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"My feet hurt."

"Mine do too, Lollys."

"My feet hurt badly."

"Mine do too, Lollys."

"Very badly."

A pause. "I'm sorry, Lollys."

Had Nadhani been a less tolerant lion, it was entirely likely that he'd have abandoned the hapless cheeton as she slept. As it stood, Nadhani felt entirely too responsible for the hybrid, and could not stand to think what might become of the ... confused female. She wasn't mean or vindictive - she was quite harmless, in fact - but she could complain for hours upon hours about the most mundane things.

The ground was too rough. The sun was too bright. The clouds were blinding. The dirt was hot. His stripes were making her dizzy. Honestly, her complaints were enough to drive a lesser lion insane.

Luckily for her, Nadhani had a soft spot in his heart for those less fortunate when it came to mental capacity. His own mother had been bogged down by the thick fog of dementia, and he'd been young when she'd passed away. It hadn't been easy on any of them, least of all his adoptive father, Sadiki. The same adoptive father who was the biological father of the hybrid that walked by his side. The strange markings she bore left no doubt in Nadhani's mind that this female was his adoptive sister. He never said as much to Lollys, as doing so would only confuse the poor girl.

So consumed by his thoughts, Nadhani did not realize that they were being stalked by a pair of large lions.



Thorgrim had caught the scent of the female first. The male's scent was more subdued. It had taken Thorgrim and Kjar three days to catch sight of anything that wasn't a preybeast. Kjar was a strong comrade to have when out on a viking, no matter how small this one was - and it had been Kjar who had spotted the duo traveling together.

"We will not rush this," Thorgrim said softly, eyeing the small plume of dust that marked the pair in the distance. "I do not tolerate failure well, and I tire of being so far from home."

Kjar purred softly. He could still scent the female on the air, and he couldn't help but wonder if she was as beautiful as she smelled. They'd yet to get entirely too close to the pair, but Thorgrim was convinced that this was the lion that he wanted for Naja's thrall.

Kjar would not argue with him.

"Have you plans for the female?" The question was a low, serpentine hiss.

Thorgrim shot Kjar a glance out of the corner of his eyes. He knew the type of male that Kjar was - and while Thorgrim had no hunger for the raping and brutalization of females, there was a need for the type of lion that Kjar was. A lion who did not hesitate when it came to the beating and training of thralls, a lion whose very name struck fear in those who knew him - those of a lower standing, at least.

"None. Do as you wish with her." Thorgrim only had eyes for the able-bodied male - at least, Thorgrim hoped him able-bodied. "It is growing late. I will take first watch. You sleep. We move in on them in the morning, Kjar."

Kjar bared his teeth in anticipation. He respected Thorgrim, approved of the older lion's beliefs. And if he hadn't before, Thorgrim surely would have swayed him with the promise of a female thrall.



Nadhani woke to an unholy screech. He shot to his feet only to be slammed back down into the dirt. Lollys was pinned unceremoniously beneath a large brown male, a look of terror in her unsettling yellowed gaze. The lion had Lollys by her scruff, effectively pinning her to the ground while standing over her, a cold reptilian look in his eyes. She appeared to be fine - the same could not be said for Nadhani, who was knocked to the ground each time he tried to stand.

"Stay down, whelp," came a low voice, an ever larger, darker male looming over him. "Let me explain what is about to happen."

Nadhani swallowed harshly, meeting Lollys' gaze for a brief moment before turning his eyes back to the snapping blue ones of the dark lion.

"You may consider yourself well and truly captured. You will be slaves - thralls - from this moment out, and you will obey us. If you do not, Kjar," the rusty-colored lion gestured with a massive paw, indicating the slightly smaller lion that had his teeth locked down on Lollys, "will rape, torture and then kill your little friend here. Your little... hybrid friend." The pale-maned lion sounded properly disgusted. Nadhani turned to glance at Lollys once more.

She was panting harshly, a look of terror in her eyes. Nadhani clenched his jaw. He never should have wandered alone. He never should have thought that this would be a good idea - and he never should have promised Lollys that he would take care of her. Nadhani thought for a moment about Sadiki. How was his father going to take this? The loss of yet another son? His brother had already gone, and now Nadhani would never return.

"Fine," Nadhani rumbled gruffly, breaking eye contact with Lollys and glancing at a spot just over the large rusty lion's left shoulder.

"Fine."



Kjar would not lie, he was sorely disappointed that the female was a hybrid. Disgusting, despicable creatures that they were. He would have to admit, however, that they made the best thralls. He'd known a few throughout his life - and they'd never found themselves pregnant, no matter how many times they found themselves used and abused by the males in the pride. Even still, Kjar had no interest in the female and her frightened looks. He had struck her a few times, always to the dismay of the male she'd been traveling with - and if he had to admit to his reasons for striking her, he would have to answer truthfully; it kept the striped male in line. He would not dare to make an escape and risk the death or maiming of the female he seemed to care so much about.

