You yawned lazily, stretching your limbs as you basked in the warmth of the sun, letting the golden rays soak into your fur. The serenity of the moment was interrupted when something heavy and far too familiar flopped onto your flank.

"Argh, Gojo, get up!" you groaned, your voice tinged with annoyance, though it was clear you were more amused than angry.

Gojo, ever the troublemaker, just laughed, a low, rumbling sound that seemed to shake the ground beneath you. "Sorry, Tariqa," he said with a playful smirk, his larger body pressing down on you as he nuzzled the top of your head. "But you're too easy to mess with."

Before you could respond, he tugged at the blindfold you always wore, pulling it down just enough to tease the edges of your vision. "You need to stop using this, little sister," he said, his tone turning mock-serious, though his grin betrayed the mischief behind his words. "Or you'll go blind."

You shot him a look, half-amused, half-annoyed, but mostly unfazed. "You know, you really should take your own advice, Gojo," you muttered, lifting your paw to swat at him, though the swat barely made it past his thick fur. "One of these days, you're going to mess with the wrong person, and I'll have to show you what true power looks like."

Gojo just laughed again, his voice full of confidence. "I'm not worried. You can barely see with that thing on." He wiggled your blindfold down even further, making you squint in annoyance, but he didn't stop there—he nuzzled your head once more, a reminder that no matter how big or tough he seemed, he was still your big brother, and the playful teasing was his way of showing affection.

"Gojo," you warned, your voice mock-threatening as you tried to wriggle out from beneath him. "One more move, and you'll regret it."

Gojo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, but he finally rolled off you, leaving you to sit up and adjust your blindfold. "You're no fun," he huffed dramatically, though his eyes were still sparkling with mischief.

With a sigh, you adjusted your blindfold properly, feeling the comforting weight of it over your eyes again. "Just because I don't have your vision doesn't mean I'm blind, you know."

He leaned back on his haunches, grinning as usual. "Maybe, but I still think you're missing out. You should try seeing the world as I do. It's... limitless."

You smirked. "Maybe I'll stick to my own way of seeing things. It's worked just fine so far."

Gojo shrugged, but the laughter never left his voice. "Your call, little sister."

With that, you both settled back into the sun, Gojo lounging beside you, his playfulness lingering in the air as you found a quiet peace in the warmth of the day.

Your mother padded in with a zebra leg dangling from her mouth, her eyes sparkling with a soft, knowing smile. She dropped it effortlessly on the ground with a thud, the scent of fresh meat filling the air.

"Here you go, young ones," she said warmly, her voice rich with affection.

You didn't need to be told twice. With a quick glance at Gojo, you scrambled over to the leg, your claws scraping lightly against the stone as you hungrily dug in. The tender meat was as delicious as it smelled, and you gnawed at it with the energy of someone who hadn't eaten in days. But just as you settled into your feast, you felt Gojo's mischievous paw batting at your tail, a silent challenge to keep your focus.

You flicked your tail in annoyance, but he was relentless, batting at it again. "Go away, Gojo," you mumbled through a mouthful, though you couldn't help the playful edge in your voice.

Your mother chuckled softly, watching her cubs with a tender smile. "King Mufasa and his mate Sarabi are coming over with their son today," she said as she settled down beside you, her gaze thoughtful as she took a moment to rest.

You paused mid-chew, blinking up at her, a slight streak of blood at the corner of your mouth as you lapped at it absently. "Really, Mom?" you asked, surprised, your ears flicking back slightly in interest.

She nodded, her eyes soft with quiet pride. "Yes, your father and I will meet them by the waterhole. You two should stay here with Nanny Mei Mei," she said, her tone carrying a quiet authority, but the warmth of her voice kept it from feeling like a command.

Your stomach rumbled slightly in protest, the mention of the waterhole stirring a longing for a more exciting adventure than just another meal. "Do we have to stay here?" you grumbled, your eyes darting to the horizon, imagining the things you could be doing, rather than staying behind.

Gojo, ever the troublemaker, took the opportunity to tease. "Yeah, Tariqa, you're so much better at staying out of trouble than I am," he said, grinning with that familiar, challenging glint in his eyes. He reached out to nudge you playfully with his nose, sending you off balance for a second.

You growled lightly, your tail swishing behind you as you shot him a look. "I don't need trouble, Gojo. You bring enough for both of us," you retorted, returning your focus to the zebra leg with a sudden hunger, determined to finish what was in front of you.

