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[h1][color=Goldenrod]Simba Lionhart[/color] and [color=LightSteelBlue]Kidagakash Nedakh[/color][/h1]
[h2]Present Day - The Wildes/ Atlantis[/h2][/center]

The night prior had certainly been an eventful one. And technically, it still hadn't ended. Not for Simba.

Even though Kidagakash had given Simba, Timon and Pumbaa their own rooms to stay in now that they were a part of the city, Simba could not stay within the room that was part of the palace. As soon as they had bid their farewells for the evening, and as soon as he was sure that Timon and Pumbaa were asleep on their animal-skinned rug-beds, he left. There was such a high amount of anxiety welling up within his chest from the days events, he had to sever each and every connection he could feel, simply so that he could just be [i]himself[/i] for once. He needed his [i]own[/i] thoughts. The fact alone that he was within a palace for the first time in many, many years caused a great amount of his emotional pain, he simply just needed to be alone and think.

Hours of wandering the quiet streets of Altantis eventually found his path had aimlessly taken him back to the temple where Kidagakash had presented to him the crystal he now wore around his neck. It was more than just her acceptance of who he was and what he seemingly did, but her people's acceptance as well... the [i]life forces'[/i] acceptance... It truly was an honor, one that he was still sure that he didn't deserve. But perhaps his blind-walking had led him here, to the temple, for this very purpose; to come to peace with the complete, upside-down turn his life had suddenly made without his consent. He chose a rock and sat, facing the temple and put his mind into a meditative state, becoming in tune to himself and for hours, let his emotions and mind become one and the same for the first time since Rafiki had bestowed the gift of bonding to him back when he was a child.

The morning sun had just began to shine down through the thick foliage of trees, warming the tanned skin of his face as the plant-life slowly seemed to come to life around him with it's warm fingers. It was such a calming reprieve and Simba could feel his mind opening back up once more to those who might have reason to worry about his disappearance. No doubt Timon would throw a fit upon discovering that he had been missing and was unable to reach him... but only because Timon would have thought that Simba had been smart enough to get the early-morning grub for himself.

He wasn't ready to head back, though, not just yet. This place... for some reason he was drawn to it - like he had known it for his whole life and understood it's history like the back of his hand. He knew the reality though, these were Kidagakash's memories and emotions towards the place... It was raw. It was simple. But he liked it. In fact... he could of possibly craved it.

Simba raised up his right hand, pressing it towards his chest where the Atlantean crystal now hung and wrapped his fingers around it gently, lifting it off of his chest so that he could look down upon the pure stone with the same amount of reverence he had held for it the night prior. A tiny piece of the heart of Atlantis was what he now held between his fingers. It truly was beautiful, as was it's Queen.

"...Nashangaa kama mama ingekuwa walipenda yake..."

How long had it been since he had put his schooling days of use and practiced the ancient tongue of his own people? It was strange. Every part of him wanted to forget where he came from, who he was, but in that moment, letting his mind and emotions become one, it felt... right...

The gentle light of the morning suns rays streaming in from behind the thin material covering the window fell down and over Kida's features, causing for a sweet warmth to spread throughout her body as she slowly began to stir to life over the large pile of cushions that acted as her bed, her brilliant blue eyes slowly fluttering open as she did her best to give them the time they needed to adjust from the darkness that had just been clouding her sight. It had been a long night; the festivities continuing long into the early hours of the morn, though she couldn’t continue on in the same way that a lot of her people had- under more normal circumstances she would have been the last to retire to the comfort of her bed chamber; though the day prior had drained her completely of energy, causing her to crave the peace that came with a deep slumber. Placing both of her palms down and against the cushions that rested beneath her, she pushed herself up, her head turning to glance about the room around her; taking her time to revel in the beautiful Atlantean morn that rose about the city surrounding the palace before eventually, she continued on her path and was once more standing upright, the light sheet that had been covering her flowing down her body before pooling around her feet over the floor.

Lifting both her hands up from both her sides as she slowly began to move herself forward and across the room, she pushed her fingers up over her forehead and into her hairline, running them slowly back through the long pure white locks that hung down her back in soft waves, her step slowing to a stop only when she had reached a large stone basin that stood tall on its own off to the side of the room; her arms once more returning back to her sides as she let her attention drop down to the clear crystalline-like water it held within, the very sight of her reflection within the pool causing her soft pink lips to part from one another as she tilted her head to the side, seemingly examining the woman that she saw in front of her for something that everyone else saw, but that she just couldn’t seem to find herself, “..I am no Queen; not as you were mother…”

A connection had been opened, and for a few moments Simba began to expect the frantic chastising of either Timon or Pumbaa for leaving them alone in a strange room without telling them where he was going or demanding breakfast. But when the connection became soft; delicate even, he learned very quickly that it was neither of his cohorts.

