Wiping the Clock

Lady sat, mouth agape, her eyes drifting between Tramp, Collette, and Annette. She looked up to Cash, big brown eyes, still rimmed with possible tears, almost pleading, as if to say "what should I do?"

She looked back, to both her girls.

"Please, you kids don't need to fight like this, or pick sides, we are still a family, even if your father and I are separated. Yes, I do like being with Cash, and I should be allowed that. But you two need to understand that despite that, both of us still love you."

she looked back to Tramp, slightly disappointing that the one "taking care of the pups" had remained quite as their two daughters argued.

She looked back to Cash, and slolwy back towards him again, till he was over her. Almost as if she was retreating to the comfort of his person. Collette in front of her. But she still faced Tramp and Annette, muzzle held low, long ears hanging limply beside her head. She seemed very tired again. The long night, rising emotions for Cash, dispute with the Tramp, and now her pup's taking sides, pulling on every nerve and fiber in her body. How much she longed to run away. But she was a loyal dog, and she would see this threw. Even if her pups came to hate her, she would make sure they would come out of this, the better.

Non of them understood- they didn't understand what was going on, none of his situation was being taken into account here... This wasn't HIS fault, but he was feeling somewhat guilty, his heart weighing down as he looked to the side, away from the argument for a brief moment. He wasn't her 'new boyfriend' and as rude as it might sound she sure as heck wasn't his new girlfriend. He had Dixie to think of, but Lady's calmness gave him a sense of security and stability... It was all so messed up. How sharply turned back upon another of the pups entering, Collette.

"H-hey there a second." he spoke up, tone much friendlier than when he had addressed Tramp-, "Y'all don't know why I'm here do yah?" he asked sending a glance to each of he pups, after giving Lady a short but kind stare. He even gave the Tramp a brief, non hostile glance, before returning to his story like tone.

"Ah came along to this war because of a girl. A diva with a barbed wire tongue. Ah joined the villains, thought I'd grab mah girl, and get on outta' here without another care in the world. But here ah am, she's on the other side, I'm with the heroes and more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs, nervous somethin' might happen to her. And there ain't nothing ah can do but cope with it. Ah can't speak fer yer ma'," he turned his attention deliberately to Annette but respectfully, "But wars ain't right, and ah think we're all doin' our best to make it lighter. Whatever that might be..." with that he took a short stare at Lady, before turning to inspect the pups.

The small speech was said in a calm tone, threatening to engross any listening and drag them into the easy going mood. No charming tone to capture attention or set hearts a fluttering. He spoke it almost like a story, like a father almost. But the hound appeared tired nonetheless, he only hoped the pup, Annette, wasn't too enraged to not take his words meaning into account. Though he most likely mentioned Dixie to try and set them at ease- remind them who his heart really belonged to, remind himself.

Not again....
He couldn't believe this: no matter WHERE he went, his family crisis seemed to follow....and Pidge wondered why he was getting to become so hostile....there was no relief. No escape. And now his children were choosing sides....

"Girls....no, stop this." He said finally, finding his voice after the startling intrusion of Annette and Collette. "You shouldn't be siding against each other.....your mother's....got a point. We are still a family." She had a point....but that didn't make her right.

Turning to Annette, a soft pang of pride couldn't help but tap the mutt's heart. Since Angel brought back that revelation, everyone had looked to him like the bad guy. It was....nice....to have someone have his back again. Even if it was only making things worse. "Come on, honey, back down a little, huh?" He said gently, giving his daughter his best fatherly smile "I know you want this to be over with, but it's not helping anything."

You should take your advice, old boy....

Easier said than done.

Annette opened her mouth to give her mother a sharp retort. Something to do with the fact that she'd only seen her what, twice? Three times? since entering the camp, and that didn't say much for her desire to take care of them, but before she could voice the words, first Cash, then dad, had spoken up as well. She released a sigh, but let the words slip away unspoken. Still, she didn't relax her stance, still standing rigidly at her father's side, although she did back up a pace or so, so as not to seem quite so hostile.
What was happening to their family? Everything had been perfect back home, and then... How had this happened? Deep down. she just wanted to curl up between dad's legs and go to sleep, and when she woke up find that none of this - not the war, not the breakup, nothing - was real any more. But that wouldn't happen, she knew.
"I'm sorry, dad." she replied with a shake of her head, her ears flapping free of her collar as she did. She slowly leant her head against his leg. He must know some way out of this nightmare. Because he was dad - he always did.

