Hotza went her separate way. She needed to think about who she was. Had becoming a pirate really made her colder? She didn't think that was possible. Back there though all she could about was Aureo getting the treasure. She didn't care at all about the old lion. Before she joined the pirates she would have done everything in her power to help him.

A thought struck her. She suddenly realized that she didn't want any of the treasure. It wasn't important to her. Aureo getting the treasure was however. More than anything she wanted to see him become a pirate, even though she just met him. For some reason she wanted to see him succeed in his dream. She would do everything in her power to make him a pirate. It just worried her that if he couldn't steal for an elderly lion would he be able to steal anything else?

She knew he would have a difficult life as a pirate because of the things that made him different. He only wanted to join for the adventure after all. Most of the pirates had a desire for treasure but Aureo was different. She wondered what he would do if he was ordered by a captain to steal. Would he hesitate? Or would he refuse the order. If he refused he could get kicked out of the pride.

As she walked she heard a tinkling of water. She headed toward it and found a small waterfall. Next to it she saw a turtle shell. She couldn't believe her luck. Carefully she filled the turtle shell up with water. Once it was full she dragged the shell back toward the elderly lion. She wondered how Aureo was doing on his hunt.

“What are you after?” Aureo was about to head deeper into the woods when the voice of the elderly. He stopped and looked at the burnt colored lion. He walked toward the lion. “Why would you help me when you could just as easily nab my treasure. There are two of you. It wouldn't be hard to take me out.” The old lion said. Aureo sat down in front of him.

“Yea. I could have taken you treasure. I also know I could take you out in a fight if you tried to resist. It would have probably led to your death.” Aureo said honestly. “But stealing from you wouldn't have helped me any. I think it would have changed me if anything. I'm not really interested in gold, gems or jewelry. I think there are other much more important things like adventure.”

“I heard the female trying to get you to steal though.”

“Yea. I need to bring back some treasure so I can join a pride I've been searching for for years.” He explained. “I'll find the treasure else where though.”

“You want to join the pirates don't you? It is a tradition for a new comer to bring in treasure.” The older lion said. He looked down at his pile and gave a soft smile. “I once cared more for adventure than I did for treasure, but once I stole my first treasure I couldn't stop. I have robbed so many creatures of the values and some of their lives. I was never a pirate but I think I would have fit right in.”

“I better get you some food.” Aureo said getting up. The older lion laughed at him. “What's so funny?”

“You. You now know how I obtained my treasure yet you are still being foolish and ignorant. You won't steal from me cause I am old? Cause I am blind? Little one you couldn't steal from me even if you tried.” The older lion yelled at him. “You are a cowered I think. You don't want to face me.”

Aureo glanced behind him. He looked at the older lion. Being called a coward didn't bother him. His own father called him a coward again and again. “If you say so old one. Now if better go find a meal for you.”

Aureo went into the forrest and found some elk. It didn't take him too long to catch one and drag it back to the elderly lion. “Here you go. Will you need more?”

The old lion didn't say anything. He just sunk his teeth into the elk. Hotza returned with a turtle shell filled with water. She brought it over to the lion. He took a huge gulp of water. Hotza stood next to Aureo. “Are we ready to go. I don't want to be away from the pride much longer.”

Aureo nodded. “Lets go.”

“Wait,” the old lion voice said. It trembled as he spoke. “You really aren't going to try and take my treasure? I am a monster who takes what isn't his. I am greedy. I don't understand. Don't you hate me?”

Aureo looked over at him and smiled. “No not really. I think that if we had met at a different time we would have been close friends. I think that when you were younger, an adventure I would have loved to to go on a journey with you. It is a bit obvious now though that your treasure is more important to you than adventures. I wouldn't want to take that away from you. Take a lions dream away from him and what does he have? Nothing.”

Hotza looked up and smiled at Aureo. He was a very interesting lion. She was sure she would never fully understand him. “We should be able to find something on our way back to the pride. If not we will look again.”

“Don't go.” The older lion hollered. “How about this. You beat me in a duel and I will let you have one piece of my treasure. Anything you want.”

Aureo's grin widened. “Alright. That sounds fair.”

Hotza's eyes widened. “No you can't. He'll get hurt or worse die.” She said to him in a hushed whisper.

“I can hear you.” The old lion called to them.

“He wants a fight. Since I got here he's been trying to tick me off to fight him. I didn't want to lash out at him in anger. If he wants to have a duel though that's different. There is a reason he wants to fight and I am going to give him a fight.” Aureo said glancing at the old lion. “Just stay out of it for now. Wouldn't want you to get hurt.”

“Hm I can hold my own.” She replied and stuck her tongue out. Aureo laughed. “Just don't kill him.” He was such a sweet lion. If he killed another lion she wan't sure what it would do to him. She did know it would change him for the worst.

She watched from a distance as the two lions fought. The older lion missed again and again. Aureo stuck him, giving no mercy. It was a completely one sided battle. She couldn't imagine what the older lion was thinking asking Aureo to a fight. Than again she also couldn't figure out why Aureo accepted the fight. It wasn't long will the old lion was lying on the ground.

“That was a good duel.” the older lion said as he slowly got up. “You are the winner. Take your treasure.”

Aureo nodded and went to the pile of gems. It took him a while to pick a piece. He came out with a small blue gem. It sparkled in the sun. Hotza noticed it was much smaller than the other pieces. “Thank you old one. This has helped me out a lot.”

WC: 1,273