As the sun set, animals of the night came to life. Shadows deepened, things hid in the dark. As Minoru jumped over a fallen tree, he took it all in. He'd been wandering out here... His whole life. He couldn't see himself settling down anywhere, ever. Out here, he was free, not feeling the constraints of prides. He smiled, green eyes scanning the horizon. A sigh left the clay-brown lion's mouth before he began walking, heading in no particular direction.
Where had her sister gotten to? Meztli scanned the trees, nose twitching for any sign of Nenetl. The lioness let out a huff, glaring into the growing darkness. Oh, she'd be in so much trouble! Meztli suddenly stopped, nose twitching and eyes widening. She turned, narrowing the gold orbs. What was HE doing out here...? The dark brown lioness' face contorted into a sneer, before she took off running. Nenetl would wait.
The male picked his way through the grasses, doing his best to make noise. He wanted to be heard, to let the prey know he was here. He wasn't hungry, not right now. Occupied with the noise he was making, Minoru didn't hear someone approaching him. Being up-wind, he didn't smell anyone, either. He wouldn't know he wasn't the only lion until it was too late to predict what was about to happen, or the angry face he was about to see.
Hopping on the log, Meztli sniffed it, then snarled to herself. He'd been here... And within the last few minutes. She jumped down, following the trail until she heard rustling. Gold eyes turned to the grasses, eyes narrowing again before she slipped in after the other lion. When she had caught up to him, she crouched down, before jumping forward. "MINORU!"
He had a split second to turn around, face an expression of shock,before the other lion plowed into him. They tumbled several feet, finally landing in a clearing amid the grasses. As the dust cleared, Minoru groaned, cracking his eyes open. The face not far from his own was less than happy. As his vision cleared, he was able to take the other lion in. "M-Meztli...?" This couldn't be good.
The lioness snarled, getting down in the male's face. "You filthy piece of dung, you ABANDONED us!" She swatted at his face, leaving a considerable mark. "Our brother's still missing, and what's worse, we had to escape from humans!" She moved to the side, glaring over at him. "Where did you go that was more important than your promise? Were you running off with some girl or something?"
So that was what this was about... He knew he'd been forgetting something. Minoru got up, wincing at the pain in his face. He turned his gaze to Meztli, frowning. "I'm sorry... I ran into someone... Unexpected..." He looked back the way he'd left. "I found my family... My brother... My Mother... I have half-sisters... And now younger half-brothers, too... Nieces, nephews..." He looked back over at Meztli. "And somewhere out there is my father. Alive... That's where I've been. I'm sorry I got sidetracked..."
The lioness' expression softened. "Oh..." Family WAS important. It was good he'd found most of it. "I didn't know..." Stupid statement if she ever made one. "I think my search got more complicated... I've lost track of Nenetl." She looked back towards the trees, ears moving back. "I don't know where she went off to. I stopped so we could rest, I took a nap... And now she's gone." What if she'd met an early demise? The lioness fidgeted, feeling a bit of panic in her chest.
Minoru frowned, then started back towards the trees. "Then we'll go in there and find her. And this time I won't walk off." He looked over, smiling at Meztli. "I mean it, I promise it this time. If I'm caught in a lie, you can come hunt me down yourself." He turned, walking away. The evening wind tugged gently at his silver mane, causing him to become lost in thought. When they found Nenetl, they'd have to figure out where to go from there... He didn't quite want to wander out there ALONE. He sighed, banishing the questioning thoughts.
"I'll hold you to that promise." The lioness followed the male, ears moving back just a bit. She hoped they found Nenetl soon, she missed the desert. She missed her pride sisters, too, and Lord Ganon. With Minoru's back to her, she smiled a bit to herself. Oh, she had plans for this boy... She had BIG plans for him, and she was pretty sure Lord Ganon would agree to them.
