Welcome to Gaia! ::

Later that day Ankara found herself hurrying to get back to Pride Rock. She could hear a few of the other lionesses chuckling, perhaps knowing why she was so eager to return. Hasty goodbyes were tossed over her shoulder as she left the hunting party behind to find Mohombi. A quick scan around showed no sign of him, and on a whim she bounded down and headed back towards the rock where she had seen him earlier that day.

“Mohombi!” The lioness bounced over the grass as she made her way towards the rock, spotted again a lump atop it. “Have you been laying there all day?”



Mkali walked triumphantly through the grass, having managed to once more evade her mother and sneak out to explore. After her last trip out it had gotten a little harder to go on her treasure hunts, but now that she had managed to do so she was determined to find the best treasure ever anywhere! What exactly that might be she was not sure, but the cub was sure to know it when she saw it.

Ankara chuckled lightly as she watched the male roll over. it seemed to take him a little bit to realize how much time had actually passed. “Alright then. Well then, shall we go for our walk?” She glanced around for a moment as she waited for Mohombi to get down from the rock, hopefully more careful than he had been earlier. “Was there anywhere in particular that you wanted to go?”



The cub glanced back over her shoulder towards Pride Rock, grinning broadly. Such a daring escape it had been. Ducking and weaving around paws, trying her best to go unnoticed. Mkali was quite impressed with her own skills as she turned away and bounced up a hill. Once she reached the top she shot another glance back, making sure that no one was following after her. Seeing no one there she hurried down the other side, intend on getting to her treasure tree to make sure her things were still there.

“Sounds fine with me. A break away from everyone certainly would be nice.” Ankara fell in step beside him, her gaze wandering around the scenery as they went. “I do love it here, with so many others around, but it certainly can get a tad tiring after a while. Always nice to get away every now and then.” It was nice indeed. Many days just seemed to be a blur, between all the hunting and general daily life, which was never void of company whether you seemed to want it or not.




The treasure tree stuck out from the ground ahead of her, exactly where and as it had been the last time she had been there. With narrowed eyes she snuck up to it, peeking cautiously inside in case some snake or other beastie had decided to take her treasure trove as their home. Much to her delight it lay empty of life, and only help the few objects she had so far managed to gather together and hidden within. Satisfied that no one had tampered with her treasure Mkali turned and bounded off again, ready to start her adventure.

No direction in particular had crossed her thoughts as she left behind her treasure tree. Mkali bounded over grass and rock, pausing here and there to look around for possible items to add to her collection. Rocks small enough for her to move were over turned, and loose dirt pushed aside to see if anything had recently be buried that might be of interest. Nothing. In her haste she failed to notice the hole ahead of her. Over a clump of grass she bounded, and much farther than she should have she fell. With a thump she hit the bottom, dazed momentarily before turning her gaze upwards. It was a jagged hole. She was not sure what had caused it, simply that she was now in it.

“He does. Perhaps if I see him around I shall have to thank him for mentioning it.” Ankara watched curiously as she sped up a little, a brow quirking at the mention of a race. If she won she would have him hunting for her, certainly not a bad prize, if she lost then, well, it wasn’t much more work than she did normally. “Alright then,” Ankara spoke, coming to a stop beside him “you’re on then. I’m sure the meal you catch me tomorrow will be ever so sweet, just like my victory will be.” She grinned broadly as him, tail flicking behind her as she readied herself to start. “Ready and..go!” The lioness darted forward, ignoring weary paws in her desire to win.

Eyes were locked on the top of the hill as she rushed forward, trying to keep her focus ahead instead of being distracted by seeing how close Mohombi was. Every fiber of her being willed her forward, to get there first, but something caught her attention. There was a noise nearby, a voice. It was faint, or perhaps small. The latter thought caused her to slow down suddenly, nearly rolling head over paws by doing so. “Mohombi, do you hear that?” Ankara didn’t even wait for a reply as she darted sideways, down the side of the hill. She hadn’t quite made it to the top, but the race had presently left her mind.



Any attempt to get out has thus far failed. “Anyone out there? Help me!” Mkali jumped again for the opening to the hole, claws sinking in to dirt too lose to hold her. As she came down so did a showed of dirt. The cub closed her eyes and turned away from the dirt falling on her before trying once more with the same results. She sure was not keen to be trapped in a hole all her life, eventually she’d grow and it would be quite cramped down her. Also she might get hungry. Another huff and another attempt to climb out, again with no success. After shaking the dirt off her head Mkali looked up towards the opening of the hole, hoping someone ould eventually hear her. “Help!”

Mkali was just about to attempt another jump towards the opening when she heard a deep roar from somewhere outside, followed by a voice. “H-hey, I’m over here! Help me, I fell down a hole!” Mkali jumped as she spoke, trying to get as close as she could to the opening so they could hear her better. “Heeeelp!” She continued to shout, hoping they found her soon.



Ankara slowed for only a moment to listen as the little voice cried out once more, ears swiveling to try and find the location of the little voice. “Over here!” Ankara changed directions slightly, following the continuing cries for help. She slowed down as they became louder. She was sure it was around here. Having suddenly recalled the little one yelling something about a hole Ankara turned her gaze downwards as she slowly walked, coming to a quick halt as she spotted a pair of bright blue eyes staring up at her. “Here! Mohombi, I found her!”

Mkali watched as another lion came in to view, this one male and surely the one who had roared before. She nodded as he spoke, certainly not going to argue if it would get her out of this hole. Silence followed as she waited for him to give the command to jump. Her tail flicked nervously as she crouched, readying herself to jump as high as she possibly could. Time seemed to tick by so slowly until finally he spoke again, and Mkali jumped up as hard and high as she could. Paws shot out and clawed at the wall as she help on for as long as she could in the loose rock, eyes closed in concentration.


Ankara stood by, watching nervously as Mohambi told he little one what to do. Silenty she watched, hoping that Mohombi could manage to get her out of there. She certainly wasn’t oing to go back to Pride Rock without this cub in tow.

Just as she thought sh was starting to slip Mkali felt the jaws close lightly around her. She had never been so happy to be in another lion’s mouth before. The male lifted her up out of the hole and set her own before the lioness. Mkali shook off dirt that had caught in her fur, looking herself over quickly with a frown. There was still a good bit stuck in her fur and had her mother somehow not noticed her absence she was sure to catch her mother’s eye as dirty as she was.

However the thought quickly left the cubs thoughts as she looked up at the two who had saved her. “Thank you so much! I was just out looking for treasure and suddenly this hole came out of nowhere! I thought I was gonna be in there forever, but then you came along and saved me!” Mkali stopped and sat back down, grinning up at Mohombi. Her attention was then caught by the starry night sky above. “It sure is late. I should probably get back to my family.”




Ankara caught her breath, exhaling only after she saw that Mohombi had caught the cub in his mouth. She stepped forward quickly as the cub was placed down, looking the poor thing over to see if she was hurt. The cub quickly fell in to a quick explanation of what had happened, and did not appear to have any injuries. Ankara stood and nodded at the little one’s last comment. “Yes, you certainly should. Are you a Pridelands cub?” A nod came in reply and Ankara stood. “Alright then, we will take you back home. Come on now.” Ankara nudged the cub forward and stood, pausing for a moment beside Mohombi to quickly lick the male’s cheek. “Come on, lets get this little one back home. I am sure her mother is worried sick.”