I Didn't Know That I Could Feel This Way...

Vitani bit her lip at Scamp's words. She heard the hiss of the creature in the back of her mind and knew if she didn't get herself back under control then she would lose it coxmpletely...like the icident at the Watering Hole all over again.

For a brief moment she wondered why she was so vehement that it was her fault. She was trying to jusitfy Zira's actions...why? What kind of mother would mercilessly beat their child and scar them? Who could condone that? Although she knew that Zira would state that it was to teach her respect.

"I-I" Vitani wanted to say something to Scamp, to thank him or tell him how she felt, but the words were escaping her

"It's okay, 'Tani. You're safe." Scamp tried to comfort her, not entirely sure what to say as he didn't really know what 'Tani was thinking at the moment. "I won't let anything like that happen to you again, 'Tani." he promised, although he knew right from the outset that it was a promise he had no way of keeping. His fighting skills were practically non-existant, and he knew it.
He felt an urge to do... to say... something more, to tell her how he felt towards her now, but he remained silent, embarassed to say anything on the matter while Mooch or Angel were present.

Titling his head to one side, he wanted to know whether or not he would feel anything that Tani and Scamp felt. He shook the feeling off immediately. He was strange looking, smelly according to the prissy cocker spaniel dog he'd flirted with, and a bully. He wasn't like Scamp and he just had to accept that. "You mean WE won't, Scamp. WE won't let anything happen to her." Mooch thought he should maybe find a new group. The third wheel was never a fun position to be in and the dog knew it.
Mooch looked at Angel. He wanted to see her react. She had hurt his buddy, it was only fair that she be squirming.

"Uh, yeah, sure, Mooch." Scamp replied uncertainly. Something was bothering Mooch, he was sure, but maybe it was just the fact that he hadn't been there to protect 'Tani this time. Subconciously placing a reasuring paw on 'Tani's shoulder, he looked over her back at the sheepdog. "Is something wrong, Mooch?" he asked innocnetly.

Mooch sighed and lowered his head giving Scamp a half smile. He saw the paw on Tani's shoulder. Third wheel; the words filled his brain. Would he have to go back to being alone? His tail wagged slowly, happy for his friends. Happy. A weird mixed emotion.

"Hey...Hey don't worry about me," he said, "You two keep...uh...you know doing whatever your doing." He laughed slightly before sitting in the dust. "I'm just glad Tani's back, that's all." Mooch knew how to lie. But why should he have to? Friends told their friends how they felt. But Mooch refused to ruin the moment. What was happening to this tough guy?

"No Mooch." Vitani said "Don't go...please."

She needed her friends...she needed them, now more than ever. She had to be sure that she was safe and she only felt safe around them. They would protect her wouldn't they? They wouldn't let Scar and his army come after her again wouldn't they? She needed to know that she was definately safe.

"'Tani, you're safe here." Scamp tried, keeping his paw on her shoulder. "We're back in the camp now, it's okay." He shook his head slowly. 'Tani seemed so small and insecure right now, he couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the seemingly confident young lioness who'd helped him put Angel in the past. He gave her an encouraging smile as they approached the MASH tent.
"C'mon, let's see if Tiana or someone can help you."

Angel slowed and broke away from the group as they approached the MASH tent. She was worried about 'Tani, certainly - but she had some things she needed to discuss with the other girl once she'd recovered from her experiences. Like why she'd never said anything about Scar being her father. And what other secrets she might be hiding. But she knew that now wasn't the time for that, so she left the trio alone.
Also... there was something different about Scamp now, she could tell. Just what it was eluded her but... he seemed to have finally let her go. Not like the last few days, where he'd been trying to, but it had just come across as uncomfortable for both of them, but like he'd really moved on. Almost as if he had found another...
As she watched the way he acted towards Vitani, a smile crept onto her muzzle. Angel thought she had a pretty good idea of the reason behind Scamp's attitude change towards her.
"Thanks, 'Tani." she whispered quietly, before disappearing into the darkness. "I owe you one."

Vitani looked first at Scamp then noticed Angel retreating into the night. She had a feeling that something was up...what exactly she wasn't sure...but she could always talk to Angel later. They were friends weren't they?

She turned back to Scamp and once more rested her head on Scamp's shoulder

Scamp froze for a moment, unsure quite how to react, as 'Tani leant her head on his shoulder. Slowly, he smiled. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words froze in his throat so - more than a little unsure how she'd react - he settled for leaning down and gently licking her face instead.

(OOC: Vixey, they're pretty much at the MASH now, so whenever you want to show up to treat 'Tani...)

Vitani's cheeks burned so much that her fur turned visibly pinker. She didn't pull away...she liked it. She saw the MASH tent looking in front of them, and knew that she would have to seperate from Scamp to get those dreaded stitches, but that didn't seem so bad. She could be stuck in the Outlands, still, which compared to the unpleasentness of having the cuts sowen back together, seemed pretty mild.

A small purr rumbled from the back of Vitani's throat because she was to scared to admit that she, without a doubt, was in love with Scamp.

Scamp couldn't help but notice Vitani's blush, and as if on cue, his own face started burning. He nervously glanced around to see if either Mooch or Angel were watching. To his relief, Angel was nowhere to be seen, although Mooch was still right there, and Scamp's face became another shade redder. Hoping to cover his embarassment, he awkwardly asked "'Tani, is something wrong?"
Dumb question. he scolded himself the moment after he'd thought it, but he couldn't exactly take it back now.

Mooch had been following. He had stepped on something in the desert, something that had stung his paw. He wanted medical attention as well. His ears perked as he followed slowly behind his friends, head lowered. Third wheel. He still felt out of place.

He whimpered as he stepped on the paw that was hurt. He didn't want to break up their conversation but he wanted to talk. Now that his gang was back together. If it still was a gang.

"She's fine!" Mooch called up at Scamp, "She just-Ooops." He stared at the lioness and grinned at Tani. "She's fine! Hehehe."

Vitani gave Mooch a small half smile, she was lucky to have Mooch and Scamp...she really was. Mooch was like an older brother to her, one that actually liked her, and she loved Scamp. Leaving the Outlands had to have been the best decision she could have made for herself...it put her on the right path.

Funny. What put her on the right path had made her family, except for Kovu apparently, hate her but strangely that didn't really matter anymore. Mooch and Scamp were her family now.

When Vixey saw Angel step in the MASH tent, she was secretly relieved. It meant that the mission was sucessful. Vixey raced outside to see Vitani, Scamp, Mooch and Lady. "Oh thank goodness your back, I was starting to get worried." Vixey noticed the injuries on Vitani. "Oh dear. Vitani, we better get these cuts checked out. Right this way."

Vitani, reluctantly, seperated from Scamp and Mooch and followed Vixey into the medical tent. Her expression was unreadable.

She was such a coward. Scamp was right in front of her and she had ample oppertunity to tell him how she felt yet she had remained silent. She couldn't hide behind the excuse of giving him space to collect himself or that they were just friends because she knew, and she was pretty sure Scamp knew as well, that it was entirely untrue.

She loved Scamp and she was too cowardly to say so.