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Panju regretted leaving the Kunanda'Nakhun. There was no doubt about it. He had forsaken the lush, dense, wet jungles, the bright, beautiful pelts of the dominant lionesses, much of his family, for this dry, lonely world. His white hide helped him with the sun, he was grateful that he was not darkly colored. He knew that some of his kin had departed the pride as well, but he could not imagine how they survived with this empty feeling.

Still, every day was easier for Panju, and he moved on, looking for new land since he could not return to the place of his birth. But the white lion was not planning on meeting anyone related to him. It felt hopeless for now, only blind faith pushing him on, and he pressed further into the rogue lands, shaking out his yellow mane in the heat as he continued on, heading for the sea.

Panju's ears swiveled around and he tensed, looking over in Ellie's direction, blue eyes questioning. He was shocked. He had seen pale and dark lionesses in his time, but Ellie's coat was so plain and black. Still, he was training himself to no longer regard status as a factor of color, and he was still a male and must be respectful no matter what. That was a state of mind that would be harder to break out of, perhaps for the best.

"Greetings," he answered formally, chancing a smile back at her. "Are you a rogue?" Panju cocked his head at her, flicking the bright yellow tip of his tail, regarding the lioness curiously.

"Interesting," Panju remarked, eyeing Ellie with fascination, unaware of her connection to him through his relative. She seemed so pleased at her freedom, in a way that lifted his spirits. He hadn't thought to think about it that way. He had just been feeling badly for acting without thinking and banishing himself from the pride. He lowered his eyes, thinking about it guiltily, then blinked, glancing up at her, blue eyes curious as she asked him a question.

"Yes, quite new. A few days... free.. of my pride," he worded his sentiment carefully. "I originally hail from the Kunanda'Nakhun," he jerked his head over his shoulder, at the lush jungle over the edge of the horizon by many miles. "Have you heard of it?" he regarded her curiously, flicking his tail.

Panju was surprised to hear that, blinking at Ellie. He couldn't believe that. For the lion to be her mate, he'd have to be around Panju's age or older. Perhaps he knew this lion? He wasn't sure he wanted to see someone from the pride, but perhaps they could understand each other, as they had both defected in their own time.

"Really? What is his name?" he asked, tilting his head, trying to hide his eagerness with courtesy. He smiled as she said he reminded her of her family. "It is possible I know him. I come from a large clan within that pride. Why did he leave?" Panju blinked at her, achingly curious.

Panju stared at her in surprise. That name! That was his brother! He gaped a little, shocked. Surely he had not seen the Parastar around for some time, but he could not believe that someone so closely blood related had left the pride. Perhaps it ran in his family, he thought.

He shook his head, amazed that Betta had had the gall to reject the basic tenets under which they had been raised, though Panju felt guilty for he was questioning them now too.

"Betta is my brother," he told her, quietly amazed, still polite. He sat back on his haunches, shell shocked. "I always wondered where he had gone. I thought perhaps someone had taken him to father some cubs," Panju shook his head.

"But he did father cubs," the yellow-maned lion raised his eyes, looking at Ellie. "With you. Yes?"

Panju was even more incredulous. Not only had Betta left, he had become a father. The white lion shook his head, amazed. But as he thought upon it more, he realized that it was the logical conclusion. It was, indeed, why he had departed the lands. As he entered adulthood with no interest in him, in fact a bit of stigma attached to him due to his white fur, Panju saw his opportunities waning and pursued the one lioness that had shown interest in him. But she was long gone now. Betta had just managed to catch up with his, or find one.

The blond lion grinned at Betta knowingly when she said that they didn't wait long. "I don't blame you at all," he offered, a little more relaxed, and smiled at the tinge of pride in her tone. He did not know the situation of the family nor what culture they were part of, but there was love and happiness and children and that was all that Panju knew could be hoped for.

He looked startled again when she said that in a way they were family. "Ah, I suppose you're right. The cubs would be my nieces and nephews. I have several of those. Cousins, too," Panju remarked. "We have a very large family. I am definitely not the first to leave from our clan," he sounded guilty at this, lowering his eyes.

"You see, it's not only gender, but color that is valued and ranked in our pride... and though all males are Parastars, at least they can father cubs. There is some honor and worth in that. But a lioness would never look twice at such a pale lion like myself," he looked down at his snow-white fur in a mixture of resignation and tiredness. "Betta achieved what I set out to do when I left," Panju grinned at her again. "Congratulations on all of your success," he winked.

Panju frowned, feeling a burst of fear at her warning, though it quickly tempered into wariness and awareness of the threats ahead, and he was grateful for the foreknowledge, for he knew that planning was very important.

Her offer to stay with them for a bit appealed to him, for he wished to see his brother again very much, to talk to him and know him once again. He smiled, pleased by her offer, and he stood again. "I would be much obliged, madam. You are most kind to offer. It would be a joy to meet your family and to once again see my brother," he nodded approving.

"Thank you for the warning, I will be better informed now upon my departure. I will avoid traveling during the night, then."

The white lion was put at ease by the kindness in her smile, and found himself answering it, stepping after her as she motioned towards the camp. How could he not trust her? The mother of his nieces and nephews-- it was still an incredible thought. "You're too kind," he intoned, his blue eyes soft, flicking his yellow mane out of his face. "I'm very lucky that you found me," he cocked an eyebrow at her, no irony in his voice. Indeed, he knew he was lucky-- and he only hoped that he would be as fortunate as Betta.

((finally wrapped this up haha. sorry it took so long!))