/Kida?/

He wasn't sure, the connection felt weak and though the strength of a bond could be much less stable over distance, years of living with his gift told Simba that distance had nothing to do with it, but awareness. It confused him at first; he had made sure to open himself up freely so that those back in Atlantis that might worry about his absence would be able to find him through the bond, but as his mind slowly began to recount events of days past, Simba began to understand clearly - Kidagakash was unaware of [i]him[/i].

She did not understand the bond that they now shared, let alone understand how to control it so that the tie could be severed or opened. Hell, even years later and Simba was still learning how to use it. Bonding with another human... it was unthinkable. His father's shaman, upon receiving the gift, specifically warned him about using it on another human being. But it wasn't as though he had much choice. Kidagakash surely would have killed him if he hadn't forced her to understand that he was no threat to her. But now they were tied in an unbreakable link and though he hated to think on it, he had to wonder just what it was that made bonding with another human so terrible as Rifiki had taught him.

Shaking the thought from his head, Simba instead tuned into what little of the bond he could feel opening up to him. There was... reluctance in her emotions, feeding into his being as though it were his own; regret... worthlessness... It had him frowning even though he knew that no one was around to see.

He craned his head up, bright blue eyes set on the slowly rising sun that breached through the foliage to rain down upon his tanned, muscular body and inhaled a calm, serene breath.

/Perhaps if you experienced this morn for yourself as I have, there would be less reason to place ill thought towards the dawn.../

Her head shot up the very instant that she heard the familiar sound that was Mwoga’s voice ringing as clear as day within her ears, the sudden interruption to the peace that filled her chambers causing her soft pink lips to part from one another as she turned her head to look back over her shoulder for him, her brows seeming to furrow and her bright blue eyes narrowing out of confusion as she quickly came to the conclusion that she was still completely and utterly alone- but she was sure… she had heard his voice no more than a few moments ago. Shoving the nagging feeling she felt that she wasn’t catching onto, or that she was missing something altogether, she slowly turned back around so that she was once more facing the basin; her mind lingering only a few seconds longer on Mwoga before she let her gaze drop back down to her reflection staring back at her.

Reaching out her hand towards the water that was settled in front of her eyes, she hesitated with the tips of her fingers only mere inches away from its surface, allowing them to hover for what felt like a lifetime before finally, she pulled her arm back and turned her back to the basin altogether; her feet carrying her over to where her clothes for the day had been lain out in wait for her awakening, the young queen taking her time to clothe herself before the sound of Mwoga’s voice once more filling her mind caught her attention, forcing her to jolt upright and search again around the room for the large but familiar figure that was the man she had grown comfortable being in the company of.

“..Mwoga..?” Seemingly caught off guard due to twice having heard the voice of someone who was more than obviously nowhere to be found in the room with her, she slowly fastened the material around her body before she glanced around once more, double checking that she was indeed truly alone before she shook her head, questioning her sanity, “It cannot be… how am I to hear his words, when I am alone…”

Simba couldn't help the deep, low chuckle that came from within his chest as he both heard and felt her surprise. Even though she were speaking out loud and not in thought, he was able to understand her because when speaking, the mind and tongue became one.

/Still heart and open mind, for it is how I am able to speak to you. The bond in which we share links us - our hearts, our minds, our feelings... when opened to one another, they are split between us as our own./

Simba paused to let his words settle in, though it seemed that no matter how many times he tried to explain their bond to her, it wasn't setting in. Not by her fault, of course. This... magic... it was old - ancient perhaps, and exceptionally rare. Perhaps if Rafiki were still alive, he would have a better time explaining as he did to Simba when he was still a small boy. So, perhaps, instead of [i]telling[/i] her, he'd simply [i]show[/i] her.

/Come find me, Kidagakash. And all will be clear./

He… wanted her to find him..? Curiosity ran through her body driving her to make her way across the length of her chambers and over to archway that served as the door leading to the rest of the palace, her hand coming up to gently brush the curtain aside as she slowly and ever curiously made her way out of the room, her brilliant bright crystal-blue eyes flicking about the hallway around her before eventually, her attention fell to the hall to her right; the feeling of familiarity and déjà vu flickering through her mind and heart for only a few moments before she turned and began to follow the path that had her feeling as though she had already taken that morning… this magic shared between them; it was strange…

“..you wish for me to seek you out..?” Bringing her hand up from where it was resting by her side, Kida pressed her hand up against the wall as she leant forward to peek around the corner and into the main hall, excitement seeming to build with the already built up burning curiosity as she brought her free hand up, gently brushing her long pure white locks back and behind her ear before she made her choice, her bare feet barely making any noise over the floors below her as she hurried across the room and out into the fresh morning air that greeted her; her gaze scrunching up thoughtfully as she tried to figure out which way she had to go from here, a soft chuckle falling out through her lips, “Mwoga; we play a child’s game.”

