Daddy was a very bad example. Playing games with him, wandering around the lands with him, even going quite far from home.. well, it had convinced Lisi that it was OK to wander. She was allowed, it had been OK with daddy, he'd taught her (by example, at least) how to be careful. And she was smart, she knew what she was doing. She didn't need anybody with her, she could just go off by herself if she wanted and tha was that. So she was going. She didn't want to take anybody else, though. That was the point, she didn't need anybody else.
Lisi had wandered quite far away from home. She skipped along cheerfully, not really even paying attention to where she was going now. It was enough, knowing she was off by herself.
Dinah was not a pride lion, she didn't want to be a part of a pride, really. She was aware of prides, though, in her wandering. She tried to avoid getting too close in hopes of staying out of trouble, not that she didn't believe she could charm her way out of anything too serious. If she meant no harm, which she never did, she could hardly be taken as a serious threat! Still, she knew it was safer not to waltz through the center of a pride's lands. So when she neared the Pridelands, she was well aware of where she was and what was around her. And she wasn't surrpised to see another lion wandering around-- except that it was a very small lion.
"Oh my," she said, watching the little lioness hop a couple more steps before deciding to go and see what was up. She called out, smiling, "Hello there!"
"Huh?"
Lisi stumbled to a stop and turned her head dramatically- a little too far the first time, and the second, but then stopping and looking directly at the approaching lioness that addressed her. She had a smile on her face, looked well groomed and unthreatening. She didn't really look the least bit dangerous, so Lisi didn't worry. She never had a reason to be so suspicious of outsiders. Except that time that grandpa was hurt, it was hard to hide what had happened from everybody and it eventually got around, even to the cubs, but that seemed like a one in a million chance.
"Hello," she said when the lioness got close enough to hear.
"Where are you off to, dear?" she asked, smiling down at the little lioness once she was close enough to really see her- though she stayed a comfortable distance away, she didn't want to frighten the little thing! She also didn't mean to sound like she was a pride member but it was a genuine concern, perhaps. She didn't know where this one's parents were- which could mean trouble for her, but that didn't worry her. What was more worrisome was what she would do if she didn't have parents.. but then, they were very near a pride now, that would be an easy solution.
"And all by youself," she added.
Lisi puffed up a bit when asked where she was off to. She didn't really know where she was headed and she wasn't sure if this was a random lioness trying to say she shouldn't be off on her own. Her daddy said it was OK (that was how she remembered it and she would stick to it!). She didn't know enough of the scouts in the pride to know for sure that this wasn't someone from the pride now, trying to stop her. It certainly sounded like it.
"I'm fine," she said, a little too defensively, "I'm just going for a walk."
"Just for a walk? To nowhere in particular?" she asked, smiling at Lisi and taking a seat. That seemed entirely possible but also entirely unlikely, the little one was being too defensive for it to be so innocent. She either was up to something or wasn't actually allowed to go for a walk on her own out here- or thought she might not be, which would probably be fairly accurate. Dinah was little once, she remembered that kind of feeling. This little one looked about the right age to be seeing what she could get away with, though. Shaking her head, Dinah sighed.
"My name is Dinah," she offered, hoping to get some kind of introduction back.
"That's right," Lisi answered seriously, hesitating and putting all four paws down. She obviously wasn't just going to be able to walk away from this one, though she could certainly try. She stared at the orange lioness sitting before her, trying to size her up. She seemed to bright and cheerful to get mean about trying to send her home, she could maybe even convince her it was OK. She looked kind of like a pushover, even if she was being nosy and seemed like she was here to chase her back home.
"It's nice to meet you Dinah," she said, "But I'm very busy."
And she turned away, ready to go on her way.
Dinah raised a brow, still smiling, as Lisi told her she was very busy and started to walk off. She shook her head but kept her eyes on the little one. She could see the hesitation in the girl as she walked, she wasn't going to get far. Or maybe.. but, she wouldn't just walk off, would she? Dinah opened her mouth, wondering what she ought to say. She really didn't know how best to deal with wandering children, but so close to a pride it was almost certain she ought to be heading that way, not away from it. This pride had a fair reputation, she wasn't escaping anything bad.
"Wait a minute there," she said, getting up.
