Welcome to Gaia! ::

Adaala paused as she roamed through her new home. The lands were so vast she doubted she'd ever see them all. After settling in and picking her profession - and being told she'd be of Toka blood, which was a blessing, apparently - she decided to set off to explore. The pride was restless, she could tell, with internal conflict like none she'd ever seen. The two different bloods in the pride seemed to be at odds with each other, and that never made for a happy life. Still, she couldn't help but think that she had been found by that god for a reason. Perhaps she could help in these troubled times.

She sniffed delicately, searching for the water she had been following for the past half hour or so. She must be close...the scent of water and other animals were quite strong. Changing her direction by just a few degrees, Adaala continued to walk. Finally flowing water reached her ears and she gave a relieved sigh. Being blind was starting to become a fact of life rather than a handicap for her, but it was still difficult to do things without seeing when it had been so easy just a few months ago.

Reaching the water's edge, she leaned down to take a drink. It was a very hot day, as most days were, but her dark pelt didn't help matters much. It made travel difficult as she needed to rest. It would probably do her well to move around at night, but since she could no longer see there was no advantage or disadvantage to when she was awake.

She heard the other lion before she smelled him, her nose preoccupied by the water. The few lions she had met while she had been roaming around had been very friendly, so she didn't have any doubts that this one would be different. She continued to drink as the panting male approached, only lifting her head and twisting her ear in his direction when he spoke.

"Good afternoon," she echoed softly, turning to face him despite her eyes not focusing. She could hear how out of breath he was and assumed he had been out doing something rather strenuous. The smell of herbs hit her nose, and she smiled just a bit. Perhaps he had been out harvesting those.

"You sound a bit breathless," she commented, never one to tread lightly around a subject. She didn't say it with any bite, though, merely stating a observation. "I hope all is well." For all she knew he wasn't as innocent as her mind liked to project, and perhaps he had taken some rather important herbs from a rather important lion and was on the run. Of course, she'd probably be able to smell his anxiety if that were the case, and she doubted he'd stop to speak to her.

Listening to the poor lion go on and on made Adaala smile just a bit. He didn't seem very confident in himself, but she knew there were those here that were like that. There were Druids, she'd been told, with incredible willpower that tried to rise from the ranks given to them through birth or through prejudice, and there were others that simply laid there and took the 'shame'. Perhaps it was because she was so new, but Adaala couldn't understand what the big deal about blood was. She'd keep that to herself, though, as she realized she could get into a world of trouble for saying that in the wrong company.

As the lion apologized she shook her head, padding forward just a few more feet. "You were hardly rude, sir," she said with a little bob of her head, not wanting to scare him off. He seemed the timid sort. "Nor were you interrupting anything more than a quick drink. I invite company when I can," she added as she lifted her head, a gentle look on her features.

"What are you called? I am Adaala, and I am fairly new here still. You collect herbs? What is your role in this pride?" Perhaps that would be a thread of conversation they could relate on. He seemed passionate about it, at least. With a goal like that, you'd have to be very driven to reach it.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Glaurung," Adaala said, bobbing her head once more in greeting. She shifted a bit to keep him directly in front of her as she sat, hoping to make him a bit more secure. His voice was far from strong and he seemed rather timid still. That might just be his nature, of course, she reasoned to herself, which was fine.

"A healer...that is quite the task," she said as he went on. "There are many responsibilities that befall those who seek to help others. But you are to be commended for your decision," she added, a warm smile on her face. "I am sure you will do wonderfully. You already devote time to seeking out herbs...that in itself is quite the task." The rouge lands could be unforgiving in terms of vegetation, after all.

"Oh, a bit. I have not been here terribly long, but I have wandered around as much as I have been able," Adaala said to answer Glaurung's question. "Although I do travel a fair bit slower than the average lion, especially in places that I am unfamiliar with. Have you lived here your whole life?"

