It had only been maybe an hour or two since D'oro-Moyo had left the company of a rogue lion she had met on the border but she was already so intrigued with his life that she scarcely cared what possible motive he may have by disclosing information about the rogue lands to her. While it wasn't a complete secret, there were some ways of life that many just did not share. Though with a hare in mouth and a youthful pep in her step, the huntress made he way back towards the border. Maybe he'd teach her how to track other lions or better yet, how to not be tracked by other lions! Or how to be a better hunter. Or how to not lose her kill to hyenas or another lion. The young lioness' mind just went wild with ideas as she let her paws carry her across the dark plains.
Sure it had only been a few hours, but in those few hours Durin had managed to get a nap in. The Pridelands were a nice bunch so he wasn't exactly worried about being jumped in his sleep. That was probably the main reason that he seemed alright with just sleeping in some other pride's lands and not really care too much about it. After all, he's just be shooed out rather than killed if her knew anything at all about the Pridelanders. So even if a scout found him before the young lioness did, he'd be fine.
"Hvey vu!" Called the lioness as Durin came into view, with her mouth still wrapped around the small meal she had brought for him. Of course she was proud of the little hare, even if it wasn't much. D'oro-Moyo's light jog turned to more of a small sprint as she made the effort to get back to the snoozing male. Spitting the small prey beast onto the ground, she scowled down at the darker lion with a frown firmly planted on her face. He was sleeping?! "Hey!" She huffed, nudging his shoulder with her head in an attempt to roll him over.
"Huuuh?" Durin's eyes blinked opened, his voice soft with only the confused word able to get out before a yawn took its place. Though once his sleepy eyes settled he saw the little hare sitting in front of him and an angry lioness staring down at him with her chest puffed out. He really couldn't help but laugh.
"And just what is so funny?!" She demanded, stamping her paw on the ground. He was just so...so...UGH. She didn't even know a word to describe just what he was. "I went out, caught you your meal for my part of the deal and I come back to find you sleeping the day away."
"And just what was I supposed to do while I waiting for a fine huntress such as yourself to get back from her trip? I was just saving my energy so I could keep up with your youthful energy and actually stay up until the sun comes up." Durin glanced down to the small meal and smiled. He could take it back to the other lionesses. He knew they would appreciate the small gesture, even if it wasn't him who caught it. "So what do you want to know about the rogue lands?"
D'oro-Moyo was about to scold him once more but he brought up the subject that had actually gotten her to go hunting in the middle of the night: the rogue lands. Quickly she sat down, her tail swaying happily behind her as she looked to him with large, youthful eyes. "Everything!" She happily exclaimed.
More laughter. "Well aren't you the excited one. I take it you've never been outside the borders, or if you have it wasn't for very long. Where to start..." Durin pushed himself up into a sitting position with his large paws. Clearing his throat, he began to speak. "It's a harsh life out there. For your survival and for anyone with you. I lead a small pride, consisting of three lionesses currently and a litter of my own cubs. I have to fight off males who wish to take my pride for his own and kill my children to lessen competition. Game is not as plentiful despite my pride being fairly close to the border of yours." He paused to sigh, thinking of those waiting for him to return. He couldn't stay much longer as they would know he was gone if he was not back by sun-up.
"That sounds...horrible." Came as the first reply from D'oro-Moyo. "Why not just join a pride if your life it that hard?" Of course it was a valid question, especially coming from someone who had lived in a pride her entire life. It was nearly heart-breaking to know that those outside the Pridelands struggled so much.
Durin shook his head but gave the young lioness a kind smile. "Being a rogue, even in a small pride of my own, gives my lionesses, my kin and I freedom to do and go wherever we please. Though with repercussions of course. We cannot just wander into all pride's lands without a second thought. Some would kill us." Suddenly the male's face grew sterner as he looked right at her. "Listen to me. Stay in your pride, enjoy your life here. You do not have to worry if you will have food tonight because your land is plentiful. There are those here to shoulder your burdens with as well. If you really want to become a rogue, learn more about the lands beyond the borders first." His head turned as he looked to the horizon. The sun was just peaking over it. Ungracefully, he rose onto all four paws. "I'll return tonight and tell you more, but my lionesses need me as do my children." Durin lowered his head both in respect and to grab the hare in his mouth. Before the lioness could even say anything, he had turned and run off back out into the rogue lands.
[Word Count: 1017]
