Empty Echoes

After her task of getting help had failed, Tasa decided to run back to the ravine where she had been forced to leave her sister. Their adventure, in hopes of attracting care and attention from their parents, had turned into a disaster in the blink of an eye when Giza had stumbled and fell into a ravine along the edge of the Pridelands. When neither could find her a way out, Tasa rushed back to Pride Rock for help, but it seemed the care and attention they desired would not be found in the Pridelands. Heshima was barred from helping, her new cubs growing in her belly and some complicated with Scar Tasa didn’t fully understand kept her den-bound under threat of hyena attack. And their father proved as uncaring as the middle cubs feared, claiming Giza to already be dead, treating her accident as a lesson to others (specifically Tasa) to not go “foolishly” looking for trouble. She had tried to argue, tried to do something, but Tasa was physically and emotionally exhausted, especially after witnessing her father ruthlessly strike and scar her mother. The little cub has began to wonder if Giza wasn’t better off far away from their parents, who seemed to be getting worse with time. Tasa’s own hate was growing, and this whole incident had confirmed for her that her father did not care, at least not for her, and that the rumors of his reign being a tyranny and a death to the lands were gaining more backing by the day.

But Scar had allowed hyenas to search for the dark princess, but Tasa knew that their help would be unwelcomed and truly no help at all, but a threat. Scar had made it clear he cared little for the fate of his middle cub, so the hyenas would certainly take this chance to have a fresh meal if they found Giza. So Tasa had no choice but to sneak out of the den once more, while her father was distracted with his anger and the hyenas too excited at the prospect of fresh meat to care where one little cub went. The creamy cub escaped through the back, creating a small opening through a thin part of the den wall were rocks and dirt were complied haphazardly, far from the eyes of the mouth and main lounging room of the den.

While she couldn’t explain where she got her energy from, Tasa pushed herself to make it to the ravine again before the hyenas, hoping at the very least she could warn Giza before it was too late. It was light out now, so she figured by now they could find her a way out that was hidden in the darkness. She passed the large funny shaped baobab tree where the cubs had continued on together, which seemed so long ago for only happened a few hours before. She didn’t stop, her paws carrying her to the brambles which they had attempted to traverse and finally to the edge of the ravine. “Giza!” She hissed, trying to find a tone of voice quiet enough to not attract unwanted attention, but loud enough to find her sister. “Gizaaa!” Her voice was weaker than usual, dry and cracking, and she panted as she paced along the edge of the small cliff, trying to catch any sign of her sister.

No one called back.

Tasa tried again, getting more and more desperate with the passing minutes that she had been too late, that someone had already attacked the only sibling she felt close to, that her father had been right all along. She didn’t know that Giza had already found her way out of the ravine, but on the other side, stranded without a way to return to the Pridelands, and by now was already far away from the land she had been forced to call home. “Giza, please,” Tasa cried, looking down the cliff and finding an unstable path down, stumbling and sliding into the ravine while the sound of the falling stones and her desperate voice echoed back to her, another reminder that her sister was no longer there. But the cub continued searching, looking within nooks and crannies, under little dug outs beneath boulders, within a few stray logs, behind rock formations, within every shadow. Her mouth was going try, her throat aching from tears held back for hours, tears of worry, tears of fright, and now tears of failure. “I came back for you...” Tasa said softly, staring down the seemingly endless ravine, heart heavy with the unknown fate of her sister, and the guilt growing that maybe their father was right. Maybe this had all been her fault.

There was no telling the trouble Tao would be in, if someone discovered the young princess missing from the termite mounds. Her father would never forgive her for lingering so near the borders, but she couldn't help but be curious about what was waiting beyond them that everyone feared so much. It was only meant to be for a minute or two, she only wanted to peek, but she found herself inexlicably drawn to the place. The Pridelands were a forbidden place, and from where she looked, over a river infested with crocodiles, it looked no different than the kingdom she called home. It, too, was dry, and barren. Too young to know that it hadn't always been so, Tao felt compelled to continue on along the unseen border.

