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In a small stream, shallow enough that only a fool or a cub could drown, stood a white lion. The water flowing away from him carried long red ribbons as he meticulously cleaned every wound the obnoxious black lion had inflicted. It wasn't that Yareha was fastidious all the time, it was more that the entire encounter had left a sour taste in his mouth and he sought to wash that away by cleaning up his wounds and tending to them as best he could alone.

Well, not completely alone. Latitare was nearby, perched in one of the scrawny trees that accompanied the stream on its journey to some larger body of water. But a bird would be of little use in licking wounds until they clotted, or cleaning stray droplets out of thick white fur.

Still, the whole thing irked him. What right did these stranger lions have to know all about him and his past? Yareha had thought all that left behind within the Mwezi'Johari, banished for his crimes but able to leave them behind with his former life. But apparently the Great Lion wished to punish him further, by putting these visionaries in his path.

Not to mention the blasphemy they spouted, claiming to be offspring of gods. What nonsense!

The sudden voice startled Yareha into turning, splashing noisily in his surprise. Two lions were heading towards him on the bank, a male and female, and it was the latter which had called out to him.

The white lion blinked, anger and frustration momentarily forgotten in the shock of having two strangers happen upon him. At least their body language was open and unreserved, not looking for a fight like the black lion had been. Also he guessed them to be lovers, if not mates, from how they stood together.

"Uh...hello there," he responded at last, aware that they were waiting for him to react. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to think of anything the least bit intelligent to say.

"I'm fine," the white lion responded sharply, probably more sharply than he'd intended. And it was the truth - yes he had numerous cuts and scrapes, bruises and pulled muscles, strains and general aches, none of it was serious, all of it would heal in time. The most lasting wounds were inside, where Yareha was still bitter over the whole thing.

But he didn't want to sound confrontational. So he took a breath, swallowed hard and when he felt himself to be calm once more, looked up and asked a question of his own.

"Do you two live around here?" A logical enough question. One he might have asked the black lion, had that male been less eager for a fight.

Ah, so they were travelers, like himself. The white lion wondered idly if these two had any destination in mind, or if they too were simply wandering. But, he didn't want to pry too much at the moment. He was surprised when the lioness took a step closer. But...she certainly seemed friendly, though her mate appeared to be a bit more reserved.

"Yareha Afaer," he answered. "And whom I do I have the honor of meeting?" He was more polite than usual, trying to make up for a poor first impression.

There. Introductions. That was fairly painless and easy, now wasn't it? Now all he had to do was focus on this pair before him, and forget about the other lion from earlier. Easier said than done, but he would have to try.

"No, I'm a stranger here, and just passing through," Yareha answered Thaddaeus honestly and openly. "I simply didn't want to trespass or make trouble for anyone."

Which was also true enough. Trouble just always seemed to find the white lion.

Yareha's mouth twisted. Of course with wounds this fresh, they would know something of what had passed before. Not because of strange powers that no lion should have, but because they weren't stupid and could read the map of injuries across his body.

"I didn't either. I'd thought to get some information from him about this area, and he attacked me," the white lion answered the unspoken question grimly. Hopefully that would be enough for them. Yareha grudgingly admitted to himself that the two were simply concerned. For him, since he was here, and likely for themselves. No one wanted to live near violent lions without a good reason for it.

"That would be wonderful," he accepted the offer with some relief. Latitare was nothing to sneeze at, but to know what was around without having to look would be a blessing.

Abruptly realizing that he was still standing in the stream and that his paws had been numb for some time now, Yareha padded over to the two and stepped onto the bank near them.

"I would love to know what other water sources are around, and if there are any prides," he went on, detailing the information he'd been hoping to get ever since the eagle had raised his hopes earlier today. Not that the white lion intended to join or even go near any prides. He simply wanted to know where they were so that he could continue to avoid them.

Yareha nodded understanding as Thaddaeus related that the stream was the best around. It was a shame, but not every place could have plentiful water. And most of those locations were claimed by prides and not always accessible to outsiders. He couldn't blame these two for that.

And...a bird pride? How...interesting. Well. He had Latitare, so perhaps it would be worth investigating further. Not that he was looking for a place to stay, but it couldn't hurt to learn more about it.

"Thank you, all of this is very good to know," he told the pair. "Is there anything else you would care to share about these lands?" Just in case there was something he should know that he hadn't known enough to ask. Or had forgotten, as the case might be.