Kinau was hunched low in the grasses, corded muscles rippling silently under his pelt. He picked his way along the semi-worn path carefully, trying to make the least noise possible. He was now back in the Outlands, and knew his brother wouldn't approve of his sudden disappearance. He especially needed to keep his mouth shut about the whole nuzzling thing; this excited him to no end, but he was well aware that his brother also had an eye for Navayu.
His eyes glistened as he came to a sudden stop and reclined on his haunches, still hunched low to the ground. He studied the territory around the lake basin carefully, making absolutely sure that no one was awake. A crooked smile crept its way slowly across his muzzle; he was pleased that no one was around. He was about to step forward until four sharp pains shot through both of his shoulders.
Kinau tumbled backwards and landed facing upward, looking into the honey hued eyes of Damitra. She had dug her claws into his shoulders and raked him backwards with a mighty heave. She was another lioness in the group; she was Kinau's best friend, actually. She had dark, ebony fur with a gray hued muzzle and paws, her honey colored eyes bright in contrast to her pelt. She was looking down at him with a smile on her face; a smug smile displaying a mix of anger and shock.
"What were you doing?" she demanded in a harsh whisper, glaring at him. His expression was of pure shock. "What?" she asked, allowing him to get up.
"Damitra?" he smiled at her and nuzzled her affectionately. "Where'd you come from? I thought you ran away!" She looked down at her paws, displaying a trio of bloody slashes on her right bicep. Kinau gasped.
"Jedkin caught me," she answered softly, almost to the point where Kinau didn't hear her. But he heard it all too well. He scooted close to her and began to lick her wounds. She smiled at him. "You're still the old Kinau I remember," she said softly, laying her chin across his mane. He smiled as he licked her cuts, cleaning off the blood gently with delicate licks.
"You ran away for only a few weeks, Damitra," he said softly between licks. After he was sure the wound was sanitary, he looked back up at her, smiling.
"Your brother has cruel intentions and a cold heart, Kinau," she said, smiling. "He could morph your soul in that amount of time, and you know it." He nodded, and then collapsed on the ground with an exasperated sigh.
"I'm so tired," he said softly, closing his eyes. Damitra reclined on her haunches beside him, smiling sinisterly.
"I'd be tired too, after that nuzzling fest you had with that lioness!" He immediately shot up. Innocence splashed across his features.
"What?!" It took everything inside him to keep him from yelling. "How do you know about…" She interrupted him.
"You two were in plain sight, Kinau!" She said cockily. "I was simply passing through, glanced over, and whoa buddy!" She laughed, but Kinau remained serious.
"You can't tell Jedkin!" He demanded, "Promise?" She cocked a brow.
"Why not?" she asked. "Is there something you want to tell me?" He shook his head.
"Jedkin has already 'claimed' her," he said lowly. "He says he'll take her as queen when the plan is in motion…" Damitra nodded slowly.
"I see," she said, rising from her place in the dirt. She began to trot over to the cave. She then gestured for him to follow. "No one's awake yet," she whispered, "So you can sneak back inside. C'mon," Kinau trotted up to her and nuzzled her again.
"I'm glad your home," he said softly, smiling. She'd been his only friend since he was a cub, also admiring this 'Simba' character. They banded together, until a few weeks ago when Jedkin tried to force her into being his mate. She fled hastily, not even saying goodbye to Kinau. He was glad she was back, very glad indeed.
She nodded and smiled, both trotting into the cave. Kinau studied the floor as he sauntered to his spot, and smiled and rolled his eyes when he saw Nikka curled contentedly at Duyani's side. She was his favorite cub, always running off and getting into trouble. She opened one eye, peeked out at him, and giggled. He simply winked at her and lay in his spot, Damitra lying next to him. He sighed and closed his eyes, laying his chin on his paws. He was glad his brother was asleep, and unaware of the whole ordeal. He didn't want to make life more stressful than it already was. He soon settled into a light slumber.