English Dawns and African Summers

[simba]

The nights in Sherwood Forest were quiet, no sounds of baboons or night birds echoing from the tree tops. The only sounds were the wind, crickets and the creek that Simba had fallen asleep near. It had taken him a while to get used to those sounds but, the King of Hakuna Matata could fall asleep anywhere. Still, the sun was bright no matter where he seemed to go and it was with a short groan that he covered his eyes with his paws.

"Just a few more minutes....ugh..."

He rolled over, trying to block the sun out but a few morning birds had decided that no one was going sleep in now. Not even a strange cat that had wondered in. So a few birds flew down, landing curiously on the auburn mane and twittering to each other.

"*sigh* Do you really have to do this so early?" He opened one eye, glancing up at the bluebirds perched around his ears. With a careful stretch he stood up, "Fine. but get off, no free rides." He shook his head gently, watching the bird flutter up, "Know where I can get some breakfast?" For a second the animals looked nervous and Simba couldn't help a bright laugh as he walked towards the creek to take a drink.

"I'm not a carnivore- just point me to the nearest termite mound!"

[Briar Rose]

(OOC: If the "New Canopy" thread progresses and it conflicts with the details that will follow in this post, I will modify this post's details accordingly.)

It was likely in the lion's favor that he decided to get up when he did, because even the twittering of the morning birds were ultimately bested by a different song. It was possible that the singing could have been assumed to that of a distant bird, at least at first, but eventually the voice would have clearly been recognized as a maiden with a gifted soprano.

Also, it was a voice that the Hakuna Matata monarch would have recognized.

Briar Rose, the beautiful yet sheltered maiden of fifteen, was obviously an early riser. The sun had barely greeted the sky, yet here the teenager was, singing as lovely as ever. In fact, her singing was probably even lovelier than the previous time Simba had heard it, as evidenced by the reactions of the morning birds. They fluttered from Simba, towards the source of Briar Rose's voice.

Not surprisingly, the voice grew louder as Briar Rose herself walked closer to Simba. She didn't know the lion was there, of course; she had left her meeting with Prince Florian and said lion as hastily as she could, for she was specifically taught not to interact with strangers. But if Simba was truly interested in learning more about her, then perhaps today was his lucky day; she had stepped into Simba's point of view, but she had not noticed him. Continuing to sing her melodious song sans lyrics, she crouched just before the creek. She had carried with her no basket this time; she just had her new change of clothing for the day, but her recognizable purple shawl.

With the assistance of the water surface's reflection, she had noticed the birds swoop over her head merrily. She broke her song with a feminine giggle, as she smiled up to watch the birds gaily flutter for a moment. She smiled very warmly, and closed her eyes, which only complimented her beauty. But after that, she opened her eyes, looked back down to the creek, and proceeded to splash her face with the cool water.

She was still entirely oblivious that the lion was very nearby.

[simba]

There would be no length of time that would pass that would let the Lion Prince forget that voice. No matter how often he heard, he couldn't help but pause and listen to the wordless tune. He watched her for a moment before grinning at the giggle. Geez, she even laughed like music! Not wanting to startle her he cleared his throat, the laid back grin still on his maw.

"Thanks for distracting those guys." He gestured towards the bird fluttering around her, "Usual way to wake up in this place?"

[Briar Rose]

Unfortunately for Simba, he did end up startling her after all. The maiden had her hands on her face when she heard the voice and gasped; her song had promptly ceased because of this. She coughed after water had entered her mouth, and she quickly lowered her hands and opened her eyes to look at, what she recognized as, the lion she had met not long ago.

"Oh!" was all she managed to respond. She quickly jumped to her feet and took several steps back. "I..." She linked her hands together and placed them onto her chest, as she nervously asked a question. "Did I wake you? I'm... I'm sorry!" She blushed and looked away and closed her eyes, attempting to hide her face from him.

[simba]

Simba offered her a short grin before shaking his head, "Nah- your friends there did." He motions to the bird fluttering around- they seemed a bit smug before landing on the branches around them. Looking rather relaxed he plopped down on the bank closer to her, staring at the cool water before stretching with a sharp yawn.

"How'd you wake up early?" he asked, tilting his head so that he was looking at her right side up.