He smiled, brushing the feeling of his hand on cold stone aside as he was practiced [i]just[/i] enough to know that the sensation was not his, but her own. Feeling a small amount of restlessness that didn't belong to him, Simba pushed himself up and onto his feet, feeling the lush, cool, green grass tickling the bottoms as he crossed the quiet field and over to the crumbling remains of the temple that Kidagakash had introduced him to just the day prior - though he felt as if he had known it his whole life because of the memories he now shared with her.

Touching the stone, completing the feeling he had just a few moments ago by her own physical memory, Simba took a moment to look the stone structure up and down carefully, examining the cracks and chipped away pieces in what was once a flawless architectural structure that brought hope and peace to the people of Atlantis.

/Then this should be easy for you./ Simba finally replied, though through thought; a challenge. One that he didn't have to assume, but [i]knew[/i] she would take pride in accepting, and of course... completing.

She couldn't help the gentle chuckle that fell through her lips as his words filled her mind; so he was giving her a challenge hm..? It was something different, that was for sure- something that she hadn't had in a very long time save for the political meetings of the small council. It wasn't something that she enjoyed... didn't give her the satisfaction that came with actually going out and doing something; feeling the wind in her hair, and the feeling of pride swelling in her heart when she finished the task, and knew she had done a good job... this was going to be fun...

Catching the unmistakable feeling that was grass brushing against the underside of her feet, she picked up the pace once more; the balls of her feet making gentle thuds against the broken stone paths as she hurried through the city and towards the clearing in which they had held their celebration the night prior- the sense of déjà vu once more overwhelming her as she slowed down towards the entrance of it; her bright blue eyes resting upon the smoldering remains of the bonfire before she tore her attention away from it, allowing them to slowly glide over the rest of the clearing, trying to get some clue as to which way it was that he would have gone into the jungle from here.

"..I feel I have crossed this path; yet I have no memory of doing such this day... how is such a thing possible..?"

Simba quietly stepped away from the massive stone structure, dusting his hands off as bits of crushed rock fell to the tangled grass below him. What she was asking was... perplexing, to put lightly. Never before had he had to try and explain the bond to a person; all the animals he had ever bonded with had just been second nature. There was no 'why' or 'how.' It just was. So as it seemed that as he put forth a challenge for Kidagakash to complete, she gave him his own as well. He closed his eyes, trying to take his mind back to a time where he was not but a boy, new to his own powers. What had Rifiki said? How did he explain it to him as a child? And how would he explain it to her in a way he hadn't tried to already?

/You have.../ Simba started to explain. "through memory that is my own. Your feet carry you through the path I took this morn - it is a memory we now share through the bond." Pausing for a moment, Simba rose his hand, letting his fingers play with the new, blue and golden-encrested crystal that hung from his neck. He could feel the quiet pulse spread from the stone and through his fingertips, causing for a brief smile of importance.

/Follow that memory, Kidagakash. And there you will find me./

Follow the memory..? The principle of the notion was simple enough; though actually being able to do such a thing-... the memory was not her own, yet he believed her smart enough to be able to use it as though it were; this was such magic that only her father would know about and be able to understand- everything she knew about the mystical world (which was not at all that much beyond Atlantean magic), she had learnt from him... now she was on her own. Now she had to work things out on her own.

Falling into a comfortable silence, she closed her eyes to the familiar world that surrounded her, doing all that she could to block out everything that was going on as she tried to call on the memory she could feel tugging at the corners of her mind- it was strange... the steps that were not her own, the emotions that were not her own, even the ever careful steps taken while moving through the jungle she knew so well... but she was seeing it as though it were through another's eyes- as though it were though [i]his[/i] eyes. It was nothing like she had ever experienced before in her life.

Her soft pink lips parted ever so slightly from one another as she let her eyes slowly but once again open so that she could see the area, however her attention lingered upon a path that was hidden though lain out directly in front of her- the same path she had shown him the night previous when she had welcomed him into the city... welcomed him as one of the people of Atlantis. Unable to help the small smile that tugged lightly at the corners of her lips, Kida took a single step forward, followed by another; until eventually she was walking both confidently and with purpose in the direction that just felt... right.

