Coffee and Musings

They set out for a walk side by side, father and daughter, king and future queen, answering the call of the savannah. Kiara was right, everyone was so happy and relieved, and it felt wonderful to live in peace at last, without the threat of an old enemy hanging over them. Yet that did not mean danger had vanished forever - the hyenas were still out there, lurking in the shadows, and Simba must not forget that.

The warm wind moved gently through the tall grass, birds sang in the distance on the trees welcoming their rulers, herds wandered peacefully across the plains, and the Circle of Life continued as it always had. Simba walked forward with confidence, and as he looked aside he saw his daughter beside him who carried the hope for the future.

"No, I didn't know that." Simba smiled. "But yes, Nala needs good lionesses in the party, mother had already grown weak and she could no longer endure the huntings anyway. At least now there will be someone to take her place at her post." Simba could not convince Sarabi to stop and retire, and he always had the fear something would happened to her during the huntings. Nevertheless, fortunately the Pride Lands was rich in herbivores, so there was no need to worry that twice as many lions would disrupt the delicate balance.

Kiara mentioning Zira reminded him of the fear that had driven him to jump into the ravine after her. He was so afraid he would lose his daughter! If something happened to her, he didn't know what he'd do. But luckily, she didn't get seriously injured.

"Zira couldn't let go of her hate... and in the end, it destroyed her. Just like Scar." He explained. Then looking aside, he saw animals gathering around the Water Hole.

"Hm, aren't you thirsty?"

#c; kiara (the lion king: simba's pride)#thepaststillhurts

Kiara's smile turned a little sad when he mentioned Sarabi and how weak she's grown. But even then, she wasn't giving up and Kiara admired that about her Grandmother. "She still insists on joining in on the hunts, though, and she's taught me so much. It's... hard to see her like that. But she's so happy when she gets to come with us, even if it's just to watch." Kiara loved having her there. She loved still learning from her and most of all, she loved getting to spend time with her. "And she always has a story to tell." Kiara grinned. "Especially about you, Daddy." She giggled, bumping her head against his mane as they walked towards the watering hole in the distance.

It was one of Kiara's favorite things! Hearing stories about her parents when they were young. Not just from Sarabi, but from Timon and Pumbaa, too. They had all sorts of stories about Simba's time with them. She sometimes still couldn't believe he ran away for so long and grew up mostly eating bugs. She made a face just thinking about it. Timon and Pumbaa, to this day, still tried to convince her to try them. Gross.

"I don't get it, though, Daddy. Scar, he... he did so many horrible things. And Zira knew that and yet she sided with him." It didn't make sense to Kiara. How could she think Scar was the rightful ruler when he killed the King and stole the Pride Lands? Love was truly a powerful thing. And so was hate.

When he asked if she was thirsty, Kiara nodded. "A little." Then she got an idea. She grinned. "Race you!" And with that, she took off towards the watering hole with a laugh.

That was definitely another reason. Not just about finding out who he really was, the world was full of stunning landscapes. All of them held secret dangers, he'd learned that by now. That didn't mean Inuyasha didn't have a deep respect for nature. If he'd stopped traveling, he'd never see any of it anymore. Just the same things all the time.

"I'll give ya one thing," He was broken my stifled coughs. "You get it more than anyone else I've told." He didn't have the energy for spouting off insults, despite how ready he was to assert Kōga was a hassle. Given the direction of conversation, it sort of hit close to home. How he was told he was either too emotional, or not emotional enough. That he should be happy in one place.

Other people always telling him what he should be.

No one ever understood, and as much as he hated it, the truth was that it hurt.

"Maybe some firewood. I always got some flint with me." Inuyasha shook his head, before a quick attempt to breathe through his nose. It was a futile effort. "I already made a medicinal teabag." The travel satchel he always carried when leaving for a period was next to him. "I know about medicine too, y'know." A quiet sigh.

Eyebrows knit, as golden eyes slipped closed.

"Keh, don't feel obligated."

#c; koga (inuyasha)#koga showing feelings aww

The two of them? They had a lot more in common than Koga cared to admit. Then either of them probably cared to admit. Well, in the past, anyway, because when InuYasha said that Koga understood it more than anyone, he couldn't help but smile a little. Months ago, he would've laughed. He would've scoffed at the thought that he and the mutt had something in common, but now? Now, things were different. Things had changed. He respected InuYasha. Respected all he's been through, all that he's done. Hell, he's saved his life a time or two during their time hunting Naraku and Koga was grateful for it, even if he hadn't been the best at showing it. But he, too, has changed.

