It was a clouded twilight, the sun sinking low behind the heavy gray of a promised storm. Shelter for the night would be a wise idea. But for a traveler such as she, unfamiliar territory made finding a sheltered place to rest quite challenging. It was no matter though, if Înghetată could not find a safe spot to wait out the storm before it arrived, then she would continue to move through it until she did. She was strong, she was able. Even the fresh cuts on her face and in her ear were merely testimony to her abilities. They had been earned through the defense of another after all. She was strong and brave, though she didn't mean to sound her own cry on the matter. But it was true. She could hold her own against those whom she challenged, and protect those who could not stand against the ones who hurt them.
But perhaps a storm was not the thing to challenge per-say. It was, in fact, probably a poor foe to take on. But if she had no choice in the matter... Soft laughter brought her ears up attentively. There was someone about? Her steps drew stealthy as she moved, not wishing to disturb anyone if they did not wish disturbing, though she was certainly no sneak thief. Even if her honor would not allow it, she was far too large, far too easily spotted.
It wasn't long before the source of laughter became visible to her. A lioness, ever so small in stature, was crouched in the tall waving grasses, looking over something or someone. The someone became visible as well after a few moments, a young hare skipping about around her, batting her tail and chattering eagerly about something or other. He seemed more like a cub than a preybeast, the lioness' reaction certainly enforcing this idea. How curious. But how cute.
"Hello there," In'ta called, announcing her presence as she approached the pair. No, not a pair. There were more of them. Two tiny hares, little ones, kittens was the word, were curled and sleeping between the lioness' paws. They did not stir as the smaller feline twisted to look up at her.
"Oh, hello," she chirped brightly, a friendly warmth shining in her soft golden eyes. "My name is Keena, and these are my little ones. It's nice to meet you." Perhaps saying something like that without knowing the other's intent was not the best of ideas. Saying it was nice to meet her would prove false if, say, she had arrived with the intention of eating the hares and mauling the lioness. But Keena looked up at the other lioness so cheerfully that such thoughts could not possibly have occurred to her. In'ta was much larger as well, with muscle rippling beneath her patchily colored hide, and a few scars here and there. In'ta could certainly look intimidating. But now was not one of those times.
"Hi! I'm Jari! I'm not little anymore, or well, not as little," the hare corrected himself, ceasing his skipping about the lioness to rise up on his haunches and peer at the newcomer. "I am going to get much bigger after all," he announced, though it certainly seemed unlikely. He was already a bit larger than average for a hare, but while he might grow a bit more... there was a limit to how large a hare could get.
The intimidation, the hardened edge, the promise of a fight if she was crossed, all of it vanished into a warm smile as the large lioness looked down on the small group. What an odd little family, and they must be a family for the way that the lioness, Keena, called the hare kittens. Her little ones. How cute. "My name is Înghetată, though it is easier for most to simply call me In'ta." And she was delighted with her find. The last damsel she'd rescued had turned out to be a little less than the sweet innocence she loved to find. But there was no guile, and probably a good deal of naive, in this little lioness' happy expression. Not many greeted an utter stranger with such welcoming acceptance.
"There is a storm coming," the lioness added, worry tinting her tone. She could weather such weather, and perhaps Keena might manage too. But the hares would not fair so well, particularly the young ones. Her protective nature reared it's head and demanded that she do something to make sure nothing happened to any of them. Innocence was to be treasured and guarded with love, whether it was a young child or, more rarely, a sweethearted adult.