"So strange to be a part of magic... the sharman's have long been left in the past- there is no magic left practiced within the city walls." Lifting her hand up from where she had it resting by her side, she placed her palm against the trunk of the closest tree, her head turning to glance at it in curiosity for but a moment before she continued and pressed on over the path, her step only coming to a stop when she reached the edge of the ruins that belonged to the temple; her eyes searching about until finally, they came to a rest upon his figure standing before her, "..such magic has beauty within it."

Hearing her voice within a close proximity to his own person rather within his mind as he had been in the past, Simba turned to face Kidagakash, watching her with interest as she moved herself through the foliage until she was standing out in the open with him. With a soft, yet proud smile, Simba rested the Atlantean crystal back onto his chest and gave her a once-nod of approval but also a nod of agreement.

/Beauty, as my father often told me, is held within the eye of that who wishes to see it as such. What one man may consider beautiful gift, another might see as repulsive curse./

He was still communicating with her through his mind, despite the fact that she was now close enough to hear him. Most of it had to do with that once in a while, Simba simply forgot what kind of communication he was using. He had been living with wild animals for so long now, the only way for him to communicate was through thought. Remembering the spoken words of his people was difficult, and very seldom practiced. However, once Simba [i]did[/i] realize in what manner he was speaking, he refrained from speaking aloud in order to once more help Kidagakash try and understand the bond they now shared.

/But I'm glad you like it./ he finished, refraining from adding on about how she was now stuck with it for the rest of her life...

Her smile was soft as she watched him, her bright blue eyes seeming to take in as much of his figure as she possibly could before she dropped her attention down to the ground below her feet; carefully, though still confidently making her way down and closer to where he was standing watching her. Why she felt so... drawn to him she could not understand. It felt ever strange that she felt such things about a man she had just met; when never before had she had such strange emotions towards any of those she had spent her entire life with... there was indeed much she wished she could speak about with her parents- they would both know and understand what it was that was going on with her.

"..this magic... father would find fascination in such a thing... and mother, beauty. Had I not been part of it; such things would strike fear into my heart." Taking not even a fraction of a moment to stand herself up tall and proud, she once again turned her attention over to where he stood, her intense gaze meeting and holding his as she fell into a short though still quite comfortable silence, "..father-... father was mystic; I follow uncle's footsteps. The path of a warrior... both spoke of my having mother's heart and mind..."

Brief flashes crossed Simba's mind as Kidagakash began to speak of her family. Kashekim - her father; prior King and Shaman to the city of Atlantis - her mother and uncle... there was such a deep sense of pride behind her words, but it was her memories that her mind was openly sharing with him (whether intentional or not) that gave Simba reason to pause before answering. He could feel her own emotional ties to each of them - her memories of them became his own but for a moment until her open mind ceased, whether by her own conscious or not he wasn't sure, but it brought him back to the present.

His light blue eyes looked upon her thoughtfully, surmising her features and expressions now that her mind had been closed to him in that regard, leaving him to come to his own conclusions though with what he had been exposed to knew he wasn't far from the mark.

"You do your family a great justice." he responded slowly, lifting his eyes back up to meet with hers. "They would be proud."

"I only wish to do as such." Pausing for a few moments as she continued to drink in the very emotions that flooded her body at the memories, she eventually lifted her gaze up to once more meet with his own, her brilliant crystal blue eyes seeming to sparkle lightly under the gentle light streaming down through the cracks in the trees- family meant everything to her... [i]had[/i] meant everything to her; now they were all gone... taken from her life by one means or another; and leaving her to find her own way with only the guidance of those who sought to her for answers to all their problems. It wasn't the life she had wanted; it wasn't the life she would have chosen, had she had the chance to do it all over again.

No longer wishing to take pause in her minds eye, she tore her gaze away from where he stood tall before her and the ruins of the once great temple, her soft pink lips parting ever so slightly from one another as she slowly took in the remnants of what she remembered to once be a mighty monument at almost the heart of Atlantis. Reaching out with her hand, she pressed the palm up against the cool stone that lay moss covered on the ground, her fingers curling over ever so slightly as a soft and almost silent sigh fell from her lips.

"..to know that my actions and choices cause their hearts to swell with hubris... it is all that I could ask, and more."

Tilting his head to the side slightly, Simba watched on as Kidagakash allowed her fingertips to caress the very same stone that he had been embracing not moments before she had found him. They truly were connected, in more ways than he ever thought possible as his experience stemmed from beasts and wild animals - never human. After a few quiet moments, Simba felt - through her - the timing was well placed and stepped forwards, towards her and placed a strong hand on her bare shoulder as he stood behind her.

