Two lions clashed in the distance. One with a dark red pelt towered over his enemy and even Ramiz could tell that he was the victor. The other just seemed too stubborn to admit his defeat so the beating which could have been easily ended had continued. Not that the bigger lion used full force since it was obvious already that the battle was over. So why did the other keep fighting?
Honestly Ramiz was impressed by his determination, yet torn as he thought it was silly to continue fighting. It made the lion look desperate, too desperate for his own good. The young lion sighed. Maybe he was just missing something? Still he could never imagine himself risking so much for something already lost.
Sighing once again the lion stretched out and tucked his paws beneath his head. It was probably best if he just forgot about it and focused more on trying to find some prey. He had already left Zaid with the intention of returning quickly, but had been distracted by the fight.
He really didn’t feel like hunting so what now?
“You okay there?”
The voice made Ramiz jumped, “Eh?!” The young lion found himself staring into a pair of dark blue eyes, “I mean ye-yeah. I’m fine….sir.” Swallowing he rolled over and backed up a few steps. Who?
Oh.
It was the lion from the fight. Apparently the other lion had finally given up on winning. That or this guy had knocked him out. Neither thought made Ramiz really comfortable around the older lion. What if he decided to pick a fight with him? He had never really fought before – well a little, but not enough to be anywhere near an expert’s level.
But to his surprise the lion just laughed, “Don’t be so nervous, cub!” He grinned and even stretched out in front of Ramiz, “I’m finished with fighting for the day, not that you looked interested in a match any way.”
“Heh.” Ramiz gave a small smile, “Guess that’s right. I’m not much into fighting for fun.”
“Ah.” The lion sighed, “Shame really. Fighting is a fun past time. Especially for a bored ole rogue like me.”
“Maybe.” Ramiz shook his head. For some reason the stranger’s lax attitude made him feel far less nervous now. He couldn’t even imagine it was a ploy; this guy was honestly just talking to him like he was some friend.
“Huh.” The lion grinned, “What brings a cub like you out here anyways? Something tells me that you aren’t used to wandering out here with the way you stared like a newborn at my fight.”
“Hey.” Ramiz frowned, “I’m not a cub! I have a name you know.” He didn’t comment on the fact that he indeed was not from the rogue lands, but was a pride lion. Nor would he even tell this lion about how he was used to being cared for by members of his father’s harem and how he too was out here searching for his own banu.
“Oh? What is it then?” The lion actually looked amused by his reaction to being called a cub, “Mine is Xennek if you must know.”
“Xennek.” Ramiz bowed his head respectfully, “My name is Ramiz.”
“Oh. So respectful for a young lion like you.” Xennek smiled at him, “I’m sure you must be from a place where manners are valued. That or your mother raised you well.”
“Yes.” Ramiz smiled, “But it wasn’t my mother who raised me, but my mothers. My pride believes in the male having multiple mates.”
“So lucky! Though odd.” The lion laughed, “I’ve heard of your pride with your weird ‘banu’ hunts. So I’m supposing that this is why you are out here in the rogue lands? Searching for a lady?”
Ramiz felt his face warm, “Actually…yes. Yes it is.”
“So have you found one yet?”
“Umm…that’s kinda personal isn’t it?” The young lion shook his head, “It’s not your business after all, Xennek.”
“I know.” He just grinned, “But I’ll take that as a no.”
“Hey!” But he couldn’t argue with that. He really hadn’t found a lioness yet to take back home with him. Sure he had meet several lionesses, including that beautiful kind soul who had helped him but…he hadn’t been able to bring up the topic of his pride to any of them. Especially her.
“If you want to win them over cub then you should work on impressions.”
Ramiz blinked at the lion, “What?”
“First impressions! You want to make a good one on the ladies. That way they remember you the next time you meet.” He nodded, “I may be a fighter, but I’m also a lover you know.”
“A lo-lover?”
“Yep.” The rogue flashed a snarky grin over at the gaping lion, “I’ve had my share of experience with lionesses. And others.”
Ramiz frowned and studied the older lion. He was handsome for sure, but didn’t the rugged look scare others off? He himself was still slightly wary because of the fight he had witnessed. Surely any female in her right mind would want to avoid that…unless she was looking for strength. The thought hit him hard. Was he not strong enough to win the heart of the ones he loved? He fought in the pride certainly, but nothing like he saw this lion do. It was in jest, not for life or death. He didn’t even know how to hunt either…
“I’m pathetic.”
“What?”
“I said I must be pathetic!” Especially to her. What would she think fi she knew that he had never brought down prey by himself until recently? Even then it felt like a fluke - just a sick, older antelope he had managed to snag.
“Now, just because you’re young-“
“No.” Ramiz shook his head, “I need to work on things!” He stood. Talking wouldn’t get him anywhere. “I need to become stronger for when I see them again.” Both the one who had won him over out here, and the one that probably was still at home angry at him. Ramiz sighed. That was another problem in itself. He needed to prove himself somehow. The other lion caught his gaze and shook his head quickly.
“No. I won’t fight a cub who hasn’t trained himself for a real fight.” Xennek shot him down with one glance and Ramiz found himself even more depressed. But Xennek saw his change and gave a small smile, “But if the cub somehow grew, then maybe I would take his challenge.”
The hint gave him hope. And now he knew one thing: he needed to become strong, a real lion. Not the little cub that was babied by his mothers. That lion just had to go. It was the only way he could keep any honor at all. His gaze snapped up to the lion’s, bright and confident. “I will change. Thank you, Xennek.” With that he turned and started to walk away.
