She had been traveling for what had seemed like ever. Ever since she had left the company of her mother and nephew before with her father’s wrath for her dam to face by herself. Of course O’ros felt guilty about leaving her mother alone with him. What kind of daughter would she had been otherwise? The starry-pelted lioness shook her head, trying to force the images from her mind. They would not help her now. She had no way of turning back now and no real future ahead of her at this point. What was she to the world now? Just another head waiting to be struck down by a passing lion or god who decided she was not worthy of continuing to live? Or would not live under them in a form of servitude? Again O’ros shook her head furiously, trying to rid her mind of the foul thoughts that defiled her mind. These thoughts were not right and had no place within her mind. She had to continue on, to keep her paws moving until she would a place she could consider her new home. Perhaps her weary body could rest soon. With that thought in mind the dark purple lioness moved through the savannah of Africa like a shadow in the night, the tall grass wisping passed her.
It was almost as if the gods themselves had pulled Toph’Tara Kanati away from where his family resided that night and sent whispers in the wind to go for what he thought would be only a simple walk. No, it would turn into much more than that, but he just did not know it just yet. The brown maned male padded through their grasslands towards the borders of where the Ela’wadiyi now called home. Why in the spirits names was he being called all the way out here? Was it just a gut feeling that he would be needed or was his might merely playing tricks on him? Was it the product of his body needing to relive a dream he could not remember? He did not know, but he stood on their borders regardless as deep aqua eyes stared outward.
Silver eyes paid little to no attention to her surroundings as she walked. Why should she? If the gods willed it, it would happen anyways. Preventing it only delayed any inevitable occurrences. O’ros felt herself sigh at the thought. When had she gotten so weak willed? Her mother had taught her to be stronger than this! To be more independent. She did not need the gods to dictate her life, she could do that herself. Still, what would she be compared to the greatness that was a servant of Mkodi? The lioness willed herself to stop momentarily and raise her head to the night sky that her pelt’s coloration resembled and to the moon that reminded her so much of her mother’s eyes. Oh how she missed the voice of her mother. What she would give to be back listening to one of her stories once again. That was no longer her life though. Her life was that of a rogue. A pitiful one at that.
There. In the distance, a dark form that he could just barely make out. Was this what he had been summoned from bed by his mind for? A shadow? Toph’Tara’s eyes squinted as she strained to look even with his feline eyes. The most he could discover was that it was female form with the distinct lack of a mane. “Hello out there!” He called out, taking a chance at alerting the stranger to his presence. If they proved to be a threat, he would beat them away like anyone else would have. If they were not, well he would just have to see what they wanted not wouldn’t he?
Her head quickly snapped to the side as her ears swiveled towards the direction of the hailing. “Hello?” O’ros replied, curious as to what exactly had called out to her in the first place. There was nothing to be seen at first, but then her eyes caught glimpse of what could only have been the source of the greeting. It was male, but a blue one with brown mane. An odd, yet nice combination of colors if she could say so herself.
A reply! How exciting! Oh how would her uncle continue this conversation...Toph’Tara struggled to think as the seconds went ticking away and the lioness was left unanswered. “What is your business here?” He finally called back with what he had come up to be the best possible reply that could be thought up in less then a few minutes without rehearsal or practice at greeting rogues or what he thought was a rogue.
The female form sat down in the grass, her head lowering to the look at the ground for only a few moments before turning skyward again. “I am a traveler or so I would like to think. I merely have no place to go, no family to turn to and no future I can see.” O’ros’ ears fell back at the realization that she was truly alone in the world at this point. “What of you, stranger?”
“I am Toph’Tara Kanati,” The lion replied having taken a few strides closer, allowing for easier speaking and less chance of waking the rest of the pride. “I am a member of a pride that resides in nearby lands that may interest you, traveler. Your name?”
“O’ros. A pleasure, Toph’Tara.”
“Please, just Toph will do. That’s just what I’m officially called, not what I like to be called.” He gave her a reassuring smile as he sat a distance from her. “Well O’ros. I will return in the morning with my uncle. He will be the one to decide if you are alright to allow further into our lands. I hope you are, I’d like to get to know you more.”
For the first time a while the purple lioness smiled as she nodded in agreement while the lion she had just learned was a member of a pride she might be able to join got up, turned and left to most likely return to where he came from. O’ros lowered her head upon the ground. Perhaps sleep would be help her exhaustion and pass the time as she waited for the sun to rise and her new future to begin.
[Word Count: 1072]
