Bomvu was still getting used to his new home. He hadn't met a lot of the other lions yet, save for one seemingly timid female. But he didn't mind- he wasn't really the type to make friends. He much preferred lying somewhere warm, on his own, enjoying the day. When he wasn't fighting, of course. There was really nothing better than a good battle of some kind. He couldn't imagine another kind of life- that some creatures actually didn't like to fight and would rather spend their time doing something more productive, like hunting for food or making babies with the ladies. It all seemed a little trivial to him, but it was the kind of life he had told himself to try and experience. His coming to the pridelands had been his opportunity to try and leave a life different from what he had been experiencing before. If he could just pull it off, that would be perfect.
He frowned to himself, pulling himself up onto a large, flat rock within the pride lands. Heaving a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes, though he didn't get a whole lot of time for sleep.
Shangwe moved over the pridelands in search of his familiar little friend, Sungura. The small hare loved to run off and hide himself, playing a game of hide and seek with the lion, whether or not the lion actually wanted to play. Really, he just wanted to get home and have a nap, maybe eat some of the leftover kill he had sitting in his den. It would have been nice to just get off his paws for a little while. somehow, it felt like it had been a long day of hunting and he really just needed a nap. But no, no nap for the brown lion- he had a rabbit to find. However, it wasn't the hare he met up with, rather another lion lying on a rock. His dark pelt wasn't one Shangwe was familiar with, and he was pretty sure he had never seen the other in the pride lands before that moment. Curious, Shangwe moved himself forward, offering the sleepy male a bright smile when the larger lion looked his way.
"Hello!" he offered lightly, his tail swishing from side to side like an excited wild dog's might, "I don't think I've seen you around, are you new here?"
"Clearly," replied the male with a grunt, sitting himself up slowly on the rock. With his own height and the height off the stone, he pretty much towered over Shangwe, looking down at him with an indifferent, almost cold expression. Really, though, he was happy to meet another member of the pride.
Showing it just wasn't his thing.
"Is there something I can do for you?" the large male asked gruffly, before realizing he hadn't introduced himself. "ah... my name is Bomvu. I promise you I'm not here for anything ill-intended. I just wish to live in this pride in peace."
"Then you're definitely in the right price," Shangwe informed the other, seemingly immune to his gruff attitude, "the pride lands are a great place for peaceful living! I'm Shangwe, and it's an honor to meet you, Bomvu. I've been in these lands my whole life, so I would be happy to help you out if you have any needs or wants. just let me know, okay? I may seem young, but I'm actually kind of an old fart," he laughed lightly, delighted when he saw the more impassive male crack the smallest of smiles. He knew he was dealing with someone who was tougher on the outside then he was on the inside, so he didn't feel any need to be nervous around him, even if it did seem like the male could eat him without a second's hesitation.
"That's alright," the larger male said after a thoughtful moment to let the offer sink in, "while I appreciate the offer, I'm more used to figuring things out on my own. Still, I suppose I will hold you to that if I happen to need you in the future. Is that acceptable?"
"Perfect! In the meantime, maybe you could help me instead," Shangwe laughed, "weird, right, me asking you for help when you're the new one."
"I don't mind. what can I help you with?"
"Well, I'm missing a friend of mind. His name is Sungura and he's a small spotted hare with a happy-go-lucky attitude and a desire to annoy me constantly. He's hiding somewhere around here and I would really appreciate some help finding him, if you don't mind."
"so we're not... eating this hare?" asked Bomvu, a little confused. The smaller lion let out a loud laugh, his mane bouncing furiously with how quickly he was shaking his head.
"No, no! we're not eating him. He's a friend, and another member of the pride. It's a little weird, maybe, but he's been with me since I was a cub and I wouldn't let anything happen to him if I could help it." he smiled fondly at the thought of the hare, and Bomvu gave a nod. He could see from the other's expression that he was very happy with his home and his friend. Clearly this lion wasn't lying when he said he had been in the pride a long time, but then, why should he? It was nothing worth lying about. Maybe Bomvu needed to be less skeptic of others.
He was in a new home, after all.
Sighing softly, Bomvu got off of his rock, joining the other lion on ground level. He offered what could be considered a smile before motioning for him to take the lead. "I'll help you look for him, and I promise I won't harm him," he said easily enough. It was the first time he had ever been hunting without killing anything. Clearly this pride was very different than what he was actually used to. But that was just what he had been looking for, so he couldn't complain about it.
Shangwe led them off to find the missing hare, happy to chat the larger lion's ear off about his beloved home.
WC: 1,031
