"Wrong again, Tenderfoot."

Angel simply stared for a moment, a surprised smile crossing her face. "Oh, Scamp..." she whispered, nuzzling him gently. "Thanks, Tenderfoot." She held that position for what felt like forever, her head supporting his. She'd forgotten how much she missed the feel of Scamp's fur brushing against her own.
"No matter who I end up with," she whispered softly, "I still love you, Tenderfoot. Always." While she couldn't see it from her position, she could almost feel Scamp's face light up, and she also smiled. She hadn't been able to tell him that before, but now that he'd grasped the impossibility of the situation, she could tell him the absolute truth.

Scamp almost recoiled a step. Why did she have to torment him like this? He could feel the depression slipping back on, and he shuddered miserably at the thought. The fact that he and Angel could never be together gnawed at him continually, and while knowing that the still cared for each other eased the pain in some ways, in others, it just made it all the more poignant. Still, Vitani's earlier words had hit home - as long as Angel was happy, that had to be good enough for him. He was sure that he would never be able to feel the same way about anyone else.

(OOC: Sorry about rewriting, I just realised that I'd slipped horribly out of character, and I wanted to keep depressive Scamp around a while longer, so I had to redo the post)

Mooch had watched the exchange not trying to but in. Alright, was it gross that Scamp loved his sister? Yes it certainly was. Was it sad he couldn't get her to love him back? Yes it was. But Mooch was teaching him to fight, to regain his honor, to attack the one person who stole his love. Revenge always seemed sweeter to Mooch. Revenge would warm that frozen part of your body. But Tani's bleeding heart had made a mess of things. He gritted his teeth and snarled at her.

"What's wrong with you?" He said with a snap, "I was getting through to him! He was feeling better! He was fighting through the pain!" He needed to find Scamp and make sure the dog was okay. He shook his head at 'Tani. "You're not a horrible lioness," he howled, "You...you just ruined everything!"

He rushed off without a word refusing to confront his own emotions. He had to find Scamp, had to make sure he was alright and he was either beating Patch up or snubbing Angel. He ran for a while before finding them, kind of hoping Tani was following. He froze watching the exchange between the heartless female and his new best friend.

"What is WRONG with you?" It was unclear who the statement was directed towards. His voice was annoyed, angry and hurt all at the same time.

Vitani was only a few paces behind Mooch and she saw Scamp with Angel. She didn't know whether it was a good sign or not but she didn't have time to find out before Mooch's statement cut through the air like a knife.

Vitani's eyes flew from Mooch to Scamp and then rested on Angel. She hoped that Angel could see the apology in her eyes, she hadn't counted on Mooch. She thought that Mooch would have backed her up but apparently that wasn't the case. This was a potential disaster.

"I didn't know my love life had gained an audience." Angel responded, eyeing Mooch more than a little irritably. "Or maybe the concept of a private conversation is just new to you?"
She glared him down a moment longer before turning her attention back to Scamp. "Look, Tenderfoot, I am s..."
"I know." Scamp cut her off, his voice hard and emotionless. His eyes, however, spoke of incredible pain. "You were right."
With that, he turned on his heel and left the scene, not so much as sparing a glance at Mooch and 'Tani - or even her. Her heart heavy, Angel returned her attention - and her uncomfortable glare - to Mooch. "You're about as tactless as Buster." she observed, before also turning and marching away. She couldn't return to Patch, not just yet - she needed time alone to think.

Mooch didn't understand the comment but his angry yellow eyes stayed on Angel. He wasn't afraid of her. He called after her as she walked away. "You're not as hot as you think you are lady! Scamp'll find somebody better!" ALright, he was lying, Angel was pretty hot but he felt he shouldn't let Scamp know that he thought his half sister was pretty. Turning his eyes on Scamp he cocked his head to one side.

"What did you say to her? And who the heck is Buster?"

Mooch's words caused Angel to stop in her tracks. She looked back at Mooch, holding his gaze for a moment. "I hope you're right." she replied, her voice catching a little. "I really do."
Without another word, she resumed walking away.

Scamp barely heard the questions Mooch caleld after him, and he certainly didn't hear the sheeepdog's call after Angel. Scamp was lost in a daze, unable to do anything but keep walking blindly ahead. Of course he loved Angel, longed for her to be his... but it couldn't be possible. Deep down, he'd always known that, he just hadn't wanted to admit it. Well, if Angel was happy... that ought to be good enough for him. Right? Then why did he feel so awful?
So she gets to be happy while you don't? Where's the justice in that? The voice in his head sounded suspiciously like Mooch, although Mooch had never said that to him. Unable to forumlate a mental response, Scamp just continued walking in a straight line, away from Pride Rock. The Pridelands were amazing, but he didn't even notice the natural beauty surrounding him. His legs just kept moving, taking him as far away from the source of his heartbreak as possible.

