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She'd crossed the pride lines a while ago. Hours and hours, almost a day ago. What was she doing? Lala didn't know. Her pink eyes looked out before her and she frowned a little bit more. It was too hot, and the black on her was absorbing the heat even more. Now she was hassling and looking for a place to rest and drink. However, it was slim pickings. It seemed to be a drought and that was drying up all of the small watering holes. Those were the ones without prides depended on and drank from.
Without them, Lala didn't know how she was going to survive without her pride. Maybe she should go back. No, they wouldn't take her back. She left of her own accord, even after recieving the scars under her eyes like all the females of the Amazon had.

Huffing, she found a shaded area and flopped on her side. Still no water in sight. That really sucked. She was thirsty, tired, hungry and lonely. Despite not liking her pride too much, she liked some of the lions there. She just couldn't stay there anymore. Restless paws and a wandering mind saw to that.

Another viking. Ru was a little surprise he had been chosen to go out so soon after returning from his first viking, but apparently he had done well, even if he had not brought back any Thralls or a great deal of loot for the pride. He didn't ask his captain why he had been chosen to go out again. He had learned that sort of question was an expression of uncertainty, which could be likened to weakness, and frequently was. Stormborn were not weak.

So he was scouting again for the rest of the expedition. His captain had apparently decided that he was good at scouting and so that was what he was often set to do. He moved more quietly than the average Stormborn and his smaller size meant he could pass unnoticed more easily, even if he was not as intimidating as he companions, who were mostly older than he was anyway. He hoped this viking would be more successful than his last, though. He didn't want to be a scout forever, but he didn't see any way to change that unless he distinguished himself in battle.

His internal reflections ceased abruptly as he drew near the edge of the trees, to the point where he could see full daylight without stepping into it. He would have to be more wary now, because there were often lions around the edges of the forest at this time of day, seeking shade. As with today, he observed, noting that there was a scarred lioness flopped on her side in the shade of the trees.

The girl hissed when he spoke and her ears perking and then flattening. Oh, he wanted to go did he? Her teeth showed in a snarl as she stood her ground and watched the dark male. She smirked when he lost some of the fire in his eyes because of the heat.

"I know what I'm doing," she murmured, keeping perfectly still. She wouldn't strike until he was closer. She wouldn't dream of it. "Don't judge a book by it's cover."

"A what?" Ru asked. He had never heard of a book and had no idea what she was talking about. All he'd understood of that was the part about not judging. He could understand that sentiment well enough, but he was a pretty good judge of people.

"You do growl pretty fiercely," he acknowledged. "But somehow I'm not quite terrified."

He grinned, showing many teeth and absolutely no concern. The only thing that worried him about this whole scenario was the heat from the sun. He'd spent most of the morning in the forest, so it wasn't as if he was going to overheat right away, but if he and the lioness did end up fighting, he would have to make a quick end of it.

Distracting it was. The sound made her collide with him but she didn't get back to her paws for a minute. It gave the boy enough time to get up and escape. Blinking, confused at what the hell the noise was, it didn't sound like a snarl she heard before, she looked at him and frowned.

Damn it all to hell! Getting to her paws, finally, the female started circling him again, pink eyes narrowing in aggravation. She didn't have time for this. Soon other lions would come because of the scuffle. Or if he were apart of some pride nearer here... This would be bad for her. Sure she could kind of fight, but she was nothing compared to most of the prides out here.

"If I see you again," she growled out, "You'll not use the same trick twice and get so lucky!" With that, the red and black splotched female ran back the way she had come originally. Now I know to never come this way again... she thought bitterly to herself. How could she let him best her by a stupid noise? She'd be back to find him and settle this.

Ru snarled after the lioness as she fled from him. That was what lions were supposed to do when confronted with Stormborn Reavers, of course, but not in the middle of a fight. Ru had been enjoying himself. It frustrated him that she'd cut his fun short by running away. He was highly tempted to give chase, but that wasn't his job. His job was simply to scout out the area, and he had done that.

"You just keep thinking that," he called after her.

He paced in tight circles, his tail and ears twitching. He needed to work off some excess energy before he returned to the rest of the band. He roared an all-clear to those within hearing range, using the raiding code of the Stormborn so it wouldn't be immediately obvious. Then, with a final deep tear into the trunk of a tree, Ru set off to rejoin his group.