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Isanne had been resting in the taller grasses, taking a well deserved break from roaming in the unfamiliar landscape. It was a beautiful night, with the moon hanging high over head, courted by the stars -- but it wasn't something the lioness cared to admire. Life had been particularly rough for her lately, with a series of failed hunts, and worse, cracking a nail! Her torn claw wasn't much of an issue while sheathed, merely a dull soreness that ached now and then when she walked too long; but should she unsheath them and dig them in to the earth (or potential prey) it damned hurt!

The gods were cruel things, they were.

Not only had they granted her such a pure white coat.-- it was beautiful, of course -- but it so easily stained. Worse, they had granted her such a coat and no one to admire it for eternity. No one to admire it for . . .even a night. She had been on her own for as long as she could remember, and while this did force her to be independent, it was not the life she desired.

She wanted to be adored, to be loved, and to be taken care of. She was sick of fighting to survive, she wanted a cushy lifestyle with all the fixings, and to never have to lift a paw again. No more stained coats. No more grooming out tangles.

If only . . .

The lioness did lift her head when the sound of something stomping its way through the underbrush caught her ears. It was coming ahead of her ,and she paused in her walking. The night was still full of shadow, but she did finally catch sight of someone on the horizon; someone with what looked to be as pale a coat as she!

Pushing herself to a sitting position, she made sure she was well above the grasses. She'd wait to see if the other noticed her before she said anything. He was coming her way. . .

Isanne watched as the male approached, growing more and more pleased as the detail of his appearance began to unfold. His mane was thick, plush, and a lovely shade of gold; there were a few markings on his face, and a design on his front paw that almost looked like a bracelet! His coat looked plush, and he looked strong. While she did notice he walked with a limp, and she did pick out a few scratches, he didn't appear maimed or sickly.

Good.

Very good.

She sat a bit taller when she was certain he was coming her way. Her blue eyes settled upon and she offered a slight inclination of her head. "Salutations, my fine sir," she spoke, though it almost came out a purr. Wherever this lion had come from, she wanted to be. He looked strong, he looked healthy, and she knew how to play the game.

She would wrap him around her paw. And why shouldn't she? Well . . . maybe he was mated already but . . . details! All in the details. She didn't need to think that far ahead, she was quite confident in her abilities to get what she wanted. (Even if she had yet to land the life she desired.)

"And here I'd thought I was the only soul awake at this hour."

Isanne's eyes brightened as she saw the lion suddenly change the pace of his walk. So, he had gotten the message. . . Good. Now she just had to put on all of her charms, and make sure that he would stick around! She didn't entirely have an intention to go through with . . . well. . . that but . . . then again . . . .

What was one night?

She wasn't a complete stranger to finding a little solace in the rogue lands, though she would never, ever, admit it. She was a lady, thank you, and she would be treated like one! Hmph! But even ladies needed a little comfort now and then on those lonely nights. She wasn't a hussy and anyone who claimed such a thing would find their eyes clawed out! In a lady-like fashion, of course.

Wrapping her tail loosely about her paws, Isanne allowed a small smile to cross her features. He was very handsome, and had to be tough. Those scars looked fresh, but that was just as well. It meant he'd protect her in the future. "I'm afraid I may disappoint. I'm not exactly that sort of prey beast, you know," she added with a small chuckle. "I was merely passing through, investigating these lands. Are you from around here, stranger?"

The Mwezi'Johari . . . .

She tried to recall whether or not she'd heard of such a place. But the lioness had yet to find a pride that really called to her. She liked the idea of a pride, but they usually demanded such work. To have to take on some sort of craft or find some sort of ability . . . to pull ones weight . . . . no. These were not necessarily things that appealed to her.

While one would argue she was already suffering much worse by living in the rogue lands, Isanne didn't see such a thing. Because all of the trials she went through as her own queen. That made it all worth while. If she were to join a pride, she would be dubbed a nobody. She would be of low rank and that was completely unacceptable.

She deserved more, thank you. And someday she would have it.

Of course, Isanne felt the slightest of shivers dance up her spine as the male leaned in close to whisper his entreaty. He certainly seemed to be interested in spending some quality time with her, which was good. And honestly, Isanne wasn't interested in his pride, this Mwezi whatever. No, she needed to get him to fall madly in love with her this evening, and then they could talk about prides.

And how wonderful she was.

"Well, I don't know . . . do you think you could properly appreciate the reflection of light upon my coat, or in my eyes?" She asked coyly, challenging him to prove himself to make good on his words. She rose to her paws, taking the slightest of steps forward. He was far too easy.

"It is a beautiful night, but. . . " She leaned forward, unafraid to get close to the stranger. "I know a way we might make this night perfect."

Ha.

That's right. He was going to eat out of her paws! This was going just the way she wanted. Her plan was fool-proof. Oh, so perhaps her flirting wasn't exactly lady like, but . . . he did promise to admire her. So that made up for it. Males were silly and so easy to trap, this was just the fastest way to what she wanted!

Surely, nobody could blame her.

Isanne gave another small chuckle, completely forgetting herself. She was so focused on what she'd need sacrifice in order to get this male to fawn over her completely, that she had no idea who he was. She should have been warned that he seemed to fall in to place far too naturally . . . .but he was a male. All males had one thing on their mind, thank you, so she honestly couldn't blame him.

She liked his confidence. His swagger.

She liked that he seemed to be genuinely interested in her.

And she especially liked when he nibbled on her ear!

Well . . . very well. She would make this sacrifice if only to better play her game. He was close enough to a white knight, and if she played her cards right, she'd not have to life another paw again any time soon. She was a princess, after all, and what would one night hurt? Come morning, a new dawn would rise, and she would do all in her power to keep him at her side.

But that was then; for now, there was only moonlight, starlight, and the soft grasses beneath their paws.

[FIN]