Morning came quickly. The day looked to be a favourable one as Lehtia walked the sleep from her muscles. A cool breeze drifted across the plains and she inhaled deeply. The early morning air smelled lovely and she enjoyed it’s scent as she bent her head to graze. It was nice having some protection. The herd she had stayed with through the nice were also awaking, most moving out to graze as she was while others watched the horizons for danger. At least she knew that should a predator be sighted she would know of it. It was a lot nicer than having to watch her own back. This only made her more eager to find this herd she was looking for. It would be nice to finally find a place she could not only call home but feel safe in. It was something she had already lost, and something she dearly missed.
Lika woke slowly, staring sleepily around at the others who had already gotten up and started to graze. She yawned loudly and stretched out her legs, though she wobbled slightly as she walked, sleep still seeming to weigh down her body. Her dreams had been quite exciting that night, filled with an adventure to find a herd she knew nothing off. Lions chased her the way, trying to stop her from reaching her destination, but she avoided them easily. Recalling the dream served to once again fuel her excitement. Perhaps the rest of the herd would find out what the previous nights conversation had all been about! Surely they would need to inform them all if they were going somewhere.
Just as she spotted the black doe a voice called out. The older waterbucks gathered together, once more leaving the rest of the younger of the herd off to the side to only wonder what was going on. She wasn’t going to just sit to the sides again, not that she really had before. With another huff Lika made her way towards the gathering group, slowing her pace as she neared and bending her head to pretend to graze. She hoped that no one would think anything of her there, and so far not a word was said towards her.
Lehtia raised her head at the call for the elder of the herd to gather. She slowly made her way towards them, wishing that they had waiting ust a bit longer. She had not fully finished eating, though now it would sadly have to wait. She spotted to one side the brown doe from the previous night, the one who had been spying on them. She smiled whens he saw the younger waterbuck was trying to look inconspicuous before pulling her gaze away.
As she came to a halt amongst the gathered elders they fell silent. Lehtia looked them over quickly before speaking up to break the silence. “Have you come to a decision?”
The gathered lot looked around at each other before the one who had spoken previously stepped up to do so once more. “We do not feel there is reason to turn the herd and follow. We have already set our destination and it would be fool to change it now, especially with the changing seasons.” Voices of agreement rose up after he stopped speaking, though she also heard a few whispered voices against what was said.
However Lehtia simply nodded. “As I said before I can not make you go. I still plan on leaving though, and my own destination still set as well. I wish luck to your herd.” She turned away from those gathered and returned to where she had previously been grazing to continue. She was going to enjoy the protection of this small herd as long as she could, but she did not wish to stay too much longer.
Lika continued her grazing as the elders dispersed. Once they had left the spot she raised her head ad turned to look towards the black doe. So she was looking for a herd. Questions filled her mind as she puffed out her chest and made her way towards the stranger. A few feet away she came to a halt, ears twitching nervously before she forced herself to speak. “Why don’t you stay here? What is so special about this other herd?”
Lehtia raised her head, eyes falling upon a familiar sight. She smiled softly before replying. “This herd is not home to me, I feel a stranger amongst this lot. Even I am not completely sure the reason for why I look for this other herd. I have no solid proof that it exist, but I have to find out.”
The excitement from the previous night and the same morning came back. “Can I come with you?” She blurted the words out, ears flicking backwards afterwards. “I want to come to. I want to find this herd you are looking for. It must be something very special.”
“You have a home here though, why would you wish to come with me? It is dangerous, and this place might not even exist.” Lehtia looked around at the herd. “Would you really be so eager to leave behind your family?” She asked, gaze turning back to the young one.
“They will be fine without me.” Lika said simply, smiling broadly. She wanted to find this place, this herd that a single doe could search for despite the risks of travelling alone. It sounded so exciting, and her own herd would do fine with one less member. It was not as if they had not lost members before, though usually it was associated to predators.
Lehtia sighed softly. “If you wish to come I will not stop you, just make sure it is what you want to do before following me.” Silently she was glad that someone was going to come with her. That she would have someone to talk to, an extra pair of eyes to watch for danger. Most of all though she was just glad someone else didn’t think her journey was pointless. “If we are goign to be travelling together though it might be helpful to know each other’s names. I am Lehtia.”
Lika stomped a hoof happily. “I am Lika!” Her ears twitched excitedly again. She couldn’t wait. It would be another adventure, a real one. This time there would be something even more amazing at the end than just a scolding from her elders.
(Word count: 1077)
