Welcome to Gaia! ::

As hot as it was, and it was very hot within the desert, Jarkevaa was still enjoying every moment of it. This was still like an adventure for him, travelling through lands unknown to find some mysterious wonders at the end. Now he knew in the general area where this pride was located, he had passed around the lands a few times in his travelling, and had heard some stories of the pride within. It fascinated him quite a bit. A pride of lions surviving out in this desert, and who knows what sort of stories he could get from those already living there! If only it weren’t so hot..

The heat beat down on his dark fur, and the cold nights were not kind to him either, but he pushed on, his mind far too focused on what lay ahead to worry about the possible dangers they were facing. “I’m sure we are almost there, it has to be close now. Don’t worry I am sure we will be there soon.” Jark flashed a smile over at Kujali, trying to show himself being positive. He truly believed they were near though, he could feel it! Though it may have just been the cold seeping in to his old joints.



Taiga padded slowly around in his self-set patrol area around the temple. He was a distance away from it, but always kept in in site, one never know when a sudden sand storm might pop up to disorient and possibly get a lion lost and he could afford to get lost now. The days were growing ever hotter and worry for his family was always on the male’s mind. Even if the pride was moving to doing things during the cooler hours of the night. He couldn’t help but wonder how long his oppressive would last, hoping it would let up soon, otherwise who knew what fate might befall the pride..

After stumbling slightly in shifting sands Taiga pushed the thoughts aside for now, or at least tried, so he could focus. His gaze shifted over the horizons as he walked. He had not seen many travellers coming through recently, many surely deterred by the intense heat of the day. A movement in the distance caught his eye though, and Taiga came to a halt to watch. The movement continued, coming closer, and soon forms were emerging. It looked to be a pair of lions. Taiga turned and made his way towards them as a fast trot, wondering how long the pair had been out in the desert.

Jarkevaa had also seen the other lion in the distance, grinning even broader and puffing his chest out. “Of course, I would never lead us on bad information!” Silently he was thanking the lion he had spoken to about this pride, that the information had indeed been true and not some fanciful tale spit up by someone wanting to lead him off to his death. “I’m sure he can lead us to this pride, then perhaps we can get some rest out of the sun.” He glanced over at the horizon as the first rays of dawn were starting to peek out, painting the skies various morning colors. Jark was not keen on spending another day out in the heat, unsure if either he or Kujali could have even taken another day and the thought of perishing out in the sands was not one he was fond of.




The pair were nearing now, and had likely spotted him by this point. Taiga moved forward, keeping a walking pace so as not to possibly frighten or put forward the idea that he might be aggressive. The last thing he wanted was to frighten any weary traveller back in to the desert. They seemed calm enough, and as he came within talking distance he smiled at the two. “Greetings, you two must be tired. This desert hasn’t been too kind to those travelling recently.”

“Not sure where you two are headed, but with the day nearing I would suggest a break from the sun. The temple is not far from here, and I am sure the pride won’t turn away a weary pair wishing to take refuge from the heat.” A thought suddenly struck and Taiga raised his brows. “Unless it was the temple you were looking for?” He had not always been a member of the pride, and it had not been all that long since he and his mate had come looking for the Tuait’tekem. Perhaps these two were in a similar situation, even if their timing was an unfortunate one with the recent weather.

“Temple?” Jarkevaa was excited to see this place where lions lived in the desert. His mind was going through ideas of what it might look like, and none of them seemed to be grand enough for him. Though he was not even sure what it would look like. “A rest out of the sun would be wonderful, it has been much hotter than I recall these deserts being. Granted last time I was around here was only around the edges.” Jarkevaa’s attention was only half on the conversation, his gaze shifting around in search of this place the other male had spoken of, catching a glimpse of what might have been it, but surely his mind was playing tricks on him.




Taiga nodded. “Well then you have found that pride, the Tuait’tekem. Now, I am sure you two are tired, perhaps even hungry. Standing out in the desert, even if it is still early, isn’t going to help either.” A grin spread across his face as he turned from the pair, beckoning with a flick of his tail for them to follow. “Come with me and we’ll see about getting you two somewhere to rest.” With that he padded off, ears swiveling back to listen for the two to follow. “I realize I have not introduced myself, I am Taiga.” With a quick side-step he glanced back at the pair, nose motioning ahead towards the temple that was rising up from the sands ahead, the morning sun’s light starting light it’s form. “And this is the temple.”

As the temple ahead was pointed out Jarkevaa looked on in wonder. He let out a soft gasp and stared wide-eyed as the sight before him. Surely this was some sort of trick played by the desert, for such a magnificent structure could not be real! “This is the home of your pride? It is..” Words left him as he stared on. Never before had he seen a sight like this in his travels. Sure, he had some some of those old ‘buildings’ left by a some other species some time ago, but this one topped them all. They had been smaller, a lot less impressive than this. Jark quickened his pace a little, wishing to get to this place as quickly as possible. “So wonderful! What stories this place must hold. Tell me, friend Taiga, do you really live within this place?”




“Nice to meet you two as well.” Taiga chuckled softly. As impressed as he had been seeing this place for the first time, the other male seemed so much more so. “Yes, it is quite a sight to see for the first time. Even after living here for a while I still find it amazing as well.” Taiga glanced over at the black and white male, who seemed more in a hurry now to get there. “No need to rush, you’ll just tire yourself out more.” Another chuckle escaped him. This male looked older, but he was acting more like a cub. “Everyone is likely finishing any daily tasks. With the heat as bad as it had been everyone has taken to doing what needs to be done during the cool nights.”

Jarkevaa quirked a brow at the tease. “Learn what?” He was confused on what the female meant, however any confusion on his face was replaced by a chuckle and grin as the tail swept under his chin. “Yes, I could do with a rest. As nice a journey as it has been so far, I don’t think I could travel much further.” His gaze shifted back over the temple. After hearing curious stories of desert-dwelling lions he had finally found them. His last adventure, and while it was not done it would at least be in one place. His heart might still be that of a traveller, but he was content now to settle here. Jark grinned and nodded at Kujali.“Yes, I would very much like that. If, that is, the pride would have us?” He turned his attention to Taiga.




A chuckle escaped him as the curious old pair. “Well we do what we have to. It would be foolish to continue doing everything during the day, only to have a whole pride get exhausted by the heat. We’d get nowhere fast doing that.”

“I’m sure the pride has room for more sets of paws. With the weather as it has been there is likely somewhere that could use some extra help. Once we get down there we’ll see about at least getting you two somewhere to rest for the night, a meal if you need one, and worry about other things after rest.”