It had been so long since Eonar had last been in the Pridelands. Just the familiar smells, the sight of Pride Rock in the distance, all of it caused memories of her cubhood to come flooding back to the forefront of her mind. Those were confusing times for the cub as she was suddenly taken away from her birthplace by her parents. Then there was being paired with Aman'thul so early on as well. The golden lioness' ears turned back as her late mate's face entered her mind while she moved through the green, fertile grass of the Pridelands, scarcely recognizing it as it trailed along her fur. Oh how she missed her Aman'thul dearly and could only hope that his soul was finally at rest.
For now though, she was set on going back to her birth pride and finding what was left of her family. Rumors were everywhere and eventually the talk of someone looking like her son joining the pride had reached her ear. Hopefully he was still there and hadn't just moved on.
Zimran had only been a part of the Pridelands for a few fleeting months but they had been some of the best times of her life. Usually she was in the company of her close friend Persikka but this time she was out and about chatting with Alor'el, a young teen who had recently found himself to be an uncle at his youthful age. She had been doing her part during his sister's pregnancy and even into the birth. It was only natural that she would help out afterwards as well. "So Alor'el," The goddess started, turning her head to the side as the pair walked a little distance from Pride Rock. "How have things been with your family since the new arrivals?"
"Tough." Came as the single word reply from the male as he shook his still-growing mane. Things around his family were definitely strained but at least they all still loved eachother and with the help and support from the pride, they would all get through those hard times. "What about you Zimran? I know there's been some talk about some lion trying to court you. They got a name?" While she might have been older than him, Alor'el had no trouble talking to the goddess with a grin plain on his face. After all, they did have a lot of time to become friends during his sister's pregnancy.
Oh, up ahead! There were two other lions walking around the lands as if they belonged. It was obvious to Eonar that the two were at least guests, if not members of the Pridelands. Perhaps they could re-introduce her to where things were and how joining worked again. It had been a while and for all the elderly lioness knew, things had changed while she had been away. "Hello there!" She called out her greeting, putting on her largest smile that she could muster.
Zimran's ears went back as she turned her head away in embarrassment. Just as she was about to reveal her suitor's name the call of an unfamiliar lioness met her ears causing her head to perk up. The sight that met her blue eyes was a lioness, unfamiliar by voice but her colors definitely suited the Pridelands. Before she could react though, Alor'el already had.
"State your business, rogue." The maroon male stated, his voice firm as he made an effort to stick out his chest as he tried to appear tougher than his body truly was. This was his home, his pride and where his family resided. He would not just let some rogue waltz in without knowing their intentions first.
Was this the proper greeting now a days? It was definitely odd, but what did she know? She had just been a little girl when her parents swept her up and left the Pridelands. "I'm Eonar, a returning Pridelander. I'm not sure the protocol to rejoin the pride, I was hoping one of you two could help me with that bit of my journey."
"Hold your tongue Alor'el, we have a sister among us." Zimran snapped at the young hunter before turning her attention to the lioness ahead of her. With a small downward tip of her head, the goddess continued speaking. "Forgive him, he has been more protective as of late. He just found himself an uncle. I'm sure the Pridelands would welcome you back without a second thought. Our numbers grow daily, but so far the Circle of Life has withheld our population."
With an audible grumble Alor'el turned his head and attention away from the two chatty lionesses. This was supposed to be his time speaking with Zimran about Nzasi and her two cubs, not introducing another lioness to the pride. Regardless, he could make the most of it for the time being. Maybe she at least had some interesting stories to share.
"I see. It is a pleasure to meet you both, Zimran, Alor'el." Eonar gave each a small nod in their general direction as she spoke their names respectively. "It is good to know not everything has changed while I was away. Much of these lands still remind me of what they used to look like when I was but a cub." Though it seemed that the members of the pride as well as some attitudes were a little different or perhaps it was just a localized case of adolescent angst that haunted the maroon male in front of her. Regardless though, this Zimran outshone him nearly tenfold in her kindness, greatly making up for the last of his own hospitality.
"So tell me Eonar," Zimran started as she turned herself around to head back towards Pride Rock, hoping that the returning member and Alor'el would follow suit. With a glance over her shoulder, the goddess continued her question. "What brings you back to the Pridelands? You said you were a returning member of the pride, why did you leave it behind? I hope I'm not prying too much, it's just that we don't get older members that often." It definitely a curious thing, something she wanted to know much more about. Mainly what caused someone to leave these lands in the first place.
Alor'el merely shook his mane as he turned to take his place trailing behind Zimran once more. This Eonar was not exactly a bad lioness, no that much he could tell, but there was just something the male could not put his paw on about her rejoining. Regardless though, he would need to welcome back his pride sister with a welcome embrace as the two escorted her back to find her place in Pride Rock. He turned his head to look at Eonar before he spoke, his ears back. "My apologies for how I acted. My father saw a few strange lions by the borders a few days back and I was just wary."
The question shocked the elderly lioness slightly as she raised her head to look towards the sunlit sky in thought for but a moment. "You know, I'm not quite sure. I was taken away by my parents when I was just a little cub. I had nothing to stay out of my old home for. My mate was killed and his pelt thrown before me..." Her ears turned back and her eyes lowered to the ground as the three continued to walk. "I came here searching for my son after hearing that he may be here. Even if he is not, at least I will have a home again."
"A noble endeavor. We can talk more about trying to find your son when we actually get you settled. For now, we need to find where you will be sleeping at night. With the sun high in the sky, it will begin to set soon." Zimran gave the lioness a reassuring smile as she turned her attention to Alor'el. "Why don't you go ahead of us old lionesses here and see if you can locate a place for our new member here?" It wasn't hard to tell that he was a little apprehensive about Eonar joining so hopefully getting him a little ways away from her for now might help with a little bit of bonding time.
With a heavy sigh, Alor'el nodded. It was the least he could do for now after how he had treated Eonar at the beginning. "Alright," He said to go along with his physical agreement; his nod. She obviously wasn't as bad as he had previously thought when they had first met, but that didn't mean he still didn't think something strange was going on. Regardless, it was not his place to say such things, especially with the subject of his worry around. His golden eyes turned away from her tan body. Any longer looking at her and his tongue might betray him. Instead, he pushed himself into a sprint as he made his way back to Pride Rock to look for an area of the dens for Eonar to sleep in, assuming there was even room for her. All while leaving the two alone to chat or whatever older lionesses did until night finally came and Eonar became an official member of the Pridelands once again.
[Word Count: 1,581]