He noticed how quiet InuYasha became after that, how the expression on his face seemed to change. He'd been about to ask if he was alright when he mentioned firewood and Koga nodded, standing to his feet. "Well good for you, mutt. I haven't exactly been around for a while, so how was I supposed to know that?" He questioned, wondering what the hell his problem was, especially when he told him not to feel obligated. Now he was getting irritated.

"Look, I'm tryin' to help you here. Not because I feel obligated, but because I give a damn." He admitted, glaring down at him. "But if you'd rather be on your own, then tell me, alright? I'd rather not waste my time." He growled, arms crossing over his chest. "Do you want the damn firewood or not, mutt?"

"Yeah, well, I turned human that night." Whether it was an exaggeration or not, even Inuyasha wasn't sure. He'd gotten pretty damn sick with a heavy fever. At least he could be thankful that such was unlikely, given he was an adult now, rather than some little kid. Growing up the way he did left him with a piss poor immune system, but the demon blood in him kept him pretty safe from as heavy a fever as last time Kōga stumbled upon him.

"Keh, if you want." His tone wasn't aggressive, and only slightly dismissive. He'd long since stopped hating Kōga. His feelings couldn't even be called 'dislike'. Not that it was any less amusing to exchange snarky remarks.

"You know me well enough, I can't stay in one place forever." Home wasn't a place, it was having somewhere to go to that would welcome you with open arms. He had a place to belong, but...

He wasn't even sure who he was underneath all the fighting, outside of loneliness. His friends had a family to worry about. Shippō had Kitsune Exams throughout every month. He was just... stagnant. It wasn't like he ever left for longer than a week, anyway.

Shifting slightly, Inuyasha made room next to himself from under the base of a tree. "Just... don't be too loud. My head's poundin' harder than those things y'pound rice cakes with."

#c; koga (inuyasha)#thesilvermoonrays

InuYasha didn't refuse him. Didn't tell him to go away. But even if he had, Koga wouldn't have left. He didn't feel... comfortable leaving him on his own while he was sick, or getting sick, after what had happened last time. Sure, like InuYasha said, he'd been human that last time and as far as Koga knew, there was no new moon tonight or the next couple of nights, but still. With that human blood flowing through his veins, with his susceptibility to human illnesses, he thought it better to stick around and make sure it didn't get worse than this.

"Yeah, I get that." Koga said thoughtfully. Because he did. Even though he had a pack, even though he had a home, he didn't like to stay in one place. He liked to move around, he liked to explore, he liked to travel and discover new places, thus why he was always on the move, too. "Never liked stayin' still either. Not when there's a whole world out there to see." Not that he could stray too far from his pack, but while he was gone, he left his second in command in charge. Still, he wondered where his friends were. Sango, Miroku, Shippo... he figured Kagome had gone back to her own time. Her scent had disappeared months ago.

He moved to sit next to InuYasha and rolled his eyes. "Me? Between the two of us, mutt, you're the loud one." He stated, though there was a smirk that tugged on his lips when saying it. And even though he still called him mutt it wasn't at all with the malice or disgust like it used to be. It was more... playful now. Teasing and even... affectionate. Their dynamic, their... relationship, had changed. Especially since that night. He liked him more than he should, honestly. More than he'd admit out loud. "You don't have any medicine from that old priestess to help with this?" He asked, looking at him. "There anything I should get you?"

The embarrassment. Why Kōga? He'd grown so much more since the last time he'd been around anyone while sick. Since he'd begun traveling on his own. Physical changes, and even more discernible, the emotional changes.

His right ear flicked, what it meant was up for debate.

"So what if I am? Whaddyou care?"

Standoffish as he wanted to be, there was no denying the memories of last time. He'd have probably died, if he were being truly serious with himself.

Lying to yourself... wasn't right. Even if it did wound his pride.

"It's just a sniffle, wolf. Don't get stupid ideas, I'll be fine by tomorrow."

More like a few days.

