Ekundu wasn't sure what to expect that day. It was nearly sun down and getting darker by te second when she arrived at her small den. It wasn't much, but it was home. She blinked, looking around at it. If she ever found a mate, they'd need to settle down in a pride. These dens of hers were too small. She blinked, supressing tears. She spent her whole life here though. She didn't want to leave it. She sighed, walked into the den, putting her bag down. "What a long day..."




Bl'arza hadn't been walking for long this day, but the heat on his dark fur was exhausting him. His senses felt dull and he knew he needed sleep. Worst of all was the limp in his back paw. He'd gotten a nasty cut in his paw pad while hunting and it hurt terribly. He hadn't even gotten to eat!

It'd been a terrible day for him and he fellt tired, sore, and downcast. He needed some sleep, and then den he was currently headed toward seemed lovely to him, despite the heavy lion scent he sensed. Maybe they'd be kind. Oh he hoped they'd be kind. He needed to comfort and protection so much.

As he neared the den he peaked into the dark, and spotted the reddish lioness. Giving a soft sigh he presented himself in the light and chuffed lightly. "Excuse me. Miss?" Please let her be kind... he thought to himself.





Ekundu's ears perked as the lion walked towards her den. "Yes, what is it sir?" She asked him softly, looking up at him, eyes wide with fear. She hoped he wasn't going to try and take her territory. She blinked as she stood up, her hair sticking up in fear. She looked at him, eyes wide, tryinging to figure out what he was going to do.




"I'm terribly sorry." He shook his head. "I know this is your territory, and your den, but I've had a very long day. I have no home, no den. I'd really like someplace to stay. Just until I can carry my own weight again." He frowned, his sky blue eyes pleading.

"If it's too much to ask, however, I apologize and I'll be on my way." He didn't move. Didn't intrude on her, nor did he step away from the opportunity. He felt terrible for disturbing her. "It'll only be a little while, then I'll be gone."




Ekundu looked at him, then to his paw. "YOur hurt." She said, waking up to him, sniffing his paw. She knew these kind of wounds. Not the best thing to have when out in the hot sun. She blinked and looked at him. "You can stay. But first come over here. I need to clean that wound." She said, walking over to here little "storage" of medical herbs. She took a few out and started chewing them. "This will probably sting a little when I'm done making the poultice just so you know."





He looked back at her and his entire bulk relaxed with her words. The gods smiled upon him this afternoon. Not only was she kind, but she was a healer! He'd repay her before he left. A nice meal or something of the sort.

"Thank you, miss. I am Bl'arza, by the way." He bowed his head to her as he limped toward the store of herbs. He eyed some of the leaves and stems, but made nothing of them. "As long as it heals, stinging is nothing I'm worried about. I'm grateful for your help."





Ekundu smiled at him, her red eyes looking up at him. He was a nice guy. She laughed a bit. She felt a bit good for doing this. It made her feel like she had a purpose. "I'm Ekundu by the way. Ekundu'Dubu." She said, still smiling.
Ekundu growled as her poultice completed. She applied it without hesitation. There was a pause in between the appliances. She let it sit there, letting the herbs purposes sink in. She removed it when she was done.





Bl'arza's face controrted as the sting settled into his paw and he sucked in air through his teeth, but he tried to force a smile at her. He knew this would be for his benefit. She was being kind. She was helping. She was a lovely, kind female with a good heart.

When she finished he turned to her. "Is there anything I can do for you? As thanks?" He knew he couldn't do much on his paw yet, but perhaps there was a small favor. He'd find some way to thank her.




Ekundu shook her head. "No repayments. Stay with me a while. It'll give you some time to heal." She said, smiling and walke dout the den to go get something to eat for him. "I'll be right back." she said, turning, running out into the savannah, spotting a gazelle, chasing it down, jumping on top of it, biting it's neck to kill it.





