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It seemed they had been wandering forever, and without much to show for it. It bothered her to no end that it had taken so long for her to find some kind of stability for her family. She wasnt used to not being able to provide for 'em.
If anything, she more missed the cubs that had dispersed along the way. She supposed she should have been happy that Shani stuck around, and she was. But it still hurt her deep inside to know only one of her six lovelies had actually followed.

Her red eyes gleamed when she looked behind her at her mate and child. Shani was getting big, Fel had a point, but still she was quite smaller than her mother and father.
Val wasnt a small lioness. she was a muscled broad female that was of a lithe frame. She was an excellent huntress, or so she liked to think. She had always been told so, and until she had taught Shani how to hunt, she had been the soul supporter of her family.

"He's got a point." She chuckled, her tail swishing behind her back legs. She loved her family, and she was happy she could try to find some kind of life for them.

"I hope that we run into someone soon.. I'd like to ask them of the pride. So much to learn."
She mused.

Valenera did not have a truly soft side, and she was not the type to roll over and cuddle. Valenera was a realist, and she was very aware of the way life worked. She did not like delaying the inevitable. Her idea of raising cubs, was that the stricter you are, the more values you got from it.

She loved her children, and she hadn't been overly controlling, though she had thought about it. She had been rather lenient, and she had suffered for it. Roth, and his secret demon training. When she had found out, she had been disgusted. Her own son, thought he was a demon. She could not handle it, and had left him there.. Left him to himself, and the demon that he said lived within him.

She looked over at Feleji, and gave a soft smile, though it was a bittersweet one. She was sad, but she knew life continued. Her and Feleji would have plenty of time to have more, and once they did.. Theyd be safe in a pride of their own.

Her smile grew happy at that thought, and she looked at Shani. She was indeed her fathers daughter, and sometimes Val wondered if she got any of her in there.
But Shani was sweet, and Val could live with that.

"It is lovely, isnt it Shani."

"I'm still learning that Shani. I will have to meet with some of the members, and I'll let you know then, okay dear?" She replied, and her paws hit the dusty earth, sending little clouds of dust up through the air.
She loved the desert feel. It was something different, and she always thrived for a change.
This was exactly what she wanted.

She smiled, and looked at Feleji.
"Where do you suppose we go to meet someone? I'd hate to just wander into the lands.."
She did not want to trespass, but she needed to learn more about this great land.
She looked around her, and back at Feleji.

"Hmm.." She thought deeply, her mind running through all the options.
"We're going to need to find someone soon. I dont want to spend the night on the boundary of another pride. Its a dangerous place to be."

Shani was the first to hear the voice from the smaller animal in front of them, and when she saw it she bound over right in front of her nose. She'd seen Hyena's before but never one of these. She cocked her head and sniffed at it far more curious then she should have been during introductions. "I think it's a small Hyena." She turned to her mother slightly pleased with herself for identifying it.

Feleji shook his head with a chuckle and trotted up next to his daughter. He wondered if he should have spend more time on her education then teaching her the importance of preening herself. "Shani dear this is a maned wolf. They are part of the Canad family- not a hyena." He then took one of his large paws and shoved her back as nice as he could. Then in a hushed voice told her it wasn't polite to rush so close to new people like that.

"It's nice too meet you Macheo. These are my females; Val my lovely mate and my daughter Shani who you have met."

He eyed Shani as if telling her she shouldn't be so disrespectful meeting strangers. But she wasn't paying much mind to that and was busy digging threw the sand. He just sighed and chuckled abit. 'Hopeless' he muttered.

"Your father is correct, I'm a maned wolf - we're considered the cousins of the jackals, not the hyena." Macheo tried not to wrinkle her nose. It wasn't that she disliked hyenas. It was just struck her rather unpolite to discuss someones breed in such a way and she thought that the younger lioness was old enough to know her manners better. Her parents seemed better versed in manners at least but it was still rather off to have ones species blurted at you like that!

Luckily her displeasure was well hidden, for she'd spent her life training to have some decorum. There were times when you couldn't just frown or laugh as you willed. Had they been other maned wolves or a jackal they'd probably have been able to tell but lions tended to not read the slight change in body language so well.

"I can take you to the temple. If you wish to stay, the lions in charge there'll meet with you as soon as they can to discuss it. In the meantime I'll see you settled somewhere comfortable and show where you might find refreshment." She smiled obviously. Small hyena indeed. Macheo had been offended but she also didn't believe in holding grudges or focus on the negative for long.

Shani looked up once or twice after putting her head into a hole that she had just created. It was then she saw her mother and father glaring at her. Her ears flattened back agaist the back of her head and she rather 'sunk' down to the groud embarrased that she had disrespected her parents and the new friend. She chirped a small, 'Sorry' at the group and reminded herself that she was nearly an adult and had to behave like one. She really hope the wolf didn't take too much offence. She couldn't really read anyone too well aside from herself and maybe her mother sometimes.

Feleji's smile came back to his face as he could see no harm was done at his daughters comments. He would have a long talk with her later about proper respect amoung other adults. She really hadn't had any 'training' the only adult she knew aside from them was Satiku and he was the whipping 'boy' of the family so to speak. Nobody really gave him any respect or cared if it bothered him.

"I'm sorry again about Shani. I will correct her later. But now I would like to meet the others of the pride, maybe learn about the customs here. I'm rather curious. Thanks again."

"Don't worry about it. And yes, I've been here a long time, I was born by one of the oasis ruins a pawful of seasons ago." She gestured vaguely in the direction of the Wahdj group of oases. Macheo wasn't that old really. She was older than her princess bonded it was true but only by a season. She'd just been a puppy the first time she saw the fuzzy little newborn. Still, she'd lived her whole life here and was she hoped she'd be a pretty good guide when it came to the Tuait'tekem.

"I'd call our way accepting. You will likely be able to stay as guests until you decide if you wish to go or join us and we have lessons so that you can learn about our culture. In the past under the last pharaoh, the last king that is, only nobles were educated at all but these days all are taught." She glanced from lion to lion. "Do you have any questions you want to ask as we head towards the Het-em-seshen? I'd be happy to answer as if I can."