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose opened her eyes and faced her head forward so she could look at the lion again. Her cheeks were still red when her fetching eyes returned to meet with the lion's, but the color in her cheeks gradually faded. She looked from Simba to the smug bird, and, after noticing said bird's expression, smiled widely and giggled. Her eyes crinkled as a result of the genuine smile. Like before when Simba had eavesdropped, Briar Rose's smile was genuinely sweet and feminine. This was fortunate, because this was the first time the maiden displayed any real affability in the lion's presence.

"I usually wake up near this time," Briar Rose said warmly after her laugh. She looked to the lion once again and, for the first time, kept her sincere smile. It was soft, but it was a smile all the same. She locked her hands together again and rested them idly on her abdomen. "I love the morning. I think it might be my favorite part of the day." She looked from the lion and back to the birds that surrounded them. "You know, they love to sing. And I love listening to them." After a few birds responded to her comment tweeting, the maiden's smile stretched further. "They make the morning special."

After a pause, Briar Rose's smile faded. She turned and, amazingly, took one step closer to the lion. "I'm sorry for running away before. I'm really not supposed to speak to strangers. But..." She moved her eyes (but not her head) to the right. "I met a frog not long ago, and he's really a kind prince. He has been cursed, and... because he needed help, I asked if I could be his friend." After recalling the frog whom she called Sir Robin, she smiled and returned her eyes back to properly view Simba.

"It seems I've met so many princes lately, and--" She instantly stopped smiling, widened her eyes, and shook her head down to Simba. "I'm sorry! I talk too much!" She stepped back again, reverting back to her shy, nervous tone. If the lion wanted to keep her talking, and become more open, he would've had to encourage her, and quick.

[simba]

Simba couldn’t help but return the warm smile; it brought out a rather lopsided grin of his own. He sat up when she stepped closer, shaking his head a bit at the idea of actually willingly getting up at such an early hour. He watched the birds for a bit longer before grudgingly admitting to himself that the songs were nice, even if they were softer then the one’s he was used to hearing. “They do sing pretty well. But do they have to do it in my ears?”

He gave a toothy grin to the birds, but they seemed to have understood that this giant cat was no harm to them. So they simply twittered and paid more attention to Briar Rose.

The great lion shrugged, “It’s alright. You’re staying this time, right?” A…prince? There was sure a lot of royalty around this forest. It made him a little uneasy but, not enough to actually show. When Briar Rose gasped he looked up with wide eyes before slipping back into the laid back grin of someone with no cares.

“Hey, Hakuna Matata. Don’t worry about it. You should meet the Parrots near the waterfall. Those guys never seem to stop talking.”

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose stood in silence for an awkward moment, before slowly mustering up a smile. The beautiful maiden then performed a breakthrough: she lowered herself to the ground, so she could sit beside Simba, Indian style. Now the human was the closest she had ever been to the lion, and the first time the two truly met equally at eye level. The gentle and vulnerable Briar Rose continued to smile, and she tilted her head slightly out of friendly shyness.

"Thank you," she replied. "You're very kind." After a short moment, Briar Rose's smile faded, and she raised a highly expressive eyebrow. "I'm sorry to ask," she said, "but... what is hakuna matata? And what are parrots?" She felt embarrassed for asking, but she tried to keep that feeling to herself as best as she could.

[simba]

The lion settled himself as well, not wanting to scare the human. They did seem to be skiddish at times, some about eating them. He titled his head a little before grinning.

"Hakuna Matata is the best way to live your life. No worries, no responsibilities. Just enjoying everything for the moment you have it." It's the philosophy that had turned the prince into a vagabond, and really- Simba couldn't think of his life any other way.

The question of parrots though did bring a look of surprise across his amber eyes, "You've never seen a parrot?"

[Briar Rose]

The human's purple eyes looked away from the lion's amber hues out of embarrassment. But, as shy as she was, Briar Rose politely faced the lion again. "I'm sorry, but no," she admitted her ignorance. "I don't know what a parrot is. Or maybe I have seen a parrot before, but I just didn't know it."

After a pause, she smiled. Once again, her infectious warmth had surfaced. "But Hakuna Matata sounds so wonderful! But I can't say if I have lived by Hakuna Matata in these woods."

After musing about the philosophy of hakuna matata, the beautiful maiden's eyes obviously examined the lion's body. She caught herself staring, before complimenting him. "I'm sorry. I just think that you're a beautiful animal. I've never seen an animal like you before, and I'm..." Her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, as she continued to smile and look away out of shyness.

