Ruts and Routines

[morningreport]

[A certain Hornbill can be seen slowly flying over the land, his eyes wandering. It's unsure if he's looking for someone, or just keeping watch over things, but he seems to be extra huffy this morning.]

...Now where is everybody? Normally the giraffe would be out at the water-hole at this time of day...and there isn't even a meerkat to be spoken of.

An empty Savannah is unheard of, so where the devil is everyone?

[He circles around one more time before landing on a rock, sighing heavily before folding his wings at his sides.]

Surely something wouldn't be going on without me knowing about it, would it?

Comments

[ikilledmufasa]

You must see something.

[morningreport]

Well if I saw something, I would have told you now wouldn't I?

[ikilledmufasa]

[Mufasa hadn't bothered to talk about just how this would go. Perhaps he was expecting Zazu to be right up at Pride Rock before starting everything.]

Why don't you fly in closer?

[morningreport]

Mmm...

[Still emanating an obvious air of disdain, the bird flies even higher than before, swooping down over the hill so Pride Rock would be in plain sight. Of course there it was, plain as day- but no animals. The lionesses weren't even lying around the cave like they normally were this time of day.]

Absolutely no one to be spoken of!

[But of course- that wasn't the case.]

[i_killedmufasa]

Why don't you try around the back?

[There weren't many places one could hide giraffes and elephants. How the devil did Mufasa pull this off?]

[morningreport]

[Tilting his head slightly, the Hornbill does as he is bid, circling the area once before flying around the rock to the other side.

The sudden outcry Zazu lets out is proof enough that well- ...he found the animals he'd lost.]

[i_killedmufasa]

[Scar leaps and runs to catch up to the bird, and join the party. He walks over toward the stunned Zazu.]

Mufasa and I had guessed that you would forget your own birthday, so he had the idea to arrange this for you.

[morningreport]

M....my- ...my birthday?

..

[Goodness that was today wasn't it.]

Why....I don't- ..I don't even know what to say..!

[He's just going to stand there on the ground- since he'd dropped like a rock from the sky- very flustered thanks.]

[i_killedmufasa]

[Scar only chuckles, and lets the Pride Landers start bringing Zazu a couple birthday gifts.

There was a bit of celebrating, and Mufasa and Scar, of course, teased the hornbill mercilessly the whole time.]

[circle_of_life]

(How can one stop themselves from teasing Zazu a little bit? Mufasa flicks his ears and smiles contentedly.)

I'm glad everything went as planned, brother.

[morningreport]

[The bird shakes his head slightly, wagging one of his primaries at the lion with a bit of a grimace on his beak.]

Sire I just simply ... cannot believe you would have- ...would have allowed-

[..Though here he pauses. ..No, no he could believe it.]

[ikilledmufasa]

"Allowed," Zazu?

[Scar is briefly interrupted by a couple of wild dogs chasing each other running right in front of him.]

This was all his idea.

[circle_of_life]

I couldn't have done it without help. (He pats Zazu's back with one of his massive paws.) I thought we should celebrate your birthday. You are apart of the family, Zazu.

[morningreport]

! [That pat causes him to stagger a little even though he saw it coming.]

...Wow I- ...thank you, Sire..

[He can't help but dip his head a little in a half bow. Force-of-habit.]

As...extravagant as this endeavor was, I do say I- I appreciate the thought.

[ikilledmufasa]

Did you not like having the whole Pride Lands all gathered in one place for you?

[Scar is smirking.]

[circle_of_life]

It was well-worth the effort. (He knows Zazu doesn't think about himself very often. It's about time someone else did.)

Having us gathered in one place is better than all of us disappearing, hm? (He returns Scar's smirk faintly.)

[morningreport]

A...ah yes- ...yes far better.

[He won't admit it, but he's secretely SO relieved. Then again, why wouldn't he be? ..it would have certainly been terrible form for him to actually lose every last animal on the Savannah.

No, that simply wouldn't do. So good thing it didn't really happen.]

[ikilledmufasa]

So, Zazu, what did you think of our little surprise?

[circle_of_life]

(Mufasa chuckles deeply, knowing that Zazu likely panicked when he saw everyone missing.)

What did Scar tell you? (He glances at his brother curiously.)

[morningreport]

[With a short 'harumph', Zazu brushes off each wing before answering, looking up at Mufasa out of the corner of his eye.]

...He insisted he was out on- [He gives a pair of airquotes.] "Royal Business" of yours that I wasn't to know about.

[And regardless of the TERROR it put him through Scar, he does appreciate all of this.]

[i_killedmufasa]

You couldn't have expected me to spoil the surprise, now could you?

[circle_of_life]

I can't imagine you accepting that without making a fuss. (His voice is laced with amusement.

He walks over to the edge of Pride Rock and surveys the land directly around them. He is a King. If something were to happen in the midst of this party, he would be responsible.)

This was a secret I didn't want Scar spoiling.

[morningreport]

Hmm...well- ..I suppose I can let it slide then. Just this once.

[He's still a bit embarrassed he FORGOT his birthday in the first place.]

[i_killedmufasa]

I just knew you would understand.

[Scar ruffles the feathers on Zazu's head.]

[circle_of_life]

(Glancing over his shoulder, Mufasa smiles to himself. It is nice to see Scar interacting with Zazu in a friendly way. The fact that his brother attended the party at all speaks volumes. Perhaps they are finally seeing eye to eye.)

We shouldn't hog all of your time, Zazu. You have presents to enjoy.