#c; koga (inuyasha)#thesilvermoonrays

"Just a sniffle?" Koga wasn't buying that. "Isn't that how it started out last time? If you recall, you almost died." Maybe almost dying was exaggerating it a little, but he'd been extremely sick. He had never seen InuYasha in such a poor state and it... worried him. He may not have said it out loud, but it was evident in his actions - the way he took care of him. Carrying him to safety, carrying him somewhere warm, sheltering him from the storm and even helping to warm him up. The memory of it had Koga's cheeks warming a little and he quickly pushed that memory, and the feelings that came with it, aside.

Koga studied him. He kept silent for the next few seconds like he was considering something. "Think I'll stick around." He said, reaching a decision. "Just to make sure you don't do dyin' on me or anything. The last thing I need is to carry your corpse to that old priestess. That old lady gives me the creeps." He said, but really, it was coming from a place of concern. Of care. "Surprised to see you out here alone, anyway."

silverymusings

She looked at him as she always had. There was no distance or fear there – only worry. Worry for him. She didn’t back up or run away. She approached. She reached for him.

With a stifled motion he pulled back – stepping away from her, further into the shadow of the far wall.

“It exploded,” he explained more bluntly. “I got hit with the debris. Some sort of condensed mist crystal, or something?” He looked away again as he spoke, disquiet prickling at the edges of his posture. “I can’t- remove it. And ever since, there’ve been these monsters that appear around me.”

He’d been a threat to the village. A threat every other place he’d gone, too.

And now…

He brought his gaze back to Garnet.

“I swear, I don’t have anything to do with the ones around Alexandria. Those aren’t mine. But- others will appear if I’m here.”

People would get hurt. Garnet might get hurt.

“I can’t stay.”

#c; garnet (ffix)#silverymusings #my heart #silverymusings; ton

Ton stepped away from her and it stung. The Queen stood there for a second with her hand held out before finally letting it fall back to her side, keeping her distance. He... wanted space. He wanted distance from her and though she wasn't sure why, though it hurt a little, she respected it. Respected him. He had his reasons and perhaps those reasons, she was about to find out.

I got hit with the debris.

That confirmed Garnet's suspicions, her worries, that the mist did hurt him, but what she didn't suspect was how. How it hurt him. Monsters appeared around him, with him, like they were either somehow summoned or attracted to the mist within him. Garnet frowned hearing this and hurt heart ached. It ached because of him, for him. Now she understood why he never came back for all those years and why he'd been so reluctant to come back with her to Alexandria and why... why he wanted to leave.

Her heart felt heavy. How horrible it must be to to be burdened with something like that. Because of it, he was alone. Not by choice. He had no choice. Monsters were dangerous, they were violent, and wherever he went, they followed, putting anyone and everyone nearby in danger. But Ton, himself, was also in danger. Every single day. It was a curse, one that was forced on him, one that he didn't deserve.

Even knowing all of this, knowing the danger, Garnet took a step forward - towards him. "There must be something that can be done, Ton." Garnet stated, refusing to believe that nothing could be done reverse what had happened to him. "Maybe... maybe we can search the castle's library, or the one in Daguerreo. Perhaps the scholars there might know a way." The library there was bigger than the one here in the castle and the Scholars there far more knowledgeable.

Instead of running, instead of telling him to leave, Garnet was trying to think of a solution, trying to think of ways to help him. This wasn't fair to him. He shouldn't have to suffer, he shouldn't have to live his life alone and... cursed.

"I don't want you to leave again..." Garnet said after a few moments of quiet, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes falling closed, fighting the tears.

"Ugh..."

He knew the signs. Heat in his cheeks, his head spinning. He'd caught a cold. Maybe if he found somewhere safe to ride it out, he wouldn't have to deal with any ridicule. Yōkai weren't supposed to be capable of illness. Being half of one meant he was. Inuyasha didn't have use of his nose right now, hence he relied on his next strongest. Hearing. The second he heard footsteps nearby, he chose to say something.

"Who's there?"

#i hope this is okay~!#i know months ago we wrote a little of inu being sick and koga helping him #so i thought maybe this can be a 'sequel' to that or something haha #c; koga (inuyasha)#thesilvermoonrays

"Who's there?" Koga echoed with a scoff. "Seriously, mutt? The hell happened to that nose of yours?" He questioned with a smirk as he approached InuYasha, having picked up on his scent some miles back. But there was something different about it. Something unpleasant. Something almost foul. Not like his usual dog stench. The closer he got to InuYasha, the more familiar it become.

