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Lea's mood had taken a dramatic turn for the better in the past few days. The lioness had been depressed and almost ready to give up and go home before she met the young green lioness. Somehow, in the short period of time her fellow mzazi had been out in the roguelands, she had managed to recruit a lion. Lea had not accomplished tha task, but as long as they had a new member, did it really matter who found him?

The pale lioness was rather cheerful as she bit into the hare she had caught, savoring the flavor. It wasn't the tastiest thing she had ever caught, stringy and tough, but nothing could bring her mood down. Not only was she going home, but she was inspired by the young lioness to bring gifts back to the pride - specifically, small, unborn gifts. Lea had spent her life raising the tribe's cubs, and her own maternal instincts had kicked in.

As the days passed by slowly, Pembe had long since left his family once more after a short journey back home. It had been so long since he had travelled home, that he had felt homesick. The few days he spent there was just enough. Enough time for his family to realize that he was well and to hear news of his family growing. The thought of it made his family light up, it was wonderful news and something he could look back on when he was feeling down or lonely.

But not only that, he had met so many others while travelling, and it was memories of those meetings that pushed him forth each and every day. His eyes travelled up towards the sky, watching the clouds slowly drift by. He felt like that some days, without a care to the world. It was during this time that he had been heading in the direction of the lioness, unknowingly, of course.

Lea's hackles raised when she noticed the creature in the distance, but she relaxed when it was revealed to be just another lion. The lioness draped a paw protectively over her catch as she ate, but otherwise made no other move, defensive or aggressive. When she had ripped the last shred of meat from the carcass, she lifted her head, gazing at the male. "Hello," she said, her tone neutral, leaning toward friendly.

Shaken from his thoughts, Pembe's ears perked up as he heard a voice call out to him. Had he really been that preoccupied to not have noticed that there were others around? He blinked before his gaze settled on a lioness not too far off in the distance.

Not one to not return a greeting, "Hello!" He could smell her meal and hoped he wasn't interupting her. The last thing he needed was to get on someone's bad size, "I don't mean to interupt you, if you were busy. I had not realize there was anyone else here."

"No, it's fine." She shook her shaggy head, rising to her paws. It was still startling to her to see how much larger rogues were than the lions of her tribe. "I was just finishing, and have no where to be. I'm Lea," she offered, smiling

Glad to hear that, Pembe felt himself visible relax. He listened to the female as she offered him her name. "Well then, I guess that makes two of us. I am just out here wandering about, seeing who I can run into a meet." He nodded slightly before he introduced himself. "I'm Pembe'juhi, but please call me Pembe. It's much easier to remember," He smiled softly, "It's a pleasure to meet you Lea. Are you from around here?"

"Certainly not," she said, laughing. "This is my first time in the flatlands, and to be honest, hopefully my last. I live in the mountains." She flicked her tail to motion to the tiny, barely-visible range on the horizon. "My tribe sent me out here to help recruit new members, but I plan on going back soon. Oddly enough I just met another member of my tribe, who hadn't even been born yet when I left. She's now almost fully grown and came out to find a male to give her cubs." The lioness beamed, clearly proud of the fact her tribe was starting to thrive again. "I might not go back until I've done the same."

She cocked her head to the side, laughing. "Not that you asked for all of that, I suppose. Are you from around here?"

His ears perked forward, he listened to her intently. Ah, so she was from a pride then. He should have realized it sooner, she did look a bit different than the female rogues he had encountered previously.

He chuckled, "Certainly I don't mind," Pausing briefly, "Are you aiming to bring back cubs of your own to your tribe then? While it sounds a bit different to me, I am not one to judge when you're looking to bring new life into the world." He loved cubs, they were so innocent and playful.

At her question, he shook his head, "I am not. My home is far from here. Way beyond the distance in that direction," He motioned with a paw.

"I am! I'm a mzazi - er, that is, I raise the tribe's cubs." Lea was not used to rogues who did not know the terms her tribe used. "I've never had cubs of my own, and feel that it's time." Again she beamed, unable to help herself.

"I see! Are you just.... wandering, then? Seeing the world?"

At her words his face lit up, "Oh really? You help raise the cubs? That's wonderful!" He nodded, "I love playing with the cubs, their energy and imagination seem limitless." His tail flicked slightly, glad to hear that Lea was one that liked cubs as well.

At her question he replied, "Yes. I felt restless at home and wanted to learn more about the world around us. I just got done visiting my family and found out I have so many new family members I must meet." He chuckled softly, "What's it like in the mountains? I have yet to travel through any mountainis yet."

"It's my job, my life," she replied with a smile. "I love it. I watch them grow from bumbling little cubs into fit, capable lions, and help them with everything in between."

She tilted her head. "New family members, eh? That sounds nice. I don't have any family, by blood anyway, but I suppose the tribe itself is my family. The mountains... they aren't for everyone. It can be cold, rough, dangerous, but if you're up to the challenge... it's the best place in the world." The pure bliss with which she spoke made it clear how passionately she felt about her home.

"A very rewarding and important job if I do say so myself." He could so see himself as taking care of cubs over being a protector. He wasn't as physical as most males, but that didn't mean he wouldn't defend if his life depended on it. It's just his personality was set more towards cubs.

"It's nice to think that the whole tribe is your family. That's how my grandmother views the pride," He smiled as he listened to her, picking up on her enthusiasm about the location of where she was from. "I can only imagine. I would at least like to visit every place at least once. That way, I can say that I've experience as much as I could." His gaze shifted towards the small figures off in the distance, "The mountains are pretty though."

"I think so, too," she said brightly. "To me, cubs are the most important thing in life, because they are life. Without cubs, we would all cease to exist! They are our future, and I feel it's a great privilege and responsibility to be the one to raise them."

She smiled at him. "I suppose that's a good way to think. In my tribe, we almost never leave the valley, except when lionesses go in search of mates to bring new, different blood into the tribe. But when you aren't confined to an area, then travelling and learning all you can makes sense. I would probably do the same if I had been born here."

Lea flicked her tail. "I hate to cut short, but I ought to get back to Chacha and Kiraku. We'll be starting our journey home soon and I want to make sure they're prepared. It was nice to meet you, Pembe."

He gave her a warm smile, "It was a pleasure meeting you as well, Lea. Have a safe journey back home!" He wished her well and watched her head on off to go back to what she had been doing before. The lion turned and with a lingering glance at the lioness, began to head back in the direction he was heading...with no destination in sight.