(OOC: It would be great if someone else could be out here for Scamp to run into. If not, 'Tani or Mooch could follow him, but... Kovu, didn't you express an interest in bringing Dipstick in?)

Dipstick was being lazy. Well, who could blame him really? He'd only just signed up today, and had only been at the camp for a few hours. He'd trotted out of camp, curious to explore the Pridelands and this new setting he'd found himself in. Being in that he'd only been trying to find the Hero camp, he hadn't really taken the time to pay attention to his surroundings. Now he was taking the opportunity to do just that, before training picked up and he had to get down to business.

He'd spent most of his few hours exploring the sights and smells. The air was hot and humid, much more so than back on the farm, and the grass had an exotic, tangy smell he wasn't familiar with. The whole savannah had an exotic feel to it, as if he were actually in some faraway summer camp, instead of a war camp.

Now he lay beneath a scraggly tree, shading himself from the sun. Sleepily glancing about across the plains. As he did, his eyes widened in surprise. There was a gray dot moving across the expanse of green. Slowly, as if it were injured... or something. Dipstick stared at it as it drew closer and closer. It came from the hero camp, so it must be one of the Heroes....

Gradually, Scamp grew close enough that Dipstick could tell what he was. He stood up immediately, his black tail wagging. Finally, another dog!! He trotted toward the other pooch, grinning, and was getting ready to greet him with a hearty hello when he noticed his expression. This poor pup looked lost, heartbroken and down in the dumps. His tail drooping and his eyes glazed over, as if he were lost in thought or perhaps in a dream. Dipstick cocked his head, raising an eyebrow and letting the grin slide off his face, his tail ceased wagging.

"Hey dude......what's the matter?"

Scamp looked up at the dalmatian approaching him, barely paying attention. On hearing the pup's enquiry, though, he finally stopped walking and looked at him. "My girlfriend turned out to be my sister. We can't be together, but I still l... love her. I don't know what to do."
There. That was the last two weeks of his life sumarised in three sentences. It finally occured to him that he had no clue who the pup was whom he'd just spilled all his problems onto, but at the moment, he was past caring. He just wanted all this emotional pain to be gone.

Dipstick's eyes grew as wide as twin saucers. Girlfriend....sister? Wow....for a second or two, he was totally at a loss as to what to say. Sheepishly he rubbed the back of his head with a forepaw. "Aw....gee dude that....that really sucks eggs doesn't it..." He stared at the pup, looking puzzled and a little alarmed. "Dude are you gonna be all right?"

Scamp shook his head. "I don't know." he whispered, hanging his head. The pain was so great... He just wanted it to end. Somehow. He sat, letting out a little whimper. He didn't want to slip back into his depression, he honestly didn't, but he had no idea how he could fight it. All he knew was that Angel could never be his...

For a moment Dipstick wasn't sure what to do. He bit his lip, his eyebrows furrowed with worry and confusion as to how to proceed. Awkwardly, he placed a paw on Scamp's shoulders.

"Hey man, it'll...it'll be all right. Who needs girls anyway...a-all they ever do is create pain and heartbreak." He lifted the paw that wasn't on Scamp's shoulder to pat his own chest proudly.

"Heck, I've NEVER had a girlfriend and I made out just fine. Heh, you outta hang out with me and my pal Mooch sometime, we always have fun."

"He already does hang out with me, Dipstick!" Mooch growled padding up behind Scamp. Oh yes, he had followed the pup. He scoffed as his ears perked and a scowl appeared on his face. "Besides, how is the fact YOU'VE never had a girlfriend supposed to make him feel better." He laughed and walked beside Scamp.

"Naw, Dipstick's right dude, I told you to chill," he scoffed, "Some girls suck, not Tani but most girls, they suck."

Dipstick's floppy ears lifted in total surprise when Mooch showed up. "Mooch!! I-I didn't know you..Ah.." He rubbed his head sheepishly with a paw. "I-I was just making an an...analogy that um..you know I made it fine without a girlfriend so he uh....he can too..um..." He trailed off as Mooch approached Scamp. Tellin him to chill and that most girls suck.

"Um yeah what he said."