The last time this stench was coming off of him, the half demon had been sick. All thanks to that human blood flowing through his veins. Maybe that's why he didn't smell Koga coming? "Don't tell me you're sick again, mutt." He said, though his tone was a little gentler. Especially remembering how bad he got last time. Hell, there was something even akin to concern in his voice, and in his eyes.

It hit Simba's ear that Kiara called him daddy again and made him smile. To be honest, he had not seen each other since their argument, they parted in anger, and it was the war when they met again. But now, as the sun has risen to a new era, and that he could hear this word from his daughter made his heart happy, as it revealed that deep bond between father and daughter, it seemed, had never truly broken.

Kiara reminding him of that scene between them caused his smile to fade slightly, but not because he was angry with Kiara for that, but because he wanted to forget that as soon as possible.

"It doesn't matter anymore, it's in the past." Simba replied, quoting the line that he learnt from Rafiki. And indeed, the fact that he could finally hear Mufasa's praise from the clouds while standing together on the edge of Pride Rock meant very much to Simba. He wondered if the others could hear, or just he?

"Would you like to go for a walk with me?" He proposed as he made his way towards the pathway that led down to the open savannah. This walk was not going to be just a father-daughter time, but also one between a soon-retiring king and the future queen.

#thepaststillhurts #c; kiara (the lion king: simba's pride)

Kiara couldn't help but smile when he told her it was in the past. "Rafiki." She chuckled, because the teachings he taught Simba, he'd taught her, too. And he still was. It was Rafiki that helped bring the Prides together, too. Because he helped bring the two of them together. Her smile widened thinking about that night and she'd often find herself singing or humming the song. Oh, that night with Kovu had been so romantic, and so fun. She hadn't even told her father or mother about it, or about how Rafiki helped them.

At the invite to go for a walk, Kiara's eyes lit up and she nodded, following him down the pathway on Pride Rock and leaping onto the grass at ground level. A couple of the lionesses, one of them a prior Outlander, greeted the King and Princess and Kiara greeted them in return. She caught up to her father and started walking with him, side by side. "Everyone is so happy." Kiara smiled as she looked all around them, loving that everyone was getting along so well. "Did you know that Vitani was the fastest lioness in her Pride? Mother said she was going to go hunting with her later." Vitani had been the first lioness in Zira's pride to switch sides, to see the err of her ways, of Zira's ways. "I'm glad everyone is alright. I just wish that Zira..." Kiara's words trailed off and she sighed, frowning. Watching her fall from the cliff... it was an image Kiara couldn't shake from her mind. She tried to save her, tried to give her a chance. In the end, though, Zira chose Scar.

On the surface, Simba looked furious and resolute, but underneath the anger was fear. Kovu meant a threat to the kingdom in his eyes from then on, and by exiling him, he believed he was protecting his family and pride. As king it was his responsibility to do. ~ This is my kingdom. If i don't fight for it, who will? ~ the sentence was once spoken. If anybody knew what it meant, it was Nala.

Nala, his queen and wife, was the one who had gathered all her stenght to leave Pride Rock in those hard times and find help for the Pride Lands. Nala was who had found Simba and tried to knock some sense into his head when he was lost in the jungle. She had been there to fight along with him against Scar’s army. She also had been there to support him under the stars while watching Kiara and Kovu when he was puzzled about the young male.

And now? Whether was she against him, too?

The gentle nuzzle into his mane suggested exactly the opposite, a clear sign that she was there to support him, as always - and it warmed Simba's heart. Now he knew he was not alone.

"Kiara is blinded by her feelings towards Kovu. She is in love, and when you are, it's always harder to think objectively. She can't see Kovu means a big threat, but I can and I have to protect the kingdom from him. I hope as future queen she will admit it..."

#thepaststillhurts #c; nala (the lion king)#i am trying to find tlk 2 icons for nala haha #i need to try and make some

Nala knew he was just trying to keep his Pride safe. It's what he was supposed to do as King, but it went beyond just duty. It's because he cared. He cared about his family, he cared about his Pride, and Nala loved him for it, but this was... complicated. Because, yes, they were Outlanders, but Nala couldn't help but wonder if given the choice, would they leave Zira and choose to become a Pridelander? Did they all truly want to follow Zira? In Nala's eyes, because of what she's seen between Kovu and her daughter, she couldn't help but wonder if given the choice, he would leave his mother's Pride.

