As the brothers drew closer to the ocean, the salty smell grew stronger. There was also another scent on the wind, the smell of other lions. Because of this, the brothers had taken to sleeping in shifts. Asper would keep watch while Atheris slept, and they would alternate this so that there was always someone alert and watchful. They'd found a small cave that was fairly secluded and safe, calling the cave home for the past few weeks. As of yet they'd run into no problems.
Asper had taken the night watch and so when Atheris woke in the morning, his brother was ready for sleep. As his brother's even breaths turned into heavy snores, Atheris shook his head.
He was restless.
Assuring himself that his brother would be fine for a few hours while he hunted, Atheris slunk away from the security of their shared den. Not only did he want to hunt, Atheris wanted to explore and learn more about this place. The brothers knew that there must be a pride of lions nearby, but they did not know if the lions were friendly or not. Because of this, the brothers were being extra attentive.
Well, usually. Atheris wasn't the most attentive lion. His brother was far more perceptive and careful.
Approaching a large flowered meadow, Atheris kept his belly to the ground in hopes of flushing out a rabbit or hare. He was not prepared for what he saw in the midst of the meadow. He was not expecting to see a lone lioness. Part of him, the stupid part, wanted to barge out and introduce himself. The smarter, rational part of him (though tiny in comparison to the stupid part) told him to hang back and be watchful. Only time would tell how long the stupid part would be kept at bay.
Ulrika often came to this meadow so that she might get away from the oftentimes stifling pride that she called home. Being Stormborn wasn't as magical and awe-inspiring as it sounded, and while Ulrika absolutely loved her enormous family, well... sometimes it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. She took her duties quite seriously and rather enjoyed being a Priestess, but she did not enjoy the males that were forever sniffing after her. She could hear them now.
"Ohhh, Priestess Ulrika," she mumbled to herself. "You're looking pretty this morning!" She shook her head. Stupid males. Did they really think that external beauty mattered to her? She was a Priestess of the Stormborn. She was the daughter of Reaver Taraxa. She did not care for pretty words and males hoping to lay claim to the Priestess daughter of Reaver Taraxa.
They were all so stupid.
Even now, she kept glancing over her shoulder, half-expecting one of the dumb males to come bounding out of the forest-line in hopes of stealing a moment of her time. Even now, she felt like she was being watched. She had to reassure herself that this meadow was fairly secluded. She'd found it while out exploring, and while it was a quiet place that she could escape to, it was also a wonderful place full of raw materials that she could find uses for when creating salves and poultices, spells and incantations.
Atheris was spellbound. She was one of the most lovely, beautiful things that he had ever seen during his short stint on Earth. A young lion, Atheris was still driven by his hormones, and that stupid little part of him was getting bigger and bigger, stifling the rational part of him that had kept him quiet this far. She moved with such grace, such ease and purpose and such presence that Atheris could not keep himself quiet any longer.
He rose to his feet, clearing his throat rather loudly as he slowly padded closer to the lioness.
Ulrika sighed. Who was it going to be this time. Dropping her head in exasperation, she slowly turned around so that she could see who was intruding.
Ulrika did not know who this was.
"Don't come any closer," Ulrika warned, slowly rising to her feet with ears pinned back to her skull. "I have guards watching me," she lied boldly, backing away from the strange male. Oh, this was just wonderfully terrible, wasn't it. Just her luck. "I am the Priestess Ulrika of the Stormborn, and if you dare come an inch closer I will call out for my guards." She watched him take another step closer, the action driving her one more step back.
"I don't mean any harm," Atheris said softly, dipping his head as a show of good will. "I was just looking for food when I happened upon you, and I must confess I have never seen a more beautiful lioness in all of my life." He hoped he looked as honest as his words felt -- he'd never felt such awe over a female before.
Ulrika was used to pretty words. She was used to pretty words that came from the mouths of seasoned Reavers. She did not care. He was not Stormborn, so his words mattered even less as evidenced by the narrowing of her odd-colored eyes.
"Your words mean nothing to me. Do you realize that you are trespassing on the territory of the Stormborn?" She paused for a moment at his bewildered look, "Fool," she spat, snarling at him with bared teeth, "You are flirting with danger. Do you have a death wish, perhaps? Do you want to die?" Her ears remained pinned back flush against her skull as she continued in that hissing whisper, "I am not flattered by your words. You have done nothing to stand out against any others that have offered me such praise. Now go, go before I call for help. Go away, and stay away." That being said, she daringly turned her back to the stranger and strode off into the far treeline, away from the stupid male.
Atheris was besotted. He watched her leave with bated breath, and remained where he was for a long time after she left.
Making his way back to the cave that he and his brother called home, he assured himself that his brother was still sleeping before collapsing in a heap at the mouth of the cave.
"Ulrika," he whispered to himself, lapsing into silly daydreams about the Stormborn Priestess.
(wc: 1,064)