Tramp's smile crawled further up his face at his daughter's touch. She trusted him still, an that was....really something for the older dog. "Thatta girl." He praised, before his head shot up, directing his attention back to his former mate and that mongrel at her side. "Think of me what you will" he started slowly, his voice curt, direct, but not hostile, "but I won't have my children caught up in the middle of this." His gaze lowered to meet Collette's furious eyes, evoking a sad sigh from his lips before he again looked at the pup leaning against him.

"Come on, Annie." He said, choosing to use the girl's nickname, "let's go grab something to eat, huh? Just you and me."

He didn't really want to leave, but his parental instincts prevented any further animalistic urges from surfacing....besides which, he just couldn't deal with this right now. Not with the kids...that wouldn't be fair.

Wouldn't be right.

Annette actually smiled. "Sure, dad." she replied. She didn't want to have to continued the arguement with mom - not at the moment, anyway, and dad's offer gave her the perfect excuse to get away from it for the moment. She still didn't trust that mom and Cash wouldn't get up to anything in her absence, despite Cash's words... but she'd wanted to talk to dad - alone - anyway. She led the way towards the Mess Hall.

Lady bowed her head, muzzle pointed down. She allowed a few tears to roll down her cheeks. She didn't want this split between her pups. All she had wanted was a clean cut off from her former mate. Instead she got a painful wake up to what her pups would be going threw. Cash wasn't her boyfriend, so there was nothing wrong with his presence. Her former mate was just jumping the gun on her, yet again.

But her pups, they had taken their toll on her. She could see the tears rolling down her muzzle, hitting her ear-fur, and splattering on the ground, maw set in a sad frown. So what she may have some feelings for Cash...he was just a close friend who was helping her threw a tough time, that didn't make her a bad dog, and was is so bad she wanted to get away from a dog she felt she could no longer trust? in fact, this just confirmed the state Tramp was in! That didn't make her a bad dog...did it?

and yet, The little cocker felt so alone.

Yet, she looked around, and she saw Collete and she smiled, eyes looking at her daughter with such pride. She leaned her head over and gave the little pup a soft nuzzle.

"Thank you Cole, I'm so sorry we put you guys threw this. You girls don't need to be split by your father and I's troubles. We both love you all so much."

She then looked up to Cash, and said "And thank you ever so much for diffusing that situation, oh I dunno what I would do without you." She reached up with her fore-paw and wiped away the remainder of her tears.

Cash had said nothing further for the moment, remaining silent as he watched the two parents deal with their pups and their life issues in the war. He only tried to relate it to himself and Dixie. Had they had pups before the war, would things be the same? Would they have left and come here, leaving them behind, or followed on of them here? Would they be on the same side, or opposite, with a split family like this group? He shook his head briefly, ridding himself of these what if questions to fully register Lady's crying. Hound sighed lightly, feeling somewhat responsible for this. He didn't help any conflicts here it would seem.

"Don't thank me." he said weakly, leaning down slightly, nose gently touching where the tears had fallen, no doubt they were still somewhat damp despite Lady's rubbing them away. Though- he hadn't exactly meant this to be in any romantic manner. The innocence in his eyes would prove it- if correctly inspected.

"M'fraid I ain't much more than a low down mutt." he gave a bitter inward chuckle, straightening up, recalling the venomous way Dixie had called him that one too many times. Had she been right? At the moment the hound was feeling she had been. Though he looked between Lady and Collette, hound's mind was far from them. Sitting off with Dixie in the outlands, his tiredness only prompting his mind to crazy thoughts that shouted even when he closed his eyes to try and numb them.

You're just a little lost puppy trying to find it's way home, aren't you?

Tramps words finally echoed in his mind. He wouldn't deny it. Tramps words were more correct than he would ever know- but not for the reasons he thought- and nor would Cash let him in on it. He was lost without Dixie, and Lady was just the calm little creature than he needed to remain stable. Selfish mutt...

