Rani's Trickery

Lies or Truth?

Hey Guys! Welcome back to another chapter! Enjoy! Discord Invite code: u9rgDCA

Reviews: none at the moment.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please follow and favorite so you get notifications when I update!

Hu-E3rd is my co-author I thank him for helping me with this.

Standing at the entrance of the tree was her brother. She knew not how much he had heard during her argument with herself. She had hoped that he did not hear too much. Her body shook slightly, but it barely showed. She stared at Baliyo, while he stared back. She tried to find the words to answer his question, but could not find herself to utter so much as one syllable.

She could tell that Baliyo knew something was up. She had grown up with him. She knew the many faces he wore, each and every one by heart. Nothing ever got by him. Not even her.

"I was just talking to myself, Baliyo." She said eventually.

"You sounded like you were having a good conversation." He nodded. He was calm, strangely enough. "What were you talking about?"

"Uh, you know. Little bit of this. Little bit of that." Rani tilted her head as she spoke.

"Good, good. And the cub?"

"It's coming along nicely. I've felt it kick a few times, so it's bound to come soon."

"Very good. Nirmala's been hoping to check on you soon." Baliyo agreed. He sat down before her. He sounded so calm. He did not sound as if he heard anything his siter had heard. Rani felt slightly relieved at this small fact. She almost felt like sighing at this, but she kept her peace. Especially after considering the other fact before her. There was something about how Baliyo stared at her. He looked her in the eye with an odd look. Some thing in his eyes told her something was up with him. When you have a loved one, someone you love very much, you can learn very much from them when spending enough time with them. And Baliyo and Rani have learned so much from their time together.

"Rani," He finally said. "I think you're hiding something."

"Hiding something?"

"I know you, Rani. Something's up. Something you're not telling me."

Honestly, Baliyo. I don't know what you're talking about." Rani shook her head.

"Rani, I know you better than that." Baliyo pressed on. "If there's something up, please tell me. After that discussion we had before Kion left back to fight Zira, there's been something different about you. You've been avoiding me, Surak and Nirmala. And now, with Kion as your mate, you've been even more different. And not in a good way. Really Rani, I think something else is up."

"Baliyo-"

"Please Rani, just tell me. If not me, tell Surak. Or Nirmala. Or any of the other Night Pride members. Or, even better, Kion. Kion is your mate. I get the feeling that you haven't even told him about your problems."

At the mention of this name, Rani bit her lip as she glanced down at her paws. Baliyo noticed this almost immediately. "Did something happen with Kion?"

"No."

"Then what is up, Rani?"

Rani sighed. She knew that Baliyo was the kind of lion who would hang on a subject until he gets a straight answer for himself. She knew there was nowhere else to turn at this point. Her own conscious was not entirely with her, for Pete's sake. Eventually, she opened her mouth.

"Baliyo, can you keep a secret for me?"

"Of course, Rani. You can trust me."

"You promise that you won't tell Surak or Nirmala?"

"Rani, why would I keep it from them?"

"Because what I'm about to say is something extremely secret. A need to know basic, you know? It's way too much for them to know about."

"But what is it?" Baliyo's question was met with a short pause before his sister finally answered.

"Kion says he doesn't love me."

Her brother's mouth hung open for a few seconds after hearing that. The former Pridelander had been with them for such a long time now. He had always been there for his brother-in-law, even though they did not get off to a good start that night long ago. So now, hearing that he did not truly love his sister, you can understand why he was a little bit upset.

"Rani, what're you talking about?"

"The only reason he's staying is because of the cub." Rani lowered her head. "He told me himself the day he came back. He made me promise not to tell anyone because he needed somewhere to rule over. Somewhere that, since he has the roar again, he could still have a good reason to use it. "

"He doesn't even care that his own cub will see him for something that he's not?" Bailyo's voice was almost as soft as a whisper, but was every bit as dangerous and shaking as a yell.

"Apparently not." Rani said solemnly. "He told me not to tell you because everybody else trusts him too much not to do that."

"And you're the only one he's told?"

"No, he's told Ono and Bunga and who knows who else."

She saw her younger brother's claws come out at that moment. She knew him well enough to know that he only did this when he was mad. No, I misused that word. He only did it when he was angry. Not just your average everyday angry. This was so angry, in fact, that it would take the whole supply of snow in the North Pole to cool him off. He bared his fangs as he growled furiously to himself.

"Baliyo, are you ok?"

There came to reply. All she saw was her brother staring at the ground in a maddened fury. She had never seen him look like this before. The lion lifted his head to meet her gaze. "You did the right thing tell me this, Rani." He then stood up and walked over to her.

"I want to tell you this now. What you've told me was the most deceitful thing I have heard anyone do to you. If Kion ever does anything to you, I want you to tell me straight away. I'll stay true to my promise, I won't tell anyone what you told me. I won't even tell Kion what you told me. All I want right now is for you to be happy. For your sake, I'll keep this all quiet."

Rani smiled as she hugged him. "Thank you, Baliyo. I love you."

"I love you too, sis."

As Baliyo exited the tree, he had barely seen the two animals hiding in the bush outside. Ono and Bunga had been there since Rani's little rant with herself, and they heard every word she said. Now, Bunga knew that Ono was right, as usual, but that mattered not now. Now, she had Baliyo wrapped around her finger, and he was turned against them.

What could they do now?

Oh! Rani is lying to her Brother Baliyo! Will Kion figure it out or will Ono find out about this? Things are starting to get heated! Stay tuned! :)