Dawn touched the sky, turning it shades of crimson, orange, and yellow as the great ball of the sun slowly peeked above the crest of the land. Chipo sat alone, basking in the tender morning rays as they warmed the rock she lay on. She gave a little sigh, pressing her cheek against the rock she lay on and again felt the pang of......something.
She wasn't sure what it was. She'd never been sure what it was. Since she'd been old enough to strike out on her own the lioness had realized that she felt like something was missing. Her youth had seen to it that she'd experienced all the wonders of the Savannah, good and bad. She'd walked all over these lands and still hadn't seen it all, she was sure. But no matter how far she walked or where she looked she still hadn't found the thing to sooth the feeling that there was something more.
After a time she'd broken her solitude. Chipo gave a faint laugh to herself and rolled over a little - that hadn't actually been something she did on purpose, either. Just one day she'd stumbled upon the other lion... or rather he'd stumbled upon her. Speaking with another had just come naturally and in an instant she'd discovered how much she missed being with others. For a while she'd thought maybe that's what was missing, what was wrong. Then, after a while, the feeling of satisfaction had worn off and she was left searching again.
The lioness sat up, her mind turning over and over and over. She couldn't go back to sleep and she certainly couldn't enjoy her sun-bathing like this. With a sigh she got up, getting a bearing on where she was, and began to trot towards the nearest source of water she remembered. There was a large watering hole somewhere around this area, she'd found it a day or so ago. She traveled with the sun warming her left side, the setting moon chilling her right.
Her mind drifted over all of the others she'd met recently. There was the injured lion, and the gigantic beast of a creature she'd met when defending her prey. There had been Zenobia in the rain - despite the downpour that day had still managed to be entertaining. Of course there were the two cheetahs... A syrupy smile had curved itself across her lips. The older black male and his curious, excited little niece. Even if he hadn't been her father he had treated her as though she were his child. The memory of it made her heart bloom with warmth - there was still good and love in this world.
Recalling those two brought her thoughts around to Egil... and Akairo. Her smile widened, her ears laying back slightly. They had both been so very, very small to be on their own. She found herself worrying for Egil from time to time in particular. She shouldn't have just... left that day. She should have walked with him back into his pride lands - apparently she would have been welcome according. Instead she'd just... left. Chipo sighed, tail flicking. Never again would she leave a lone cub like that.
Of a sudden there came a trumpeting sound and Chipo looked up, startled out of her thoughts and memories. She'd found her way without thinking about it to the watering hole. Already there were dozens of different kinds of others here. Elephants, leopards, hyenas (which she shot a warning glance as she walked passed them), birds of all kinds, and a few lions scattered here and there. She stayed away for the time being... right now she didn't really want to talk to anyone else. She found a empty spot a decent amount of distance away from anyone else and got her drink, then lay down next to the cool water to watch
A few of those visiting the watering hole for the moment had their brood with them. Younglings ranging from tiny cubs to near adult adolescents. She watched as mothers and fathers cooed over and spoke to their children and sighed.
'I wish-'
And that was it. Chipo's eyes widened, her posture straightening. Her heart began to beat faster as she realized what it was she was missing, what it was she wanted so much. Young ones, cubs, her OWN to look after, to love and be loved by. She immediately lay back down, eyes flicking down to look at her reflection in the water's surface. As much as she felt this sudden realization was right she shouldn't, she COULDN'T do something rash. DID she really want that, or was it just something she thought that she thought was right?
Chipo thought of her mother, remembering a story she'd been told when she was younger. How she had met and fallen in love with her father, and even though he was gone she was glad to have her and her brother and sister. Mother had always told them how much she'd loved them. Chipo thought she even remembered tears in her mother's eyes when she had decided to strike out on her own.
The lioness stood, heart still hammering against her ribs. Maybe it was just nature, telling her that it was time she settled down. Either way the thought of having cubs of her own, a brood to teach, to show all of the amazing things she'd seen. To watch grow and learn and move on out into the world. It was what she wanted. Chipo turned away from the watering hole and began trotting off sunwise, heading to someplace she didn't know. For once in her life she finally knew what she was looking for - new life, new love. A strong mate who wanted cubs, who could look after and protect her and them.
She was looking for a family.
