Post by Kiara on Jul 18, 2017 22:26:14 GMT
((November 6th, closed to Kovu and myself))
"I won't cross the border, Daddy, I promise."
It was a mark of how much trust Simba had in her nowadays that he had simply taken her at her word.
There was, it happened, a royal duty that needed taking care of, just on the Pride Lands side of the crocodile banks. It was nothing major, Daddy had assured her, just a matter that needed a royal's attention; and it would be another perfect opportunity for her to take on the role, just the same as she had at the buffalo wallow some time before. Kiara hadn't been given details of what, exactly, the task would entail, but she had been promised that she would be greeted by one of the animals involved, who would explain everything once she arrived. The fact that the location was so near to the Outlands crossing was the main reason, she had gathered, that Simba had some misgivings about sending her--
In her younger years, Kiara had had quite the fascination with sneaking over there whenever she was able, and they both knew it--
But she'd promised, and Simba had acquiesced. As far as Kiara was aware, in fact, he hadn't even set a tail on her this time; a lot more trust had grown between father and daughter ever since the girl had settled down to learning how to be queen - even if she still wasn't a hundred percent happy with that path - and the youngster had no intention of betraying his faith in her. As such, she was here now, not far away from the spot where she'd first crossed the border a while ago, waiting for the animal who was supposed to meet her and guide her in this duty she was supposed to perform.
When, an hour later, no animal had arrived, Kiara was more than a little restless.
Where was her supposed guide, anyway?
The cub paced back and forth along the border a few times, her tail twitching irritably behind her. She'd leaped on the opportunity to make Daddy proud of her by fulfilling another (admittedly small) royal duty; but apparently that was going to turn out to be all for naught. Giving up on her pacing for a while, Kiara cast one final glance around the would-be meeting spot, then allowed herself to glance in a different direction; across the river.
While she had no intention of breaking her promise, Kiara could see why the Outlands called to her so. She could see the log she'd crossed, on the first time, to reach the bank where she'd first met Kovu... Kovu, where was he now? Kion had reported his own encounter with the Outsiders, and while Kiara was relieved that Kion hadn't used his roar on her friend, it still left her wondering. His mother had been blown who-knew-where, and Kovu had run to find her...
Beyond the bank, she could see the deceptively still river where she now knew the crocodiles lurked, crocodiles far bigger and more powerful than Makuu's clan, and where she'd first proven her bravery to, well... herself. Even now, Kiara felt a flash of pride as she recalled how she'd survived, and even saved Kovu into the bargain... well, who wouldn't be proud of that?
And beyond that, the Outlands themselves. Roaming amber eyes fell on the cruel and unwelcoming lands beyond, picking out the few landmarks she recognised, and passing over a flash of brown fur--
What?
Stepping closer, pausing only just before her paws touched the very edge of Pride Lands soil, Kiara squinted. It wasn't easy to see to the far side of the crocodile banks from where she stood, but she could swear that was a very familiar figure way over there.
"Kovu?"
Don't cross the border, Kiara, don't cross it-- you promised, remember?
She wasn't going to cross it. She was just gonna lean a bit nearer... yell as loudly as she could in the hopes that her voice would carry without disturbing the crocodiles below...
"KOVU!"
She waved a paw, hoping to get his attention; though whether he could hear her or not, was another matter entirely.
"I won't cross the border, Daddy, I promise."
It was a mark of how much trust Simba had in her nowadays that he had simply taken her at her word.
There was, it happened, a royal duty that needed taking care of, just on the Pride Lands side of the crocodile banks. It was nothing major, Daddy had assured her, just a matter that needed a royal's attention; and it would be another perfect opportunity for her to take on the role, just the same as she had at the buffalo wallow some time before. Kiara hadn't been given details of what, exactly, the task would entail, but she had been promised that she would be greeted by one of the animals involved, who would explain everything once she arrived. The fact that the location was so near to the Outlands crossing was the main reason, she had gathered, that Simba had some misgivings about sending her--
In her younger years, Kiara had had quite the fascination with sneaking over there whenever she was able, and they both knew it--
But she'd promised, and Simba had acquiesced. As far as Kiara was aware, in fact, he hadn't even set a tail on her this time; a lot more trust had grown between father and daughter ever since the girl had settled down to learning how to be queen - even if she still wasn't a hundred percent happy with that path - and the youngster had no intention of betraying his faith in her. As such, she was here now, not far away from the spot where she'd first crossed the border a while ago, waiting for the animal who was supposed to meet her and guide her in this duty she was supposed to perform.
When, an hour later, no animal had arrived, Kiara was more than a little restless.
Where was her supposed guide, anyway?
The cub paced back and forth along the border a few times, her tail twitching irritably behind her. She'd leaped on the opportunity to make Daddy proud of her by fulfilling another (admittedly small) royal duty; but apparently that was going to turn out to be all for naught. Giving up on her pacing for a while, Kiara cast one final glance around the would-be meeting spot, then allowed herself to glance in a different direction; across the river.
While she had no intention of breaking her promise, Kiara could see why the Outlands called to her so. She could see the log she'd crossed, on the first time, to reach the bank where she'd first met Kovu... Kovu, where was he now? Kion had reported his own encounter with the Outsiders, and while Kiara was relieved that Kion hadn't used his roar on her friend, it still left her wondering. His mother had been blown who-knew-where, and Kovu had run to find her...
Beyond the bank, she could see the deceptively still river where she now knew the crocodiles lurked, crocodiles far bigger and more powerful than Makuu's clan, and where she'd first proven her bravery to, well... herself. Even now, Kiara felt a flash of pride as she recalled how she'd survived, and even saved Kovu into the bargain... well, who wouldn't be proud of that?
And beyond that, the Outlands themselves. Roaming amber eyes fell on the cruel and unwelcoming lands beyond, picking out the few landmarks she recognised, and passing over a flash of brown fur--
What?
Stepping closer, pausing only just before her paws touched the very edge of Pride Lands soil, Kiara squinted. It wasn't easy to see to the far side of the crocodile banks from where she stood, but she could swear that was a very familiar figure way over there.
"Kovu?"
Don't cross the border, Kiara, don't cross it-- you promised, remember?
She wasn't going to cross it. She was just gonna lean a bit nearer... yell as loudly as she could in the hopes that her voice would carry without disturbing the crocodiles below...
"KOVU!"
She waved a paw, hoping to get his attention; though whether he could hear her or not, was another matter entirely.
Okay, anyone is up for a plot?
