[PRP] Father!

[Tamiko-chan]

Everything was quite and still in the Kusini'Mwezi lands. The king found himself growing idle, and that didn't bode well with him. Before he had even taken the title of king, and when he found out he was to be a king, he had been extremely self-conscious and paranoid. He had thought that he wouldn't make a good king, and still he thought he wasn't the best king that he could possibly be. He felt there was so much more he could do for the pride, but simply felt unable to do whatever it was he needed to do. It was just barely beyond his reach, and it frustrated him.

Not only that, but he had this feeling that something terrible was about to unfold. It made him uneasy and fidgety. He discovered that he went on border patrols merely to move around and refrain from staying in one spot for too long, a realization that brought him great discomfort. What did he fear?

Sighing, the king rose to his paws to relocate himself yet again. How many times was that this morning? He had lost count, though originally he had been counting. He had gotten to six times maybe...

Seven, an all too familiar voice informed him. Tamu froze instantly, all of his fur prickling uneasily. He hoped he had simply imagined that as a result of not enough sleep, but what happened next confirmed his worst fears.

Did you think I left after that little deed with your mother? the voice sounded tauntingly within the confines of his mind. The large male shrank back instinctively, knowing that nothing good ever came out of the Voice occupying his head with vicious thoughts. In a frail attempt to get rid of the Voice, the king simply ignored it and moved on, though his legs were so shakey that he almost fell over a few times.

But it seemed to work. There were no more comments from the Voice, and he forced himself to calm down. He had known he was never mentally sound, but now he was wondering if maybe he should talk to someone about it. A mentally insane king was not what the pride deserved.

Settling down a while later some miles away, Tamu attempted to collect himself. With the sudden return of his Voice, he felt, more than ever, sure that things in the Kusini would not remain monotonously peaceful for much longer.  

[Tamiko-chan]

Life was good for the young prince. He wasn't the heir so he didn't have to worry about becoming a capable leader, and his father wasn't so busy all the time to where he couldn't spend any time with his children. And that was the greatest thing in the world for Corradin. He loved his father more than anyone else in the world and often times found himself following Tamu around simply to be in his presence.

But where was his father now? Knowing that he often went on border patrols around this time, the juvenile stretched out his oddly long limbs and headed out in a random direction. He hoped this wouldn't take too long. What if he was out while his father came back? Suddenly indecisive, he stopped and looked around. His nose twitched as he tried to pick up his father's scent, but it was mixed too much with scents from other members of the pride and he felt himself getting confused.

Sighing, he simply decided to head out and hope that he found his father. Half an hour of wandering and he still hadn't found his father. Folding his ears back in slight frustration, the prince decided to head towards the nearest watering hole. Perhaps his father was resting, since it was getting to be the hottest part of the day. Cor, especially, felt the wrath of the heat of the sun since his coat was pure black but for the white curse mark on his left leg.

Twenty minutes later found the male at one of the watering holes of the Kusini. Looking around, he wasn't able to spot his father. Although, upon a second glance, he thought he saw a figure laying down some yards away. Curious, he skirted the watering hole and headed towards the figure. As he grew closer, the form seemed to bear the colors of his father. Excited now, his paws hurried over the ground. A few minutes later and he was upon his father, resting on his belly and looking rather troubled.

Frowning, the king's son headed around so that he would be in front of Tamu. "Father?" he called tentatively, wondering if maybe something had happened. He hoped his father was okay. His heart ached just thinking about the possibility of his father not being completely happy.  

[Tamiko-chan]

Tamu had been laying still as a rock as he explored his thoughts. He was still thinking about the sudden reappearance of the Voice. Certainly that couldn't be a good sign? Nothing good had ever come about the Voice's presence. He had fought with his brother as a cub because of the Voice, and he had killed his own mother when the Voice had taken over his mind. He was deeply troubled.

As king, he couldn't afford to have this sort of... illness? Was that even what it could be called? He wasn't sure what it was, only that it wasn't anything good or beneficiary to the pride or to himself. He was only glad that others believed him normal and without problems. At least that's what he'd like to believe. Could there have been anyone who figured it out? After all, his scent must have been all over the scene of his mother's murder. It was a wonder why no one had confronted him about it.

Sighing, he was surprised to feel someone watching him. He always wandered out alone, and normally didn't run into anyone until he went back into the heart of the pride's lands. He was thinking that it was some intruder, when suddenly he heard his son's small voice call out to him. Craning his neck around, he noticed that it was Corradin.

"Hello, son," he answered, rising to his paws and repositioning himself so that he could look at the prince directly. "Is there something wrong?" He had noted the worried tone in Cor's voice, and wondered if some incident had happened while he had been out on patrol. Thinking this, he tensed and readied himself to speed off at the least hint of trouble. He was having an inner struggle with himself, but he was always willing to put his own issues aside and put the pride before himself. It was part of being a king.

"Did something happen?"  

[Tamiko-chan]

Corradin was relieved when his father turned around and seemed perfectly okay. For some reason he had gotten anxious because he thought something might have happened to the king on his patrol. There was never any trouble in the Kusini, but his father always went alone and the black juvenile couldn't help but worry anyways. He was that attached to his dad.

When his father seemed worried in turn, the younger male smiled and almost chuckled. "No, everything's fine dad. I was just worried about you," he admitted. When his father looked amused, he became embarassed.

"I mean," he fumbled, "I couldn't find you this morning. Everyone else was away, so I got lonely." Still young and willing to show affection, he rumbled deep in his chest and crossed over to where his father was. Not even caring if he got dust on his fur, he plopped down next to his dad and nuzzled his face into his father's fuzzy mane. A few seconds later, he pulled back and smiled up at his father, almost overwhelmed by how small he was compared to the king. He hoped one day he would be as big and strong as him.