Ona'raha held his breath, watching the older lion nervously, hesitantly. He wasn't sure what he was going to say. They certainly were an odd bunch of lions, though all of them were kindly and caring.
He smiled as Reh brushed the tip of her tail against his paw and leaned closer to her, feeling comforted by the closeness of her presence.
All around him the others were speaking, giving their reasons, speaking their hearts. How had he been sof earful of outsiders when they were as gentle and loving as his own kind had been? It had taken him a good portion of his life, but finally he realised that he should not judge everyone so easily. That even out in the rogue lands there were good people.
And then Tawa'di spoke and Ona'raha felt his throat go tight. What would the verdict be? Would it be good or bad? And after the pause he got his answer.
They were welcome!
Joy filled his heart, left him feeling giddy. His head was a blur, and suddenly he felt a prickle of tears behind his eyes. He looked to the sky, to the clouds, felt his heart rise and then.
Welcome home.
Simple words, but the best words in the whole wide world.
"Thank you, sir." And he turned to Reh, hardly able to contain his joy. "Did you hear that? We can be together." He extended his sight to the others. "All of us." Even Malik...for a while atleast.
And this was the beginning of a new era.
