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Dara’moshra on the other hand had been blessed with a birth of higher rank. In fact her father was one of the leaders of a small band within the larger pride. She had never really known hunger, having a supply of meat essentially a paw away. It seemed perfect. She was treated with utmost respect from most, had all the meat she could want and would undoubtedly be one of the first to be defended should an attack on her family come. However Dara did not see it this way. While she may have had a high rank she had little say in even her own life. From birth it seemed her future was being traded away, offered in a truce set up between families. Before she could even walk she had been promised mate to the son of the other family.

One upside to her life was that she had no real duties to attend to, this left plenty of time for her to practice getting away from her family. She had gotten quite skilled in evading the watchful eyes of servant. Dara could not stand being watched all the time, nor could she stand those who her parents held company with. The lot of them were not but liars, backstabbers and thieves. They all vied to get control of these lands, and though it was usually a silent struggle it would not be long before the silent fighting erupted, and she knew the whole lot of them would drag down the pride in to some oblivion.

At this point in time she did not care for any of it. She had gained some bit of freedom, until her father sent someone to find her, and she planned to enjoy it. The lands were well known to her. Many a time she had gotten away and explored all she could whether it be a cave or some old, abandoned den. It was all she could to do keep her sanity in this place. Now her sights were set closer to the borders, places she knew little of. As she made her way towards the edge of the trees she wondered what lay beyond.

Finally the trees thinned and the mist lessened. Dara had found her way to the outer parts of the pride,and beyond it lay, well, she did not know. She had seen the adge of the trees before, but usually from a distance. Now here she stood outside them, gazing in wonder at the vast world beyond. it was impressive, that was for sure, and so much clearer. Here no mist lay over the land, as the wind would not let it settle to do so. She had always wondered what lay further out, but had always believed that perhaps it was just more forest, more mist, more of the land that she had grown up in. Never did she think that beyond the bit of land she knew so well was a place so open to the sky.

After the initial wonder started to wear off Dara’moshra finally remembered that she had snuck off. She slunk to one side, hiding herself behind a tree, and carefully peered around. Nothing. There was no one there, and she could hear no one following her. As her attention turned thought her gaze fell upon a figure some ways off. The mane made it obvious this was a male, but was he of their pride, or perhaps some lion from lands beyond? The second thought made her both excited and scared as she knew nothing of those that lived outside her home. However despite this bit of fear she pulled herself form her hiding spot and slowly approached him. “You there!” She called out, watching him closely for any signs of hostility. “Who are you?”

The name following her question was unknown to her. Dara slowed to a stop and looked him over. It was clear he was not of one of the ruling families. Aside from the fact that if he was she would have known him he also had a bit of a worn look to him. A working rank, for sure, and by his proximity to the edge of the territory a guard perhaps? She eyed him incredulously for a moment, before offering back a reply to his name. “I see. I am Dara’moshra.” She glanced sideways, out towards the lands beyond their own. “Do you..” She started, though paused to think if she should before forcing herself to continue. “Do you know what is out there?” Her voice quivered slightly, not out of fear, but more so excitement. She had never come this close to the borders before and now thoughts of seeing what were beyond them had crept in to her mind.

Dara’moshra kept silent, mulling over his answer. She wondered just how many in pride had been outside before, further than just a short way to chase off an intruder. She wouldn’t dare ask her parents about it, for fear of the torrent she would get in reply. “I see.” She finally spoke, pulling her gaze away from the unknown lands beyond to look back at him. Dara studies the male silently for a moment before opening her mouth to speak. Before she could get any words out though she heard someone else approaching, followed by a voice familiar to her.

“My lady?” The female voice spoke out. Dara knew very well who it was, and spun on the male. Her ears had swiveled back and lay against her head. She spoke between bared fangs. “Don’t tell them I was here!” She hissed out, before spinning quickly on paw and fleeing away in to the fog and bushes. After she had gotten a bit of cover behind her she dropped lower to the ground and begun moving more stealthily away, hoping the male guard, that Upendo’mume, would not rat her out.

Dara’moshra had paused, hidden between a tree and some bushes when she believed herself far enough away. She listened intently for any sign of her shadow having followed her trail. No doubt her personal guard would end up following her this way, but at least for now she was alone. Dara stood and started to make her way back towards the inner parts of the pride, happy for the solitude for now as it allowed her to think more easily. Think of the edge of the lands, the lands beyond, as well as that male.