[PRP] Leap in the Dark

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LAILA K'CHOL

Lailah K'chol was a delicate young lioness cautiously picking her way out near the border of the pridelands. There were some plants that grew out here, and it was her duty as Apprentice to gather them for shamanistic usage and training later. This, in fact, was one of her favorite parts of being Stellaluna's apprentice - she got to go places and do things!

Admittedly, her younger sibs didn't have too many restrictions on them either, being high class and (supposedly) intelligent young lions. But she was here not because she was sneaking off or exploring but because she was supposed to be, and that made all the difference.

The juvenile looked up suddenly, as the breeze and a soft noise alerted her to someone nearby. There she saw...a lion. A big adult whom she didn't remember seeing before. He was coming from the direction of the Rogue lands, but that didn't mean much to her.

"Hi!" the young lioness greeting the stranger brightly.  

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He looked confused. She wasn't certain why, but it wasn't her place to wonder. It was her place to help him out! After all, she was going to be a Shaman one day. It occurred to her at that point that this lion might be a rogue. Lailah supposed she should be scared, in case he attacked her, but she didn't think he would.

"I'm gathering plants for my teacher," she explained cheerfully. "Each one is important has a special use, but I can't tell you because only the Shaman is supposed to know."

The juvenile looked up at the lion, cocking her head to the side. "What about you? What are you doing?"  

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So...he was a Rogue! But he seemed nice enough and he said he was thirsty. She wondered how he'd heard of the pride, since he didn't seem to know much about it. And it looked like it was her job to fix that! She'd never met a Rogue before, at least, not one who hadn't already decided to join the pride.

"Well, this pride is the Mwezi'Johari and we live here by the grace of the Great Lion who watches over all of us to some extent," she told the lion. "My name is Lailah K'chol and I'm the Apprentice Shaman," the juvenile went on proudly.

She shook herself slightly and turned towards the pridelands. "This way! I'll show you the water hole," she told him. It was the very least she could do. He seemed like a nice guy and Lailah had no doubts that there was at least one older lion watching stealthily nearby.  

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"It's nice to meet you too, Ukarimu!" Lailah chattered cheerily at the black lion as she led him deeper into the pride's lands. She wondered if being thirsty was the only reason he was here. Maybe he meant to join? He certainly didn't seem to know much about the pride, only that it was here. Then again, she was still just an Apprentice and she didn't know too much about how joining worked. She'd seen the process a few times, yes, but not from the very beginning. And she'd certainly never before been the first in the pride to meet any stranger.

"Yeah, it's part of learning to be the Shaman! I have to know what the plants are and where they grow and when to harvest them and how to preserve them and what they do - all of that!" This came out in a rush of words that probably made no sense to the big black lion, but Lailah didn't really mind. She had someone new and different to talk to!  

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"Oh I do! I mean, yes I was born to be the Apprentice - they said the next girl born in the high class would be and I'm the oldest of all my siblings and we're older than the young Princes and Princesses," she rambled happily. They came around a small rise and there, glittering in the sun was the water hole.

"Here we are!" Lailah announced with a flourish before leading Ukarimu all the way to the water's edge. She took a drink herself, being thirsty from the long walk.

"And now, I have to go, Stellaluna's expecting me," she told the black lion. "See you later - bye!" With that, the white juvenile was off like a flash. Hopefully she wouldn't be too late!