surprised riginal" class="user_img" alt="User Image" style='float:left' />Dhoru woke to sunlight streaming through the holes in the den roof, the rays warming the small cave; but their warmth was nothing compared to the feel of Nema's body against his. He had fallen asleep curled around her with his head rested across her shoulders. With a huge yawn, he rose to his paws, careful not to wake his lifemate. Successfully, he silently left their new, shared den and padded into the sunlight. Stretching luxuriously, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the faint breeze whispering through the camp.
Upon opening his eyes, the first thing he noticed was a small lioness making her way to the space where the patrons trained. His whiskers twitched with amusement and he started toward his niece.
surprised riginal" class="user_img" alt="User Image" style='float:right' />Hana had always been a 'fiesty' cub, to say the least, and as she grew her enthusiasm had grown with her. Now that she was old enough to wander the camp on her own, she spent most of her time watching the patrons train and trying to mimic their moves. Ever since her meeting with Stormclaw and Gale Claws, she had been tempered by purpose and the knowledge of the true meaning of being a patron - but even though she no longer yearned to fight, she didn't stop trying to get better at it.
It was almost sunhigh and the day was bright and warm, so Hana was sure there would be at least one patron she could shadow. As long as she stayed well out of the way and didn't interrupt, most of the patrons didn't mind her copying them.
She had only made it about halfway to the training area when she heard a familiar voice calling her name. Her ear twitched and she turned her head to face the direction the voice had come from. Her irritation at being held up faded into excitement when she saw her uncle heading toward her. Even though he wasn't a patron, Hana loved her uncle dearly, and always enjoyed spending time with the quirky lion.
"Good morning, Dhoru! How are you? And Nema?" she called as he came within earshot.
"I'm well, and Nema's probably even better - she's still sound asleep. Headed to watch the patrons again, are we?", he asked with a smirk. "Why don't you come take a walk with me instead?"
Hana could tell that Dhoru, unlike many of her other pride mates, didn't disapprove of her ambitious determination. While others called her stubborn, or even reprimanded her for bothering the patrons - which she made sure to never do, but like they cared - her uncle was the complete opposite. He would ask about her training with Gale Claws, and sometimes even ask her to demonstrate the new things she had learned. It was a big part of why she enjoyed his company so much. And it was why she didn't mind that he was suggesting she do something else today. In fact, it was actually a relief to take a break for a while.
Nodding, Hana fell into step beside Dhoru. "Where did you want to go?", she asked.
Dhoru had been intending to hunt for treasures today, and while he knew that Hana had no interest in becoming a thief, what cub didn't like finding cool stuff? "Actually, I need some help finding some interesting objects to bring back to the pride.", he told her. He didn't actually need help, and he was sure Hana would know that, but it was a good way to make her feel involved so she wouldn't get bored. Hana was always such a driven and dedicated little lioness.
The two padded casually into the trees. They walked along, chatting and finding small, common trinkets here and there - shells, pretty rocks and the like. Nothing extraordinary, but even the most common trinkets would be found useful within the pride - there was never a short supply of lions looking to be adorned. After a while, however, Dhoru noticed that Hana was starting to look like she was losing interest. An idea occurred to him and he smirked mischievously.
"I need to make dirt. You stay right here - don't move a muscle - and I'll be right back. I'll stay within earshot, so call if you need me." Dhoru turned and strode into the undergrowth. Once there, he quickly dropped into a crouch and slunk silently through the bushes. Once he was on the other side of Hana, he pounced.
Hana shrank against the ground as she felt a large presence land suddenly over top of her. Pushing down her fear, she tried to think about the fighting moves she had watched the patrons practicing. Scooting even further underneath the lion, she slid out her claws and pulled her muscles together, getting ready to attack the front paw of her assailant; however, she froze when she recognized the paw. It was Dhoru! Accepting the challenge, Hana smirked and sheathed her claws.
With a mock cry, she leapt at his leg and wrapped her paws around it.After a short scuffle, she was on her back with one of Dhoru's large forepaws planted gently but solidly on her chest. Struggle as she may, she couldn't move. Laying still, she glared up at her uncle. "Can you let me up now?" she asked grumpily.
Whiskers twitching with amusement, he smiled and sat down. With one paw still holding down his niece, he used the other to muss up the fur on her head. "Not until you say that I'm the best uncle ever, and you'll never love anyone more, and I'm the most amazing lion ever." he said playfully.
"Fine, fine!", Hana said in between purrs of laughter. "You're the best and most amazing and all that other junk. Now let me up!"
Dhoru lifted his paw and Hana rolled to her paws, shaking her fur to dislodge at least most of the dirt and scraps of plants. Giving one last playful glare to her uncle, she returned her attention to the trees around them. She was about to ask what they were going to do next when something caught her eye. A few tail lengths away, something glinted in a shaft of sunlight. Glancing at her uncle, she waited for his nod of permission and then headed toward it.
Dhoru looked over her shoulder as she dug out the piece of jewelry. For once, Hana looked genuinely interested in the treasure she found, digging excitedly but carefully at the dirt covering this new piece. After several heartbeats, she pulled out her treasure - a sheer blue scarf with twisting dark red designs and small, golden circles made of metal hanging from the edges. Dhoru smiled broadly as Hana looked up at him in amazement. Taking the scarf in his teeth, he placed it on Hana's head - where it promptly slipped down until it caught on her muzzle, covering everything else.
Lifting up one end with a forepaw, Hana peered out from under the scarf at her uncle and the two burst into purrs of laughter at how silly she must look. She shook the scarf from her head and picked it up, then padded over to Dhoru's 'bag' of treasures, meaning to place the scarf inside. However, Dhoru stepped in front of her, shaking his head. "Uh uh. That's yours. It may not fit now, but when you've grown more, I'm sure you'll look even more beautiful in it."
Hana smiled, warm beneath her fur. She affectionately butted her uncle's leg with her head, and he leaned down to lick her between the ears. Suddenly excited again, she bounced back to look expectantly in Dhoru's eyes. "Can we go show Mom and Dad?" she asked, her voice muffled by the fabric.
Dhoru nodded, and the two headed home - or, rather, raced home. In her excitement, Hana had barely waited for Dhoru to pick up his 'bag' before taking off as fast as her paws would carry her. As they reached Ugomvi and Vodnitvar's den, Dhoru called out a greeting as Hana yelled, "Look what I found!"