The cub knew that she couldn't be out for too long, or her father would have a fit. When the stench of a hyena met her rosy nostrils, Tao fled and hid, but she never spotted one of the dreaded canines. Finally, she came to a wide ravine that dipped perilously on both sides. This seemed as good a place as any to turn back and go home, but she didn't. She just had a feeling that she should go a little further. Regardless, she followed her gut and continued on, keeping a safe distance between her and the ravine. Increasingly wary about the distance she had traveled, Tao couldn't turn around now, as if she was drawn to something she didn't know was there.

The sound of someone pleading, barely audible at all, caught her attention, and immediately Tao hastened in the direction of the sound. Barely visible at the bottom of the cliff was the pale form of another cub, and Tao uttered a surprise gasp. The distance between the two was unbelievable to the small cub, and she took an instinctual step backwards, away from the edge that would send her tumbling into the ravine, too. It looked to Tao like the cub was in trouble, and she was overcome with conflicting feelings of helplessness and determination, all at once. Up until that day, the peach Outlander princess had always erred on the side of caution. She had never been put into a dangerous situation, and was seized with uncertainy for what she should do next.

One thing was certain: she was not leaving the site until the cub, whoever it was, was safely freed from the ravine. "Hello? Are you okay?" Her voice was soft, bell-like against the steep cliff walls, but loud enough for Tasa to hear -- and loud enough for anyone that might be lurking nearby to hear, as well. Tao wasn't concerned with who might hear her from her side, since it was bound to be an adult, and someone she knew that could help the small stranger out of her predicament. Before even waiting for a response, Tao called down, "I'll get you out, don't worry!"

Even from a distance, she could see the other cub was also female. Her blue eyes darted around the precipice of the cliff, searching for any way down. In the hot African sunlight, even with the shadows cast within, she easily spotted a very thin path that would lead her down to the bottom. Or at least halfway down. From there, she would either have to find a new trail close to it, or suck it up and jump the rest of the way. But jumping would do both cubs no good, for then they would both be trapped. With a worried sigh, Tao began to step carefully down the first path, hoping her options would be less limited once she began her descent. Pebbles and dirt dislodged beneath her tiny paws, causing her to inch along with a very obviously nervous expression playing her features. All the while, she would chirp out occasional reassuring phrases, mostly for the cub below but also for her benefit: things like 'It'll be okay!' and 'It's not so bad, really!'

Tasa started at the sound of a strange voice, glancing around for the source. It was obvious it wasn’t Giza’s, no matter how much her mind wanted to believe it, as this voice was far too soft. It took the cub a moment to find the other cub who spoke, as the dry gorge distorted sounds, but Tasa soon caught site of another cub up on the edge of the cliff, on the opposite side of the Pridelands. She hadn’t known how close she was to the boarders, nor that the Outlands loomed on the other side, only that Giza’s and her’s intended travels were away from the Pridelands. But as the cub, who seemed somewhat younger than herself, paced along the edge to find a way down, Tasa momentarily wondered if she was hallucinating. She had never seen another cub outside her pride before, and the conversation about strange-looking cubs she had with Giza (seemingly a lifetime ago) came to mind once more. Somehow, it was hard to believe there were others outside her own family, so Tasa was momentarily dumbstruck as Tao slowly made her way down the cliff, pebbles and dirt clods tumbling down the side from beneath her paws with abnormally loud clunk clunk clunks. She continued to chatter useless reassuring comments, another reminder of Tasa’s past situation but a few hours ago.

Finally, Tasa shook herself out of it, blaming her slow response on the incredibly long day. “Of course I’m not okay, but I don’t need your help!” The cub snapped, watching the cub sourly. One of the dirt clods the peach cub had dislodged tumbled down to Tasa, falling apart at her feet, and the creamy cub kicked the pieces back up towards her in annoyance. “What are you doing, you idiot! I don’t need to get out, and you’ll just get yourself stuck. Don’t assume like you know what’s going on!” Tasa hadn’t been worried about getting back out of the ravine, figuring she could just struggle her way back up the path she had taken down, so long as she could find it again, but that wasn’t the first concern on her mind. While the peach cub didn’t appear threatening, Tasa couldn’t help her annoyance and growled at her. “I bet you’re the one who scared Giza off! Just leave me be, I need to find my sister.” The Pridelander really had no clue where her russet sister may have went, or what had driven her there, she was always ready to cast the blame on someone, especially as she was struggling with guilt as it was.

