Kimondo had his head in the clouds. He couldn’t stop thinking about that female he had met before. The one that he considered to be one of the few friends he had managed to make in his short amount of time here within the pridelands. It probably wasn’t healthy, he imagined, worrying over someone this much. He oddly felt the desire to impress Orlan, even though she had already seemed impressed with his hunting skills as it were.
So why was he so nervous about trying to talk to her? Every time she came by Kim felt a surge of happiness, excitement to converse with her. Then when she left he felt almost disappointed. The lion had chalked this all up to them being good friends, and her being the only one who seemed to actually know anything about him since before he joined. It wasn’t like he was keeping it a secret, anyone could ask him anything and he’d happily reply to them. They just didn’t, maybe they felt he was odd with his brightly pink mane and yellow fur, or maybe they found it amusing how “good” of a hunter he was. Kimondo insisted he was just persistent. Stealth was never his strong suit, nor was surprise attacks as he often tripped over his own big feet. He had lots of stamina though and could chase and pursue his prey for long distances. This skill was helpful. It’s what made him useful at all.
With a sigh the lion walked on to a small watering hole. It was night, the sky painted a lovely shade of gloomy blue. The stars flickered here and there, but mainly were covered with clouds that saw to it that rain would soon be upon the darkened landscape.
Kimondo still wanted to be out here, alone. He wanted privacy to sort his thoughts. Just what did he think of Orlan? He had never seen himself as having the luxury to court a female, his main priority had always been on survival. But now? Now when simply surviving wasn’t an issue?
The lion collapsed onto the ground in defeat, issuing an enormous sigh to accompany his defeated posture. Unknown to Kim, a leopard was limping towards him in the distance.
---
Romano hadn’t felt this hurt in what felt like forever. He had only narrowly escaped his pride, wielding wounds and scars from the hard fight it had took to escape the vicious hyena who had branded him a traitor. Vellamo was angry with Romano, for reasons he didn’t quite grasp. She was a seer, Oracle they called her. He could only think of one reason she would have sent for his attack, for his memory to be wiped by the taboo medicines and force him into a rehabilitation period. Simply put it was because he knew too much.
Knowledge came with a price that Romano wore heavily. He snarled at that, what good was knowing that Hanma was dead, or worse, had never existed at all, if he hadn’t the chance to share it? Vellamo herself would have never dared to have Romano killed, she liked her ‘fellow monsters’ too much to let that happen. Besides, she was the daughter of Euanthe, and as far as Romano knew that minty girl was sweet and proved time and time again that had it not been for the wickedness of Vellamo, she probably would have been a Kaless. Kaless were not granted the abilities and freedom that full-bloods had, and so Vellamo was determined to keep her mother considered a monster, not a mortal. Romano connected this to the very queen that resided in the lands. He knew of Zephyra, what monster didn’t? She had banded them all together, she was less of a tyrant them her father or her mother even and was kind enough to even band the punishment of mortals. She was proof Hanma didn’t exist.
Romano thought about this with a scowl. If anyone else made the connection they would shake it away or deny it. Romano believed in what he knew, and he knew that the monsters were worshiping a dead God. His pride was blind. Or were they his pride anymore? Zephyra had him chased out, if he dared returned without bringing Kaless as retribution or sacrifice what good was he to them? Even Vellamo had dared to once tell him that bringing children back might be his sole hope of ensuring a safe return.
It was too stressful. Much so, he couldn’t dwell on it.
In the distance he spotted a lion, and put on a brave face as he marched. Romano had no clue where he was, after a white pelted stranger had aided his escape Romano had ran and ran until his paws bled and he had no recollection of the time of day or night.
How long he had been running he did not know, but he needed a break and if he died fighting a hostile stranger for a spot to rest then so be it, that was his fate.
---
Kimondo lifted his head in time to see Romano approach. He was still flopped on the ground, mauling over what to do or what to think… What to think of however? His hunting skills, the fact that he didn’t think he had what it took to impress anyone.
Of Orlan.
“Hey!” He called to the stranger, this one was short, for sure. He didn’t have a mane and at first glance Romano had thought he was an adolescent or a female. Maybe even just a strange, maneless lion. His short experience with rogues however made him see it in a different light. This was clearly either a cheetah or a leopard. He had met a cheetah before, they were kind of weak and thin looking, like a delicate flower that could break under the snap of his paw. Leopards? This would be his first to ever have actually met. “Are you okay stranger?” He called, seeing the limp and bruises on the pretty coat of the approaching guest.
---
Romano gasped for breath. Good, he retracted his claws as this stranger seemed friendly in the least. Even if he was trespassing he was certain this guy would at the very least allow him a moment’s rest.
He attempted to respond, his scratch throat making only a soft moan. The stranger was running up to him when the leopard flopped over on his side. “Yes. I’m fine…. Water…. Rest?” He asked.
Then, he paused and added. “…Where?
---
Oh dear, it appeared it was another hurt individual! The cheetah he had met before was injured, Kimondo had hoped that maybe this one wasn’t as in a horrible state. It made him worry about the outside of the pridelands, and what was to become of the chaotic state of his new home… “Don’t worry, here-” He aided in bringing the stranger to the watering hole, watching curiously as he lapped up the water greedily with his tongue. “You’re in the pridelands. I can assure you, you are safe here, and more than welcomed to stay until those wounds of yours heal.”
This place was friendly, Kimondo had no doubts they’d be alright with him staying for a bit.
---
“Good. Good.” Romano told the stranger. The pridelands were far from his home, which proved he had done a good job at fleeing. Euanthe had what Vellamo called “A stupid mortal boy-toy” who lived next to this place known as the pridelands. Romano was certain he could stay there for a while. Yes… That would be where he would go.
For now he needed rest, and was oddly reassured as the stranger ran off, no doubt to gather more of his friends and see what to do about the current situation.
