The sun was high and the afternoon already upon them and the hunts were underway as well. The white coat on Adrestia really did help during her afternoon hunts with her hunting party. Ever since her first hunt, she had managed to get herself into a consistent group of a few other lionesses. It was great companionship and her mother encouraged it as she hadn't made many friends outside of her family as a cub. Her hunt had just concluded and with only a minimal haul, but it would feed a struggling family for days at least. With her head held high, Adrestia walked slowly across the plains of the Pridelands, keeping herself close to Pride Rock just in case her mother called her.
Otrera was anything but productive. During her time in the Pridelands she had 'helped' in a few hunts, but that mostly her just hanging back and letting the others do the work. This usually meant she had to catch her own dinner later or hope some lovestruck adolescent boy, heh or even girl, brought her something in hopes of earning even a fraction of her affection. No, none would have her heart after Ares. There was no chance for any of them. Just the thought of Ares put Otrera's mood south as she laid atop her favorite basking rock. Covered by a young tree, it offered some shade while still allowing beams of sunlight to reach her dark red fur.
Oh how she regretted the last confrontation she had with her once mate. It was a fight that seemed to spark from nothing, leaving Otrera alone and broken while Ares was left confused at why she had just snapped. Otrera did not know what had come over her, but there was no chance to apologize. The following morning the attack came and her pride had scattered. No chance for apologies... The dark lioness groaning, rolling onto her back to expose her belly to the sun's rays. Hopefully she would find something to take her mind off of Ares and fast.
That afternoon was a pleasant one to take a stroll. While still staying near Pride Rock, Adrestia moved through the grass. Her attention was not on the ground but rather in the skies. Birds flew overhead, dancing together in the wind. Oh how she would love to feel that, but the closest thing she or any other Pridelander could do would just run and run fast. As her walk progressed, she began to pass other lions, couples and single felines alike. Of course she exchanged small greetings with them, nothing to warrant a true conversation. And then there was her. A mess of dark red and tan fur laying lazily on a rock. Adrestia had to stop, sit and tilt her head in confusion. Most lions were out hunting or on their way to.
"Hey! What are you doing just laying there?
"I'm obviously laying here." Otrera replied with a sarcastic tone in her voice. Red eyes had been shut before but when they slowly opened to the call, they would see something they had longed to see for so long. Though the image was upside-down, there was no mistaking it. The lioness in front of her was sun-marked. As quickly as she could, Otrera righted herself and was up on her paws. Of course she nearly tripped in the process which would have had her falling of her rocky perch, but luckily for them both that she was able to catch herself.
"Who are you?! Who are your parents?" The dark lioness asked, her feet hardly containing her excitement as she rushed to get a better look at the sun-marked lioness.
Adrestia pulled back as the lazy lioness rushed to meet her. At first she was worried she would be attacked but that feeling subsided. The expression was not anger but one of shock, like she was surprised to see her standing there. The expressions were enhanced by the frantic questions while red eyes looked her white pelt up and down. "I..uh...my mother is Auriaya, maybe you've see her around?"
"Nope, never heard of her." Was the reply, a quick one that was spoken dismissively as if her mother's name was not important at the time. "Who's your father?"
The white lioness' ears turned back. Why was she asking so many questions? It was a little odd but it was too late to turn back. She couldn't help but be curious why this other female was so interested in her lineage. "My father's name is Eos."
Red eyes widened as a smile grew on her face, a smile that was rarely seen and even rarer was it seen genuinely like it was now. "Eos!" Otrera repeated, more as a statement to reassure herself that what she said was a name she knew. She leaned forward, ears alert as she continued her questions, "Is he pure white?"
"He is, except for his scars." Adrestia replied cautiously, her head craning backwards as she attempted to keep the other lioness at least a few inches from her face. This situation was odd, but her own curiosity kept her answering all of the questions thrown at her.
"Scars? I don't remember any...oh no matter! Is his brother here, Erebos or a red lioness?" So one of Ares' brothers was in the Pridelands, maybe there was hope so was Ares. Otrera knew better than to get her hopes up as they were likely be dashed but she could not help herself. A sun-marked lioness in the same pride as her and one of the three siblings as well? What were the odds?
"Lady, I'm really not sure who you're thinking of, but my father is here by himself. I don't think we have any other family here besides me and my siblings, but if you want I take you to see my father to sort all this stuff out. Maybe you have him mistaken for someone else." She put a paw out, pushing Otrera away slightly as she scooted back, putting more distance between the two before standing. As Adrestia started to walk away, leaving a rather confused Otrera behind, she looked back over her shoulder. "Well come on! We don't have all day. My father's probably in a den, resting, so it shouldn't be too hard to find him."
The saddened and confused expression vanished from her face to be replaced with a smile again. Even if Ares was not here, perhaps Eos would know where she was. Quickly, Otrera righted herself and ran after the sun-marked lioness to walk slightly behind her. What a day this had turned out to be. She was glad she had skipped helping with a hunt or else she would have missed meeting her entirely.
[Word Count: 1135]