Tasa continued to pace through the dirt and pebbles that had once been beneath water, trying to catch some form a trail that could lead her to her sister, but she was still young, not a great tracker (even if she WAS a great pouncer, if she did say so herself). Her eyes burned with held back tears and kicked up dirt, and she continuously rubbed them with her front leg, trying to ignore the other cub though she kept her guard up and was careful to know where the stranger was at all times, even if she was trying to play it cool. Tasa had had it instilled in her since day one that strangers were dangerous, and was only learning that everyone was dangerous, stranger or not. But that didn’t mean she would act like a scared little cub. Usually, she would be curious at a situation like this -- this was the first time she had ever truly encountered someone outside of the Pride (besides the strange half-members Khepri and Korofi, but those encounters were only ever brief and from a distance). But that day, Tasa was not in the mood to be nosey or curious.

Tao froze dead in her tracks when the other cub finally responded, annoyance and anger ringing clear in her voice. This was the last thing that young Tao had expected, and never before had someone spoken so harshly to her. The words had an immediate affect on the deeply sensitive cub, and her bottom lip began to quiver as the weight of Tasa's words surprised her. Idiot? "I.. I don't, but.." The words ended abruptly, caught in the cub's throat. Now was not the time for tears, though. Clearly this was a crisis, and whether or not the rude cub knew she needed help, Tao was going to be the one to give it. The hurt look was quickly erased, and she gave an indignant huff as she looked down from the spot she had stopped and the pale, and now dirt-covered cub below.

Maybe the other cub just hadn't been taught good manners. The cubs in the Outlands would have been in big trouble if they ever spoke to another lion in that manner, but now was not the time to scold. A thought then occurred to Tao, and a single thin eyebrow arched questioningly. "Are you a Pridelander?" Tao knew there was a reason she was supposed to avoid their neighbors, though known cared to explain to the youngster what exactly the problem was. Perhaos it was because they all had bad attitudes. But then, how would she feel if it was Zivia that was suddenly missing? The thought of losing her older sister caused the peach cub to frown, peering down at Tasa again.

She was only upset because she was missing someone. This made perfect sense to Tao, who could now blame the other's attitude on her fearfulness for her errant sibling. Anyone who had lost their sister would certainly have cause to be upset, and though the words were still stinging, Tao tried to shrug them off. "I just got here. I haven't seen your sister, I'm afraid, but maybe I can help look for her," she offered, though half-heartedly. It still didn't seem wrong to abandon another cub that was in trouble, even if they weren't very nice. Her gaze shifted back to the top of the ravine, in the Outlands' side of the border. "Or should I go and get help?"

Tasa was too preoccupied to care much that she had hurt the other cub’s feelings, such a problem never completely dealt with. She had no doubt hurt her siblings’ feelings before, many times without even realizing it, and her parents had failed to do much about it and teach her what was polite behavior, Tasa’s manner’s slipping through the cracks while all the attention was focused on Kifu, Mheetu, or Ari. Well, besides her father’s advice to not bother her siblings and not be annoying. But she was figuring now that was more due to his own reasons rather than actually helping Tasa become a better lioness. The most she learned from him was that harsh words were a common thing cast, and usually had a stronger affect than anything tender and sweet, even though the cub had craved the latter for so long. When Tao stuttered out her reaction, ceasing her movements, Tasa glanced back briefly, wondering if the younger cub would turn and run now. She was surprised how easy her words had affected the peach cub, and some part of her thought about apologizing but she really wasn’t in the mood. Then Tao pushed back her offense and instead huffed at her, so Tasa returned her attention to seeking, not bothering to make amends to a stranger.