(1163)
Honestly Ramiz was impressed by his determination, yet torn as he thought it was silly to continue fighting. It made the lion look desperate, too desperate for his own good. The young lion sighed. Maybe he was just missing something? Still he could never imagine himself risking so much for something already lost.
Sighing once again the lion stretched out and tucked his paws beneath his head. It was probably best if he just forgot about it and focused more on trying to find some prey. He had already left Zaid with the intention of returning quickly, but had been distracted by the fight.
He really didn’t feel like hunting so what now?
“You okay there?”
The voice made Ramiz jumped, “Eh?!” The young lion found himself staring into a pair of dark blue eyes, “I mean ye-yeah. I’m fine….sir.” Swallowing he rolled over and backed up a few steps. Who?
Oh.
It was the lion from the fight. Apparently the other lion had finally given up on winning. That or this guy had knocked him out. Neither thought made Ramiz really comfortable around the older lion. What if he decided to pick a fight with him? He had never really fought before – well a little, but not enough to be anywhere near an expert’s level.
But to his surprise the lion just laughed, “Don’t be so nervous, cub!” He grinned and even stretched out in front of Ramiz, “I’m finished with fighting for the day, not that you looked interested in a match any way.”
“Heh.” Ramiz gave a small smile, “Guess that’s right. I’m not much into fighting for fun.”
“Ah.” The lion sighed, “Shame really. Fighting is a fun past time. Especially for a bored ole rogue like me.”
“Maybe.” Ramiz shook his head. For some reason the stranger’s lax attitude made him feel far less nervous now. He couldn’t even imagine it was a ploy; this guy was honestly just talking to him like he was some friend.
“Huh.” The lion grinned, “What brings a cub like you out here anyways? Something tells me that you aren’t used to wandering out here with the way you stared like a newborn at my fight.”
“Hey.” Ramiz frowned, “I’m not a cub! I have a name you know.” He didn’t comment on the fact that he indeed was not from the rogue lands, but was a pride lion. Nor would he even tell this lion about how he was used to being cared for by members of his father’s harem and how he too was out here searching for his own banu.
“Oh? What is it then?” The lion actually looked amused by his reaction to being called a cub, “Mine is Xennek if you must know.”
“Xennek.” Ramiz bowed his head respectfully, “My name is Ramiz.”
“Oh. So respectful for a young lion like you.” Xennek smiled at him, “I’m sure you must be from a place where manners are valued. That or your mother raised you well.”
“Yes.” Ramiz smiled, “But it wasn’t my mother who raised me, but my mothers. My pride believes in the male having multiple mates.”
“So lucky! Though odd.” The lion laughed, “I’ve heard of your pride with your weird ‘banu’ hunts. So I’m supposing that this is why you are out here in the rogue lands? Searching for a lady?”
Ramiz felt his face warm, “Actually…yes. Yes it is.”
“So have you found one yet?”
“Umm…that’s kinda personal isn’t it?” The young lion shook his head, “It’s not your business after all, Xennek.”
“I know.” He just grinned, “But I’ll take that as a no.”
“Hey!” But he couldn’t argue with that. He really hadn’t found a lioness yet to take back home with him. Sure he had meet several lionesses, including that beautiful kind soul who had helped him but…he hadn’t been able to bring up the topic of his pride to any of them. Especially her.
“If you want to win them over cub then you should work on impressions.”
Ramiz blinked at the lion, “What?”
“First impressions! You want to make a good one on the ladies. That way they remember you the next time you meet.” He nodded, “I may be a fighter, but I’m also a lover you know.”
“A lo-lover?”
“Yep.” The rogue flashed a snarky grin over at the gaping lion, “I’ve had my share of experience with lionesses. And others.”
Ramiz frowned and studied the older lion. He was handsome for sure, but didn’t the rugged look scare others off? He himself was still slightly wary because of the fight he had witnessed. Surely any female in her right mind would want to avoid that…unless she was looking for strength. The thought hit him hard. Was he not strong enough to win the heart of the ones he loved? He fought in the pride certainly, but nothing like he saw this lion do. It was in jest, not for life or death. He didn’t even know how to hunt either…
“I’m pathetic.”
“What?”
“I said I must be pathetic!” Especially to her. What would she think fi she knew that he had never brought down prey by himself until recently? Even then it felt like a fluke - just a sick, older antelope he had managed to snag.
“Now, just because you’re young-“
“No.” Ramiz shook his head, “I need to work on things!” He stood. Talking wouldn’t get him anywhere. “I need to become stronger for when I see them again.” Both the one who had won him over out here, and the one that probably was still at home angry at him. Ramiz sighed. That was another problem in itself. He needed to prove himself somehow. The other lion caught his gaze and shook his head quickly.
“No. I won’t fight a cub who hasn’t trained himself for a real fight.” Xennek shot him down with one glance and Ramiz found himself even more depressed. But Xennek saw his change and gave a small smile, “But if the cub somehow grew, then maybe I would take his challenge.”
The hint gave him hope. And now he knew one thing: he needed to become strong, a real lion. Not the little cub that was babied by his mothers. That lion just had to go. It was the only way he could keep any honor at all. His gaze snapped up to the lion’s, bright and confident. “I will change. Thank you, Xennek.” With that he turned and started to walk away.
(1163)
