Mys'ketay had been travelling the land for months and had met many different types of lions, wild dogs, and may other species. Since she had left home to strike it out on her own she had grown so much, something that could be seen just in the way she walked. She had even noticed it herself. Instead of running away or backing herself into a tree when meeting males she found herself able to stand or sit right in front of them without a problem or care in the world. Something when she first started this journey she would have never been able to do. As she continued to walk across the land in the blistering heat she felt very proud of how far she had come in such a short time. Even more so, what she had seen in such a short time. Most others would probably take a life time to see what she had seen. But thankfully not her. The most surprising was when she met a adolescent male from the swampie pride when he was out trying to discover his name. He had given her so much insight and he was the one to thank for all of her changes. She couldn't believe someone that much younger then her could change her life so drastically. But she was thankful for meeting him.
Coming to a halt in the middle of her stride she gazed around the dead, dry land that was spread out around her. She loved being able to pick up and leave at a moments notice but she often found herself wishing she had a companion to tag along with her. As nice as it was to be able to think all alone, it would be nicer to be able to share her thoughts, dreams and wants with someone else. Anyone else. One day. Mys'ketay thought to herself in silence. One day she would find someone to share her travels with. Or maybe someone to settle down with in a pride or something. A curious thought popped into her head. What if she met up with that adolescent again? He was surely now an adult. Oh no. Don't think that. He's to young for you. Mys'ketay thought once more, shaking her head a bit violently. But she couldn't deny the feelings that had been growing for him over the period since she last saw him. In fact she often found herself trying to go to the pride lands he would be at just to see him again. However, she never let herself get close enough to find out what he would say or do. After all, there were probably a lot of females there for him. Who was she? Some outsider he met and talked to out of pity? No, she knew better then that. He had a kind heart, something that had given her hope that could be found in other males across the land. That was when she decided she would try to see the good in others rather then the bad. Actually give them a chance. Thus far it had actually worked out pretty well.
If she was being honest though, it hadn't been all peaches and roses. There were still a great many males out there that she should have never crossed paths with or given a chance. Some she regretted even now. But then again, she needed those experiences for one day when she had cubs. She would be able to retell them stories of how she had met some great lions, and some not so great lions so then they would know both sides of life and would not blindly follow a deceitful lion or ignore a good hearted one. "A family of my own." She said quietly, a smile crossing her maw. The idea of one day having a family of her own sent odd feelings to her stomach, which made her feel a bit like she had butterfly's stuck in it. Mys'ketay knew she would do whatever it took for her to be better then her father who had raised her. And better then her mother that had abandoned her. In fact, she often looked forward to the day when she could tend to her small cubs and dote on them day in and day out. One thing that worried her was that she might not ever get the chance to have cubs as she was to busy traveling and had not met someone to settle down with right now. Although, if she was being honest she knew she had found the one. But she wasn't quite yet read to admit to herself that she was indeed in love with the male. Why was love so confusing? Why couldn't it be as simple as putting a paw print on the sand, just with the heart?
A loud grumbling sound came from her stomach as she gritted her teeth. When was the last time she had ate? Yesterday? She found herself unable to remember. Obviously long enough ago that she couldn't even remember. Another thing that had improved since she left home to strike it out on her own was learning how to hunt. Sure she had a lot more room for improvement, but she was getting there. And now she could actually catch her prey about 95% of the time. Before she had begun this journey she didn't even know how to hunt. Mys'ketay always felt proud of herself when she managed to take down a wild buffalo or wild animal, and she would often reflect on her skills for later use while she let the food rest in her stomach. After all, if she one day wanted to feed her cubs she would need to be able to hunt for them and then teach them when they were old enough. If she couldn't hunt for herself then how would she keep them alive let alone herself? This always left her trying to find just the smallest detail to improve on the next time she went hunting. She needed to get better. When she felt like giving up she focused her attention on the future and her family she would need to feed. They gave her strength, even though they didn't yet exist. Or were even close to coming into existence. At least that was what she thought.