"I know," Keena replied softly, how quickly she accepted a stranger as a friend and not a threat. "There's a den I've stayed in not too far from here. But I was afraid to leave one of the little ones behind to carry the other...would you help me?" she asked, looking from the little blue and gray striped kittens to the large pink and brown splotched lioness. The other hare, Jari, looked from lioness to lioness as well, before adding glumly,
"I'm not quite big enough. Yet." But he would be! He was going to be a ginormous lion, like the nasty that attacked him and his family on the day that sister Star found her mate. And then when ginormous lions picked on his family, he would pick on them right back! Because he would be big and fierce and look after his mothers and sisters and brothers. Oh. And papamom too. If the leopard were ever around. He didn't seem to be around as much lately... not since Star left. Mama Keena had gotten sort of lonely, what with Cari and Chai old enough to wander away too. It was why Jari had come back to visit her, and his new brother and sister too. But they were sleeping. Kittens seemed to do a lot of sleeping. Such a waste of time and energy and chances for fun.
"Oh...ah...of course I'll help you." The sudden request had taken her by surprise. It was sweet that Keena could trust someone so easily. But it was also dangerous. Had In'ta been a threat, she could have easily taken one of the precious babies, as though to carry it, and then killed and eaten the kitten. It was cute that she was so trusting. But that trust would surely be horribly abused! How had this lioness managed to survive for so long without someone painting her world the in misery and bitterness that clouded the lives of so many others?
"Really? Thank you!" Keena rose to her paws, stepping to rub her cheek against In'ta's shoulder, about as high as she could really reach, before circling away to pick up one of the stripey hares. Jari danced around again, moving to position himself beneath the kitten that Keena clasped ever so gently in her jaws. As though he would catch this, In'ta assumed, adopted sibling should anything happen.
"You'll take Euclisyes?" he wanted to know, pointing at the more heavily striped kitten as he looked back up at In'ta. She nodded, padding forward before hesitating. She knew how to carry a cub, it was a simple instinct. But a cub was at least the size of a fully grown hare. A kitten was so much smaller. She wouldn't hurt it if she picked it up, right? Eying Keena for the proper method, the larger lioness leaned down to scoop the little bundle of fluff into her jaws.
It immediately made her want to sneeze, and she could already feel fur coating her tongue. Ick. But she could clean the stuff off later. For now, for now they had a storm to beat. The way the wind had changed was making her worry. How far away was this den? She didn't dare try to speak with the tiny life in her mouth, she didn't want to hurt it by mistake. Didn't want to cloud the trust Keena seemed to hold.
"This way, it's this way," Jari explained eagerly, Keena nodding and flicking her tail as an invitation for In'ta to follow. The pair of them led the way across the grasslands, with In'ta behind and trying to focus on not breathing wrong around the kitten. It wasn't long before a lean-to pile of rocks came into view. Surely that wasn't the den? It was filled with gaps for rain and wind to leak in through, and so small and cramped...how could someone live in a place like that? And be so happy?
"I think we can fit..." Keena was saying as she curled up around the hare she deposited in the center of the small...rock mound. In'ta refused to refer to it as an actual den. But for Keena, it was a lucky find. She traveled all the time, so little shelters like this, ones that went unclaimed by others, were nice to be able to fall back on in times of trouble. Like now. "Yes, I think we can." The lioness nodded as she confirmed her measurements, scooting a little to one side and scooping the hare In'ta had been carrying to tuck him against her flank, beside his sister. She curled up on them again, Jari worming his way to nestle against the fur of her chest.
In'ta looked up at the sky, then back at the small strange family. Keena was going to be wet, but the way she'd positioned herself around the kittens promised to keep them dry. She really did think she was their mother then. How...unbelievably endearing.
"Yes, I think we will..." In'ta mumbled, padding inside the den herself. She shifted her bulk, feeling rather cramped, before nudging the little lioness. Keena looked back at her in surprise or confusion, or both, then scooted to the side as In'ta curled up around her. "There. That's much better," she purred. Now the one who would be rained upon was her instead. But the worse of it would be deflected by the rocky heap the little lioness had been so trustingly happy to share with an utter stranger.
But maybe, with a little luck, In'ta wouldn't remain a stranger to her much longer. Someone like this... she'd never thought she would actually meet someone like this. Keena was exactly the sort of person that the lioness would love to get to know...
Word Count: 1750
