[PRV] Angel's Rain (Zimwi/Rajua)

[Andranis]

Even in the swamps, it seemed, fog could gather. As the last tendrils of the mist started to evaporate, Zimwi braved the outside world. Bolder he'd become, venturing now and then further and further outside the protective shelter of the trees. But always he returned.

Stepping carefully, the pale lion watched as various animals melted out of the mist and fog. A passing lion made him flinch, but he didn't shrink back. He stood his ground, watching as it passed. From a distance, he heard it mumble about a ghost from the swamps before hurrying away. Somehow it didn't bother him as much anymore.

A shift in the wind, and a change in the sun, and the fog cleared away, allowing a view into the distance before the haze of the day set in.  

[Andranis]

Close behind her sister was a cub as white as her sister was brown, with markings of a similar persuasion. The coat color aside, she had their mother's honey-brown color marking her. Pausing, she looked up at her mother, green eyes dancing. "What we gonna do today, Mama?"

Ears perking, Zimwi followed the sound of cubs to see what he was hearing. Though he had no thoughts of having his own, he did enjoy seeing cubs. It meant things in an area were well enough off that they could be reared, with plenty of food to go around. Moving around a clump of obscuring trees, he found himself staring at a figurative ghost of the past.  

[Andranis]

"Okay!" Bouncing off, the cub soon stopped, looking back at her sister. "But I wanna explore!" She frowned, tail and ears flicking. After a moment, she got up and pawed on Aveil. "Explore with me!"

He sighed, considering his options. He hadn't seen her since they were but tiny cubs, cubs like those that followed her, and they'd played together. That hadn't ended well, but not of either one's own fault. Now... He took a breath, then let out a call to her.  

[Andranis]

She was as nervous as he tended to be... Moving slowly forward, he did his best to see her in the grass. "Rajua..." Even after years, he remembered... He'd always remember his friend amid Them.

A squeel escaped as Huan tried to get free. "Momma, it's just someone sayin' hello!" Wiggling free, she tumbled for a moment, then got up. With a complete lack of fear, she went bounding to the strange lion, weaving between his legs as if she'd known him her whole life. "Hi, mister white lion!"  

[Andranis]

Looking down in surprise, Zimwi watched as the cub rubbed against him like he was a long-known uncle or something. Orange eyes turned to the other cub, surprised at the boldness. When he'd been a cub... Everything scared him. Oh how he'd changed! Leaning down, he sniffed at each, regarding them curiously. "Hello, who might you two be?"

Purring, Huan went over and tugged her mother's ear. "Come on, Momma, mister white lion's not bad!" She who was of much faith in others...  

[Andranis]

"I'm Huan Ju!" She grinned up at him, face that of pure innocence of cubhood. She then looked at her mother, tugging again on her ear. "Come on, Mamma, he won't hurt you!"

Lowering himself down to Rajua's level, Zimwi did his best to look up into her eyes. "Rajua, don't you remember me...? It's me... Zimwi... The little ghost lion... We used to play all the time..." He smiled, showing he wasn't going to bring harm. How could he? He'd never hurt anybody in his life, so never got the urge to do so.  

[Andranis]

Moving beside her, Zimwi offered a shoulder to lean on. "I could never hurt you... You're my friend..." He looked at the two cubs, taking them in. He'd never seen such markings amid the lions that had attacked... Perhaps a rogue had fathered these two. They certainly weren't from the pride, though.

Finding a warm spot between the adults, Huan Ju settled down. In the distance, she saw trees, looming on the horizon, and could smell moist earth as well as water, plants, and general plant decay. It fascinated her tiny nose.  

[Andranis]

Zimwi cringed, listening, then put an arm around her. "Let it out.... You'll feel better..." His ears went back, simply knowing what she meant. From afar, he'd seen the pride... Shades and tints of browns and golds, fearing what they didn't understand. In a moment of clarity, he realised he'd become that way himself, afraid of anything that moved. It was a silly fear...

"Mamma...?" The white cub looked up, eyes filled with worry. Mammas didn't cry! They weren't supposed to! She placed a paw on her mother's leg, still watching her. "What's wrong, mamma?"