How long they'd wandered, Dongo couldn't say. All he knew was that the stars were guiding them, at least for now. He sat on a slight hill, letting out a sigh as he felt a cool morning breeze tickle his mane and fur. The black hairs had begun to get thicker, sprouting up along his neck more as it began to form into a full mane. Soon his neck would be as protected as any male lion adult's... Which somehow did little to ease the memory of Huong's words of warning. Speaking of, he wondered, where had the pink-marked lioness gone off to?
Picking through the taller grasses, Huong carried her hunting prize. It had been pure chance that the gazelle had broken its leg. Now she'd eat well... And Dongo, maybe. She was still warry about him, but she'd taken to sharing with him more as they'd wandered. He'd done nothing wrong yet, which she was appreciative of. It meant his intentions were pure. Pausing in her stride, the lioness watched Dongo chat with a white hare. Huong had noticed it before, and was pretty sure it was the same one. The green ears and tail were tip-offs that it was the same hare.. What was he up to, talking to a snack like that?
Letting out a sigh, the gold lion watched the hare run off. Amadeus had caught up to him at some point, after leaving the jungle... How the hare was of help to him. Looking at the sky, as the sun was beginning to rise further, Dongo stood up. He had an idea of where to go now, where their paws might take them. If Huong would go with him... He heard a rustling and looked back to see her. "Huong! You had good hunting today, I see!" He offered a smile, kind and gentle. He was as much his mother's son as anything.
Setting the gazelle down, Huong tilted her head. "Who was the hare, Dongo...? I always see you talking to it..." She sat down, frowning a bit. "I have no idea what's going on with it, since I grew up with hares being meals and then snacks.." It was just the way of things for her back in the jungle. "If it had useful information, I hope it was enough in exchange for life.."
Well, that was somehow both a surprise and.. Not a surprise... However that kind of thing happened. "Amadeus is my guide, my companion, my familiar, and a friend. He provides me with information all the time, and I... Well, it never occured to me to eat him..." The raven-haired male chuckled. "He was telling me about a pride that might be good for me... Maybe us..." He looked at her, right in the eyes. "If you'll go with me... I promise it's not a bad pride."
His guide... That made sense, in a way. When Huong thought on it, she somewhat liked the idea. A small animal to keep her company when she was alone... And to give her information. It sounded perfect, actually! "I think I want a companion like that... I wonder where I find one..." Or did they just appear out of the air? Who knew how that worked. "What pride is it, exactly? I want to know before I decide..." She certainly didn't want to go back to the Antianeira, where invading males were. But she didn't want to go to the Kunanda, something of a sister-pride. Her black pelt would mean she'd be of a low rank. She wanted to go somewhere where she would be safe, and on equal standing as everybody else.
"I'm not sure how you find one... Amadeus was born to my mother's guide, Darshana... And he just sort of... Attached to me.." It wasn't something easy to explain, really. "I'mm not sure how Mother got Darshana, though..." He shook his head, confusing himself. "I don't know the name, but Amadeus tells me they're covered in tattoos. It sounds pretty cool, actually... And they're very peaceful. I don't know how everything else works, but it sounds really nice."
She'd have to find one of these guide things one day. But not now. "I think I will... If it's a peaceful place, I can handle that." She offered a smile. "Besides, the bee always follows the rose, shouldn't the rose follow the bee now and then?" She thought nothing of it as she licked his cheek, then went over to the gazelle. All this thinking and talking had her hungry! "Come eat, Dongo!"
Under his gold coat, Dongo's cheeks turned a bright red, eyes growing wide. That was unexpected! He looked at her, noticing her nonchalance over licking his cheek. Maybe it was just a way of being friendly in her old pride... He swallowed a bit, closed his eyes, willed the blush away... When it'd finally gone away, he went to join her.
His pause hadn't been missed by her. Huong smiled to herself, amused at his reaction. Boys were so amusing sometimes... She had a feeling she'd enjoy his company. For now, though, there was food to be eaten. She rumbled pleasantly, tearing at the gazelle flesh, enjoying the taste of it and the presence of Dongo next to her.
