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Zuberi was ready for a change. His old pride had grown far too violent for his liking, and his banishment had come with open paws. He was a peaceful lion, and would rather wander the rouge lands alone than inflict pain upon the innocent. The problem with this was that he was a social lion and craved the presence of others. There were plenty other rouges, but most of them preferred to be on their own, so after just a few weeks he knew he'd need to find a new pride to call home. The trouble was finding one that suited him.

Zuberi began to ask the rouges that he passed if they knew any places that might welcome him. Some he heard of were terribly violent, some he was warned to avoided, some were just for cheetahs or hyenas...it was a rather tough battle. He hadn't expected it to be like this, but he knew it would just make finding a new place that much better. Finally a little bird told him about a place where lions lived peacefully among each other. They were wary of rouges, but with some kind words and time, they could grow to trust new comers. Zuberi decided to seek the Ela out and try to persuade them to letting him live with them.

Following the direction of the bird, the monochrome lion made his way to the Ela lands. They were vast, and he wondered if it would take a while for a lion to find him. Rather than intruding too far, he sat himself down at the border between the lands and the rouge lands, scanning two-tone eyes across the horizon. There were some lions in the distance, but he'd wait for one of them to approach him.

The male lion sniffed the air hesitantly to make sure he was upwind of the lions in the distance to alert them to his presence. He didn't want to just sit around and do nothing, after all. He wanted in, and he wanted to talk to the members of the pride. It seemed his plan worked, because just a few minutes later a lioness began loping her way over to him. She was covered in strange markings and had a feather and a small pouch attached to her, which made Zuberi tilt his head. Very odd...but also very interesting.

"Hello," he called out, his voice friendly and calm. "Is this the Ela'wadiyi lands?" He hoped it was. Otherwise he'd probably have to go around this pride, and from what he could see and smell, their territory stretched as far as the eye could see in either direction. The bird had told him it was a very vast pride, after all. He stood, realizing he should present himself nicely for this possible Ela member. He didn't want to make a bad first impression after all. He kept his stance loose and tail swinging, letting the female know that he meant no harm at all.

Ah...so he had reached his goal. Zuberi wasn't too sure what the female meant by Wolf Clan, but he was sure he'd find out at some point. "No, I wasn't," he said with an easy smile, bobbing his head in greeting. "I was simply looking for the clan in hopes of joining."

He wasn't sure if there was some kind of initiation ceremony or if he just needed the okay from any pride member, but he was sure he was about to find out. "I'm afraid I don't know much about your pride other than it is very peaceful and very large," he admitted. "But I'm very willing to learn. Is there something I must do to join? What is this Wolf Clan you spoke of?"

Already he was curious to his new home. Would he become a part of this clan since he happened upon it? Would he get those strange markings? They didn't look natural...they seemed to be imprinted upon the female by some magic that he had never seen before.

Zuberi shook his head slightly. He had only heard that this pride was peaceful, and that's why he had sought it out. He had been quite surprised to see the markings on the female, but she explained it with one word: tattoos. That must be part of their rituals in the pride.

He took a seat as the female did, eager to learn about this place he hoped to call home. He kept his two-toned eyes focused on the female as she spoke, nodding now and then to let her know that he was listening. Prides within prides...now that was interesting. He wondered if they ever met up or if they continually circled each other. Surely they must talk at some points to keep the migration under control. Or maybe they just followed what their ancestors did before them without question and everything worked out.

"That's very interesting," he murmured, glancing over her shoulder to the lions behind her. The wolf clan...well, it was as good a clan as any, he was sure. "Is there no difference between clans?" he asked, turning his gaze back to her. "And why are you tattooed? I assume it's part of your culture but...they're so elaborate and there's so many."

Small differences...well, that was all he needed to know. Zuberi was glad then, since perhaps if he was permitted to join, he could stay with this Wolf clan. Ziksa was very patient in describing things to him, and he liked that about her. Hopefully they all would be as patient and welcoming. He usually wasn't one for talking, but today had to be an exception if he wanted to make a good impression.

"So if I were to hypothetically join, I could stay with this clan?" he asked, pawing the dirt to let her know he mean the Wolf clan. "There's no...clan for new comers, no clan for red lions or blue lions or black and white lions..." If the differences were that tiny he doubted that would be the case.

As Ziksa lifted her leg, he let his eyes turn to the patterns on her fur. He wondered how they were made, since they were so precise and very clean cut. The only tattoos he had seen before were very uneven and splotchy. Obviously they had some great masters of the art here. "A story of your life," he murmured. Obviously he couldn't read it as he had no idea of how to look at the markings, but they were very intricate and very beautiful. "Well...obviously I can't read what they say," he murmured, lifting his head with a tiny smile. "But they are quite fascinating."

Ziska's enthusiasm and happy nature made Zuberi feel very at ease and, if he were being completely honest, at home. He wasn't even an official member yet but she was so welcoming it seemed as though he were some long-lost brother returning from an incredibly long journey.

"That would be wonderful," he said with a little nod as he shifted on his feet, moving to follow her into the pride. "Wolf clan...I'm excited," he said with just a hint of a smile. "No size will surprise me. I'll be very glad to meet everyone," he added, his tail swishing as he glanced at her tattoos once more. He figured he'd have to get some once he became a part of the pride, but what would he tell the tattoo artist? His past was a dreary one, that was for sure, but he was so upbeat that he hoped that would shine over the grim pride he had come from.

"And thank you," he added as he moved beside her, a small smile on his friendly face. "You have a a friend in me as well, Ziska. I'll have to thank you somehow for being so kind."