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Stakkar's life. It was horrible.

His mother pitied him. His second mother was nice enough, okay, but she was.. she was his second mother. He didn't know who his father was. His sister was a horrible lioness, his cousin was terrible as well. Tindri was a nightmare, and nobody - nobody - ever cared to ask him how he was feeling, or what his aspirations were, or how his day was going.

Nobody cared.

Stakkar grumbled softly to himself as he lolled about outside his mother's den. Though she was freeborn she kept her den near the area where the unclaimed thralls were kept.

Woe. Woe, hither and yon.

Life. Life was horrible.

It wasn't just horrible. It was downright terrible. Okay, that was kind of a far stretch. Life was almost barely tolerable. He'd met a pretty lioness, and to be honest he quite enjoyed her company. She was smart, gentle and kind - everything he might look for in a mate.

If he was looking.

Well, ...okay. He was kind of looking. It got lonely sometimes, and it wasn't like Badoura was a loose sort of female.

Atheris sighed softly as he wandered towards his den. He was nearly there when he spotted a familiar looking cub. Familiar only because there were probably half a million of similar-looking little bastards running around the pride.

"Shouldn't you be at home sucking on your mother's teat, boy?"

Stakkar grunted in surprise, lifting brilliant green eyes up to meet those of the almost-stranger. Almost-stranger only because he knew of this particular lion. He also knew of this particular lion's nephews, and this particular lion's brother, and this particular lion's cousins.

Suffice it to say, Stakkar knew a lot about this particular lion.

"Shut up, Atheris. Why don't you go have Tim chew on some more food for you?"

Heh. Sick burn. It made Stakkar feel slightly better - slightly.

"You aren't even supposed to talk to me that way. You're a thrall."

A second sick burn. Stakkar was on a Gods-damned roll.

Atheris had to admit, he was a little bit taken aback by the foul mouth the little twit had. A monstrous frown overtook his expression, brow drawing down to complete the effect. He opened his mouth, closed it. Opened it. Closed it.

After about fifteen seconds, he realized he probably looked rather ridiculous. He stopped. Pressed his lips together.

"You've got a smart mouth on you." Atheris narrowed his eyes. "Very smart - that's not a compliment, either."

Youth these days had no respect for their elders - ranks be damned.

"Why aren't you at home - and what's your name, anyway? So many of your ilk running around, makes my head spin."

"Stakkar."

He turned his glum eyes back to his paws.

"And I'm not at home b'cause... well. My sister is mean to me, 'n my mom ain't much better." He sniffed for effect. "My cousins hate me, and I'm pretty sure everyone else does too." Stakkar shook his head and lifted his eyes to Atheris.

"Kind of like you, I guess."

Heh. Another sick burn. Take that. Pure. Ownage.

Stakkar sniffed again, softer this time.

"So I'm just going to sit here, okay, and feel a little sorry for myself. And don't say I shouldn't, because I've seen you doing the same thing before."

Little s**t. Atheris narrowed his eyes.

"You're a mouthy little b*****d, aren't you?" He shook his head, situating himself next to Stakkar. "You're young still. Life isn't that bad, not for you. Wait until you grow older and you have to start dealing with females. That's when the real trouble starts. That's when you'll learn about real pain and hopelessness."

Atheris situated himself into a seated position near Stakkar, his bright green eyes locked on the dismal youth's expression. Atheris shook his head.

"Seriously. You should be playing tag with other cubs and worrying about cooties."

Stakkar grunted. The last thing he'd wanted was advice from a grown up - let alone this particular grown up. He'd heard about how Atheris had come to be a thrall - and he was a Gods damned fool, too.

"Well that's what happens when you fall in love with a Freeborn lady," he muttered rather matter-of-factly, a snooty expression plastered across his face. "And I heard you begged my uncle to bring you back to the pride." Stakkar shook his head. "What did you think was going to happen, anyway? Did you think my cousin was going to really fall in love with you?"

He snorted, loudly.

"Now look at you."

Atheris did the fish-mouth thing again; he couldn't believe the little twerp was talking to him like he was! Atheris grit his teeth and shook his head.

"At least my mother loves me."

Ouch, bro. Ouch.

Atheris pursed his lips and eyed Stakkar.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'm sure your mom loves you. That's what moms do. They love their kids - good moms, at least."

He thought briefly of Sebae, and idly wondered how disappointed his mother would be if she ever found out how she ended up. Atheris had to admit, the thought made him a little sick to his stomach.

Stakkar grunted, his eyes growing damp only because he had something in them - in each of them, it could happen - and with the back of his paw he swiped the tears of irritation out of them. Irritation, right. He stifled a low snuffle before lifting his eyes to meet those of Atheris.

"Yeah, I guess."

Sigh.

"When I get grown up, I'm going to show everyone that ever made fun of me, you know? I'm going to be the best Captain ever."

High aspirations, but nothing out of the ordinary for a cub.

"I should go home before I get in trouble. Thanks for .. well. Whatever. Maybe someday you won't be a Thrall anymore."

That being said, Stakkar heaved himself to his feet and shuffled on home.

Atheris watched the boy leave, his own thoughts turned towards the more depressing. Yes, maybe he wouldn't be a Thrall someday, and maybe then the sky would fall down upon his head and rainbows would shoot out of his arse and they would crown him king of the universe.

Right.

With a low grunt, Atheris rose to his feet. Perhaps he'd stop by to see Badoura on his way home. A little kindness in his evening would be welcomed, and perhaps it would take his mind off of his own troubles - at least for a little while.