I LIVEEEE! Yes, I know it's been awhile. I actually wrote a chunk of this before but I apparently never finished it till now so I apologize. I hope everyone enjoyed their halloween! (it's one of my favorite holidays)
On a side note, my phone was stolen which has left me pretty bummed out at the moment. (And most of my writing is on it.) so I am trying to find the person who stole it before it is lost forever.
Anywho, please enjoy!
It's quiet this morning here on Priderock. The visiting lions are resting up due to their plans to leave tomorrow evening. While I think it's strange they would wait till night to travel, Musa insists that they don't mind the dark and it won't be so hot out I guess. I haven't heard any more about the negotiations yet but I hope to talk to Scar again today. I have a hunch that Scar might be by the watering hole so I'm heading there now. Suddenly, I hear a small sniffle and peek around the corner to find Nuka sitting on the lowest rock of Priderock looking very upset. Zira. I quickly scan the area feeling tense but when I don't see her, I look down at the cub.
"What's wrong, Nuka?"
His ears go down as he avoids eye contact.
"Felix, d-did I do something wrong?"
I frown feeling confused as the cub's eyes start to water.
"Wrong? What gave you the impression you've done something wrong?"
Finally, he looks up at me and my heart breaks at his sad eyes.
"That other lion…he said mother knows what I've been doing and isn't pleased."
Other lion? Musa? I crouch down.
"What other lion? Musa?"
Nuka shakes his head and looks down at his paws again.
"No! The…the one you used to hang out with… The one that always glares at you."
For a second I'm confused before I get that he means Mheetu. I straighten up feeling a bit surprised at this tidbit of info. I mean, I'm not surprised he glares at me but… what would give him the reason to talk to Nuka like this? I sit back studying the cub.
"Is that all he said?"
He shakes his head as a single tear drops onto Priderock.
"He was passing Ajia and me this morning while we were playing and he stopped when he saw me. He looked kinda scary when he said that mother was mad and then his gazed hardened even more when he told I should just stop and go home."
I nuzzle the cub gently and stand up.
"Nuka, you haven't done anything wrong. I'll talk to Mheetu and see what he meant, okay?"
I start to turn to face the direction the hunting party went about an hour ago, when Nuka sniffles.
"Oh yeah, he said one more thing… He said everything would make sense tomorrow?"
I look back at the cub to see him fidgeting nervously and despite the pit in my stomach, I give him a carefree grin.
"Oh, Mheetu is always so dramatic and grumpy, he probably just needs a nap. Don't let what he says bother you."
Nuka nods and already looks a lot better than at the start of our talk. I give another grin as I make my way down Priderock dead set on finding Mheetu. No use worrying the cub…
I faintly spot a dark furred lion by the watering hole before sighing. Talking to Scar will have to wait… I make my way into the now patchy tall grass as I try to spot the hunting parties ahead, cringing as the dry grass crunches and rustles loudly under my paws. This grass is almost gone…the drought has clearly begun…
After a while, I finally spot movement ahead and I speed up from my fast walk to a light jog seeing they aren't tracking anything yet. In fact… they look almost troubled. Scanning the area, I can tell there isn't another living thing in sight that isn't lion. I instantly see Scar's scowl in my mind and know they can't show up empty handed. I approach Nala who is closer to the outside of the cluster of lionesses and offer a nudge and a small smile.
"Hey, what going on?"
Nala turns to me looking surprised and a bit troubled.
"Felix? What are you doing here?"
I shrug causally.
"I'm looking for Mheetu and I thought he'd be here."
The lioness shakes her head as her brow furrows.
"We actually haven't seen him since we first came out here."
My jaw drops.
"What?"
Nala looks down.
"He came out with us this morning like normal, but then somewhere in between going out in our groups and meeting back here…he disappeared. His group was the last to arrive and they said they spent a lot of time trying to find him but failed. Sarabi just went back out there to search for him with a few others but I was told to stay here and keep hunting."
I frown. Why would Mheetu just disappear like this? His message to Nuka and now his disappearance act only makes me worry even more about all this. I swallow hard looking down at my paws ashamed.
"Nala, I should have told you this before, but I think Mheetu has been sneaking out at night."
Nala's head snaps up to me clearly surprised.
"What do you mean?"
I shuffle my paws before looking up at the lioness unable to even force a smile.
"I ran into Mheetu once early morning and he said something about how some lions don't get to sleep as he headed back to Priderock. I don't have a clue where he had been though."
Nala frowns and she narrows her eyes suspiciously.
"That doesn't make any sense. Where would he be going to and why didn't you tell me sooner?"
I shake my head slowly.
"I wasn't positive. For all I know, he just had a nightmare and went for a drink of water. You know how the watering hole is getting smaller now, so waiting for later might not have guaranteed him getting a drink?"
I know this is a weak theory but I hate worrying Nala like this, especially around the anniversary of her mother's death. Nala only looks more troubled as the other lionesses notice my arrival and quiet their talking. Nala nudges me and I realize they expect me to say something, I guess. I sigh before turning to the group trying to think of what to say. Looking at all of them, I can tell they are worried and I can't blame them. Mheetu is missing and everyone here cares about him deeply. Death has been lurking around here since Scar took action to get the throne, so I can see why they worry now.
"I know everyone is concerned about Mheetu… I am too. And I have every intention to find him however…"
I pause glancing at Nala. There's no way she'll be able to focus on hunting at a time like this despite what Sarabi said. I think about what Sarafina had me promise before she died, I can't leave her alone at the moment. I look forward and continue.
"I will assist with the hunt today in place of Mheetu. Sarabi has headed off to find Mheetu and she knows the land more than any of us. If she wants the pride to continue hunting, then we hunt. I know I'm not very good when it come to this as I've been told countless times by Nala, but my hope is that Mheetu will come back before the day is out."
Some of the lionesses nod or chuckle in agreement and I scan the group. The mood has already lightened slightly among them. I continue.
"On that note, we should all keep an eye out for him and if you see he needs help, abandon the hunt and go to him. "
More head nods as I glance over to Nala. She probably won't admit it but, she looks slightly relieved that I'm staying to help. I lean over to whisper.
"Now what?"
Nala chuckles and rolls her eyes as she steps forward.
"Assuming you can keep up, now we head out together. My group found a small group of Antelope near the border looking to be resting up before moving on."
I smirk with a nod and follow her as the lionesses start moving.
"Then let's go hunting."
Expect an update soon!