[FIN][BORDER][PRP] Wanderers and Naps [Erevu x Lokesh]

[Lollipop x L u x u r y]

The night before had been exhausting.

Momentarily resting his feet, he leaned against a warm boulder, rusty eyes scanning the area between the rogue lands and the pride lands. After scouting through the night for the past week, Erevu decided he quite preferred the day. And now, the opportunity had arrived.

Letting out a weary sigh, the lion slumped even more against the rock, exhaustion sweeping through him. Maybe, just maybe, he could close his eyes briefly. Surely, he’ll feel energetic if he rested for a moment. Chancing a glance around, looking for any nearby threats, Erevu finally slid to his stomach, resting his head tiredly on his paws. Just a few minutes, then he’ll be up. Just a few minutes…

Soon, he slipped into a serene, deep sleep.

bullterrierlove

 

[bullterrierlove]

His travels hadn't been faring very well. No matter where Lokesh went, there was barely any prey to kill, no shade to sleep under, and even worse, no water to drink. He was thirty and hunger was eating it's way at his stomach. His mother would have called him a fool for traveling in the first place.

Then again, she and his siblings were the ones that he was searching for.

Luckily, as he set his paws upon the edge of prideland territory there was a small waterhole. There was a lion laying nearby in what looked like was sleep, and so he creeped forward, mindful of the other male. Yet he couldn't help his quickened step, anticipating feeling the lush feeling of water on his tongue. It made him stumble upon one of the male's paws and he cringed, hoping that he wouldn't notice. There was water to be had.
 

[Lollipop x L u x u r y]

It felt like he barely had just closed his eyes before he was woken up abruptly. Yanking his paw back with surprise, his eyes flew open, quickly accessing the one who woke him.

It was a stranger.

Letting out a noise of surprise, he leaped to his feet, immediately tensing his muscles in case of danger. ”Who are you and state your reason for being here,” he demanded, though careful to keep aggression out of his tone. His pride was welcoming and friendly, though still cautious and not at all careless. He wasn’t going to offend the rogue but nor was he going to trust him off the back. If he was given a legitimate and valid reason for being here, Erevu would be more than happy to escort the male around.

bullterrierlove

 

[bullterrierlove]

Lokesh wasn't even aware that he had awoken the other male when he stumbled over one of his large paws. So much so that he had continued onto his path towards the small watering hole. However; when the pridelander made a noise, the rogue froze, hackles raised.

He tried to keep calm, and turned towards the other. However; he couldn't help but be a bit wary of this other male. It wasn't like he knew him, and he didn't know the land well enough around these parts to know how other animals felt about strangers in this land. Still, he meant no harm.

Turning his head slowly, Lokesh gave the other a level stare, attempting to relax his body. "I'm Lokesh. Just here for water." his stomach gave out a growl, and he frowned. Of all the damnedest times. "And possibly some food, if you know of nearby prey. I'm just passing through."
 

[Lollipop x L u x u r y]

Erevu studied him carefully, ears twitching in thought. Stepping back a little, he kept his head high, watching him, before inclining his head. The lion didn’t seem to be a threat. ”My name is Erevu, and this is the Pridelands,” he told him carefully, before inclining his head towards the water and moving to the side slightly; however, he still kept his stance cautious, ready to retaliate if the lion turned hostile.

The query about food had him pausing, though his ears did catch sound of the stomach rumble. Unable to turn away a hungry lion, he nodded again. ”I will escort you to a nearby area where game usually appear. It’s closer to the border and not quite used as much by pride members.” he replied simply.

Erevu planned on escorting the man the entire time, in actuality. He couldn’t simply walk away as a rogue wandered within the lands; it would be careless of him. So, instead, he stood to the side, rusty eyes trained carefully on the stranger.

bullterrierlove

 

[bullterrierlove]

He really didn't know what to think. The lion who stood guard didn't seem to be a threat. At least, he wasn't acting like it. Yet, Lokesh decided it was best to keep his distance, just in case the other did decide to attack. He hadn't met a pridelander before, and although he had heard rumors about the land and the culture therein, it was best to still stay wary. Rumors were just hearsay. There was no proof to it. And Lokesh was always one to favour finding out for himself before making any judgement.

