D'oro-Moyo crept through the tall grass of the Pridelands, stalked a prey she had found almost half an hour ago. The young lioness was determined to track it and bring it back to her parents, showing how good of a hunter she was. The problem was that it was a rather elusive grasshopper that was just always out of reach for the young one. Her eyes were wide, her body poised as her tail raised into the air, flicking slightly from side to side as she watched her prey. This time it would be hers!
Ki had left the dens of Pride Rock in the early morn, taking a walk as she used to do with another lion from what seemed like forever ago. Her face was low, sad almost that she did not have a companion to walk with her this time. The lioness’ head was held just as high as usual though. It was something she would not let get her down, not on this day. Nothing really made this day special, but she would make it special in some way! Paws hit the grass lightly, stepping through it, heading in no real direction, perhaps the watering hole.
The older lioness’ head tilted to the side as she saw the tuft of a tail hanging in the air. That was...unusual to say the least. “Hello?”
Moyo’s ears had heard the hello but instead stayed laid back against her skull, focused on the insect in front of her, but the moment Ki had greeted her, it jumped away once again. The little lioness stood to her full height (which wasn’t too much) and turned to look at her. “Now that you’ve interrupted my hunt, what do you want?”
The response that was given from the younger of the two surprised her to say the least. Though there was a bit of respect in there, there was no too much. Much like how she had acted as a cub. Ki approached the other lion, looked down at her while Moyo looked right back up at her. “What are you doing out here all by yourself? It’s dangerous right now to go far from Pride Rock.”
Moyo’s brows furrowed. “I already knew that. I can handle any stupid hyena that dares to mess with me or my home.” The young cub turned, pretending to pounce, playing it off that she was strong, and unafraid of everything, or at least attempting to.
“Come on now, you? Taking on hyenas? You’re so little. Leave that to the bigger lions. You’re important enough as it is. Remember, you’re the future for the pride.” The older lioness moved behind her younger counterpart, nudging her back in the direction of Pride Rock. “Come on now, I’m sure your parents are worried sick about you right about now.”
The cub huffed, planting her rump firmly on the dirt. That didn’t really stop the pushing too much but it did slow Ki down a little bit. “No. I can’t go home yet! I have to bring something home to show that I’m the most awesomest huntress ever!” There was such determination in the words that it was both moving and hilarious at the same time.
Ki rolled her eyes, stopping her attempts to move the cub for a bit, looking down at ther with a brow raised. “Is that what you were doing? Hunting something?” Moyo nodded without looking back up at her. “Well then, maybe we should go get it then.” That got the youngster’s attention. She turned, her eyes wide as her eyes looked up at Ki with a huge smile on her maw. “Really?! You’d help me?”
“Of course. Now what are we hunting?”
“A grasshopper.”
“A grasshopper?”
“A grasshopper!”
Moyo’s frown returned as she stomped a paw on the ground in frustration from trying to explain her prey to the adult. “You’re the one who scared it away so you better help me get it back so I can show my momma and dad!”
“Okay, okay, we’ll find you your grasshopper and go back before your parents worry too much.” Ki sighed outwardly, looking over the grass, hoping for movement of any kind. Though she didn’t mind cubs, this one was particularly bossy in her opinion.
Time passed and the sun was beginning to set, and still they had not found the ever elusive grasshopper that Moyo was certain was around. Ki’s brow furrowed as she looked down at the exhausted cub while they laid near the watering hole. “Come on we should head back. We’ve been out here all day and I don’t want to be held responsible if your parents have in fact been out searching for you.” Moyo pouted as she looked up at her, “B-but...”
“No buts...I never did catch your name.”
“D’oro-Moyo, but you can call me Moyo!”
“Pleased to meet you. You can call me Ki.”
“Well Ki, no, I can’t go home! Not as a failure!”
Again Ki rolled her eyes at the words of the young lion. “You’re not a failure. You tried and tried again. I’d say that’s a good effort.” Her gaze went skyward for a moment before settling back on Moyo. The stars were beginning to come out of hiding to light the night sky. “How about this, I promise to come back out here, first thing in the morning to help you find that grasshopper assuming your parents don’t mind.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Hm...Okay, fine, but only because I’m hungry an-” The cub’s words were interrupted by a yawn, her eyes drooping to a half-lidded state. “And tired.” She concluded after a moment of silence. “Hey Ki, can I ride on your back?” The request caught her off-guard. She had definitely not been expecting that, but how could she say no to such a small cub?
“Alright, lets go home.” Wordlessly, Moyo climbed upon Ki’s back once the larger of the two put herself closer to the ground. She held onto the extra fur on Ki’s back as the lioness made her way back to Pride Rock, hoping to the spirits of the old kings and ancestors that Moyo’s parents would not be cross with her and not with Moyo either, at least to a lesser degree. It was weird but the little cub was almost like a sister she never had. Having been the only girl in a litter of four, she had been treated like a princess, but even so it had been a little boring being a princess with no one else to be a princess with you.
Word Count: 1133 [word counter]
