Welcome to Gaia! ::

Experience and age had taught Rana, who was no longer very young and also not very old, many things about life. She knew how to hunt, and how to fish. She knew which areas of the rogue lands were safest to sleep. She had met many faces, been told many stories, and lived several of her own.

In the first chapter were her mother and father, from whom she had learned this particular lifestyle. Like them, she had stayed a rogue, even though her sweet disposition was suited better to the life of a pride. Like them, she had not settled anywhere because she was incapable of choosing a permanent home.

In the second chapter there was Kyp, a handsome leopard whom she had loved very much. In her youth and ignorance, Rana had lost that first litter of babies to stress. And then, sick with grief and loss, she had nearly paid for that mistake with her own life.

This was when Nazih, and Rashidi had come into her life. Together, the cub and the lion had helped her to realize her self worth. Nazih was a man now, with a family of his own, and Rana was very proud of him. As for Rashidi— Rana didn’t know where he had gotten to, but she hoped that he was well.

And then, the latest turn of the page, had turned Rana into a mother. They were all beautiful, good children; almost adults, and she was preparing to let go of them, as she had been forced to let go of everything in her life. She was understandably very sad, but also resigned in her sadness.

It was the way of life. Rana understood this.

She was resting in a patch of tall grass when the sun started its farewell. Suddenly, Rana stood up a little straighter; narrowed her eyes, and raked them across the lands. There was an unfamiliar, male scent on the air.

"Whose there?" she called. Her voice was not threatening.

When the male did not respond immediately, Rana stood up a little bit straighter. Life as a rogue had taught her to be cautious, and she was wary now as she waited for him to respond to her call. A warm breeze ruffled the fur on her back. Her ears were pressed back against her head, and her eyes were narrowed still; searching for him amongst the grass.

Rana exhaled with relief when he answered her and her head swivelled in the direction of his voice. That adolescent mane was, indeed, visible to her, but she could not tell his age just yet. She shifted comfortably where she rested, tested the ground with her claws, and waited for him to approach her.

“Good evening, young sir,” she returned his greeting with a cordial nod, and a pleasant smile played across her pretty face. “I am called Rana.”

This male, she could tell, was not much older than her own children. She warmed to him immediately, green eyes lingering over the way that he limped, and made a soft sound in the back of her throat.

“Are you hurt?”

It pained her to be reminded of what her own babies, freshly out on their own, might be subjected to without her protection or guidance.

A bit battered. This young man said that he was ‘just a bit battered.’ Rana thought that it was best not to be battered at all, and she frowned tellingly at the way he brushed off his injuries.

“You should be more careful,” she scolded him softly, and took a careful step forwards, so as to get a better look at him. Her movements were slow and gentle, because she did not want to startle him, and another soft sigh slipped passed her lips.

“It is very kind of you to be so concerned for me,” the smile on Rana’s lips was twisted with wry amusement. She was the adult, but he was the one taking charge; reassuring her with a seemingly compassionate sort of confidence that he was the one that would do the protecting. It felt nice.

How strange.

He seemed a great deal older than his appearance suggested.

“I have lived in the rogue lands all my life,” she informed him, and thought about moving closer, in order to get a better look at his wound, but knew better than that. He was a stranger, no matter how kind he seemed, and she was tentative about trusting him. Though, his youth made it easier.

“Travelling is all that I’ve ever known.”

She was suited to life in a pride, but accustomed to the rogue lands.

Rana was awfully nice— sometimes, too nice. His compliments made her smile, and she inclined her head with interest at the mention of his home lands. She had met many rogues, but it was the people who came from prides that she was most fascinated by. A dozen questions exploded in her head, and they battled with each other for the right to be asked. But she could not decide, so she did not say anything about that right away. She simply watched him, and the expression on her face was absolutely curious.

“It does get lonesome,” she told him honestly, and grieved for the children that had grown up and gone away, “Sometimes, there is good company. My children also make me very happy. They are about your age, I think. They’ve all started their own lives.”

It would please her immensely, to have another family to look after, but she did not tell him that.

“Where are you from? What is it like?”

Such a life! Rana listened attentively to his talk of family and home, and her heart thrust so powerfully against her ribcage that she thought he must be able to hear it. It sounded a bit like a dream, because he painted it that way, and she aspired suddenly to follow him there.

But she was too shy to make such a request, and hesitant about leaving without telling her children where she had gone. Rana wanted to be somewhere they could reach her, if they ever needed her assistance, and so she would probably remain in the rogue lands— surrounded forever by the familiarity of the grass, and her favourite boulder. It was a hard life, but she had learned to be strong.

“You are very lucky to have grown up with so many people around you,” Rana sounded a little bit breathless, green eyes shining with the details (or lack thereof) of the things that he had told her. “It seems to have done you well. You look very strong, and healthy enough.”

Except for that limp. The poor thing.

“I would miss it to, if I were you.”

He couldn’t go back? Rana wondered why, but was not rude enough to press the issue without feeling guilty. If Anwar wanted to tell her, he would tell her. Hers was an inquisitive, curious expression and she bit her lip to keep quiet. It was possible that he had left for personal reasons. She had met many pride lions turned rogue who did. Whatever it was that kept him from his home, was none of her business. Unless he decided to make it her business.

“I have eaten,” Rana was always honest, but her voice was kindly. This was by no means a dismissal. “I am hungry now, though, and would love to hunt with you.”

Plus, she wasn’t about to make him hunt on his own with that injury. He would have difficulties catching anything with a limp like that.

Company was lovely. This male, although young, was good company. She did not have an inkling as to things that he planned for her, but would be willing and eager enough when the time came.