"Don't jump, it's not worth it, the beast will eat you!" The little cub scrambled as quickly as she could across the rock face towards the lion on the horizon. With his eyes closed and head raised, he seemed lost in a land of dreams where she couldn't possibly reach him... but he was so very close to the edge, so very close to falling off the edge of the world and she couldn't let this happen. Not after everything Vas'Redoubt had said to her, she had to make sure this lion would stay safe, realise that there was more to live for.
It should have come at no surprise therefore that she was somewhat surprised when he opened his eyes again and slowly turned his head to stare at her. He didn't seem startled by her presence, nor her outburst. Instead, he seemed bemused by her presence and it was with slow and calculated movements that he began to move towards her.
She shrank back, startled by the mountainous size of the creature before her.
"La'Seine!" In the distance, Vas'Redoubt called for her and she glanced back briefly towards his voice before returning her gaze to the blue male in front of her. She'd never seen a lion before, had no true idea of what to expect and as such, she could only sink down low and flatten her ears against her head uncertainly. "La'seine!" the voice repeated before the iridescent coat swept into view and drew ever nearer.
"La'seine?" The lion finally spoke, his lips creasing into a grim line as he regarded the cub and then the cheetah scrambling up the rock face. Evidently neither of the two were accustomed to the ground that their paws now had to grace. "This is your name, I would assume?" he continued, causing the small cub to not timidly. The lion closed his eyes and then gave a brief nod before turning his gaze back out towards what lay beyond the cliffs. What she had said was not lost on him and he was pondering over the rammifications of what this meant.
"Do not touch -" Vas'redoubt was silenced by the contemplative expression of the lion as he drew to a halt and swept his paw around the cub protectively. He knew of lions, he knew of their cruelty, but this one seemed different. He couldn't place his paw on it but the threat that he often sensed in the roguelands was gone. Perhaps those that lay close to the edge of the world were of a different mindset entirely.
...Yes, La'seine had found what she was looking for.
Both the edge, and the living being.
"What beast?" the lion enquired softly, his gaze returning to the cub and her guardian as he pondered over what she could possibly mean.
"The beast at the edge of the world, the one that's down there!" she pointed to the edge of the cliff face and much to her surprise the lion gave a quick spurt of laughter before glancing down from the edge of the cliff face.
"I see no beast," he replied gently and motioned with his paw for the cub to come closer. Both she and Vas'redoubt responded, with the cub's guardian making sure to hold her close so that she didn't slip. Neither of them anticipated what came next - what they would see... For down below them lay an endless view of water, however, unlike the water they were accustomed to this seemed alive as it rocked back and forth. Occasionally it would crash against the shoreline and cast droplets into the air, but for the most part it didn't seem like a beast.
"At least, this beast is quiet," the lion amended and continued to gaze down at the ocean beneath his paws. "As with all things it is capable of rage, but it has no reason to be now that these lands are calm," he explained softly and smiled more deeply, a warmth seeping into his gaze. "Our kind play with it, care for it and appreciate it. In return it provides us with food and protects us... Not so much a beast, as a guardian," he gazed pointily towards Vas'redoubt who seemed to have sobered.
"Ooooh," La'seine seemed postively mesmerised by the water as it rocked back and forth, but she seemed even more interested by what he said next. So this society, these beings who lived by this beast had calmed it? It was their friend? Very slowly she wiggled her way out of Vas'redoubt's grasp and drew nearer the lion. "So even the edge of the world isn't scary?" she asked curiously and hazarded a smile.
"I guess not," Vas'redoubt replied gently, his gaze skimming the shoreline as he glanced from it to the endless blue horizon.
"No, it isn't," the lion confirmed before raising a brow. "Though I must confess that we rarely receive visitors to these lands. To what do we owe this pleasure?" he enquired softly.
"She wishes to see the world," Vas'redoubt responded and flicked his gaze back towards the lion, his lips pursing as he regarded him. He had no idea what to expect, but something told him that they were safe for the time being. "She wanted to see the secrets that lay beyond it."
"I followed my paws!" La'seine announced proudly, her chest puffing up in delight.
"And you found us," the lion replied with a small nod of understanding before bowing his head. "Then I welcome you, uh...?"
"This is La'seine and I am her guardian, Vas'Redoubt," the cheetah replied.
"La'seine and Vas'redoubt," the lion took the names to heart and nodded again. "To the Bahari'mtoto, land of the sea lions," he continued and motioned with his head for the pair to follow him in the opposite direction they had come from. Both obeyed, padding after the much bigger creature as they moved away from the edge of the world and were soon greeted by what could only be described as a sea of sand and a thick, nearly impenetrable jungle.
"Perhaps I should introduce myself," the lion chuckled and turned his gaze back to the pair who seemed utterly tranfixed by the colours that shone back at them from within the jungle and along the shoreline. "My name is Ram and these are my lands. I guard them, I love them, and I treasure all that live on them. We are unused to visitors... but you are most welcome," he continued and returned his gaze to the beach.
"So many colours..." La'seine murmured lovingly.
"You must want for nothing," Vas'redoubt murmured softly, his eyes much wider than they normally were.
"We want for some things," Ram correct and tilted his head to the side. "But we are comfortable and well protected. We need not ask for any more than that."
"Can we stay?" La'seine asked suddenly, turning to face the lion who stared at her in surprise at her rather abrupt request. So young was she to ask this question that he quickly turned to her guardian for confirmation.
"I believe her paws no longer wish to wander," Vas'redoubt confirmed and gazed down at the small cub. "You are sure?"
"I found the edge of the world!" La'seine announced triumphantly. "I found its people! I found the beast!" she chittered on and he hazarded a small chuckle at the leotah and her determined stance.
"If you would have us, it would be greatly appreciated." Vas'redoubt spoke on the behalf of La'seine as the consenting adult and fixed his gaze on Ram. The lion seemed temporarily lost in thought before he gave the slightest of nods.
"So be it."
WORD COUNT: 1288