"I know, Simba. You're doing everything you can to protect our lands, to protect our pride," she told him, nuzzling his mane and leaning against him with a soft sigh. Her hazel eyes looked out at the lands before them, their lands and the shadowed lands beyond where Zira's pride resided. Where Kovu had been exiled back to. "But I think perhaps we should have allowed Kovu a chance to explain himself. The fact that he came back, after what happened..." She sighed. "If he had truly been part of it, Simba, I don't think he would've come back here." But the fact that he did was telling. At least to Nala.

"Are you sure he was part of the ambush?" She wasn't asking in a way that she disbelieved Simba and she hoped he'd know that. "Tell me exactly what happened. From the moment you and Kovu left Pride Rock.

The shadow of a decision

~ You'll never be Mufasa!

The line from Kiara was still ringing in Simba's ears as he stood there in the edge of Pride Rock, staring into the distance, frowned. This sentence hit him so hard that it opened those old wounds on his heart. Simba has always wanted to be just like his father, he did everything to follow in his pawprints and one of his biggest fears was disappointing his father...

...again.

Because when he was a cub, he had already disappointed him once by breaking the rules (and thus he also put Nala in danger), and didn't want it happen again.

Exiling Kovu was the most reasonable decision to him. Kovu colluded with Zira and lured him into a trap! He even had to fight! He was there, Kiara was not. The facts spoke; why should he reconsider?

Overwhelmed by a mix of emotional weight, the Lion King let out a long sigh, looking down. What to do next?

@coffeemusings

#thepaststillhurts #c; nala (the lion king)#nala verse; a mother and a queen

Nala was conflicted.

She watched as her daughter ran crying into the den, her words having hurt Simba. The look on his face made that evident and she hurt for him. But she hurt for Kiara, too. The lion she had fallen in love with had just been exiled after an ambush that nearly killed her husband. That nearly killed the King. An ambush that had happened not long after Simba took Kovu out for a stroll, intending to talk with him, intending on inviting him into their Pride. Into their daughter's life.

But then Zira and her pride showed up. They cornered Simba with Kovu's help, or so that's what she had been told by Simba, himself. Timon and Pumbaa were quick to believe him, Zazu, as well, but Nala? She... was hesitant. It was hard to believe that Kovu had been lying the entire time, especially after watching him with Kiara, after watching the two of them together. She didn't want to disbelieve Simba, either, especially after he'd almost been killed, but Kovu, even being an outsider, even being Scar's heir, was nothing like him.

And the fact that he showed up to Pride Rock after what happened made Nala even more reluctant to believe that he had any part in it. He tried to explain, he tried to apologize, but he'd been given no chance and no choice. It was difficult to watch it take place and she hated that Kiara had to witness it.

Deciding to talk to Simba first, to perhaps calm him down and possibly reconsider his ruling, or to at least hear him out, Nala made her way over to her husband. Gently, she made her presence known by rubbing her head against his mane, trying to offer him some comfort. Letting him know that she was here. As both his wife and his Queen. "Talk to me, Simba."

The Peacemaker Princess

It has been a while since there was peace in the Pride Lands. After defeating Scar, Zira and her lionesses had declared war against the Pridelanders for revenge, maintaining a constant threat that had affected the kingdom’s daily life. In the end, the day came and Zira launched an attack on Simba’s family, but the battle didn’t last long: Kiara - and Kovu - helped the prides to gain a better insight.

It was just a few days ago when they all stood there on the edge of Pride Rock and roared into a new era. Everyone in the Pride Lands felt the wind of change.

Simba couldn’t help but smiled as he looked at his daughter who was standing on the peak of Pride Rock with Kovu. Yes, one day these two are going to be the Queen and King of the Pride Lands - and now Simba didn’t mind the king would be Kovu. He had proved to be worthy of his trust.

The lion walked up to the duo, and after a gentle morning greeting the younger male walked away, leaving the father and daughter talk alone.

