While most would consider An’tonio to be a lion without a land, he knew full well he had a pride of his own. It wasn’t a recognized territory or name, which often saddened him he mentioned it in conversation, but he was a true loyalist to the cause. To say he was a rogue, other when he did so himself just when he was too tired to explain, was something that stroked him the wrong way. No. An’tonio had a pride, and it was his duty as a lion traveling about to spread their name and also recruit.
It also helped that the golden lion was a merchant. Trading things he managed to collect that could be valuable in other places (gems, precious stones, and herbs) with other places, keeping up to date on other prides, and traveling to new territories was something he was long since familiar with. Even though his pelt displayed none of the royal colors, he was still high ranking enough to boast about his position and proudly wore his necklace and feathers.
Today he was keeping a eye out for thieves that he heard were stealing from lions around the territory he was wandering. Not only that, but he hoped to spot a slave or two he might be able to take as his own and later trade off. It was a easy exchange, as lions often wanted free labor or even additional mates, and he found he could easily rid himself of the creatures in a relatively short time with a nice profit. There were prides he knew of that would take them. The stranglers and the rogues who could be easily convinced that a life in servitude was better than scratching at the dirt in hopes of making it another day.
Yes, he was a go-getter and an opportunist, but moreso, he knew how to deal. It was a great activity for his mind, and in matters of business, he did rather well. In matters of luck and love, he fell short for he never got what he wanted and would pine away at his misfortune in both luck, which had tried for a few seasons to thwart his profit, and for love, who he could crush upon but never have.
It was why he thought of gain today instead of his looses, and walked across the fields with a perked ear for any intruders. It was why when he heard a rustle, he stopped dead still and looked about. “Hark! Who goes there?” He called out.