When the peach cub asked if she was a Pridelander, however, Tasa’s attention snapped back to her. “Considering the Pridelands are right there,” she gestured back to the other side of the cliff with a violent turn of her head, “that would be the logical conclusion, wouldn’t it?” Tasa said sourly, her words unusually harsh even for her, but in that moment she didn’t care. The day had been a long and tiring one, and being nice was the last thing on her mind. “And you’re an Outlander.” She concluded, “Either that or a rogue. What’s it to you?” Her tail flicked in annoyance, a bit of fear blooming in her stomach as she remembered how most outsiders disliked Pridelanders. Or specifically, their King. For probably the first time in her life, she was thankful she had inherited her mother’s pelt. Besides her attitude and her eyes (which could be from any multiple lions), there was no obvious feature that traced her back to her father.

Tasa couldn’t help the disappointment though when Tao admitted she hadn’t been there long and hadn’t caught sight of Giza. When she offered help, Tasa scowled. “I don’t need--” She cut herself off, re-thinking her initial response. Her gaze swept over the long ravine, the possible places Giza could be seemingly endless. And who was she but a single, small, young cub? The reality of her helplessness smacked her in the face and she swallowed thickly, shoving back both her tears and her pride. “If you want to make yourself useful, then fine.” When the cub mentioned getting help, Tasa’s mouth went dry. “No! No others!” She snapped, her higher pitch revealing her panic.

She didn’t trust others, and while it was true and older lion might be able to help, the harm they could cause was a larger threat, especially if they found out who she was. She assumed cruelty like Scar’s and the rogue who attacked her mother was common, and didn’t doubt the dangers they spoke of. With Tao, Tasa could handle herself. The peach cub was a bit younger than her, and though they were about the same size, Tasa thought herself more experienced and would be able to get herself out of any danger posed by the cub. Anyone else though... Tasa didn’t want to test it.

The cub could only stare down at Tasa when she realized the other female was indeed from the Pridelands. Well, no wonder no one liked them, if they all behaved this way! Was she as dangerous as her elder pride mates were said to be? Now Tao was beginning to reconsider her helpful attitude, and she looked nervously behind her to make sure she still had a way to get out. "I've heard stories about your pride," she commented vaguely, though her expression was one of apprehension. Obviously, being nice had done her no favors, and every word out of her mouth was met with a spiteful retort from the Pridelander cub. For a long moment, Tao was still as stone, confused about what she should do. The cub didn't seem to be in danger, she was only looking for someone else who obviously wasn't there. Would it be okay, then, to just walk away?

Tao knew that her father would never leave someone who was in trouble. It wasn't the right thing to do, and whether the other cub was friendly or prickly as a bramble bush, she was in need of help. The other cub hadn't really asked where Tao was from, only guessed at the two logical answers, and the peach cub from the Outlands didn't think it was such a good idea to reveal the information. She was about to turn around and find a way to alert the adults to the cub's plight, but the frightened way Tasa insisted that no other be involved only added to Tao's suspicion. "Why are you out here by yourself, anyway?" If a cub was missing, why weren't her parents looking for her?

This just didn't add up. Tasa seemed scared, but maybe she was faking it, Tao begin to suspect. Maybe this was just a Pridelander scheme to gain information about their enemies, their neighbors to the west. Tao had never doubted anyone before, but she peered down at Tasa with a weary look. "What do you want me to do? I'm going to get in trouble if I don't go back soon. Should I look around on my side?" She nodded up towards the cliff she had started to descend. Then, a troubling thought occurred to Tao. "Are you going to be able to get out of here again?" Her original intent had been to rescue a stranded cub, but what was she going to do if Tasa could only exit into the Outlands? Thoughts of Kiume's anger caused the cub to frown.

“Stories,” Tasa snorted, and could assume the general idea of the stories about Pridelander’s by Tao’s tone. Her own tone was sad but biting, but more to herself than the cub who didn’t seem to know what she was getting herself into. “Well they’re probably true.” When the peach cub asked why she was out here alone, Tasa finally stopped searching, her gaze turning to the dirt below her and she sat down, dejected. The cub wasn’t sure how to answer, wasn’t sure what to do now. She was realizing that Giza was long gone. Where that was, she had no clue. She could’ve been chased off by a stray hyena, picked off by a large bird, hunted down by a lone lion. She could’ve escaped, she didn’t doubt Giza was resourceful enough to do so, and either didn’t know how to come back home or didn’t want to. The russet cub hadn’t seemed to like the idea of running off permanently when Tasa suggested it, though even Tasa herself was just voicing stray thoughts. But maybe she had placed ideas into her sister’s head, and Giza had decided there was no point in coming back.

