The Pride Lands (Zeke, NM, kovu42, morri908)

[Zeke]

The wind had died down from last night and the sun shone brightly above them. The snow around them was fresh powder and was up to Zeke's tummeh. Ice coated the rock around them and would make the ascent increasingly difficult. Zeke stood outside the cave and soaked in the sun, waiting for his friends to emerge from the damp cave.

[morri908]

Tai stood up and followed his friend. He couldn't wait to get out of the mountains and eat. He couldn't help but think about why they had even gone through the mountains, it had all been for Mila and now that she wasn't with them anymore. He couldn't help but feeling guilty for her death, he had suggested the voyage through the mountains. As he continued to think about it, he couldn't help but realize how stupid it was to travel through the snow caped mountains. As he walked out of the cave he looked to Zeke and quietly said, "Morning Zeke."

[Zeke]

Zeke closed his eyes, stopped, and sighed. "Hey," He said under his breath. He didn't feel like talking at all, all he wanted to do was get to the other side of the mountain. He wished to never meet eyes with another lion again after what he had caused. After taking a brief pause, Zeke moved on at a quick pace toward the top of the mountain.

[NightmareMoon]

Nanati saw Zeke and Tai whisper a few words to each other. Even though she couldn't hear the exact words, the tone of voice she heard told her that it was nothing important. As Zeke started his brisk pace towards the summit of the treacherous mountain, Nanati followed him and Tai. She kept her distance, although not too far, from the two males. She didn't want to be talked to or anything or the sort. She wanted absolutely no confrontation. As her legs moved and as she subconsciously followed the two masculine figures in front of her, her mind wandered to other things like the scene yesterday when the terrible tragedy had occurred. She couldn't take her mind off the horrific incident and the friend she had lost, and how Zeke would take it all. She couldn't take her mind off how horrible the pain Zeke was currently enduring could have possibly been. She couldn't take her mind off of Mila and how great of a lioness she was and the new cub that would have arrived soon. She couldn't take her mind off any of it.

[morri908]

Tai looked back to see Nanati walking pretty far back, he stopped walking for a moment to allow Nanati to catch up with him. The look on her face told him that she was thinking about something, and he knew what was bothering her. He knew she was thinking about Mil, but more specifically Mila's cub. It was very obvious that Nanati couldn't wait for Mila's cub to be born, but that wouldn't happen now that she was gone. Tai stopped himself from thinking about it by paying most of his attention to his surroundings.

[Zeke]

Zeke did not look back for his friends, he just kept on moving up across the face of the mountain. His head was hung low, looking at the snow under his paws. His eyes stared hard at the plain snow and unlike his usual vibrant eyes, they maintained a cloudy, dull color. He came to a small ledge but didn't slow down, he continued to walk the same pace along the small ledge without any second thought.

[NightmareMoon]

Nanati felt Tai brush up against her, and she knew that he had left Zeke to come to her side. It was something that she wished Tai wouldn't have done, but she had no will power to tell him to go back. She was at an all time low and it was obvious.

Nanati brushed up against Tai lovingly as to tell him she knew of his presence. Her eyes trailed the ground as she thought of everything that could have been. Everything that would have been. Her mind wandered as her legs carried her to her next destination.

________________________________________________________________________________


A few hours later, Nanati and her friends had reached a summit of the mountain. The weather was great compared to the previous day and the skies were clear and the wind was at a minimum. Upon reaching the frozen white summit of the deadly mountain, her eyes immediately scanned the horizon before her. She noted a minuscule object that was more then likely big rock in the middle of a giant valley, but that was all she could make out from such a distance. It looked like a great place to live, even from up at the altitude she was at she could see the lush, green plant life and the herds of animals that were only dozens of specks.

Upon completing her rapid scan of the land before her, she looked over at Tai, then Zeke to listen to what they would possibly have to say about it, and although she had no words, one of them were more then likely to have some.

[morri908]

Tai looked out across the horizon, and saw what looked like a land full of animals. After looking for a few moments he looked toward Zeke and Nanati and said,It looks like we might have found what we were looking for. Tai was really tired from walking up the mountain, and he decided that this was a great place to lay down. He proceeded to walk toward a flat spot, and laid down waiting for someone else to talk.

[Zeke]

Zeke stood quietly next to his friends. "Do we even know what we are looking for anymore?" He asked. His voice was cold and coarse, lacking any hint of accomplishment or joy in reaching a resting spot. He watched as his friend contently lay down. He knew he can never be content again, not after what he's let slip through his paws.

[NightmareMoon]

Nanati heard Tai's words and footsteps towards somewhere. She didn't turn around to look at him or anything of the sort, as her eyes were fixed on the great valley that seemed so enormous and immense from the highest point of altitude for miles, which she stood on. She paid no attention to her mind as her mind wandered to what goodness could possibly come from such a place, and although they would need time to heal from their fresh cut wounds, she figured good things might come from this place. Only time would tell.

Zeke spoke with a cold and spiritless tone. A tone that was able to pierce right through her and make her emotions set off again. A tone that made her remember the horror of this mountain they stood on. Zeke made a good point. Nanati was unsure of what she wanted anymore, as Zeke was.

The lioness darted a quick look at Zeke after he was finished talking. He looked so unresponsive. So depressed. So cold. It worried her, but she insisted that the lion just needed his space. She shook her head and softly spoke a simple word. "No."

Her eyes wandered once more towards the valley and the happiness that seemed to emanate from it. As her eyes fixated on it, she still hoped the best would come out of the perilous journey they had just experienced and good things would be soon coming.