“Look Kiara, thanks to you our pride got reunited again. You have made peace between our hearts. I was the one who had been talking about ‘we are one’ but you are the one who made me understand the true meaning of it. You will be a great queen one day, and I am very proud of you.” - and he nuzzled Kiara’s head, gently.

@coffeemusings

#c; kiara (the lion king: simba's pride)#thepaststillhurts #kiara verses; we are one

There was a smile on Kiara's face as she sat here with Kovu atop of Pride Rock, amber eyes looking over the land below and beyond them. Her home. Their home.

She watched as the lionesses walked together - once on opposite sides of this land, once enemies, now a pride. Now a family. A family she and Kovu helped bring together. She leaned her head on Kovu's main and purred happily and she'd been about to ask him if he wanted to go for a walk when her father came up behind him. Her face lit up watching the two of them greet and she thought to herself: this is exactly how it's supposed to be. She could feel her Grandfather smiling down on them.

"I'll see you in a little while, Kovu." Kiara called out with a smile before turning to look at her father, her smile widening when he thanked her for the unification of the two prides. "Oh, Daddy, it wasn't just me." Kiara said as she turned around to look at the Pride Lands again. She could feel her eyes water hearing him say that he was proud of her and she nuzzled him in return. "Without you, and without Kovu, this wouldn't have happened." Because he listened. He listened to her when Kiara begged him to stop. And he had taught her all about the phrase, after all. Kovu had helped, too. He came with her to stop the fight, to stop the war.

"I'm proud of you, too." Kiara leaned against him. "And I know Grandfather is proud of you." Which she knew was important to her Father. She hated the words she said to him earlier, before she ran away, knowing how much they had hurt him, but she'd just been so... angry. So upset. Her face fell and she looked down, frowning. "I'm sorry. For what I said to you about him."

silverymusings

It was difficult, getting the words out. Part of it was reflex. He didn’t talk about these things – not anymore. Usually, there was simply no point in it. That, or it actively became a problem.

Another part wanted to simply ignore everything else. To just stay there, with her. Even after all this time, sitting there and talking with Garnet again, hearing her stories…

It felt like home. Sometimes, just for a moment, he forgot that it wasn’t.

He wanted to stay. He wished so badly to stay.

But…

“Those guys at the cave. They weren’t exactly wrong,” he started.

At least, they were right enough for what he needed to say. As for the rest...well. With a glance over to the wall, he continued.

“You remember how I stayed to help with my mom’s prototype?”

He’d written to her about it, back before he stopped writing. After his mom died, all her research remained – everything she’d toiled over to try and bring better mist engines to Alexandria. That same research was why they’d left the city in the first place. It was part of why he never came back, even after his parents were gone.

Still, his efforts never went much further than that. He had a mind for mechanics, sure, but – the things she worked on, the other elements that powered those engines – that was a gap he never managed to cross.

And then…

His brow furrowed.

“Later on, they brought in other machines. I helped with those too, but. One of them malfunctioned. And….”

The unnatural green glow of his eye drew back to her.

“….You know how mist makes monsters sometimes?”

#silverymusings #silverymusings; ton #c; garnet (ffix)

Garnet's brows furrowed when he told her those men in the cave weren't wrong about what they had said. How could he say that? They not only accused him of sending monsters into a town, but they also accused him of kidnapping people. And brainwashing her. He didn't specify exactly what they were right about, but regardless, Garnet refused to believe them. Refused to believe Ton in this moment. Those men were wrong.

"Yes." Garnet answered, concern still etched in her features. She hadn't seen him after that. Neither of them knew that the last time they had seen each other was going to be the last time. Until now. Until, finally, they reunited. An unexpected reunion, but one she was grateful for nonetheless.

He went on about the machines, mentioning how one of them malfunctioned and she felt a chill shoot down her back at the green glow of his eyes. She tensed when his words trailed off. Where... was he going with this? What was he trying to tell her? It was like he was afraid to tell her, maybe afraid of how she might react, because he kept pausing. And she wanted to step closer, wanted to tell him that it was okay, that she was right here and she wasn't going to turn away from him. Wasn't going to leave.

“….You know how mist makes monsters sometimes?”