And it was for the best, wasn’t it? Even if Giza did manage to return to the Pridelands, with her father’s reaction and the hungry hyenas lingering about, Giza was sure to be attacked if she did return. Their father didn’t care, their mother couldn’t do anything even if she wanted to, their other siblings were reoccupied or useless, and the rest of the pride didn’t exactly like the useless spawn of their devil king in the first place. No, the Pridelands were a death sentence now for the lost princess. Even if Tasa miraculously found her now, most likely the hyenas or Scar’s other spies would find them and make a meal out of both. Scar wouldn’t care if the creamy cub was attacked, and the hyenas could even blame her for being in the crossfire. It wouldn’t matter. Nothing would. Tasa could only hope that Giza had found her way out, kept her identity a secret, and was exploring lands farther than Tasa had ever laid paw on.

The creamy cub wondered if she should just run away too, but something held her back. The fear of the unknown or the realistic low survival rate of a lone cub, the fear of other strange lions that Scar had instilled in his children, the fear of the hate she would gain for just her bloodline, now understanding why outsiders hated their king -- fear was a strong tether. But also the vague sense of duty to the family she wasn’t sure she could ever love; to her broken and chained mother whom was useless to do anything even to save herself; to her remaining sweet sister who would certainly crumble under the weight of the true world should she ever see it; to her annoying, runt of a brother who would jump willingly off a cliff if one could spin a good enough excuse for him to do so. Tasa felt herself the only one capable of defending and escaping her father’s tyranny, which she now understood, and perhaps some compassion had grown in her in her time of a rotten cub. Perhaps the true reason for her unwillingness to run away, though, was her father. What had gone from lack of love, to neglect, to complete disregard for her or her sister’s fate had set a hate in the cubs heart that had only lodged itself further that morning.

The other lionesses were right. Nala’s continuous distain for Scar was warranted. Nala’s desire for change, which Tasa hadn’t fully realized until recently, was one the cub was beginning to share. Something needed to be done about her father, about Scar. And Tasa wanted to be a part of it.

The cub had noticed Tao’s shift from unquestionably kind, much like Ari, to a weariness that honestly, Tasa couldn’t blame her for. She shook her head despondently at her offer to look on her side. “She’s gone. I would’ve heard or smelled something of her by now.” Her tone was soft, still loud enough to be heard, but a noticeable shift from her abrasive tones before. She shifted her gaze up to the younger cub, eyes and body language tired. “Does your family care when you wander too far? When you’re in trouble, what do they do?” The cub asked, the edge to her voice still there but not as biting as before. She was as curious as she was resentful -- were all families like her own? Was this the norm?

At the question of getting out, Tasa looked back the way she came. It would be a difficult climb back up, but she was fairly certain she would be able to do so. It was light now, without the confusing shadows to misdirect her. “I’ll find a way. And it won’t matter much if I don’t.” She shrugged, shoulders hunched, tail curling around herself, uncharacteristically dejected. For a moment, though it would pass, she didn’t care what happened to her, despite her previous thoughts.

[[Sorry 'bout that tangent ^^; ]]

Hearing that the stories about the Pridelanders were probably true did nothing to set Tao at ease. The venom seemed to have drained from Tasa's voice though, and Tao could detect the sadness that was replacing it. By now, the other cub seemed to understand that her mission would be fruitless, and the disappointment registered clearly on her pale features, even from a distance. The lost sister was undoubtedly long gone, and Tao felt a pang of sadness for the cub that remained, as well as for the missing female, even if she had never met her. Then Tasa asked two questions that seemed ridiculous to Tao, but there was a seriousness in her tone that suggested that she wasn't joking at all.

"Of course," she answered the first, her expression slightly surprised that such a question even needed to be asked. Then it hit her: there was no one waiting for this cub to come home for dinner. There was no one who cared enough to help her search for her missing sister, or to even care much if they lost two cubs that day instead of just one. It seemed impossible to Tao, who had experienced only love and tenderness since the day she had been born, but she realized now that she was one of the lucky ones. Others didn't have it as good. The thought was almost enough to make the sensitive peach cub tear up, but she had to keep herself calm if she were to be of any use. "Hold on, I'm coming down, then I'll answer your other question." Yelling replies didn't seem right, and Tao could supress her anxiety now that her sympathy had been roused again.