Kjar snorted.

"Many new outlanders joining the pride as of late," Kjar began an idle conversation, directing his attention towards Thorgrim. "I do not know whether I should feel thankful or not. There was an especially lovely pale thing that came in with the latest wave. Tasnim." Kjar fell silent briefly.

Thorgrim grunted.

"Things will soon change, Kjar," Thorgrim yawned, sending a glance in Kjar's direction. "And you have found yourself a wife in Runa, I hear?"

Kjar tensed. While he did respect Thorgrim, at least for the most part, Runa was not a welcomed topic. Kjar tossed a glance at the striped thrall. His green eyes were full of hate. Kjar smiled.

It was an unkind gesture.

In lieu of answering the question posed to him by Thorgrim, Kjar lanced his claws against the hybrid's cheek. He did not break skin, but it caused the female to whimper. The sound brought a smile to Kjar's face.

"You hear correctly, Captain."

Silence reigned. Thorgrim was not going to pursue further conversation. He had Lena. She was a good, meek wife, and Thorgrim was lucky to have her. Runa had been too much of a handful, and Thorgrim had been glad to be rid of her, in truth.

"I will stand guard first. You sleep."

He moved to seat himself next to the thrall, shooting her a warning glance while Kjar moved a short distance away.

The night fell silent.



Nadhani could not count the times he debated escape throughout the night - but Lollys was trapped next to the more vicious, smaller lion, and Nadhani could not leave her behind. The moon had prevented any safe movement, its cool light illuminating everything with a harsh brightness.

Perhaps there would be a time later. Perhaps they would leave Lollys unguarded. He glanced back at his adoptive half-sister, his mouth wrenching. She slept peacefully, mouth open. After the first day, she'd stopped fearing the large lions. She would not run. She was too stupid to run.

So why did he feel like leaving her behind would be a totally unacceptable thing for him to do? Nobody would have to know he'd ever found her. Sadiki certainly hadn't known that he'd fathered a second litter. It had been mere chance that Nadhani had stumbled upon the clan of hyena - all of which had seemed far too hesitant to come after Lollys.

He should have seen that for what it was - an omen.

Nadhani swung his gaze to meet that of the larger, darker lion. Thorgrim. He'd been watching Nadhani almost broodingly.

"What.. what will be our duties upon the return to the pride?"

Nadhani watched as Thorgrim slowly blinked.

"You will be a thrall to my granddaughter. She is a strong lioness - and I do not have to warn you that you will not lay a paw on her." Thorgrim's eyes twitched, narrowing in warning. "She is very special to me, and should you find yourself yearning after her, come to me and I shall end your life immediately. It will save us all the trouble, I assure you."

Thorgrim fell silent, effectively ending the conversation.



At first, Lollys had been terrified. She hated being away from home, away from her mother and her family. Hated not knowing what would happen next, or if she'd be hit again - not that hitting was new or even unwelcome. She'd gotten used to it back with the hyenas in their clan. Her mother hadn't been as tolerant as Lollys was, and so Vena had often found herself in trouble, but... Lollys liked being told what to do. She liked feeling safe and secure even when the methods were not the kindest or gentlest. Pain was something that Lollys understood in her own dull-witted sort of way.

Nadhani had wanted to save her, but Lollys had never thought of herself as needing to be saved.

Even now, with the brown lion's claws digging protectively into her side, Lollys was not afraid. Then again, the hyenas had never mentioned rape or brutality of any sort, and had always used their harsh words and sheer numbers to keep the lions in line.

With a soft sigh, Lollys contemplated her future. She turned just enough to gaze at Nadhani - the lion eyed her with worry. Maybe if she smiled at him, he would feel better. She smiled. Brightly. Nadhani only frowned, earning a scowl of her own in turn.

Well, maybe he'd find out that being a thrall or slave or whatever they were going to be really wasn't a terrible thing - especially for him. She doubted that he was at risk of being privy to rape or brutality.



Morning came at its own leisurely pace, and the instant that the sun peeped up over the horizon, Thorgrim was herding them all onto their feet. Kjar rose easily, and Lollys soon after. Nadhani rolled to his feet last, annoyed with the entire turn of events.

"Do we have to walk much farther," Lollys' voice rang out dully. "My feet are starting to ache, and the sun is hot."

The three males let out soft groans of varying degrees of volume.

"We are nearly back to the pride," Thorgrim was the first to answer, followed swiftly by Kjar cuffing the cheeton across the head. She let out a small whimper before following after the brown lion, trotting at times in order to keep up with his pace. Nadhani only shook his head as Lollys wandered after Kjar.

If he thought about it too hard, his head began to hurt. At least now, should he choose to escape, Nadhani knew that it would be best to leave her behind.



Upon the return to the Stormborn, Thorgrim guided Nadhani to Naja's den. He was given one final warning - leave, or attempt to leave, and Lollys would be killed. Nadhani would be found and killed - and it was no empty threat.

It was a promise.

wc: 2001