She found Mle, eventually, relaxing under a tree near the water. The older white lion looked peaceful, if anything, not like a lion that spent day and night chasing cubs. Maybe he was napping, to keep up with those cubs.. They were cute, that was for sure! But Ying felt a little sorry for Zeru. The sun hurt the cub, so she had turned to the night for activity. Ying let out a light sigh, approaching Mle. No time to dwell on things...
One orange eye slid open, the owner waking from his power nap. It was tiring chasing cubs.. He stretched out, flexing his claws int othe mud a bit. "Good morning, Ying-tai! I see you've seen Nenetl already..." His smile was good-natured, a gentle poke. He slowly got up, going over to the adolescent. She was as big as he was already... They grew fast, didn't they? "Are you nervous?"
"Very..." The white lioness hesitated, then rubbed against Mle. "I'm afraid... You've all spoken of danger even IN the lands... What about outside...?" Would the lions out there take kindly to her? How would any of them react to her? Nenetl had said to keep a song in her heart, but... Would that be enough? Her mind was a jumble of questions, running a hundred miles a minute. It was almost... Dizzying.
The male let out a sigh at the worry, unable to keep the smile at bay. "Oh, Ying... You'll be fine out there." He used his tongue to brush her hair out of the way. "Just remember what you've been told... Use caution when approaching others. Try not to go into or too close to pride territories. They'll be marked, and you'll know it." He was worried about her, but he knew she had to do this. It was part of growing up.
Ying couldn't help smiling. "I know, I know..." She looked up into his orange eyes, her own brown eyes dancing. "And then I'll come home a new lion, with a new name, and enjoy being a fully functional member of the pride!" It was just the going out part she was iffy on. "Is there anything else I should know? Do you know which way I should go first?" There were so many questions to be asked!
Mle nodded, taking a seat. "If you run into any lions with red on them, ask if they know a lion from the deserts named Bodaway. He's something of a brother to me. If you run into him, mention the name Zimwi, and he'll know who you're talking about and should treat you well." It had been a while, though, so he wasn't sure if Bodaway remembered him or was even still alive. "I can't tell you which way to go... That's your choice. It's up to you if you want to go north, south, east, or west."
"Aw, that doesn't help!" She gently batted at Mle, grinning wide. "I don't wanna get lost! I don't even know where the desert is!" She didn't know where too much of ANYTHING was, really. A curious look crossed her face. "What was your name quest like...? I bet you met some interesting lions out there! Especially if you call one your brother!" She wanted to meet this Bodaway, to see what he was like to be called brother.
"Oh, I didn't go on a name quest. I came into the pride from outside, when Narinda'moyo's mother was queen." It was a very... Interesting time for him. "I can't remember the area I was born in, but my family was killed by a very zealously-religious pride.. I grew up in a dying jungle, before leaving as an adult, and found my way here. I had to get over my fears induced by the relgious pride, because a lot of members here looked like them in coloring." He refrained from telling her the colors... It was no longer important.
All Ying could get out was a quiet "Wow..." When she finally collected her mind, she stood just a bit taller. "Then I'm going to go out, and find out what happened to the dying jungle! And find this Bodaway!" Who knew, maybe she'd find someone who'd known Mle in the jungle. "I'm gonna miss you, and the swamp while I'm gone... Wish me luck!" She didn't much wait for his reply, turning and running off, hopping over random things in her path.
Mle let out a sigh, smiling. One day, soon, Zeru and Mzuza would be going out on their own quests. What stories would Ying come home with, what name? The same question danced in his mind about the two cubs. He couldn't help but worry, though, that something could happen to Ying-tai out there. Letting out a puff, the white lion shook his head, turning and going back to where he'd been laying. He had a nap to get back to.
