didn't anyone have faith in her? The lioness turned out of the cave realizing a soft sigh, maybe she should just step down now and same them the trouble. Her copper colored eyes glanced around as she stretched out her slender form.

Either way even if she was made queen or not she would still have some sort of title, her uncle Mheetu was still considered a royal due to the fact that his sister was queen. Therefore meaning that Makima was also a royal, and would be next in line if something were to happen to her and Koda. Even Ventus, the orphan cub, was a semi royal being Mheetu's adopted son and all. Kiara took one last look at the opening of pride rock and dipped her head in farewell before leaping down onto the path. She walked slowly allowing her paws to be light and silent, she wouldn't want to wake up her father. It was times like this that Kiara didn't seem like herself usually she was more carefree and bubbly, but when the thoughts of who would succeed came into her mind she fell into a state of depression. She knew soon enough her and Koda would have to face the three trials to determine who would be the true heir. Kiara thought back to the time of her grandfather Mufasa and his younger brother Scar. She wondered if Scar ever felt the way she did right now, depressed unfavorited. Maybe that was the reason her did the things he did to prove he could have done the job if given the chance. Sure she couldn't even forgive what he had done, but she didn't blame him completely either. As she reached the bottom of the path she leapt down onto the grass. They greeted her paws softly upon impact and she now turned to see the sun peaking over the savannah. The light made her copper hues glow beautifully like the sunset across the blue sky they glowed a brilliant golden russet color.

She squinted her eyes to see the outline of a cub, her eyes quickly looked over the young male that she recognized as Gozi. A small smirk played at her lips as she wondered what he was doing exactly and without an adult lioness. Still she understood the need to go off and be on your own, but curiosity made her trot after him. Eyes locked calmly onto his frame as he stood to the watch the sunset. Pausing a moment before proceeding she smiled. "Beautiful isn't it?" she asked calmly before strolling up next to the male cub. Her eyes sparkling as she watched the earth light up into vibrant colors. It was as if the world was reborn over and over every time the sun rose, it was one of her favorite things to watch. Remembering the little cub at hand she turned to look down at him, smirking playfully. "And what are you planning on doing today, and by yourself no less." she giggled she did try to be stern but what was the fun in that?

[emmettandme]

Gozi

Kiara scared me. I swore I was all alone, watching the sunrise. I was being softhearted- and that wasn't very good for my reputation. I had outlander blood for starters! I can't be soft! I turned and jumped a little, laughing at Kiara's attempt to scold me. "Well, what do cubs my age do?" I questioned, standing up. Well, what did they do? I wanted to catch my own prey. Was that normal?


The sun was just over the hills, and more Impalas rose, making my mouth water. I stood up, and flicked my tail towards them. "See? I'm going to catch one of those. And you can eat it. And you can tell your grandchildren that you ate the first prey I caught, the greatest hunter in the pride." I puffed out my chest and sniffed a piece of my mane out of the way.

[rafiki]

The baboon had seen young Kiara wander off on her own, maybe because she had that sense of freedom she always had like her father had done so while he lived in the jungle with Timon and Pumba. However he only shrugged it off as he watched from Pride Rock from where he was. She would eventually have to learn the ways of a female on her own as well, climbing down the rocks carefully from Pride Rock he began to head his own way, yet it seemed like constantly he was in the path of the young queen. Or Princess at this rate. He decided to be on his own in a nearby tree. Carefully he held onto his staff as he began to climb up into the branches, thinking of his great boabob tree that was within Pride Rock's sight. Many of the lions came for him for his guidance, otherwise he was up there in his lonesome. He didn't mind it since he made many trips to Priderock to see what he could do there. Though this time he noticed looking back at where Kiara was, she wasn't alone. Another cub was with her the whole time. "Ah Rafiki sees we have a new comer. But to intrude on such a moment? Is it worth it. Rafiki wonders." He muttered softly enough. It was not near loud enough for the young lions to hear him.

[Kiara ♥]

*Kiara*

kiara turned her gaze warmly on the younger lion seeing him jump nearly out of his fur when she approached. a pleased look came across her face, she must be getting better at stalking usually she made to much noise. the golden lioness turned her gaze back out onto the savannah watching it light up, and in honor of it she sat on her hunches relaxing at the beauty of it, it was this that made her problems drift away. it was as if everything that troubled her melted away with the night and the sun allowed some happiness back into her soul, and for that she was thankful. her eyes then drifted across the savannah watching as all the other animals started to awake from their slumber, birds were now soaring into the skies in search of prey, and atelope started to leap through the long grasses. she allowed a soft smile to pierce her lips as she watched it all it was truely amazing what happened in the mornings. turning her head to look back at pride rock she narrowed her gaze thoughtfully too bad her family slept in. shrugging it off she turned to focus her attention onto the cub seeing the tufts of red her had started. he reminded her just a bit of her father simba, if it wasn't for the obvious difference in size and form, as well as the black in his pelt as well. she watched as he looked almost irritated at her question, and it made her narrow her eyes in amusement. he was acting a lot like her, she made the same faces and always wanted to prove something, she still did.

"Well, what do cubs my age do?" he had asked her and kiara took a minute to think about it. she was never a normal cub back in her day, so she wasn't a hundred percent sure still she had a basic idea of how they were supposed to act remembering koda at his cub age. "well i suppose you play fight, observe the world, and practice pouncing." she answered lowering her copper hues onto his face again, flicking her tail around her dainty yet powerful paws. the movement of some leaves caught her attention and she turned her head to look for the source. her eyes narrowed suspicously as she tried to identify the noise, but brushed it off. she just hoped it wasn't timon and pumbaa, or worse zazu. he always seemed to be around when you least expected it. upon hearing gozi's voice again she turned to look at him, watching as he boasted about himself and puffed out his chest. she laughed, "quite confident arn't you?" she asked using a tail to poke the air out of his chest. purring softly she got to her paws allowing the sun to dance off her fur, she lowered a bit so he could hear her. "tell you what, i will eat your first prey if you eat mine. right now you can practice for hunting, but you have to wait until you are a bit older to fully hunt. you see these animals-" she tilted her head in the direction of the large grazing antelope and impalas. " they are way to big for you to take down, thats why most of us lioness's travel in groups. it takes a lot of speed and strength, things you develop in time. you can always try on smaller animals like moles." she suggested, she didn't want to discourage him but it was true. even she and koda had to wait until they were almost two years old before even attempting larger animals.

[emmettandme]

Gozi

Moles?! I staggered on my paws. The lioness was being unfair. I could truely bring down an impala. Well, maybe a small one. "Moles- uck." I looked at Kiara. She was trying hard not to laugh- I could tell. "That's no fair. I should at least get training from someone right?" I glanced at her hopefully. She could help me with my stalking.

A bird flew to the edge of priderock, and I knew it wasn't Zazu. "See?" I whispered, getting into stalk mode. I crept closer, and then pounced. The bird flew away, and I missed it by sevreal tail lengths. I scuffed my paws and I couldn't look at Kiara. I knew she was laughing. My father should be here. He should be the one telling me what I was doing wrong. He should be here- not her. I thought bitterly. Then a horrible question went into my head.

"Kiara..........?" I batted at a moth above my head. Then I put my paws on the ground, and slid onto my belly. Sand licked at my dark fur, and then at my paws. "What's it like to have a father?" A tear slipped down my cheek.