@Ryouko

Artemis hoped he would not bring it up...but it was unavoidable. "My mate was killed trying to hunt the crocodile. He managed to kill the beast but he did not survive. Everyone managed bring him to say goodbye to me and the cubs but he was only alive for a few moments when he made it there." She said as she slowed her pace a little bit. "The king didn't even thank any of them. He said it wasn't a big enough one and punished the other hunters." She was not sad but it slowly showed that she was getting there from her voice.

@DeadlyPhoenix

Cyren couldn't help but shake his head as he lightly brushed her pelt with his own, moving out of her personal space afterwards...an attempt to cheer her up. "..I'm..sorry. I won't bring it up..again. Race you..to the..dens?"

@Ryouko

Artemis smiled as he brushed up against her. He wanted to race her to the dens. "Sure that sounds like fun. We go on 3." She said crouching down to help get a head start. "I haven't raced since I was a kid but I know I am pretty fast." She said smiling again trying to move on from the past little by little.

@DeadlyPhoenix

Cyren smiled softly.

"By your count."

He said, as he crouched down slightly, his head tilting to pop his neck as he shook himself lightly. The Blonde Lion's body was tense, his lean form prepared to run. He couldn't remember the last time he had raced..well..anyone, to anywhere.

@Aqua Fire
Zaliwa sat and thought about the lion's offer then looked back up at him. "If I agree to this, what would be in it for me?"

---

"Well, as an adviser or reporter, you must be aware of everything that goes on around you." She started. "Sort out any misunderstandings with the animals. If you ever see something you think may endanger the pride, report to the king." She figured she should stop here as she kind of a habit of blabbering on, but she didn't. "So, as you can see, the job of a reporter or adviser is very important." She finished, hoping she didn't bore the cub with her long explanation.

---

@Ninkitty
"He'll come around..." Maisha said referring to her son. "...and you're welcome."

Malaika looked over at her brother and sighed. She didn't know why he always acted the way he did. "Brothers..." was all she could say on the matter.

---

@DeadlyPhoenix
"As long as we stay in sight of Pride Rock, we should be fine." Gumu stated as he found a good starting spot. "Alright. who wants to be it? Not me!" He exclaimed excitedly.

@Letmehaveone2@Ryouko

Nikko laughed. "I will be it. So I will chase you two." He said crouching down. "On 1...2...3!" He said waiting for everyone to start running before he went after them. Kalina took off very quickly running through the tall grass as fast as she could.

Artemis smiled laughing. "Okay...1....2....3!" She said as she took off running as fast as she could towards the dens. She was laughing the entire time. She could not remember having this much fun in a long time. Even if she didn't win she still would have a blast doing it.

@DeadlyPhoenix

As soon as Artemis had said 3, Cyren had taken off. He matched her stride for stride, his body sliding through the air like a fish through water as he ran beside her. He laughed, too, a sound that was music in his ears..Come to think of it, he hadn't laughed like this in a while.

@Ryouko

Artemis smiled as she heard him laughing with her. She saw him tied with her and she tried to run a little faster. She could tell why he was a hunter. He seemed strong and fast. "You are hard to beat!" She said as she slowly tried to increase her speed.

@DeadlyPhoenix

Cyren looked at her and grinned, as she increased her own speed. Cyren's speed picked up as he continued to match her, his paws seeming to barely touch the Earth with each second.

As the dens quickly came closer, Cyren leapt for the entrance, trying to make it there ahead of her.

@Ryouko

Artemis tried to keep up as fast as she could to keep up but was a little slower then her. She jumped up a moment after Cyren did knowing he might make it there a tad bit before she did. She didn't care at all if she lost...she was having fun just being with Cyren. She almost started to feel like she never wanted it to end.

@DeadlyPhoenix

Cyren laughed, feeling the air rush through his fur..and then he ran into her as she jumped. The two would end up sprawled out at the entrance to the dens, Cyren having rolled off of her quickly. Then, he tilted his head. "I think I won." He said, playfully.

@Ryouko

She laughed as she landed under him and pushed herself up as well. She was catching her breath as she spoke. "Yeah I believe you won as well." She said smiling at him. She pushed him slightly with her front paw trying to push him over.

@DeadlyPhoenix

Cyren stumbled lightly, before he pushed her back, lips curled into a smile as he pounced on her before he walked into the dens, head held high.

The dens where the rest of the Pride slept were simple, small caves that extended under Pride Rock. Well insulated against the weather, it seemed as if the caves could hold a great number of lions and lionesses if it ever came to that. Cyren had marked his own den with an X, above the door...but plenty others were still open for Artemis to choose from.

@Ryouko

Artemis smiled as she was pushed down playfully laughing as he did so. She could see an opening area next to Cyren's part of the den. She walked over to it and looked around. "This area is big enough for my family I think." She said looking around then back at Cyren smiling. She hoped he would not mind it, after all they were still getting to know one another.

@DeadlyPhoenix

Cyren's head tilted, as he looked at the spot she had chosen. If lions could look surprised, he definitely was. Oh wait..they can. His surprise was clear to Artemis, as he nodded. "Are you sure?...I can try to find something to..Drape over the entrance." The Guard said, as he dipped his head. "To give you..privacy."

@Ryouko

Artemis thought about it a little while. "Hmm I might be able to find some big leaves as beds or even to cover around us if need be." She said not really minding either way. "My other pride didn't have anything seperate like here. I am not ashamed to hide anything." She said with a small laugh.

@DeadlyPhoenix

Cyren chuckled softly. "I just thought..your cubs..would prefer it if they had some privacy..to sleep with. But..whatever..you think is best.." He obviously liked his privacy.

If she could see inside his den, she would see that the entrance was practically a tunnel that curved sharply to the left..that was why he had chose it. That way he could hear anyone who came in..and it was practically impossible to see inside from the outside.

@Ryouko

Artemis looked at his area seeing it was closed off. "Your den looks really nice, but me and my cubs slept in a field for the past few nights. I think them sleeping inside for a few nights will be a blessing for them." She smiled. "Speaking of them...would you like to meet them later on?" She asked curious to hear what he would say.

@DeadlyPhoenix

"I would...if they would want to meet me." Cyren wasn't sure about how the cubs would see him. He could teach them a lot, and he was a sucker for cubs, but he didn't want to cause tension..Especially with Nikko, considering he remembered his father and his mother hanging out with a lion around her age might seem..suspicious.

Even if Nikko was a cub, Cyren wouldn't underestimate any intellect he had.

@Ryouko

Artemis smiled happily. He was happy that he wanted to meet her kids. It was really something that would have impacted the friendship between them if he had not wanted to see them. "Alright. We can go check on them in a few. I bet soon I will need to show them the watering hole." She said smiling over at Cyren walking over towards him.