Rajanya lay in the grass, enjoying the cool evening air. His stomach was full after a successful hunt and he would retire to his den after a quick patrol of his borders. Rajanya yawned, opening his maw wide, and shook out his mane slightly.
He stood knowing that to rest too long would only lead him to sleep. He stretched, loosening his muscles before heading off on his patrol.
Tendaji had been wandering the Rouge lands for quite a long time and he was tired. This day was much like the day before and the day before that. For the past week Ten had not seen another feline except for in the distance and he is a very social lion.
He walked through the tall grass without really looking at anything, just mentally designing things with the items he had found on his trips and kept in his little leather bag hanging around his neck.
Rajanya saw a male coming toward him. it seemed as though the male did not see him nor was he paying attention to his surroundings.
"Young male," he called, "you have wondered into anther's territory. If you have ill intent I suggest that you take you leave."
He stopped short of the male bracing himself in case the male saw fit to fight, not that he himself had any desire for it.
Tendaji cam to himself when someone called out to him. "Oh I'm sorry I didn't realize I was in your territory." Ten said to the blueish purple lion who stood, braced, in the distance. "I was just passing through on my journey and mean no harm."
Rajanya dropped his stance, happy to hear the stranger meant those in his territory no harm. Rajanya smiled hearing the youth in the young males voice. He was certain the male was not too much older than he himself was.
"As long as you mean no harm to the inhabitants of my territory, than you are welcome to pass."
Rajanya moved forward making himself more visible and smiled lightly, "I am Prince Rajanya. Charged with protecting this area. May I ask your name young stranger?"
Tendaji smiled when it seemed that he was welcome to continue his journey without a problem. He hates fighting almost as much as he hates heights, he will deal with them but it doesn't mean he has to like them. He stayed where he was as the other male came closer to him. "It is a pleasure to meet you Prince Rajanya. My name is Tendaji although I am more know as Ten." He did a shallow bow, something he picked up on his travels, before standing up straight. "I really am quite sorry for barging into your land unannounced and unwelcome." He said to apologize for his rude behavior, his mother had taught him better then that.
Rajanya shook his head giving a small smirk, "it is okay. I can see that you were not really aware of surroundings. Next time you should keep your sense keen so you aren't caught off guard."
Rajanya looked Ten over for a moment assessing him. He seemed well manner and appeared to be well taken care of. It only served to make him wonder where Ten had come from. "What brings you to my lands? You do not seem or sound like one who travels often?"
Ten smiled sheepishly when Rajanya mentioned keeping his senses sharp, it was a problem that Ten had since he was a cub. He had no problem with it but when he was thinking about making items or had just found a item that he liked it was like all his training went out the window, sometimes he was able to prevent this but not often enough it seems. "Yeah that seems to be a problem of mine."
When the other lion asked what brought him here, Ten knew what he wanted to say but paused a moment to get everything in order since sometimes his mind makes leaps that others find difficult to keep up with and ends up making Ten look stupid. "Well I am technically still on my pride's quest called a seeking. I'm 'seeking' new information for them but so far I haven't found out anything that I think is all that interesting. And no I haven't traveled so far away from my home or my family but it was time for me to explore the wide world so I went off to find adventure, maybe even meet a god or two." Ten smiled broadly, even if he was a inexperienced traveler, at least he was a happy traveler.
Rajanya shook his head at Ten wondering if the young male was younger than he thought. "You just need to practice focusing on more than one thing at a time and I am sure that you will get better at it."
Rajanya listened to Ten's explanation with attentiveness that he gave most everyone. In listening he really could not believe his luck. Rajanya smiled lightly, "Is the pride of yours keepers of the information you seek? If so, I may have so information that you could use."
Tendaji just nodded, focusing on more then one item was quite imperative when one was on their own and all he had was time now. "Practice would be good." He said as Rajanya continued to talk. "Yes, I believe so. We have others who keep all the information that is gathered so there is a great store of knowledge and all the young have to go out into the world and learn something new to bring back to them. If you have something that I have not yet learned that would be quite wonderful." Ten was thinking about how he could go home if this lion really did know something new.
A small thought was poking him. Did he really want to go back home? Ten really did enjoy his wanderings, he loved finding items to use, and he loved learning new things. Was he really ready to go home? He wasn't sure but even if what Rajanya was new it would still take a while before he got home. Ten wasn't worried.
Raja smiled when he heard that Tendaji's pride were the keepers of information and that he was willing to hear Raja's story. Raja settled in, lying down on the ground and motioning for Ten to do the same. "Thank you Tendaji, I am glad you will here me." His smile faded slightly as he began his story. "I am from Ouy'Dehsirechi. It is a pride that cherishes females and believess them all to be princess, sacred and blessed by the mother godess in allowing to bring about the next generation. We raise our females up proper and gentle and our males noble and polite. Our way of life was peaceful and properous, but it has been taken away and my pride, which I was born the sole prince of is no longer. I wish to preserve its legacy and wish for the world to remember them." Raja paused for a second wondering how much he needed to tell.
Ten joined Rajanya in the grass and waited politely as the other male began his tale. It didnt take long for him to be drawn in to the world that Rajanya spoke about. Ten could see a pride where the males were strong yet protective and the females were cherished and revered. Ten knew this story would not be a happy one so he was not surprised when Rajanya said that it was all taken away but he was oddly honored that this lion picked him to tell his tale to. "I would be honored to carry your tale to my elders and beyond if you wish, just tell me though..." he paused a moment not sure if he should ask but knowing he had to, "what happened to your pride?"
Rajanya was very happy to hear that is tale was worthy knowlegde, but sighed lightly thinking about his prides demise. "A plague came down upon our lands. With it it took the old and young and those in between. It took much of our prey. My mother the queen died with the rest of my pride. Only my father, who was king, me, my sister, one healer, and one hunter survived. My sister was stolen away by the healer and my father died in his search to find her. I was raised by the hunter with the ways of our pride, but she died shortly after my coming of age. I have no idea if my sister survived fore we were very young, but I truly hope that she did." Rajanya gave a sad smile as he ended his story"
Ten listened to Rajanya's story. How a plague destroyed his land and people and how those who were left slowly dwindled till it was only himself. Ten looked around at the lush grasses and could see the signs of life, from the call of birds to the prints of mice. "If your pride was destroyed by this plague, how long did it take for everything to return? You, your self, indicated that there are others here." He waited a moment, there were more questions he wanted to ask but they were of a more delicate nature. "Is it possible that the hunter(or healer) took your sister to protect her from the plague, or had it run its coarse?"
Rajanya shook his head, " I have no intention of rebuilding my pride. I only wish to spread the knowlegde of the pride. My sister knew the pride better than I even though we were the same age. Currently I just protect those who seek refuge in my territory."
Rajanya sighed lightly at Ten's next question. "I have no idea, why my sister was taken. I do so hope that it was for the reason you suggest. It makes my heart lighter to think that it might be."
Rajanya rose, "thank you for hearing my tale. I fear I have used up to much of your time and have duties I most attend to. My territory will not guard itself. I am very pleased to have met you Tendaji. May you have a safe journey home."
With the Rajanya made to leave, really having no desire to speak more on his past. It had saddened him to think on it.
Tendaji rose when Rajanya did and nodded in understanding when the other lion said he had to continue along his way. "May the gods smile on you and yours." Ten said in farewell as he too started to walk. He decided that he would not go home straight away but in more of a circumvent way so he continued to walk in the same direction that he had been before meeting Rajanya.
