Times could be hard and having to feed two young daughters and their growing boy, more often than not, took real effort to assure that their children had what they needed. Their family didn’t belong to any pride, but he and his mate were doing the very best they could on the land of his own parents. It was a legacy that they had, and each other. He was happy with his family and was doing his damnedest to make sure they had everything they could need, even if he couldn’t always provide it.
At present, Yehudah was traversing along his family’s territorial border, making sure that there weren’t any uninvited guests trying to get by without being noticed. That wasn’t going to happen so long as he was around, not if he had any say in the matter.
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S: Well, he was in quite a spot. Saba wasn’t familiar with the lay of the land that he had wandered into and he was having a hell of a time trying to catch something. He was big and dark and stood out quite a bit amidst the mostly pale gold grasses. He would have more luck at night but, by the gods, he was hungry. Giving a resigned harrumph, Saba let himself go sprawling in the dust under a large tree, rolling over into a patch of grass which rustled beneath him. The sun needed to hurry up and set already. A needy growl from his belly seemed to be agreeing with his train of though.
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Y: The rustle from somewhere off to front and left of him made Yehudah pause. This was too close for grazers, otherwise he would have known about them. Bristling slightly, the mature lion sniffed the air, stalking over in the direction of the source of the scent and sounds. It smelled like a male and rogue males were to be met with firm politeness and a healthy dose of suspicion. He wouldn’t be uncivil, but Yehudah wasn’t against cutting his teeth on some ballsy upstart’s hide. Peering through the grass, he spied a larger male sprawled in the dust and wayward patches of grass that were attempting to grow under the densely leafed tree. A growl drew his attention but noted that his presence wasn’t yet noticed and it seemed to be coming from the big male’s stomach. A hungry traveler? Best catch him at the outskirts before he gets any closer to the den. Rising from his crouch, Yehudah strode out of the grass into the clear patch, his face friendly but body language very clearly showing his distaste for unannounced rogues about. The dark lion’s face was clearly that of an adult, but still had youthful hints. “Good day, stranger. Might I ask what you are doing around these parts? I am Yehudah. I live here.”
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S: The wind had been favoring Yehudah over himself and he didn’t pick up on the gold and white lion until he emerged into the clearing and spoke to him. Saba sat up. So this area was occupied and if the body language told him anything, he’d have to guess that this wasn’t some lone rogue who laid claim to some stretch of land for his own. No, there were subtle scents of others on him, a family perhaps. It would certainly explain his prickling posture. “I apologize if I’m intruding. I didn’t realize this area was occupied. Right now, honestly, I’m waiting for the sun to go down. The height of the day doesn’t favor me when it comes to hunting, at least out in the open. I’m Saba. It’s nice to make your acquaintance. If you would prefer me so, I can go elsewhere. I was just going to stay here. I don’t have plans of nosing around. I’m just waiting until I can have an easier time hunting.” To help his cause, his stomach made its discontent known again, which caused Saba to draw his ears back for a moment in his embarrassment.
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Y: There was a moment of silence as Yehudah gave the younger, if larger, male a good, keen once over. His stance seemed to relax a bit as he accepted what was told to him as true. It was sort of difficult to fake a growling stomach after all. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll take your word that your intent was to stay here until sunset. I was just on my way out hunting. Perhaps it could benefit both of us if we team up for the time being. I can chase and you can ambush. How’s that sound? You can keep to the shade too. We can get something for you and something for my family while we’re at it.” It made sense to him. He was more suited for this environment, sort of always had been, which was good considering he had spent most of his life in the area.
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S: Saba could scarcely believe his fortune. He was being asked to help hunt, and an idea that was most agreeable, if he did say so himself. “I like the way you think, Yehudah. Lead the way to these hunting grounds of yours and we’ll be sure to get plenty for you and your family, and some for me as well.” He rose to his feet and padded to stand a few feet from the other male. The prospect of a meal sooner rather than later was just the motivation he needed and maybe it would improve his standing with the powers that be if he helped this fellow feed his family. “What’s your family like? Are there many?”
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Y: Yehudah gave a little smile at the surprised look on the younger male’s face. “Lots of experience, I assure you. They aren’t far and I’m sure we will. You seem to be a well equipped soul so I’m not worried.” He turned and kept on going in the direction of the hunting grounds. The elder’s face went from pleasant to distinctly fond at the question of his family. “No, it isn’t a big family, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s just my mate and I, our adopted son, and our two daughters. They’re growing so fast. I feel blessed to have them…” Huffing a soft sigh, Yehudah continued to smile in the moment of quiet that followed.
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S: Saba let Yehudah walk in his reverie for a short time. “Sounds nice,” He stated softly. “I don’t have any of my own, but I certainly have given it some thought. I’ve been moving around since my adolescence and I haven’t ever really had any lasting travelling companions. I’ve just about gotten to a point where I’m ready to start laying down some roots somewhere. I wouldn’t mind finding somewhere more permanent.”
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Y: “Well, having this land has been a boon to me and my family. It’s given my children a place to grow and they can learn of their grandparents whom lived here as well. I’m getting the feeling that you’ll enjoy a more stationary lifestyle after however long you have been traveling.” He paused to look ahead of them. “We’re getting close. How hungry would you say you are?”
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S: Saba smiled, nodding. “I think so…” At the question of the degree of his hunger, his contemplative smile shifted to an embarrassed grin. “Quite hungry, I assure you. I’m a big fellow and I need fuel to keep me going. Are we going to hunt for me first or shall we get something for your family before worrying about the rogue that was nigh trespassing?”
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Yehudah chuckled. “We can try to do one after the other so we don’t get exhausted. Ah, here we are…You can go into hiding over there; I’ll creep around and scare them your way. If you take down one quickly, then the second won’t know what happened and will fall just as quickly as the first. Go.” He nodded him off, noting where the younger male was going into hiding before creeping off and around.
---
It took them a while, but before the two reached exhaustion, two decently sized gazelles had been felled. Saba laid claim to the slightly smaller, letting the older male take the larger to his family to feed his youngsters. After a brief and friendly farewell, they went their separate ways. One went off to tend to his family, the other off to ponder his own future of the meal that the other had helped him catch. Saba knew that he may never meet Yehudah again, but the elder male would always be considered something of a friend of his, which extended to anyone who helped him in times of need.
[Word count: 1,466]