As Tasa sat, looking so helpless and alone, the younger cub could no longer stand there watching. With a resolute sigh, Tao began to step down the makeshift trail leading to the bottom of the ravine. "Stand back!" Her little paws slid down the path with some steps she took; she wasn't falling, but knew she could go flying at any moment, so she focused her concentration on just making it down with triggering a landslide. After a few minutes of effort, Tao (along with heaps dirt and debris) finally reached the bottom, and now only a few feet separated her from the Pridelander cub.

Now that she could make eye contact with the cub, she offered a nervous half-smile. "If I'm naughty and get into trouble, my dad or any of the lionesses talk to me and make me feel bad so I won't do it again. They're not mean, though. They do it because they have to." Curiosity got the better of her now, and she couldn't resist asking, "Why? What happens to you? My name is Tao, by the way." Her smile widened instinctively, realizing she had not yet learned the name of the other female. Tao didn't kid herself into believing she had made a new friend that day, but she was still polite to a fault.


[[S'okay!]]

Of course, Tasa mentally repeated. Of course someone would care. Of course someone would worry if she was in trouble. Of course, of course, of course. Tao’s simple words rang through her head painfully, confirming her previous thoughts that her own family was not the norm. A part of her figured she should feel happy about that, but at that moment she only felt empty. Even the jealousy that sparked at this cub’s life was no where near Tasa’s usual emotional intensity. Things just didn’t make sense anymore, while others seemed painfully clear all at once. The creamy cub said nothing as the younger one decided to come to her side, watching blankly as Tao slid down the rock and dirt wall, the tumbling debris echoing down the ravine. She didn’t even bother to move despite Tao’s advice, and simply watched as the younger cub reached the bottom, standing a few feet away and looking somewhat nervous. Tasa couldn’t blame her.

The Pridelander cub couldn’t keep eye contact, and felt sick at the offered smile. “They talk to you?” Tasa repeated, shaking her head. Her voice was strained now, unusually quiet as she tried to keep control of her emotions. “Tasa,” she introduced herself simply, staring at the dirt beneath her paws before moving on to answering the previous question. “Sometimes it goes unnoticed. My parents are too preoccupied usually. The other lionesses don’t seem to care.” She took a shaky breath. “When I do get into trouble, there’s a lot of yelling and growling.” Tasa rubbed her face with her paw, swallowing back tears. “And if you need help, you might as well ask a hyena for all the help anyone will be.” She didn’t understand. Why had this happened to her, and Giza? Why did they have such a dysfunctional family, when this little peach cub only had to worry about feeling bad.

Tasa’s green gaze shot to Tao’s, suddenly angry, wanting to make her understand that such a thing was the least of her worries. “You know what our father did when Giza fell down here? Nothing. And when our mother finally tried to do something about it, he made her bleed.” Tasa’s tail thumped violently against the ground, her eyes brimming with tears at the memory. Exactly which emotion those tears originated from she didn’t know, but she no longer cared. “Add that to those stories you’ve heard about Pridelanders.”

The small smile instantly disappeared once she saw just how serious of a problem the cub was really in. Tao was intuitive, could easily sense another living being's emotions. Her suspicions were confirmed when Tasa admitted that her parents were not involved, and the lionesses in her pride were equally disinterested in the younger generation. Tao tried to imagine what it would be like... Shouting and snarls instead of firm guidance. This was no appealing the the peach cub at all, and she knew she wouldn't last a second in such a harsh environment. Tasa couldn't have been much older than her own litter, and she wondered now what the Pridelander cub had seen and experienced already in her short lifetime.

