A small pink figure walked along the edges of a lake in the distance. Her paws made small but quick strides along the scenery, and her eyes flit across the horizon like a lighthouse scanning the sea. Darker pink ears flicked forwards, the ghost of some unheard voice detected. But she shook her head, indicating the falsity of the experience.She was alone, and no haunting voice should interrupt her true goal to find the actual manifestation of her sister.
So the pink figure padded on, pale blue eyes darting around with a hope so pure that she radiated an unyielding spirit throughout her search.
Korofi-uzulu, Naheed, and the kajira had been settled within a nearby cavern for a rest. The group had been travelling for a while now, and the females had needed a pause. The kajira had led the plea, getting Korofi-uzulu to happily chime in and Naheed to meekly ask the dark brown lion for a stop. Perhaps Naheed saw that if they had persisted, the kajira would have caused more trouble than she was worth. And the kajira had already been on their trip, so it would have been a good amount of loss for the amount of time the lion put up with her already. As well, at least Naheed knew how to properly request a stop, and he thought he would show mercy to the group just this one time.So he strolled away, knowing full well that his females would stay in place until he returned. They were, after all, under his command, and knew now to disobey him. He was glad that Korofi-uzulu was seemingly too dim-witted to do anything against the situation, the kajira somehow very willing to go with him because she knew his worth, and Naheed... Well, Naheed was gold to him in the desert of the rogue lands.
A smile flickered through his face through his contemplation of his females. The large lion, though still a young adult, had not quite passed into adulthood yet, and had a long ways to go before actualizing his prominence within the pride.
"Iya?" came a peep from the pink figure, spotting the shape in the distance as soon as it had come into view.
But she knew it was not her purple twin sister, as the form was rather large; it was almost double the size of her sister, as the two were a rather petite pair. It was how they could dance so lithely and be quick on their paws.
Despite the fact it was not her lost sister, the pink lioness ran towards the stranger, sure that he would be of help to her cause. Surely, a large lion had some kind of reign over these parts of lands and could then know what other creatures have come across the terrain.
"Hello?" she asked with a hope in her voice.
The dark brown lion was lost in thought until it was broken by a small voice that drifted towards him. He instantly looked to its source and saw a small female, pink and only pink in appearance. A female was seeking him? A very small smile crossed his face, intrigued. It was yet another rogue, and he had seen enough rogue lionesses to be well aware that there were not many favorable ones. But lucky for her, if she had demonstrated enough potential, he had room in his harem for one more...
So in return to her greeting, he replied, "I am Akram'raja of the Ukuucha'Wafalme, female. Is there something I have that you seek?"
Usually there was, for he had a lot that would draw others to him.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, finally running up until she was right in front of the lion.
"I'm Nyota'dhamira!" she chirped - the one thing about this lioness was that despite her stressful situation, she would never fail to introduce herself happily to ensure a new friendly bond.
"My sister, Ajali'Badriya, is lost. I've been trying to find her... I'm usually with her! She look just like me, but she's purple. You look like someone who has seen lions come and go around this area! Can you help me, Akram'raja?"
Her smiles shown brightly and eyes brimmed with glee, as if he had already accepted her request - as if anyone could deny the cute little pink lioness.
The female that had come to him was undeniably small - perhaps even half the size Korofi-uzulu was. But that wouldn't have been a fair comparison, considering that Korofi-uzulu was as big as he, and he had been the largest in his generation of family. Akram'raja considered that there could have been times when a female had her worth with a small body, being able to appeal to and attract pads who were into cute females.
But something about the size of Nyota'dhamira made Akram'raja deem her not one of those, and perhaps not deserving of his attention. The way she began talking at once caught his ill attention. She did not even have manners, and was speaking to him as if he were a servant! He had no time for her request, nor did he think he was going to have time for her. But there was a small chance... And so he chanced it.
"You will address me as Pad Akram'raja," he corrected, forcing a paw strongly to the ground in mock anger.
"And while I have shown my mercy as of late, I cannot spare any for one such as yourself. You are honored by my presence, and that should be enough. I do not know these lands, for I am from the Ukuucha'Wafalme, as I have stated earlier. Did you not hear, insignificant female?"
He laughed. "All I will do for you is this..."
He pretended to look very quickly around the area although he had in actuality not done so, and said, "I have looked. She is not here."
Nyota'dhamira's expression had gradually turned to something less than what it was before when she heard and saw Akram'raja's actions. What was a pad..?
She didn't understand him, either, but it sounded like he was still deciding on whether he'd help her or not. She would be glad for any help at all, and so she kept hope as he continued on with his words.
...And then he did a one second search and concluded that Ajali'Badriya was not here? Nyota'dhamira was very confused. First, she did not understand the insults that were coming from Akram'raja, nor could she correctly interpret what his sentences meant. She had not met many who had spoken so formally as he did, and she didn't talk like that either. And she was a lioness who traveled around a lot, not glued to any pride.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, blinking while she was still confused.
"If you can't find her..." she said, thinking to herself, "Your help was still helpful, Pad Akram'raja!"
She smiled again, but this time, it was very weak - but still honest. She had no idea what the lion had meant when he spoke to her, and even though his tone sounded less than flattering, she supposed it was good that he made a small attempt at finding Ajali'Badriya.
Typical. This rogue lioness was yet another unworthy lion found in these forsaken lands. This must be why it was frowned upon to leave the Ukuucha'Wafalme lands, less it be to bring another spirit in to keep.
"Of course, female," he said in a sigh.
To fathom the thought that he even considered her to be a potential banu... He knew it. If he did not see the lioness in his dreams beforehand, it was a crucial indicator that they were not worthy enough to bring into his harem. All the others had it - Korofi-uzulu he had seen, even though he did not anticipate the annoyance from her obliviousness. Still, she was a thousand times smarter than the pink lioness before him. Naheed had also been a dream, and the banu from the pride...
"Off you go, female."
"Okay," Nyota'dhamira answered rather more contentedly than she should have; she took it as a farewell meaning that she should look for her sister some more without him.
Of course he had better things to do, everyone should! Akram'raja was very wise to advise her to continue on instead of hanging around to talk. Perhaps she would bump into him on another day, when he wasn't busy. Yes, Nyota'dhamira thought, and then maybe Ajali'Badriya would be there too to meet him.
Her small pink body carried itself further down the lakeside, settling back into the routine path it had been before the meeting of the stranger from the Ukuucha'Wafalme.
The most intelligent thing the female did was to go away when he wanted her to, Akram'raja thought. He snorted once more, but this time it was very audible. Oh, he should have known... Her pelt was unflattering, what could he have been thinking?
Patience would be the key, Akram'raja thought as he sidled back to the walk he had been on earlier. The break he gave for his banu and kajira had been long enough. His paws were growing restless, and he would exchange the patience he had in acquiring another banu for the patience in completing his journey. After all, he had to make it back before the others did if he wanted to completely outdo himself...
