Shadows fell across the land, obscuring the view of his homeland, a place that was less of a home since the invading Tokas had laid claim to the rugged mountains and deep ravine. Yet it was home still, the land where he had been born, where he had grown and matured and survived. It had taught him everything he knew, shaped the male he had become and forged a temper as cold and as unmoving as the landscape itself.
Turning his back on the gathering night as it rose up out of the prison canyon, Samar turned and set off across the dusk-shrouded open landscape of the plains. It was time to hunt, when everyone else was tucked away in den or prison, or making their rounds about the various provinces. Samar left the restricted confines of the pride and slipped out into the roguelands to stretch his limbs and fill his belly. It was usually peaceful, a time he could truly be alone for very few come this way and he couldn’t remember the last time he had met a rogue so close to the pride’s boundary. So when he caught wind of an unknown scent, it brought him up short. Pale eyes narrowed as he lifted his head, this time consciously seeking the flavour in the air and swiftly locating it, musky and rich, the scent of a male feline.. a leopard. Surprised and not a little irritated at this intrusion into his solitude, Samar turned and followed the scent trail.
Brier had a rare day on his own. His sister was off doing whatever it was she did when out of his sight, a fact he was slowly getting used to. Now they possessed their own freedom, she enjoyed exploring it and every so often she left his protective eye and explored alone. He knew she was reasonably close, he was enough of a tracker to keep an eye on her even from a distance, but he knew he had to allow her the space she seemed to need. She was growing up, they both were.. and he knew that one day she would want to move on, to form new attachments, maybe a family of her own... As the older brother he knew he was more than a little over protective, but he respected her decision and her choices.. even if it was heard for him to do so. Still... he trusted her completely and that was the main reason he could switch off like he was doing now, stretched out atop a large flat rock that still held a lingering echo of the days heat, enjoying the cooler climes of night time as the shadows darkened all around.
It was in this repose that Samar found the shadowy figure of the strange leopard. Yet even as he stepped forwards, he knew the cat before him was well aware of his presence, for the long striped tail was curling back and forth in a manner than was disturbingly familiar. Drawing himself to a standstill he pressed his lips together, waiting for the leopard to move, to speak.. something.. Yet he did not know what he expected to happen... certainly not for the feline to make an apology, this was rogue land after all, not the Tokakinji... But just being outright ignored seemed... wrong somehow.
Brier waited as the male drew close, feeling the tension in the previously calm night air spike. Remaining where he was he waited, gauging the temper of the one lingering int he darkness. When it became apparent he was not going to attack at the first hint of movement, Brier slowly pulled himself off the rock and to his feet, shaking carefully before turning to face the large lion behind him. The dark-hued male was large he guessed, judging by the ‘weight’ in the air before him, though all he could really see of the other was the glowing light of his pale eyes and the vivid marking on his brow, that of an upside down crescent moon.
“Pardon.” He finally said, breaking the cold silence that had descended between them. “I was not aware there was anyone around.” Brier offered a smile despite knowing the lion could see him about as well as he could make out the bigger cat. He knew the shape of it carried in his voice and didn’t want to cause the evidently muscular lion to become hostile with misunderstood signals of rudeness. It took a few moments but eventually the male’s deep voice rumbled out of the shadows. “Didn’t intend on disturbing anyone.” Brier guessed it was the lion’s attempt to reassure him, judging by the clipped way the stranger spoke Brier surmised he was not an overly talkative creature at the best of times.
“It is fine, I was about to move on. Tell me.. is there a pride close by?” This lion struck him as something other than a rogue, which meant that unless he was travailing.. there had to be a pride’s boarder close by, and better that he learnt of it now and avoided any unnecessary issues than running into a more violent member later on when he had Daliah with him to worry about. He felt more than saw the lion shake his shaggy head before the reply came from the deepening shadows. “Some way to the north... They don’t tend to come this far out often.. I like to hunt here....” Brier smiled, picking out the information offered silently in the male’s words. He was safe it seemed, not that he was willing to test his theory by lingering much longer... he would go find Daliah and move south for a day or so. Nodding his own head he flashed a white-fanged smile into the dark. “Thank you. I don’t wish to disturb your evening... “ Stepping back he hesitated a moment, waiting to see if the lion had anything to add, but when it became apparent that the stranger was remaining silent, Brier turned unhurriedly and started along the path his sister had taken, moving away from the stranger and his pride. He would catch up with Daliah in under the hour and let her know what he had been told. Relaxed and unconcerned, he set off into the night, knowing the lion behind him was not following.
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