"My dad used to live in the Pridelands, but he had to leave. Now we can't go back." But from what Tao could see, why would they want to? What was so great about the Pridelands? From appearances, the territory was not very different from the Outlands, which were meant to be a punishment for the lions that lived there. But at least the pride was like a real family, and they cared about one another. That was more than could be said for the Pridelands, it seemed, and Tao felt a surge of sympathy. Taking a few steps closer to Tasa, she tried to hide the frown, suspecting the other cub would not appreciate her pity. It was impossible to hide the look of horror, however, that flashed upon her delicate features when she learned that Tasa's mother had been abused by her father. "My mom is dead," she offered sullenly. "But a lion isn't supposed to hurt a lioness. Never ever."

What could she possibly say to make the sad cub feel better? No family to love her, a missing sibling... It was so awful, so sad, the young cub had no way to solve these massive problems. Unless... An idea popped into her head, and her ears perked at the thought. "You could come back to the Outlands with me. My dad is the king. He's nice to everyone, especially cubs!" This seemed like a hopeful solution. If Tasa didn't have a pride that cared, there was one just across the border that Tao was certain would accept the lonely cub, never guessing that she was the daughter of the dreaded king of the Pridelands himself.

Tasa snorted through the tears threatening to fall, still trying to keep up some facade that even she didn’t understand anymore. “You wouldn’t want to come back, even if you could. You wouldn’t last a second.” Tasa said, not meaning to sound cruel even if her tone did, only stating a fact, unaware she was voicing the other cub’s thoughts. Her breathing was shaky and throat sore due to her held back tears, but she was unwilling to show weakness, even though all she wanted to do was throw herself into the dirt and sob. She noticed Tao’s inching forwards, but failed to care anymore. The cub wasn’t a threat, that much she knew by now. When she commented that her own mother was dead, Tasa let herself mull the news over. Unable to give condolences in her state, Tasa lifted her head to stare down Tao, “I’m starting to wonder if the Pridelands wouldn’t be better off without my father.” Her voice was quiet but low, a cold tone a cub as young as she should never have.

Tasa’s mouth went dry at the mention of living in the Outlands, and the blood rushed from her face into her toes when Tao revealed her father was king of the Outlands. The same one she had heard stories about, one of many whom Scar claimed would attempt to overthrow him or kill her and her siblings on sight, just for being a product of Scar. While Tasa was realizing her father lied, this was not something she wanted to test. “N-No! He’d---” She stopped herself, realizing Tao didn’t realize her heritage yet. So she changed her excuses to insults on instinct. “Why would I want to live here? Why should I believe that you Outlanders would want anything to do with a Pridelander?” The cub kicked at a large dirt clod, watching it tumble past Tao before colliding with a rock and falling into dozens of pieces. Tasa huffed and stalked off a few steps, plopping down beside a large stone, curling up in its shadow and glaring out at the world..

[[Sorry for bleh reply :X Trying to get back into things]]

"We can't go back. Not until your dad is.." But her soft words trailed off into awkward silence, gaze cast downward as Tao realized what she was about to say. Even if the lion was bad, Tasa had no other father but Scar. Indeed, the world would be a better place without the tyrant king. Tao could not guess that the end of all that they knew was at hand, and within months, many lives would be turned upside down. The green eyed cub herself suspected the kingdom would be better off with new leadership, but she had to know what it would mean for her own future.

It hurt Tao to see the cub, so wounded but still trying to keep up a brave front. Unbeknownst to either, in the coming days, both princesses would soon lose her title. Tao would no longer be a part of the royal family of the Outlands, and Tasa's fate would lead her elsewhere. In the meantime, Tao struggled to find a way to make herself useful. "I think that it will all change soon." But here Tao stopped herself. What would her father think if he knew his daughter was speaking to the enemy, and offering up information? "Well.." she stammered as Tasa stalked away to sulk alone, with Tao still searching for the right words.

Was this really her enemy? The pale cub looked as if she could Tao's own sister, and the Outlander struggled to see any evil there. Tasa wasn't very friendly, but Tao couldn't blame her. It seemed the whole world was against the Pridelander princess, and Tao didn't want to make things worse. The sun was leaning towards the west, and the cub knew she had to be home soon, before anyone realized she was gone. With a resigned sigh, she stood, eyeing the cliff wall she now had to scale to free herself. "When things are this bad, they're bound to get better. I'm sorry I can't help, Tasa. I hope someday you'll be able to help yourself. Life should be so much more."