That gave Garnet pause. The glow of his eyes, the talk of mist and the machines, and the one that malfunctioned... it did something to him, didn't it? The mist... hurt him somehow. Changed him. She took a step closer and this time, this time she reached out to touch his arm. "Ton," her voice was gentle, as gentle as her touch. "Please, tell me..." Her eyes softened as she looked into his. "What happened?" She was worried. Worried about him, and whatever it was that happened to him. Whatever it was that hurt him.

dreamlightmagicgarden

The cub seemed to relax, even if a little bit, what made Quasimodo happy. He had always had a way with animals, even if they were mostly birds, but seeing that the other seemed willing to talk to him was a relief.

If he was to attempt to free the cub, then he would need Kiara to trust him. What was already asking a lot but it was what they would need to be able to get out of there. Especially when it would mean he would probably need to come back during the night to make sure no one saw him.

— That's a lovely name. I'm Quasimodo. — The bell ringer introduced himself. — I... I don't know. I know the Circus have some animals for their acts, but I've never known of them using cubs.

It was strange indeed, maybe they thought the fact of an animal being so young would make it better for training? It was still cruel. He felt the strong need to free that little one from the cage and help her find her family again.

Quasimodo looked around, making sure no one was paying attention to them before leaning in to whisper.

— I... I can try and get you out, but we will need to wait until nightfall. I can't sneak you through the city during the day.

#dreamlightmagicgarden; quasimodo #dreamlightmagicgarden #c; kiara (the lion king: simba's pride)

"Quasi...modo?" Kiara repeated, her head tilted. It was a funny sounding name, but not too hard to say. And he seemed really nice. A lot nicer than the other humans that had brought her here. "Circus? W-what is that? I haven't seen any other animals. Just me..." Did they capture other animals from the Pride Lands, too? Maybe... maybe there was someone here that she knew. But at the same time, she didn't want that. She didn't want anyone else to have been captured like her. What if they got her father? Or her mom? No... no, her parents were too strong. They wouldn't be captured. They couldn't be!

For a split second, Kiara's face lit up when he mentioned getting her out, but then fell again when he said waiting until nightfall. "What if I'm not here when you come back? W-what if they take me somewhere else?" She asked, the look in her eyes one of fear, almost pleading with him to get her out now. She stepped closer to him, a sign that she was trusting him a little bit more. That she felt... safe with him. "I don't even know how to get home." Even if he did get her out, where was she supposed to go? She didn't know where she was, she didn't know which way led to the Pride Lands. She was stuck. And she was scared.

shh. i'm right here.

To cub! Kiara from @thelxonkcng because I want more of Simba being a regular dad lol 💙

It didn't take long at all for Kiara to wake from the nightmare she'd been having once she heard her father's voice and felt him nuzzling the side of her face. Her body stopped twitching and her paws stopped moving like she'd just been running from something. Her eyes opened with a start and she let out a soft, tired whine as she nestled against her father, comforted by his presence. "I-I'm okay, Daddy." Kiara murmured, nuzzling into her father's mane and closing her eyes again. "Did I wake you? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

@thelxonkcng

#i hope this is okay!#i'm rusty with her but i love this!#dad simba <3 #thelxonkcng

thelxonkcng

He looked around as Nala encouraged. She was right- it had taken a bit of time after so long of being barren and full of ruin, but the land he’d been born in, had missed, and returned to had healed, for the most part; some animals’ herds of other groups were late to have new offspring this year. Some hadn’t had any at all.

The main thing Simba was concerned with was the Watering Hole. The water level was still low, but at least it was rising ever so slightly with each rainstorm that passed through. It wasn’t as worrisome as before.

Another purr rose from Simba’s throat. He nuzzled her cheek and rested his there, just for a moment. “I have big paw prints to fill… but I’ll get there. And I know I have you to help, too. Heh, and Timon and Pumbaa don’t bother anyone but the grubs under every-…”

He hadn’t even pulled away when his mate used her paws to pin him on his back. He grunted at the landing, puzzled at first… and then finally registered that she’d said ‘serenade’.

With a laugh, he just stayed there and accepted the lick to his face.

Oh? Was that a hint of mischief in her blue/green eyes? Thinking up a goofy idea that he knew she’d enjoy, Simba suddenly grinned, hurriedly pushed her off, and leapt to his paws; he was running away from her! The audacity that man had-!!

“You’re it!” he yelled over his shoulder, rusty-colored mane wild in the warm breeze. He’d always have the same playful tendencies he did as a child, after all!