[simba]

"You really aren't missing much. Parrot's are loud...and obnoxious." And tended to complain for the most part.

The lion tilted his head, surprised at the confession- and if he didn't have the fur to hide it, Briar Rose would easily see his own blush. As it was, Simba gave a rather sheepish smile, glancing down before grinning a little bit.

"Ah, I guess you really haven't seen a lion before. I'm not that impressive." He was a little on the small and scraggly size for a lion. His diet and habits were fully to blame for that. "Well, hey! Maybe you could come to the jungle. It's not that far, maybe...about two days away."

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose's cheeks were still red, but she brought her head back forward to look to the lion's expressive eyes. Her face lit up, and she smiled widely. She clasped her hands together and nodded. If this jungle was as wonderful, colorful, and interesting as the lion implied, then surely the maiden would have loved to visit. The subject intrigued her substantially. "I would love to visit this jungle!" But after her enthusiastic response, her expression faded to meekness. "Oh."

After a pause she said more softly, "I'm sorry. It's just that... well, I've never left these woods. And I know my aunts wouldn't like me to." She continued to look to the lion, before looking down. Her red lips released a sigh. But she made an effort to be optimistic; she looked up to the lion again, and worked a soft smile. "But... when I am allowed to, I would love to visit the jungle. If... if you wouldn't mind?" She was hesitant with that last part, not because she was ashamed, but because she was speaking with her heart. She was enjoying the company of the lion.

[simba]

Her aunts? So she wasn't here all alone; that was a good thing at least. No matter how peaceful this place seemed, danger tended to lurk in the sunniest spots. With a short laugh he shrugged and laid back down, rolling over to be a bit more comfortable. Glancing up at Briar he gave a small snort.

"Hey, no one said you had to ask. I do plenty of stuff on my own." he stretched and fell over to his side with a flop and flurry of dust, "Besides, who ever said we'd have to let them know where you're going? Or when for that matter. You'll be safe with me."

He grinned brightly, in that way that he often used to put Timon and Pumbaa at ease about an idea, "Promise!"

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose watched Simba get comfortable on the ground. She smiled politely (but not sweetly) as the lion suggested her to leave for the jungle, without her aunts consent. The maiden shook her head, her long, golden hair swaying as she did.

"That is kind of you, Simba. And I trust you... I know I would be safe with you." Her smile faded after she said that last part. "But I could never leave without telling my aunts. It--it wouldn't be right. They would be so worried about me, and I couldn't do that to them." She paused before apologizing. "I'm sorry. But when I have permission, I will go." She smiled again, this time brighter.

[simba]

He shook his head, responsibilities. Well not everyone had Hakuna Matata on their side, but oh well. Maybe was closer to a yes then a no so, he'd take it. He stretched again, acting more like a lazy cat then a regal lion.

"Eh Hakuna Matata, maybe you could show me around here more? I don't have to go back home for...mmm." He wrinkled his snout in thought, the rainy season was at least three weeks away, and it really wasn't that far to clear the more dangerous rivers, "About a week." Unless Kita or one of the other swallows was sent to get his help for something.

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose's smiled warmed, revealing her clean, white teeth in the process. "A week?" Oh, that's wonderful!" She nodded, her bluish-purple eyes staring into the lazy lion's affable hues. "I would be happy to show you the forest." After a pause, her voice increased in femininity, and and her eyes wrinkled as she smiled even further. "I could even show you the castle. I'm not allowed to go there, or leave the forest for that matter. But you can see the castle from a cliff, and it's... beautiful."

[simba]

The former prince tilted his head, a few stray tufts of fur falling over his eyes. "Castle?" he asked in obvious confusion, "What's a castle?" The lion's experience with humans was limited. Only the tribes of African and a few of the braver traders and hunters had ever crossed his path. He'd never heard about castles, at least not to the extent that he would be able to recognize one if he saw one.

A small frown crosses his muzzle briefly at the thought of being unable to leave the forest. An old lesson came into his mind and he quickly pushed it away, "Maybe I should ask your aunts if you can come with me? I mean, the jungles still like a forest. *pause* Sort of. Trust me; even if you can see the world from one place. It's not the same as exploring it."