Yai was happy, finding that she had found a friend that was worth knowing. Maybe she would reach out and introduce herself to others, to try and find that balance between being professional and business oriented, and being a nice person. She had not known she actually liked having others come up to her and say hello, but it turned out that it was a very nice experience to have. She could not complain about it, certainly.
She wanted more friends, so she had to get out of her shell and go out there and talk to others. She was too old to be acting like a shy cub anymore, and she had to start making the life she wanted to live, because it would not be handed to her easily any more.
Rekhet was thinking his own life had just started, and he needed to prove his place here in the Pridelands. He was happy in his own right, and he was glad to have found such a nice place to live. He even had a few friends under his belt, which made it even better. He was padding over a grassy hill, a color and texture to it unlike what he was used to in his old home. Not that he was surprised, as it had mostly been sand there.
He missed it, but it was gone and well behind him now. He padded along and looked up when he heard someone nearby. At first, he did not spot the source of the sound until his keen eyes settled on the form of a lioness lurking behind a low bush. She did not seem to be facing him, or aware of him, and he followed the line of her body to see she was angled toward a small zebra calf that had most likely gotten lost, or wandered from its herd.
His stomach rumbled.
Yai ignored the presence of the lion behind her, not knowing who it was but hoping they had enough sense not to ruin the hunt for her. Perhaps they would aid her, as most were good about helping others when they were needed. Not that she needed help at the moment, she could easily handle this little thing. But it was meal enough for two and she was very hungry. Hey, it might be a nice way to say hello to someone. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the green and black lion, nodded at him in acknowledgement, then turned back to her hunt and took off toward the little creature.
For its part, the zebra was not keen on being hunted. When it saw the lioness charging at it, it did the reasonable thing and took off running. Yai was fast on its heels, her size and experience making up for its natural speed. When the second lion came darting out from the side, the zebra skidded to a halt and hurled itself sideways, but the lioness was there before it could alter its course further. It fell to her before the male even reached them, and she looked up at him with a bloody smile before she hastily cleaned her face with her paw.
"Thank you for that assist. You probably saved me a very long chase. I haven't seen your face around here before, are you new to these lands?" She could see that he was younger than she was, though not by much, just by the size of his body. Or maybe he was just a slight lion? He was built in a way that suggested he was from some far off place, not like the lions around here or even the usual rogues that came to join. She had to wonder about his exotic look, though she did not consider that, to him, she was the exotic looking one.
All the lions here were built sturdier, thicker. They had fuller manes and a deep color to their pelts, where as it was lighter colors that prevailed in the lands he came from. He was an exception, but he still bore the thinner mane and slighter frame. It made him feel like he was a bit out of place, when he was near other males that dwarfed him.
But he was fast and he was light on his feet, so that would help him in his new role as hunter here, until he could find something better for him. If there was anything. As far as he knew, he was well made for this sort of work.
"You're welcome. You didn't look like you needed the help, but it's nice to get things done quickly and efficiently. You seemed to have it well in hand though." He smiled and nodded his head, but she lifted her paw when he made to turn around and walk off.
"Why don't you stay? You can have some. It's big enough for two, and we won't waste the kill that way. I don't think I could eat all of it on my own, even on my hungriest day." Well, that was not true. She could probably eat it if she was really hungry, but since she was not starving it hardly mattered. And maybe they could talk a bit, and she could learn about the strange markings he bore, and why he looked so different compared to the other lions here.
She liked hearing stories.
Rekhet smiled and nodded his head, stepping closer and sitting down opposite her. He let her eat first, so she could pick the best spot, the meat she liked the best, before he took some for himself. He was relaxing a bit more, getting used to everyone saying hi to him, and wanting to talk to him in their leisurely way. He had always been too stiff, back home, on his own, though it was no fault of where he was or who he was raised with. Maybe he had needed being shaking up, forced out to find his own life, to really bring out his extroverted side.
(Word Count: 1,009 in Word)