#okay but this is so cute!#and so is your idea omg i can't wait #sorry for my slow replies!#c; nala (the lion king)#thelxonkcng

The puzzled look on Simba's face had the Queen's grin widening and when he grinned up at her, she arched a brow. Oh, her husband was up to something. She could see it in his eyes and she braced herself for his retaliation. Retaliation that came quicker than she expected because she was suddenly pushed off of him, eliciting laughter from her lips. She crouched, like she was about to pounce him again, but then he was running away.

“You’re it!”

She laughed again. "Tag, Simba? Really?" She questioned with a shake of her head. They hadn't played that since they were cubs. And it wasn't a game she expected to play ever again, especially as an adult. As a queen, but... well, it wasn't all that different from them still pinning and pouncing each other, was it? And she quite enjoyed that they were still able to be playful with one another and have fun. This was the Simba that she fell in love with. The Simba she was still so deeply in love with. Her husband and her best friend. Always.

Did he really think he could outrun her? She did the hunting, after all, and she was the fastest lioness in the Pride Lands. She waited for a few seconds, just to give him a head start, and after those few seconds were up, Nala ran after him. "It's cute that you think you can outrun me, Simba." Nala called with a laugh as she chased after him, nearly already catching up to him.

Little update: Just a reminder this blog is low activity which means I'm here maybe 1-2 days a week, or I might be gone for a couple of weeks at a time. I have a lot going on, so I appreciate the patience and understanding. If that low activity is not going to work for you, feel free to unfollow. I won't be offended at all. I'm going to move Jet to inactive muses, or rather very low activity. I'm just having trouble writing in the ATLA universe, especially because my knowledge is lacking compared to everyone else's. At some point I might rewatch, but even then I haven't done the deep dive/research others have and it intimidates me a little, haha. That's not anyone's fault, but rather my own. My muse for Garnet/Dagger is pretty strong, mostly because I've kind of made her my own in a way? In terms of post game. I feel good about her voice when I'm writing her and how she's matured. I have her learning how to fight with daggers so she isn't always relying on magic, as well as learning black magic which I get isn't possible in the game, but you know what? I'm making it possible in writing. It'll take her longer to learn and I like the idea of her learning from Beatrix, Vivi and other black mages, and needing the magic infused staffs to learn, too. Muse for Replica Riku (Hiroto) is also strong because again, I've made him my own character and he can basically travel from world to world which makes it easy to do crossovers. Blue, Luke, Koga, and my Disney muses are always there and maybe at some point I'll add more muses, we shall see! With low activity, it probably isn't a good idea though, haha.

#having a cup of coffee (ooc)#coffee talk (psa)

She wasn't wrong. He had to admit to that much. Going deeper into the woods could have meant running into even more demons. While it wasn't an issue for him these days, someone inexperienced in dealing with them could easily end up in pieces. Dagger was safe now, for that, he was grateful. For all his bravado, it didn't change the core focus of why he kept herbs in his satchel.

They were for if he stumbled upon a human. Mostly, anyway.

Inuyasha didn't heal the same way as most others. He could sleep off an injury, even one that would kill most others. A night's rest could so far as heal a deep puncture wound, or a missing organ, so long as it wasn't his heart, or lungs. He was lucky, his body was incredibly durable. When even that failed him, Inuyasha refused to stay down until the very end. Until his body forced it upon him.

"Kaede's Village. The headmaster, head priestess, head healer, she's a lot've stuff. Keh, I don't know how she handles all that responsibility, but that old woman does it." Golden eyes glanced upwards, tracking the position of the sun. "It's more dangerous at night. Walking at a human's pace, I'd say three days, give or take." His gaze went back to the woman. "Guess it's obvious already, I'm not human. Not completely."

Inuyasha took a deep inhale through his nose. Dagger had a calming scent, combined with the various spring flowers. Yet still, there was something strange about it. "That's not accounting for if y'need to rest. There's bound to be a lot more demons, they'll be expecting easy food." Brows knit together. "Just what do you know about fighting, Dagger?"

It wasn't a weak demon and she had still mostly stood up to it, even if that weird staff was broken. If she didn't need it to channel magic...

"We might be able t'make a lot've use out of what you can do. With me here, you can practice all ya want. Ain't nothin' in this forest that I can't deal with."