/My decision to remain within Atlantis stems from the very thought./ Simba told her quietly through their connected mind. /You are a true leader to this Kingdom./ Removing his hand from her shoulder, Simba took a single step back, bending onto one knee and bowed himself down to her, keeping his gaze now to her bare feet. /And I will follow as humbled servant./

"Humbled servant, you are not."

Shaking her head lightly from side to side in denial of the very thought of him bowing down to her like some common slave, she turned her body around to face him completely, her feet both coming together as she lowered herself down, her hand reaching out to press firmly against his pectoral; the gentle beating of his heart within his chest only helping her to keep her resolve upon the matter- he had done much for the city as well as it's people, and he had stayed by her side when she had extended him such an offer... a lowly servant to the Queen..? He was far from someone she wished to give orders to.

"Your heart is pure; it beats as the sound of war drums within your breasts. And the fire in your eyes burns as bright as the sun. No lowly servant has such passion- no; you sit by my side as the warrior you are... the small council meets to discuss the city; one with knowledge of the outside world. I seek your council; and pray to the Gods above that you accept offer to be apart of saving this city with me."

Not a servant? Simba lifted his head, allowing his eyes to connect with Kidagakash's and returned her gaze though full of question. No, not a servant... but at her side to serve as council - a title he hardly deserved. However, it still kept him from being a Prince... and that was a title he loathed to hold at any present time and any time to come. His eyes then flicked down to look upon her hand on his chest, slowly bringing up his own hand to delicately place over the top of hers as he lifted his eyes back up to meet with hers.

"Gratitude. It will be an honor."

The touch of his hand over her own... she couldn't help the gentle smile that flickered to life over her lips. He had accepted the offer given to him; to stand by her side, as friend and as warrior, giving her council and helping her to once more elevate Atlantis to its former glory. It was more than she could ever ask of him. Remaining content within the comfortable silence that had fallen to surround the both of them, she tilted her head ever so slightly causing her long white locks to slip from their place and to curtain her shoulder, her mind taking wing of its own as it began to wander, causing her fingers to curl lightly over his flesh.

"..to have you stand beside me... the honor is but my own..."

The look in his eyes... the spark that burned brightly for all around him to see- she could sit there and watch it flicker about for hours. It gave her hope; hope for the lost city to again lift itself back up, and return once more to the golden age that she could remember... she was sure that with him by her side; together, they would be able to achieve such a thing.

"..standing side; we shall restore faith and glory to the peo-..." The gentle purr of the reptile, and the rustle of bushes surrounding them alerted her to the fact that they were in the path of the hunt long before she even caught a glimpse of the creatures themselves. How could she have been so reckless..? Leaving the both of them exposed and unguarded to one of the many dangers that filled the jungles surrounding the city: the wildlife.

Not showing any signs of hesitation as she both twisted her body around, and took a firm and rather protective hold over his hand, Kida hunched herself over the ground before him, her eyes scanning across the foliage until finally, they settled on what she was looking for; the yellow-green reptilian eye following their every movement as the creature itself sized them up, moving ever closer until coming to a stop just at the edge of the ruins.

If the quiet rustle of leaves wasn't his first indication, Simba was certainly aware of the animal stalking them once Kidagakash took her protective stance in front of him. Their eyes connected - man and beast, though the exotic, green scales that surrounded the orb as it peeked out between the thick, green leaves was very much unlike anything Simba had ever seen before. The sense was all very much the same whenever being stalked by a lion; it was familiar territory, yes, and yet... it wasn't.

The animal - by whatever species it was - however had it's look and just as Simba began to grow curious and moved to stand tall to go and investigate, with a quick rustle of leaves the beast was gone, and Simba was close to follow it but only for a few steps towards the area he had last seen it before turning back around to look over at Kidagakash. His bright blue eyes filled with a sense of wonder, and through their bond managed to make her feel just as excited, confused, and full of energy he was just then.

"What manner of creature was that?" Simba asked her, his chest heaving minutely due to the excitement of the spectacle he had just witnessed and with his right arm extended back behind him to where the animal had just been.

She could feel it... the excitement, the confusion, the wonder... the slight fear- but this time, she knew it not to be her own, but of his. He had never before seen creatures like she had in her lifetime; those she had grown up surrounded by, the ones that she had grown up both admiring and respecting... they were all new to him. The very thought of his curiosity caused a smirk to once more grow over her lips, though this time, she could not help but let out a soft and gentle chuckle as she stood up tall; her bright eyes sparkling with the very same emotions as his as she met his gaze.

"..my people were not the only wonders lost with this city..."