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A thin creamy form lounged at the edge of the watering hole, enjoying the late afternoon sun on her fur. Sarabi, Queen of the Pridelands, had made her daily trip for water earlier than usual and was enjoying some leasure time before she had to start her daily race against the sun to return to Priderock. It wasn't really much of a race, in truth. With all the frequent stops Sarabi had to make to catch her breath and rest, she barely moved faster than the slide of the shadows over the ground. The creamy queen hated her illness and impairment, but such was life. Nothing could cure her of this, so she struggled to just live day to day with what her body would allow her.

Cool water lapped around one extened paw as it dabbled in the water. All the other creatures, upon learning who it was that lay by the water, had withdrawn to a respectful distance to let the queen have her privacy. Yet another thing Sarabi wished she could change. Lately, since her mate and children had become so distant to her, she had found herself getting lonely and longing for the time when the pride had been more like a close knit family, and she'd know each lion or lioness by sight. Now she doubted she knew even half the new memebers, since most went to Mufasa to be accepted. Even those that came to her never stuck around, and she only saw them after at a distance. The elder lioness missed having close relationships and having someone to mother and watch over. A soft sigh made her slat-ribbed sides rise and fall gently, the sound almost ironicly like what her life was like now. Nothing but a soft passing of air, hardly noticed until after it was gone, if at all.

Soft, rounded ears tipped in black swiveled at the sound of another approaching creature, the owner paying little mind till a soft voice called to her in greeting. Bright crimson eyes, her families eyes, turned to steadily regard this new commer. A lioness of bright white met those eyes, and Sarabi let a smile slide onto her sunken yet kind face. "Hello, dear." She said softly, her tail gently curling in the dirt beside her prone body. "Come to the watering hole for a drink too, eh? As for you question, I think introductions are in order first."

With a soft groan, Sarabi pushed herself up onto her slim haunches and curled her tail around her paws. "I'm Sarabi. As it happens, Mufasa is my mate, and king of the Pridelands." The other lioness seemed inteligent enough to figure it out on her own just what Sarabi was, and the queen was feeling in-formal today. Probably a by-product of her sudden bout of lonliness and depression. "What is your name, dear, and why did you want to see one of us?"

Sarabi chuckled softly at the younger lioness, tilting her head gently to one side. "No need to appologize, Avellano. Truly, I'm not sure what you're appologizing for. We don't really stand on status here in the Pridelands, and anyone can come to Mufasa or I for any reason, be it for a request or just to talk." Her voice was a little whistful there are the end, but she listened intently to the second half of the Ave's little speach.

"Not once in our time as King and Queen has a lion or lioness been turned away that came here wanting to make a life. If its what you want, you are very welcome to join us. We're a peaceful pride to all save hyenas, so as long as you don't make trouble or start fights, you'll fit in well here." Her smile was warm as it stretched acrossed her face, her red eyes motherly. "It must be hard to live as a rogue, always by yourself without the protection of a pride. I can see why so many have come here to find a home." The wind picked up there to raise some dust around the edge of the watering hole, and play over the beads of Sarabi's necklace to make them click softly.

Sarabi's smile turned gentle and a little sad as her eyes fell to her cream-tipped paws. "Oh, its nothing, dear. I was just musing on my life these days. I'm getting on in years now, and I'm not strong like I used to be." She chuckled softly, her tail gently flicking in the dust behind her. "Just an old lioness' ramblings on the 'good ol' days'."

Casting an eye skyward to find a change of subject, she caught sight of how low the sun had grown in the sky. It was about time to start back now, if she hoped to make Priderock by nightfall. A small sigh slipped from her, her expression whistful. Before the plauge, she'd been able to run to the watering hole and back before the sun moved more than a whisker... "Well, Avellano, I think I need to start back to the den now. Why don't you walk with me, and I'll introduce you to whichever of the pride members are around. You said you're not so good at hunting...? Well, for the time being you can share the extra that the hunters bring in. You'll have to learn to hunt so you can earn your place in the pride, or we'll have to think of another job for you to do..." She trailed off as she thought, her necklace bouncing on her chest as she rose stiffly and turned backtowards Priderock, pausing a moment to wait for the white lioness.

A soft chuckle rolled from the queen's throat as she walked slowly towards Priderock, each paw placed carefully and with minimal effort. She had to save her strength so as to make the least amount of stops as possible on her return trip. The chuckle turned into a vague purr, her red eyes glancing back at the white lioness before turning forward again. "Well... Koho hasn't been around much, and there are always new cubs in need of someone to take care of them. You could be one of our nannies, if you were so inclined. Otherwise..." Her soft voice drifted off her as Sarabi debated voicing the nagging thought she'd been having for quite some time now. But then, what would it really hurt to tell this newcommer of it?

Drawing a breath, Sarabi tentatively started to tell of her plan. "Well, I have also been thinking of a new role for our pride... There are so few of us left that remember the past and the stories that are our history. I am one, as is my mate, Mufasa. But even you can see that I may not be here for much longer. So when I die... the part of our history that is in my mind will die with me. I have been looking for a lion or lioness that would be suitable to pass my knowledge onto, some one who is agile of mind and who I can trust to pass this knowledge on to the cubs of the pride. It is almost a daunting task, learning and memorizing all the stories... but its so necessary..." Sarabi's head lifted as her voice grew in strength and conviction. This role was important... and she felt a great urge to make this new lioness understand that.

The queen turned to look at the younger lioness, her face bright with her strong conviction. "Its an important job, something just as important and difficult as hunting. Our historian needs to know all the past of the pride, as well as know everything that's happening now so they can make it into stories to add to the history. Then that knowledge has to be passed on, imparted to furture generations so all know our past." Her voice was stronger than it had been in a long time, her words rolling quickly from her mouth. Her steps even picked up time, and she never noticed. She'd be exhausted later from the excitement, but right now all she could think about was her idea and this little lioness.

"I have so much knowledge to share, but I know my time on this earth is short. I can't move on till I know the past will be preserved..." Her voice trailed off as she felt the old familiar ache in her limbs, forcing her trotting down to a slow walk, her breath hitching in her chest. Damn this frail body...

Sarabi smiled and nodded, finally giving into her bodies demand and flopping down in the grass to pant. "I'm sorry, dear, but I need a little rest before we continue on." She huffed gently, her cream sides heaving with her breathes. "And you don't need to call me 'highness', dear... Sarabi is just fine." A gentle smile spread over her face as she looked up at the white lioness, her brown-tufted tail gently flicking against the ground behind her haunches.

While her body slowly regained strength, the queen thought of how she should start Avellano's education. There was so much to teach her... "Well, now... I suppose we'll have to start off with a little bit of the Pride's families. Who's who, and who's related to whom, is something else you should know. You've met me, and my mate is Mufasa, the king. We've had seven cubs, you know..." Her smile was motherly this time, and proud. "Such fine liones they've turned out to be, the ones that have lived."