There was genuine hesitation in the way Lisi turned and walked. She knew she was being rude, for one, but she also knew she was being watched as she went. She sighed when she heard Dinah say 'wait' but she was already stumbling to an awkward stop. Frowning, she turned around and pawed at the ground.
"Fine," she said, taking a seat, "I'm Fyulisi. And I was just trying to see what was out here, but it's OK, my daddy said so. We followed the river waaaay far away and everything." She had been exploring with daddy once, that obviously meant any and all exploring, even by herself was perfectly fine. It made perfect sense to her. Almost.
"Oooh," Dinah murmured, smiling at the funny little frown Lisi wore now that she'd given in, "Does your daddy know you're all the way out here, though, darling? You're quite far from the pride now, you know." She was back to cheerful, Fyulisi wasn't actually going anywhere now, she didn't really have to decide if she was going to do anything. She was obviously a good little girl, but maybe a little too bold. There had to be more fun to be had actually in the pride with all the other youngsters.
"I suppose I can't say for sure but I'm fairly good at figuring out borders," she said, "Don't want to trepass unnecessarily."
Denying she was in the pride didn't even cross Lisi's mind, she had to figure that Dinah was a member anyway. She didn't recognize Dinah but Lisi looked a lot like both sides of her family, surely she'd be somewhat familiar looking to any other pride member. She made a face at the question. No, she hadn't actually asked permission to go exploring. It didn't seem necessary at the time and while it seemed a good idea now, she would defend her decision to the end. But then, very suddenly, she was distracted.
"You're a rogue?" she asked, awe-struck, "Really? You live out here? All by yourself?"
"Yes," she answered with a laugh, "I am, and I do. All by myself."
She was in some trouble now. She felt a small pull at her conscience as she answered so brightly and happily, it probably wasn't a good idea to make it seem so appealing to someone so small and with a pride and family nearby that would miss her. Hopefully, though, trying to become a rogue wasn't actually what Fyulisi had in mind! She seemed excited, even curious. There had to be an obvious and safe way to handle this. Or she could just stop worrying, she wasn't an actual threat to anybody and she had in fact been trying to keep the little one safe.
"Have you never met a rogue before?"
"No, I haven't," she answered enthusiastically, hopping a couple steps closer, "My grandma and my great grandma were rogues and I guess my great grandpa is really a rogue but he's around so much that he pretty much isn't anyway- but you're a real rogue! All by yourself, that's very interesting. Is it fun? Do you get lonely? Why don't you join a pride?" She stepped closer and sat down, staring up with wide, curious eyes. She had never met a rogue before, this was very fascinating. She wasn't really interested in being one herself but that didn't mean it wasn't something she could brag about later.
Wow. It sounded like she had one great big family, and a great grandpa that might be around.
"I find it fun, sure," she answered, chuckling as Lisi rambled, "I don't really get lonely, I make all kinds of friends all over the place, I just don't get to see them all very often. I don't know why I don't join a pride, I guess I haven't found one that I like more than I like being a rogue. It's not for everyone." It was .. mostly the truth. A good answer for a small one, anyway. She just didn't like the idea of sticking with a pride, but that was a personal choice.
"Maybe you could show me yours," she suggested suddenly, wondering if it might work to get Lisi headed back in towards home.
"Ooooh!" Lisi murmured as Dinah explained how she had all kinds of friends. That sounded nice. Lisi could have a whole bunch of friends here but they would probably be more unique and interesting all over Africa instead of just in one pride. That was part of why she was so intrigued by outside of the pride. Everything seemed so strange and different out there, or it had the potential to be strange and different and that was sufficient.
"Oh! You really think you might like it here?" she asked, looking around them, "I don't see why not! Come on, I'll show you."
"Sure," she lied, smiling cheerily the whole time. She was used to this, she often went along to get along. Besides, she might actually learn something interesting and that was how she spent the majority of her time anyway. She could try to determine how much of the reputation was true. And with any luck, she might find some more interesting members of the pride, too. Not the Lisi wasn't interesting, of course! This was just an awkward situation, it was hard to have much fun when you were trying to actually help with something other than cheering someone up.
"OK!"
"Yeah!" Lisi squeaked, hopping up to her feet and skipping back towards home, leading the way. She would, no doubt, talk Dinah's ear off before long.
Fin.