Adaala nodded just a bit to show she had heard. It was always interesting to hear where people had come from. Her old pride was still at the front of her mind, and she wondered how her siblings and old friends were getting along now that they had disbanded. She half wondered if she'd ever see any of her sisters or her parents again. Perhaps, she reasoned, they'd end up coming here as well. That would be quite the treat.

"Everyone is happy?" she repeated. "From what I have sensed, there are some hard feelings in this pride. It seems like there is anger that will bubble up from the bottom of the ranks and cause a disturbance, if it has not already happened." Tilting her head slightly to the side, she wondered if he was a Druid. From the way he spoke and seemed to carry himself, it wouldn't be a wonder if he was.

"You have enough passion for the job to go out and better yourself," she said, smiling once more. "I would say that is about as good as you can get at the moment. Practice makes perfect, as the saying goes. I have no doubts that if you continue down this path, you will find yourself beside the king in no time. As for myself...I prefer to help those around me by simply offering advice or mediating problems. I would be of no help hunting or crafting, but I was given a great gift of sight I was not made aware of until recently." Being able to see both sides of an argument was a blessing, really.

Adaala nodded very slightly. It was good to know that others were aware of the problems that faced the pride. Something like this that was left to fester would only grow into a large problem, she was sure. Of course, for now, she wouldn't pay it much mind. She had a lot to learn about her new home before she started making any bold statements.

"That is very true, and very wise of you to say," she said kindly. "The king should consider himself lucky that he has a lion such as you aspiring to reach great heights. We are all lions, are we not? Why should we dislike each other when we are one large family here?"

The question made her chuckle very softly. "Ah...it is a gift that many lack, I have discovered. Which is why I enjoy sharing it with others when they need it. I can understand both lions in an argument, why they feel they are right. Pride and arrogance get in the way, as well as the shame of being wrong, so many are blind to this. But no one is perfect in life, everyone has their faults. I help diffuse the tension in a situation where an argument has broken out to show whoever is arguing by creating solutions that leave everyone happy." She tilted her head just a bit, thinking about the suggestion.

"As for the king...I am sure he is wise enough to know on his own. Of course, should he need help, I would be happy to assist him. But I am sure he does not even know I am here. This pride is so large it is a wonder how it is all held together. I have felt many different terrain beneath my paws as I've explored as well...gravel, dirt, grass...it is very diverse here."

The smile was lost to Adaala visually, but she could hear the happier tone in his voice when he spoke again. An amused smile crept over her own features as Glaurung stumbled over his words just a bit, and she allowed herself a quiet chuckle. He was very sweet, that much could be said.

"Of course, do not let me hold you here," she said as she stood once more, moving forward just a bit to bump her head against his shoulder. She had become far more touch oriented as of late, getting to know others better by being close to them. Glaurung didn't seem the type to snap if she did so, and she wanted to reassure him a bit. She found his company enjoyable, and should they cross paths again she'd certainly be more than willing to chat again.

The question that followed made her ears perk up just a bit, and she backed up to 'look' at the male with a small smile. "I should be for at least the next few days, yes. I like to get to know a place before moving on. Perhaps when you are not so busy you could talk to me about potions a bit more. I have heard of them, but have never studied them in depth. You seem like the perfect lion to tell me about such things."

Adaala smiled and bobbed her head in recognition. "It was lovely to meet you as well, Glaurung. I look forward to our next meeting."

She heard him start to leave and held her ground, not wanting to appear rude. He was certainly a kind lion, if a bit shy. But that had never bothered her before. When she had been younger she always tried to get the shy cubs to play with her and her sisters. Of course, back then she probably traumatized them with her bold actions and abrasive attitude. Now her age and her lack of sight had mellowed her out to make her much more approachable.

"Tomorrow will be fine," she called out after him, the smile still on her face. Once he was out of earshot she turned back to the water to resume her drink. She'd continue to explore a bit once she was done, but would make sure to be back here tomorrow to meet up with her new friend.

FIN