Your mother, watching the playful exchange, shook her head fondly. "I think you'll both be fine here," she said, her voice light with amusement. "Nanny Mei Mei will keep you out of trouble. Just remember, you're both getting older. You'll need to start learning the value of patience."

You sighed, but the faintest smirk tugged at your lips. "Fine, we'll stay behind... but just until it's time for dinner."

Your mother smiled, her gaze softening as she looked at both of you. "I'm sure you'll be perfectly well-behaved while we're gone."

Gojo snorted, but said nothing more, knowing well enough that "well-behaved" was an idea that could be pushed aside for later. You, on the other hand, merely licked your lips and returned to your meal, accepting the moment of peace, even if it was brief. You'd make your own excitement when the time came.

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King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi were truly magnificent lions—regal yet kind, their presence always calm and reassuring. You had only met them a handful of times in your five years of life, but they left a lasting impression. Their son, Simba, was another matter entirely. He was even cuter than your big brother, Gojo, with a sweetness to him that you couldn't help but look forward to. You couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to play with him, maybe even get into a little mischief, though you had a feeling he might be a bit more serious than Gojo.

You were currently tangled up in an impromptu game with Nanny Mei Mei, rolling on the floor and trying to pin her without using too much force. She was the only one who could keep up with you and Gojo's energy, her dark fur always flashing in the sunlight as she nimbly avoided your playful attacks.

Suddenly, a small shadow appeared in the entrance of the cave. You paused, ears flicking toward the sound, and in walked a golden cub, his warm brown eyes locking onto you. He wasn't the largest cub, but there was something about him—his quiet, confident gaze—that made you stop mid-motion, your playfulness momentarily forgotten.

Nanny Mei Mei stood up, her sleek black fur rippling as she moved toward the cub. "Tariqa, my lady, your friend is here," she said with a teasing note in her voice, though the respect in her words was undeniable.

You blinked, glancing up at Nanny Mei Mei, then at the cub standing just inside the cave. Simba. Your heart gave a small, excited flutter at the thought, though you did your best to hide it behind a carefully composed expression. You'd always heard stories of how wonderful and brave he was, and you were curious to see if they were true.

You stood up slowly, dusting yourself off, and walked toward Simba, your movements confident but not overbearing. "Hey there," you said, your voice friendly, but there was a hint of mischief behind your words. "You must be Simba. I've heard a lot about you."

Simba blinked, his golden fur glowing in the dim light of the cave, before he gave you a small, shy smile. "Hi, Tariqa. I've heard a lot about you, too." His voice was warm, the quiet strength in it noticeable even as he spoke softly.

You couldn't help but grin, giving him a playful wink. "You've probably heard the good stuff. I'm sure Gojo's told you all about my amazing skills," you teased, referring to your older brother's tendency to exaggerate his own prowess—and often yours as well.

Simba chuckled softly, his brown eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Gojo's been telling stories about you. But I don't know if I believe all of them," he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what kind of stories has he been telling?"

Simba shrugged, a slight grin tugging at his lips. "Oh, you know, the usual. How you're the best at everything, how you're fearless, and—" He paused, a playful smirk now on his face. "How you never stop challenging him."

You laughed, a sound full of warmth and pride. "That sounds about right," you agreed, giving Gojo's name the teasing edge it deserved. "I am fearless, you know. But don't take his word for it. You'll see for yourself."

Nanny Mei Mei, watching the exchange with a fond smile, gave a low chuckle. "You two are quite the pair already, I can tell," she said, shaking her head affectionately.

Simba, still standing in the entrance, looked at you for a moment, his expression softening. "You seem pretty cool. Maybe we can play later?" he offered, his voice friendly, though it carried a hint of shyness too.

You smiled brightly, your heart warming at the gesture. "I'd like that," you said. "But just so you know, I'm probably going to beat you at whatever game we play."

Simba's eyes sparkled with amusement, a challenge in his own right. "We'll see about that," he said, a small laugh escaping his lips. "I'm not as easy to beat as Gojo."

You gave him a teasing grin. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be a worthy opponent. Just don't get too confident."

And with that, the two of you exchanged one last glance, the beginning of a friendship that would, no doubt, bring as much joy and adventure as the endless games of mischief you'd already shared with Gojo.