((OOC: sorry to butt back in... I gotta bring Kida's involvement to a conclusion))


Kida stepped out of Shang's tent, hoping that talking with the general had lifted his spirits a bit. She walked over toward the cave at the start of Pride Rock, poking her head inside, searching for the lion king himself. Simba seemed so shell-shocked after Hayabusa dropped off Jake's mangled form at the feet of the lion. He wasn't the fabled leader that Kida had heard many legends and heroic tales of. But perhaps a funeral would offer closure and help him return to his normal self.

"King Simba?" she called out, "Sir?"

Simba wasn't the grand king he once was. He was still young, and even though he was still considered a "king", his army was falling to pieces, slowly. Family drama here and there, his generals fighting for positions of power, and Jake. He wanted to be there for his army, the rock, but given his current situation, he couldn't. Shang himself didn't even consider the lion a "fit" leader.
However, a call came echoing through the den, shaking Simba from his melancholy thoughts. The lion king came padding out to face Kida, one of the newer recruits. From what he had heard, she was a skilled Atlantean warrior, with immense power. Simba then seated himself in front of Kida, with a sad smile. "Yes, Kida?" he asked.

She was about to say something, but one look into the lion's eyes broke her heart. He was still in so much pain and being left out of the missions and leaders' meetings seemed to be taking a toll on him as well. She wanted to kneel down and embrace him, but that would be improper. She was a new recruit and only a soldier, while he was a general, one who she barely knew. So she stood upright and pushed back the emotion that threatened to overcome her.

"Sir, I thought you should know that we're going to be holding a funeral for Jake at sunset. I..." she averted his gaze, staring at the ground, "I thought you would want to attend and possibly speak to the troops."

Simba nodded slowly. "Yes, I would. Thank you for coming to tell me, Kida." he said, with a smile. Before he could stop himself, however, all of his emotions that he had bottled up inside had finally started to leak through.
"Lately, I've just felt so...left out of everything. Shang doesn't see me as a fit leader, and I doubt that the Great Prince thinks differently. Honestly, I think that the only two of my generals that I can really confide in would be Aladdin and Clopin." Simba said, with a sad look.
"Everything's just gone downhill after Jake's death. My army is falling apart, and I'm just a ghost of who I used to be. I'm not the great leader that I was." Simba said.

Kida sighed, still containing her urge to reach out and embrace him or stroke his mane comfortingly. But wasn't that in essence what she had done with Shang? She had said it herself, her job as a participant in this war was to serve and help sustain her leaders.

"Hard times have hit, and it is in those times we find out who we truly are. But you forget the fact that you are mortal, sir. You may not be a human being like Shang or Aladdin, but you are a being nonetheless with feelings and in this case, pain. I wish I knew how to take it away, make things better, help you get back on your feet as a leader, but only you can face that inner pain. And only you can handle it."

She knelt down in front of the king, "But you don't have to be completely alone when you do. And for what it's worth, I've heard legends from the soldiers of the greatness of King Simba, a wonderful, fearless leader in battle. You are still that king, I believe that wholeheartedly. Don't let Jake's death permenantly depress you, because if you do..." she looked to the side, "well, then they win and Jake's death was for nothing. He died for a cause, your cause. Do not blame yourself, it was out of your control. Accept that and move forward. Please... Don't let yourself die inside. You have much to offer."

Simba nodded carefully. For some reason, Kida's words felt like the words his father had always used to guide him along in dreams, and when he was alive. Sadly, nothing had come from his father as of late. But Kida was correct. The only way to fix that inner pain was to face up to it himself. Besides, he'd faced Zira's lionesses before, and his pride won. Why couldn't they do so now?

"You know what, Kida? You're absolutely correct. And if I do have a lot to offer, like you said, then I'm probably not doing a good job of it, just lounging around here all day and sulking." Simba said, standing up proudly. "Today is the day where my true colors will finally show through. I'm not going to back down without a good fight." Simba said.
"We will hold that funeral in honor of Jake, who died for a good cause."

((OOC: sorry, Simba. I was trying to figure out where to start the funeral. After your next post... Well, you'll see.))


Kida smiled, glad that the king seemed to be returning to his normal stature. This army needed their leader and with Simba returning to his usual confidence and assuredness, the army would bounce back in no time.

"Then it's settled, sir: this evening we will hold a funeral service for the fallen hero. I would like--if it is all right wirh you--for one of your generals would lead it, for I have not been here long enough for the people to receive a speech from myself. Is there anyone you would recommend?"