He heart was warmed by her kindness, but he felt bad for intruding without being able to help. He bowed his head to her as she left and settled in the center of the den, away from anything he could mess up. He could feel the feminine touch of the small den, even though much of it seemed like any old den. He was slightly curious if she had any family, but he'd only smelled her on his way here, so he doubted it. It was sad that such a kind lioness was all alone. Especially a healer. She should have a pride.






Ekundu dragged the gazelle back to the den. She dragged it right up to him, grinning, and sat down beside him. She was very happy about having a visitor. She didn't get that much. So when he came along it ws a good thing. She blinked. "Okay. so how does your paw feel?" she aslo added, "You should eat also. It was an easy catch."




He blinked at the gazelle and then at her. He was getting such a king's treatment and he was a stranger. "Thank you Ekundu. Truly, thank you." He took a chunk out of the gazelle and swallowed before he answered her, savoring the feeling in his stomach. "It still hurts, but I feel your herbs doing their job. I should be well before too long." He nodded.

He took a few more bites, chewing and swallowing quickly. He hadn't quite noticed how hungry he was. "If you don't mind my asking, why do you live alone?"





Ekundu sighed. "I... I got seperated from my parents when I was little. We were out on a hunting patrol and... well.. They went chasing a gazelle and I couldn't keep up." She said, surpressing her tears again. "They never came back for me." She said, letting a tear fall silently.




He frowned, reaching up to wipe the tear away. He hated to see females cry. "I'm sorry. I never knew my parents." He smiled sympathetically. "You seemed to have done well on your own though. Wouldn't hurt to look for a pride, however. Wouldn't want you to get hurt out here without protection." He felt that everyone needed a pride. Prides were strong. They offered home, protection, socialization. Especially for females and families. "I'm looking for a pride myself, actually."





She looked up at him. "I have, just haven't had luck.." She said, blinking as he wiped her tears away. She flushed, blushing. "I was crying wasn't I..?" She asked him, looking foolish and giddy. She had a way of having that happen at the worst moments. She blinked, still staring up at him.




"Just a little." He frowned. "I really don't like seeing ladies cry. Makes me feel like I did something wrong, or helpless because I can't make them feel better." He chuckled at himself. "I'm hopeless like that. Always have been. Gotten myself into some tight spots that way too. I do what I can to help others. That's why this," he motioned to his paw, "has me so befuddled."





Ekundu sighed. "You didn't harm yourself intentionally right..?" She asked him, kinda nervous about that. She felt a blush come on. No one usually talked to her like that. Not even a girl, let alone a guy. "I take it that you've gotten into a lot of fights with other males then?"






His brows furrowed and he frowned. "No, of course not. I'm sorry if I made it seem that way." He shook his head and scooted back a little. "No, I did this while hunting. Gashed it across a big thorn." He laid his head down on his paws, watching her with regret. He was a stranger. He'd gone too far.

"A few fights. Nothing too bad. We males are just air heads."





Ekundu shook her head. "Yeah. YOur right about that." SHe giggled. "Air heads.. That sounds about right." She said, snapping her tail out. She blinked."Well.. Bl'arza, would you like to look for a pride with me? I mean, would you like to look together?"




He smiled then. "I would very much like that." Perhaps he hadn't run too far past the boundaries after all. "We'll find one that needs a healer, so you can continue this." He tilted his head toward the herbs. "And I can join their hunters or warriors." His smile turned to a grin. "Two heads are better than one. We'll find a pride in no time."



Ekundu's desprate look turned into a smile. She'd found someone who wouldn't desert her. It felt good. "Okay then. Have you heard of any close by?"



"Mmm. I know there are a few, but their names aren't coming to me right now. We'll find them and figure out if they're right for us. If not, we'll look for another." He closed his eyes, still smiling slightly. His belly was full, he felt good, and he'd found company for a while. Today hadn't been as disasterous as he thought it would be, and the gods were happy with him. This was all very good