Dead End

[[This scene takes places before the time skip, after Shinikizo’s death!]]

In the valley, it was easy to lose oneself. The cub had disappeared from the scene of his father's death; the blood, the lifeless body, the chaos and the terror... It was all too much for the cub to bear, and Jabari had fled, not even able to face his pale brother. All he wanted was to be alone, to think. What would become of Ziko and himself now? How could this have happened? Why? It was impossible for Jabari to grieve for the dead sire that had lost his life in the Coldlands at the paws of his own king, but tears streamed down his face as he had run that day. Jabari didn't know the identity of his father's killer as he ran through the valley until his legs collapsed beneath him, and he was forced to seek refuse from the cold night within a small, dark cave.

The following day, the mud brown cub found it impossible to move from the spot. He didn't have the energy, mentally or physically, to even try to keep going, and he hoped no one would discover his hiding place. He didn't want to be comforted, because no one would understand why it was so terrible. Not even Jabari fully realized why he was so upset. It was true: he had never loved his father, and now the lion was gone. The others would think the cub was a monster for not being sad for the right reasons, but Jabari blamed Shinikizo for it all: for breaking up their family, for insisting he take two cubs to raise up himself, only to get himself killed. And for what? Jabari hadn't the faintest idea why it had all happened, only that he and Ziko were the unfortunate victims once again of his father's poor decisions. Now he was too far to try to go back to the Lowlands. Now, he held loyalties in the mountain kingdom, and a fondness for King Ismahel and his son. He was stuck.

With his chin resting on his paws, the cub began to cry silently to himself again, but realized he was so weak from exhaustion and hunger that he scarcely had the energy to cry. He wondered how long it would take for a cub to starve to death, or if a hungry vulture would find him there first. A sigh escaped as his violet eyes drifted shut again, but he couldn't erase the image of his dead father from his mind's eye, and it made him growl in frustration to no one but himself.

Imara had been shocked to say the least when she had been informed of Shinikizo's death. Alarmed, she had rushed to see the body. The blood had been pooled around him, turning the once perfectly white snow surrounding his body red. It was a horrific site, and she had been angered at first - only to discover that Shinikizo had made an attempt to murder Ismahel. Imara was loyal to Ismahel over Shinikizo, and it was that she did not become too angered by his death after this occurrence. Still, she was surprised. He'd always seemed a strange lion, Shinikizo, and she'd heard a few whispers about his past. She wondered why he would attempt to murder a lion who had done nothing but been good to him. She shook her head from the confusion that plagued her thoughts and stared out into the snow.

Her thoughts had now wandered from Shinikizo to his sons, Jabari and Ziko. The pale cub looked much like Ismahel, with key traits that differed him from his King. He was the more quiet, reserved type but he showed great promise to become a brave, strong lion. She knew that the cubs would most likely stay in the Coldlands due to their fondness of Ismahel and his own son, Sakitu. Jabari was a different story to his brother. Jabari seemed to have anger issues - or perhaps he just loathed his father. Either way, he was an angry and out-there cub who wasn't afraid to speak his mind. She found that she liked that in a cubb, though she knew that it might irritate the other lions. She stood up from where she had previously sat and moved out into the snow, her paws sinking lightly into the white. She noticed with a smile that she looked far different from the snow, though her smile dimmed as it reminded her of the blood in the snow surrounding Shinikizo.

Imara had soon become so lost in her thoughts that her walking had taken her far from the caves from where she had been resting, and thinking. Now, she found herself in a beautiful valley which was one of the only places the sun shone. It was truly a magnificent place. She looked around at the Sunset Valley and suddenly spied a familiar form. She frowned and moved forwards, recognising it as Jabari's - or a cub that looked incredibly like Jabari. "Jabari? Is that you?" She inquired. She reached the spot where the cub lay and sat down beside him. "Dear Jabari, whatever are you doing out here?" She asked/

In his ragged state, he did not hear anyone approaching. He didn't smell her coming, either. It was only when Imara spoke to him that he realized he was no longer alone, and for a split second, Jabari thought that it was his mother's voice beckoning him. His head raised, and his ears pricked forward in anticipation, but it was only the reddish colored lioness he had seen around the kingdom. It was too soon for Shani to learn the fate of her so-called mate, and even if she did know, Jabari doubted she would come to fetch her distant sons.

Finally, after a lingering moment of disappoint and anger, he answered, but his voice was low and gravelly. "Yeah. It's me. What do you want?" The youth managed to pulled himself up into a sitting position, but didn’t bother to care that he was more filthy than usual. What did it matter? His fur wasn't white, like the majority of the Coldlanders. The mud and debris that stuck to his fur was the same color, save for his underbelly, which was stained nearly the same shade now.

After a short pause, he growled again at no one in particular, but his gaze remain cast downwards. "I had to get away." No one had told Jabari who killed his father, and it was yet to be seen whether anyone would tell him the truth. He was still so young. "You know, I never even wanted to come here. He made me come here. Now what am I supposed to do?" He peered up at the lioness, fighting back the tears the stung his violet eyes. It took everything he had to keep from lashing out, even though Imara was an innocent party in all of the mess. Jabari longed to feel flesh ripping beneath his claws, he was agitated beyond belief and nearly beyond control.

It was clear to Imara the moment she approached the Jabari had been un-aware of her presence, and so she tried to remain quiet and soft in case he would bolt upon seeing her. She wanted him to not realise that she was there until she was close enough to stop him in case he made a break for it. She would not blame him for trying to escape her, nor would she be hurt, as she knew that Jabari cared little for his father - but the death would still be a blow.

Imara smiled warmly down at the cub, though the smile faltered slightly at the look of disappointment and anger on his features. She was in half a mind to reprimand him for speaking to her in such rude manners, but decided that it didn't bother her. However, if he ever spoke to royalty like that he would be in trouble. "I don't want anything, Jabari. I'm just ensuring that you are safe and well," Imara's eyes raked over his filthy state and she wrinkled her nose in distaste. She felt a surge of sadness other the neglect this cub would now suffer, and could only hope his mother would come to collect him and the cubs. Little did Imara know, his mother would soon not be able to ever see her cubs again.

Imara looked at him with surprise clear on her features at his growl, but it did not seem to be directed at her so she remained un-upset by it. She tilted her head at his words and awaited for him to continue, interested in how he was thinking and feeling. Imara cared for the cubs of the Coldlander pride, and would do much anything to ensure Jabari was safe, along with his brother Ziko, and Sakitu whom they both seemed to like. "I know, Jabari. We all knew you despised him from the moment you arrived. Your brother is less harsh, but he did not seem to care much for him either. It's alright to feel lost, but know that the Great Spirits have brought you here for a reason." Imara looked up at the sky, then back to Jabari with a smile. However, there were tears threatening to spill and her smile fell. He also looked slightly murderous, so it was with hesitance she reached out a paw and bent her head to lightly nuzzle the top of his head. "I will take care of you, Jabari, if you would let me," She offered quietly. She felt it was her duty to take care of the young as a lioness.