Sorry it took so long... For those who are waiting for the questionnaire, I'll finish it soon... I'm SO SORRY ! Enough of that. I hope this will make up the delays. Now on with the show!

Tangled Feelings

The sky started getting dark as the sun descends down the horizon. Zuba turned to Florrie who was blankly staring into space. She was obviously was thinking about something. The scenery had already been over but she was still gazing into it.

"What is she thinkin' about," thought Zuba.

He grunted to catch Florrie's attention, which by the way worked. Florrie turned to Zuba, eyes widened. Zuba raised a brow in respond.

Florrie took some moment to recollect some reality. After reality smacked her, she was now aware that the day was late.

"What were you thinking about?" asked Zuba.

"Oh, sorry," Florrie apologize, "I was thinking about some stuff."

Zuba smiled pleasantly. He understood that Florrie didn't want to elaborate her thoughts, "C'mon, let's go home."

Little that they know, an Elvis-style hairdo lion was spying on them the whole time. "This is so sweet!" he exclaimed softly, "When the moment comes, I'll use that fact to defeat Zuba in a match, then I'll become alpha-lion!"

Makunga the lion let out an evil laugh that all the birds that was resting in the trees flew away.

The pair left the Flowering Grounds and head to the watering hole. They talked a little while they were pacing across the savannah. When they reached the midpoint between their homes, they said their goodbyes and went on their separate way.

Zuba got to his home first, he felt tired from the walk but also felt good that he made peace with Florrie. Zuba tiptoed to the dinner table trying to not disturb Zolo who was currently sleeping on his rock couch. He was hungry. He sat down and ate the leftover prey silently.

"Leila? Leila is that you?" Zolo moaned in his sleep.

Zuba's back fur rose up as he heard his father unsuspected moan. Zolo was having a dream about is wife again. He started having these dreams a month ago. He missed his wife very dearly. Sometimes, he would dream that Leila was having a picnic with him, and sometimes he dreamt about Leila's death.

And every time he wakes up, he would started crying, looking up the skies, hoping that she would come to comfort him. Zuba watched in sorrow as his father continued to mumble in his sleep.

"Dad," Zuba muttered, "I'm always here for you."

Zuba gazed the skies, searching the pair of stars he found yesterday. The stars were different from the other day. It was brighter than before. "And I think Florrie would be here for you too, eventually."

Florrie reached her cave in a split second. Her mind was still analyzing her feeling towards Zuba. "Why can't I make up my mind here?" she asked herself as she entered the cave.

"Flo, you're late," Ariana's voice appeared.

Florrie was surprised to see one of her best friends showed up in her home. Ariana was sitting at the dinner table with her parents. They were just about to have dinner.

"Arrie?" Florrie joined them, "What are you doing here?"

Ariana opened her mouth to answer her friend's question but Mona interrupted her.

"She invited herself for dinner, sweetie," Mona answered.

"Yeah, I wanted to know what happened to you and Zuba," Ariana said, "I heard that you and him fought the other day!"

Florrie wasn't surprised that she knew about their fight. It is obvious that her parents told Ariana what happened. Honestly, Mona and Lars just can't keep their mouth shut.

"Well, that fight is so yesterday," Florrie motioned her paw in a girly manner, "We make up."

"You guys make out!" Ariana cried, causing Lars to spit out his dinner.

"Not make out! Make up!" Florrie corrected her cheetah friend.

"Oh, sorry."

"Could we talk about this after dinner?" Florrie suggested. Ariana nodded and continued eating.

Dinner finished peacefully. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred during the banquet. After Mona done clearing up the table, Florrie led Ariana to her side of the cave, which she calls it her room.

The place was a standard area with a one low, smooth stone platform as a bed and a cube shaped rock as a side desk. Ariana had visited to her room many times before. She and Florrie were friends since they were cubs. Florrie's parents would always invite her parents for a night out so Florrie and Ariana would always play in the room with the baby sitter. They shared many memories and secrets together back then. And they still share them now.

The room looked the same as she saw it on her last visit. The only thing new around here was a bouquet of flowers on the bed that Florrie put before joining them for dinner.

"Oooh, flowers," she grabbed and sniffed the bouquet, "Did Zuba gave them?"

Florrie nodded, "Yeah, it's lovely isn't it?"

"So what did you guys did this evening?" Ariana questioned.

"Well, we met up at the Flowering Grounds," Florrie explained, "We apologize to each other about the fight. Then, he started talking about his mom."

"His mom?" Ariana got confused on the way, "Is she sick or something?"

Florrie then realized that Ariana didn't know about Zuba's mother's death. Zuba didn't want anybody to know about that. She had to find something to change the topic, "Anyway, then he started touching my cheek."

It worked. Ariana was so anxious to hear the story, "He touched your cheek? And then what"

Ariana eye's widened after noticing the scar on Florrie's face. "Did he do that to you?"

"Yeah," Florrie looked down, smiling shyly. "His touch was so passionate, I felt if some link between us enhanced," she continued.

"So you like him?" Ariana asked, "I mean: like him, like him?"

By that question, she started trembling, "I-I d-don't know."

Ariana raised a brow. How can you don't whether you are in love or not? Love is not that complicated.

"I don't know whether the feeling I have for him is love or just sympathy," she murmured.

"Sympathy? Why sympathy?" the subject she was trying to avoid came back.

"Let's just say something terrible happened to him and he told me about it," Florrie covered the truth. "And I really feel sorry for him. I want to like him but my mind can't accept him yet."

Ariana could understand her lion friend. Having no clue what your feelings are can be a burden. She would know; she had the same problem with her boyfriend once.

"What do you think should I do?" Florrie asked for advice, putting on her desperate face.

"I think you should get to know more about Zuba and stop thinking about your perfect guy. Maybe that is what holding your feelings back. And maybe get him to know more about you." Ariana answered. "And try to enjoy your time with him. Don't think too much about other stuff."

"Sometimes answers will come for you when you just stop thinking about the little things and rational thoughts," she added, clasping her friend's paw with hers.

Florrie gave a smile to her best friend, she needed to let go of her dream mate and start facing reality. Who knows? Maybe Zuba could be her dream mate.

Ariana smiled back. It was really a sisterly moment with Ariana being the smart and wise sis. All that they need now was a ditsy, cheerful sis to end the day, which Corin can fill that roll.

"How's Corin doin'? Is she okay?" Florrie questioned about her herbivore friend.

Ariana grinned, "She's fine. She's still can't find a date for the party. It's really ironic actually."

"We should help her," Florrie then got an idea. "How about I bring Zuba tomorrow and we'll help Corin find a date."

"That's a good idea. I could bring Ty too."

The two friends giggled together, thinking what Corin would react to their idea. Florrie has to admit that laughter is a medicine for everything.

So how was it? Review and tell me what you think! If you guys need me, PM me okay ^^ .I'll be working on the questionnaire here, evily... Muahahahahahahaha!!!