We Are Family

[Sarafina]

There was something unsettling about the gorges that littered the Outlands. Wounds in the earth that they were, like the veins of a giant long dead and drained of blood. Water was rare in these parts and treated as a precious commodity, guarded more closely and ferociously than even the most prime of hunting grounds. Hyena controlled much of the area in their family clans, with the occasional jackal tribe interspersed among them. It was their presence that gave travelers reason for caution; cowards that they were as individuals, to find yourself caught by a clan was to face a particularly unfortunate death. Navigating the narrow pathways between claimed territories was a difficult feat made possible only by the most intimidate of knowledge about the landscape.

It also made for great natural deterrents for attackers. Why risk being flanked by hordes of hyena just to plot an ambush? It took great desperation... Or great cunning. Maybe even a mixture of both; enough to take down a king.

It was the site of Simba's death.

Gentle paw pads graced the earth in careful steps as a lioness crept along in silence. Alone as she was it was prudent to ensure that sound not carry too far in these echoing hills. Who knew how far off the nearest clan was? Stars may have offered silver lighting, but the dark night was the playground for many an unfriendly creature. Sarafina paused to taste the air, ears twitching this way and that as she stood in silence. One paw raised in the air mid-step, a tableau of the wary predator. After a moment creamy toes returned to the dirt before a patch of earth that held only the faintest scent of blood. Months later and the earth still clung to the scent of the slaughter that had occurred upon it, for even rain had not managed to wash away the sheer number of lives lost. Silence continued to stretch as Sarafina regarded the soil with a thoughtful gaze of teal.

One ear flicked back suddenly, the only betrayal that she was not a living statue.

"Children. As your mother taught you to track, I taught her. I know you're there."

[Kion]

"Bibi," Kion acknowledged, being the first to blow his cover. Figuring they were busted. Calling Sarafina by the Swahili word for grandmother, he stood from behind the shelf of rock he'd been crouched behind, walking out from behind it with a somewhat ashamed and sheepish gait. The cub's expression was uncomfortable and sad and his ears drooped. "I... saw you heading towards the Outlands, and I got worried. I thought I might tag along just to make sure you were okay."

Ears drooped even further as he realized the spot upon which Sarafina was standing. The spot where they'd found his father's body.

[Kopa]

Kopa winced as Safrina called out, revealing she knew they were here. Kopa stepped out after Kion and saw that Safrina was standing where they had found their father's body. He winced at the painful memory. He then spoke after Kion did. "Yeah, what are you doing out here anyway?" He growled. He seemed surprised by his words. Why did that come out so hostile?

He glanced at Kion and whispered, "What do we do?"

[Sarafina]

"My grandsons." The tone was warm, dripping from a gentle smile that did not quite reach Sarafina's cool eyes. Within those sulked some hollow tone, an emptiness that could not quite be described by a single word. Melancholy came close, as did mournful; neither could capture that expression perfectly.

Slowly the lioness turned to face the pair of leonine Freedom Fighters. Head tilted slightly as she assessed them, blinking coolly but once. Sarafina had not been given even a moment to truly meet the cubs her own daughter had borne, being one of the many pridemembers shooed from the Pridelands upon Simba's return. She could recognize them only dimly as she'd seen them from a distance. This was to be their first meeting... What a place for it to happen. Sarafina looked to the younger of the pair, her voice hesitant as one who wasn't entirely sure they were in the know. "Kion," her gaze then moved to the elder. "and Kopa, isn't it? I would say it's a pleasure to finally meet you, but..." A pointed glance took in the locale, lingering upon the spot she'd just been studying in silence.

"... Perhaps not under these circumstances."

[Kion]

"...Yeahhh.. these aren't the best circumstances." Kion agreed, hanging his head a little. The cub still looked quite sad. It really wasn't ... helping that they were standing on the spot where his father's body had been found. That fact in itself was enough to bring Kion's depression back full force. "...Did you come to pay respects to Dad, Bibi?" He asked. He figured it was the case, but it didn't hurt to ask.

[Kopa]

Kopa eyed the lioness suspiciously. He wasn't sure what it was, but something just didn't seem right with her. He felt chills but couldn't understand why he had them. He nodded though when she mentioned him. But then she trailed off. "But... what?" Kopa asked aggressively. He felt himself being surprised by his sudden aggression.