Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sarabi yawned and settled herself again her old, wise eyes gazing out over the land she loved so well. The sun made the sky burn with colors from yellow to crimson, to deep indigo. It sat on the horrizon like a great turtle on a log, its great girth slowly thining as it sank to its resting place. Only when it was fully hidden would the stars begin to come out, the shining lights that represented all the rules of the Pridelands from the time of its first creation as a place for the pride to dwell. The stars were a comfort to the Queen in her old age, a promise that she would be able to join them soon, and watch over her family for all eternity.

Its all she really wanted, had ever wanted... To be able to watch her family grow and expand. Babies born and elders passing into the next life to join her. Nostalgia squeezed at her heart. Sarabi's only regret, when she passed from this life, would be that her last years had seen her becoming so distant from her pride and her family. Her frailty saw to that, making her unable to keep up, forced to sit and watch as they went about their lives. She'd be doing enough of that when she was a star, she wished she didn't have to now.

Ah, but if wishes were stupid antelopes, the pride would be fat by now. The queen smiled as she turned to look at the cub by her side, the wind blowing softly through her creamy fur. For a moment, he represented everything she'd strived for in her life, all her hopes and dreams. He was the future, and she loved him dearly even if she felt like nothing more than a specter at his side.

"Ger, its getting dark. Why don't you sleep in the den with Mufasa and I tonight? Tomarrow, if you like, I can help you look around Priderock for your mother, maybe ask other memebers of the pride if they've seen her."

Sarabi smiled gently as she curled her tail around the small body, following the line of his paw to the star he pointed to. "Those who live in the Pridelands rarely get lost. This land is more than a home to the pride... its like a parent, a mother. These lands gave birth to the pride. It feeds us and shelters us, and in its own way, I feel that it loves us too. I wouldn't worry about getting lost, Ger. Priderock can be seen for many miles, and even when it can't be, these lands will call to you. You belong to them, and as long as you never forsake them, they will watch over you like they watch over the pride." The old queen sat with her young nephew, watching the ancestors shine their light down on the lands she loved. She only hoped that she could impart some of that love on the cub by her side.

The wind was growing chill as it ruffled her fur, but the queen stayed where she was, subtly moving herself to block Ger from it. Weariness pulled at her, but she ignored it. She wanted to watch the stars, just for a little bit...