[PRP] The Little Prince

[mouselet]

The beige lioness was going to and fro across the pride as her duties dictated, bringing meat from the hunt to those who needed it and were privileged enough to not have to go fetch it, then returning for more. It was busy work, in some ways, but Halili didn't mind. She always loved to wander through the pride, meeting people and conversing with anyone who would let her.

She was on her way back to get another load when she saw the purple cub sitting nearby. He must be one of the little Princes - Shangyue or Shuiyue. If she remembered correctly, it was Shangyue who was dominantly purple and his brother who was white with purple markings.

So she smiled at the boy as she came near. "Good afternoon Prince Shangyue." Here went hoping she'd remembered correctly!  

[mouselet]

"My name is Halili," the lioness replied with a smile for the boy. She came closer - the food would wait, or it would be handled by others. It wasn't as if they were so understaffed that her taking the time to talk to one cub, regardless of who he was, would make a huge difference. Actually, in her experience, as long as the job got done and no one was angry about it, things were fairly laidback.

After all, it wasn't their fault how much or how little of the Great Lion's eye was open when they were born.

"I am one of the many low class workers in the pride," she offered as an additional bit of information to answer who she was.  

[mouselet]

"Well, yes," Halili admitted. "But I usually just refer to my class because it sounds nicer," she told the cub, determined to be cheerful even so. There were some in the higher classes who were dead set on snubbing those beneath them, especially slaves. The lioness didn't think that Selene would raise her children that way, but it was always possible that they'd develop their own opinions based on attitudes of people they were exposed to.

"It's a lot of fun - I get to go all over the pride and meet just about everybody!" she went on.  

[mouselet]

The lioness had to think about that one. Who was the most fun...hmmm...a very difficult question. Halili had to consider that very carefully. At last she smiled.

"Well, I'd have to say Hamaniya. She's a Lady, a yellow lioness with wing markings on her back, in case you haven't met her yet," the beige lioness replied cheerily. "She's quite nice and lots of fun!"

"What about you? Who's the most fun person you've met?" Halili asked, turning the query back on Shangyue.  

[mouselet]

Halili supposed it wasn't a surprising answer. No cub was going to pick his parents and his grandfather was a fairly interesting one on the basis of being the King. So she nodded in response.

"I can see that he has a very important position. But King Thoth doesn't strike me as the most...fun...person in the pride." Not saying the boy was wrong to pick his grandfather. Just that even if he'd been someone she knew well, Halili wouldn't have picked him.  

[mouselet]

Halili rolled her shoulders in a shrug as she watched the boy walk away. She hoped that he was taught that rank did not make anyone any better or worse than anyone else.

Hopefully.