Cautiously, Lokesh nodded, and slowly made his way over to the watering hole, one lilac-coloured eye trained on Erevu at all times. "That would be much appreciated." he rumbled gently, before turning over to the water and lapping it up in long gulps. He hadn't had a nice cold drink for a long while. And it was just enough to satiate his parched throat.

However; he didn't stay too long drinking. He didn't want to be a rude guest. And so he lifted his head, licked his chops and carefully walked over to Erevu's side, not at all perturbed at being escorted. The company sounded quite nice at the moment.
 

[Lollipop x L u x u r y]

Erevu smiled in response, standing off to the side. He watched him take long laps, frowning slightly; if he were in a hostile pride, where he would have to turn the rogue away at the very least, where would the male have quenched his thirst? Erevu wasn’t quite sure where the nearest watering hole was; he hadn’t ventured more than half a mile beyond the border and even then, that had only been once.

Rusty eyes watched as the stranger walked over to him, appraising him for a moment before turning his head to the west. Although the game he was thinking of wasn’t as large as what the hunters sometimes gathered, it was still enough for a single lion; especially one who wasn’t even a part of the pride. Turning to the west, he walked, not bothering to wait if the other follow, ears listening intently; he couldn’t be sure the stranger wouldn’t attack as soon as his back was turned.

bullterrierlove

 

[bullterrierlove]

The rogue made sure to keep a few steps behind the pridelander, not wishing to cause any strife. However; he did desire to have some sort of conversation. He hadn't had someone to talk to in such a long while. Even small talk would suffice, as far as he was concerned. He was hungry, but it wasn't so overt to have a complete disregard for conversation. The issue was starting it.

Lokesh thought long and hard about what to say, his pace slowing by a fraction.Although he desired to talk, starting a conversation didn't come easy to him at all. "What's it like in the pridelands?" he asked slowly, eyes alert as he saw a hare running across the land in the distance. His stomach made an audible rumble as well. He was famished.
 

[Lollipop x L u x u r y]

He was walking a few steps behind him. Cautious, Erevu listened closely, restraining the urge to glance back over his shoulders several times.
When the stranger spoke, he forgot to not look, and glanced back, a smile soon spreading on his expression. ”Peaceful, most days. And serene. I couldn’t think of being anywhere else,” Erevu told him, obviously proud of his roots to such a wonderful pride. Eyes moving away from the lion, he also watched the hare, before quickening his steps.

”It’s just past this grove,” he told him, going through a small gathering off trees, sidestepping undergrowth. Reaching a clearing and edging up a jutting large rock, he softened his step, moving onto the rock his belly; before him was tall grass, a small pond, and a few game. Rusty eyes watching the cautious hares and grazing small herd of antelope, he smiled; he was glad they hadn’t moved on just yet. Turning his head slightly, he looked back at the lion, watching him.

bullterrierlove

 

[bullterrierlove]

Lokesh offered a welcoming smile back towards Erevu, and decided that he wasn't so bad. He couldn't say the same about the others in the pride, however; right now, Erevu was perfectly harmless. For now. There was no telling what could happen in the future. Nonetheless, it looked like he could be trusted.

So the lion moved closer, more relaxed than before. "Peaceful, hm?" he nodded, taking a wide glance towards the rest of the pridelands. It sure seemed so. "Have you traveled elsewhere?" he asked pleasantly, ears perking. Perhaps they had crossed paths elsewhere without knowing. Though Lokesh had a knack for remembering faces. Names, not so much. And he couldn't recall ever meeting this face anywhere else.

Lokesh's ears perked up, and he quieted, gaze focused on the path that lay before them. Food. Just what he needed. He followed Erevu, crouching low and staring at the pray before them. It was plenty to satisfy his hunger and then some. "May I?" he whispered, lilac eyes reluctantly leaving the antelope and hare and looking at the other instead. He didn't want to be rude, but his appetite was only making itself known at the sight of prey.