[[Backlogged to late adolescence]]Satu was sitting on a large rock near the dens. Her ever active imagination brewing up all kinds of stories in her mind. Sometimes she found them to be a complete figment of imagination. Other times they were based on fact. Folklore, in fact, was one of her favourite things. She loved the way that tales would be passed down the generations. She loved the way they would blossom, twist themselves and sometimes become something different entirely. In some unfortunate circumstances, the truth in the story would become lost, fact eroded by the countless introduction of fiction. Satu was not sure whether this ruined or added to folklore. it was something she debated day in, day out.
The stories that taught a lesson were the best, though. Her strict moral code and sense of right and wrong had been founded in the many tales she had heard growing up. The spotted lioness almost made it her duty to source them.
Kale was a different kind of lion. Though he accepted fiction and imagination, he found his interests were rooted in history and fact. He did not find it acceptable for other people to blow stories out of proportion to a mammoth degree. He did accept however, that a little artistic licence was taken with the re-telling of anything. It was unavoidable.
The chocolate coloured male had been spending time immersed in history, not just of the Pridelands, but of any pride he could hear of or learn from. Family trees, royal lines, land expansion, religion, even gods. How places and practices had changed over time fascinated him greatly.
He was trotting along carefully when he nearly fell over Satu. Granted she was a lioness of similar colour to the dried grass she lay near, but he should have still seen her. It was hard to walk far in the Pridelands without coming across another, in all honesty.
Satu flipped her head around as she felt the male come close to her. She probably should have noticed him too but was far too immersed in her world of imagination and storytelling to notice. She huffed. Not in an annoyed way, but almost in a way of relief that she hadn't been trampled on by a large male.
She saw the apologetic look on his face and interjected before the first words came out of his mouth. "Don't worry, it happens a lot." Her small frame rose to it's full height and she dusted herself off with her large paws gently. The female remained standing up next to Kale and looked him over. "Who are you?" She blinked at the male.
"I'm Kale, son of Mheetu and Mia." He wasn't entirely sure why he chose to carry round his family title, he just thought maybe in such a large pride it would be useful. It was hard sometimes to know who was related, and families could be so big that you didn't know some of your own relations!
"Well I'm Satu, daughter of -"
"Prometheus and Kishi, yes." Kale couldnt help but try and show off his knowledge, even if it was mostly useless to the rest of the pride.
"Well, that's a little nosy, and a little rude for interrupting too, if you ask me." Satu turned her head away gently.
Kale darted forward "I'm sorry. I just, I know a lot about things round here, and I thought maybe you might be impressed. I didn't mean to make you feel uneasy. I promise."
"Hm, okay, but, if you don't mind me asking, how did you come to learn so much about everything around here, and... why?" She paused for a moment mid sentence to look at Kale.
"Well, it's just my interests. I want to be a Historian." The male had a serious look on his face, but his chest puffed up a little. "Many think that it is not an important role, but I ask you, where would the Pridelands be if we didn't keep a history of the past Kings and Queens, the battles?" He pulled a pained face for a second. "It is important to know not only your own history, but the history of where you come from, if you ask me."
Satu's eyes widened. She had to admit that she didn't often think about roles within the pride. When she wasn't inventing her own stories she supposed she was just living, taking the inner workings of such a large pride for granted. "I.. I guess so. I hadn't really thought about it much before." It was definitely interesting when someone came along and opened your eyes to something new, or something obvious that you just hadn't thought about before.
"What about fiction, though." She blurted it out before her brain could stop her. "Don't you think fiction is just as important?"
Kale's brow furrowed. "How so? You mean like lying?" He scoffed. "Things like that twist history and make it harder for others to know the truth. I know there is a little fantasy in everything, but pure fiction is a hinderance."
Satu shook her head. “No, I mean, twisting the truth beyond recognition isn't good, but I mean stories.” Her large hazel eyes looked the male up and down. “Stories use imagination and fiction, and they're there for adults, for cubs, for whoever to enjoy.”
Kale raised a brow, but nodded along with her words.
“Stories are what help teach cubs what's right and wrong, alongside history. If we can learn from history and fables equally, doesn't that make for a well rounded education?” She smiled.
“So, don't hate fiction, because imagination is just as important.” Her tail flicked in mid air gentle and came to rest around her forepaws.
“I suppose you're right...” Kale's maroon eyes were left wide in disbelief. “Perhaps we've both taught each other something new today, Satu.” He smiled.
“And perhaps we will see each other again sometime.” He nodded, and with that he whisked his large form into the grass again to find his way home.
What if fiction was important?... He mused this for a little while before he returned to his den.
Satu nestled back down into the dried grass. Maybe one day she'd find out a little more about the history of the Pridelands, and where everything had come from, Maybe it would be useful for a story. Maybe one day, she could askt Kale for help.
