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It was the time of day when Setu found the most peace and quiet. It was too late in the evening for the diurnal creatures to be out and about, but the sun was still peeking over the horizon and the nighttime wildlife hadn't yet emerged. All the lion could hear was the wind sweeping through the long grass and his ruffled, white mane. The movement, along with the casual sweep of the tip of his tail, were the only things that revealed that Setu was more than a silent, sitting statue on his small outcropping of rock.

He was supposed to return to the rest of the pride soon, but he wanted a moment to watch and wait for the stars to come out. During his travels, the stars had become a welcome sight. The cool night air made his trek easier, so he had developed the habit of watching them come out at night. It was kind of silly after a long day, but he liked his little routines.

The lion stifled a yawn. Hunting that day hadn't gone well, but he had figured out where the herds were going by trailing after them for most of the day. So the day hadn't been completely wasted.

Setu's ears flicked back as he heard Abedemi's exclamation of surprise. There wasn't much out there that could harm him, and he was close enough to the Pridelands that he could get help if he needed. So the large lion didn't react right away. He meant to ignore it and continue with his sky watching, but curiosity eventually got the better of him. Setu shifted his body to lie facing the other direction and peered around with his bright orange eyes.

Something moved in the grass. It took him a moment to spy the lioness as parts of her fur matched the golden grass, but then he noted the patches of white and knew that there was more than grass there. Setu raised his head to see better, wondering if she was a pridemate, or someone just passing through.

"Hello?" He called out uncertainly, uncomfortable about speaking to strangers.

Setu gave her an encouraging smile when he saw her back up a few steps, as if she was readying herself to flee. Her behaviour reminded him of when he was a rogue in strange territory, always watching and waiting for potential trouble. He knew from experience that being cautious was the only way one could ensure they would be ready in case things went sour, so he had some sympathy for her. He tried his best to look relaxed and friendly in case she was frightened.

"Good evening, miss," he replied, stretching to reach the ground before dismounting from the rock to stand at her level. A less intimidating position, in his opinion.

"You are on the border of the Pridelands," he explained, looking back in the direction of pride rock, which was just visible in the distance if one knew what they were looking for. He had wandered farther than he had initially thought. "It is a peaceful place, so do not be afraid to wander and rest here."

Setu responded to the lioness's backwards steps by pausing in place. If she wanted to get closer, he would let her come to him; he could see that if he kept going she might get the wrong impression. He took a soft breath and made sure he remained as relaxed as possible.

He tilted his head slightly, like a curious cub studying a strange insect. The lioness was a delicate, pretty thing in his eyes, and he supposed it wouldn't hurt to help her. "Would you like a guide to shelter?" he offered, in a soft voice. "It's getting late, and I do not know if it's safe out here when it's dark."