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The rouge lands were home away from home for Sebor. While she hadn't been everywhere the rouge lands reached, there were many spots that seemed similar to others in many ways. Some were very dry and it was a struggle to find food and water, others were plentiful and offered lots of shade, and still others were rocky that led up to frozen mountains, and even others that were sandy and offered a cool breeze from the sea. These lands that she and Asban were traveling weren't particularly dry, but it was certainly further inland from the pride they both called home. There was no breeze to cool them as the sun scorched the land, and they had started to travel only during the early morning and late night hours, resting during the hottest part of the day under what shade they could find.

When they did stop, Sebor would fuss over Asban's wounds, much to the lion's chagrin. They seemed to be healing nicely, though, even with the constant walking they were doing. As promised, the strips of leaves had slowly fallen off just a few hours into their walking, leaving the deep wounds free to the air but slightly scabbed over. A few oozed when Asban shifted a bit too much, but it was nothing life threatening, thankfully.

Sebor was able to catch some small prey for them as they went, since only a single herd of antelope had passed them and none appeared weak or young enough for her to try to take down alone. Has they the time and energy to spare it would have been worth it, but they were on a mission.

Speaking of the mission....

"I swear we've passed this tree before," she said as she nodded to their left, an oddly shaped tree jutting out of the ground. "Are you certain we're not going in circles?" She had given up all attempt at offering help as far as directions were concerned when Asban had told her they were more following a very scarce trail than traveling somewhere. All she could do was hope he was actually finding the marks left by his group of warrior friends and not some dehydrated wild dog that was limping around.

Asban's answer made Sebor's ears press back against her head in surprise. "Back? Back to our pride?" she asked for clarification. They hadn't found what they were looking for yet, she thought as they continued to walk. Why on earth would they be going back empty-pawed? Other than the fact that they'd been attacked and Asban was still having a hard time with his injuries. He really needed a medic. Sebor had done the best she could, but she'd never been the best at treating wounds with salves and potions.

"Because of your injuries?" she asked, wanting to find out why. "We haven't found your captain yet," she added, as if he had forgotten the reason for leaving in the first place. Sebor couldn't blame him for turning around if it was because of the wounds he'd sustained, though. Some of them were incredibly deep and, even with her emergency bandaging, they were still oozing blood from their scabs from time to time. Definitely not healthy.

She waited for an answer, eyes trained on her companion. She wouldn't try to persuade him to look longer if he felt as though they wouldn't be able to find him. Getting him back to the Stormborn was an important part of this mission.

Sebor gave a soft huff at Asban's answer, but she nodded. There was no use in looking for the dead. Their bodies would be taken care of if that were the case. And if they were alive...well. They knew where their home was. The search had proved rather unsuccessful, but there was nothing to be done about that, especially with the surprise attack they'd faced.

"Very well," she said, tail flicking in agitation. She knew it would be best for the lion to be able to rest in the comfort of his own den with no challenges to face while he healed. "Back we go. When will you decide they're not returning?" she asked as she turned once again, moving in the direction they'd been heading in. "Did they have a time they should have returned by?"

Having been with Asban for a good chunk of time now, she was used to her questions not being answered most of the time. Still, the other lion would surprise her on occasion and answer one or two of her queries. If she never asked, she'd never know, after all.

Sebor rolled her eyes at the reply she was given, though it wasn't a surprise. She'd gotten over the offended nature she'd taken up the first time they met, having come to the conclusion it was just how Asban was. Originally she thought he had been ignoring her questions because she was a female, but now she knew it was just the other lion's way of being.

"Where am I from?" she repeated as they walked, keeping their pace steady but careful. The last thing they needed was to over exert themselves. "The rouge lands. We were close to the Pridelands, I believe, for the beginning of my life, but once we were old enough to walk we began to wander, never staying in one place for too long," she said with a slight nod. Her parents had decided settling down for a few months while the cubs grew strong would be a good idea, and the plentiful Pridelands had been a welcoming place to spend that time on the outskirts of. Once she and her brothers were able, though, the little family had pressed on without hesitation.

"Genuinely interested or just making small talk?"

Had this been their first encounter, Sebor would have taken mild offense. As it was, she laughed at Asban's answer, finding it spot on and horribly dry in the way that he said it.

"Oh, I see how it is," she returned with her own humorless tone of voice, although there was a smirk on her maw. "Well, thank you for taking my wants and desires into consideration. It's polite in a roundabout sort of way. But if you want me to be quiet, just ask."

While she would rather walk and talk, she knew not all lions were like that. She had no problem falling silent for a while if that's what the other party wanted...if they asked nicely. And for Asban, this was about as nice as she was going to get.

Sebor shook her head in amusement, a knowing look on her face as Asban told her to hush up. He had said, please, though, and that was really all she was looking for. She knew there were those that spoke bluntly. She could be one of them. But blunt didn't mean rude. It could be taken that way very easily by some, but she knew that it wasn't what the other lion was going for.

She remained silent during the rest of their walk, feeling a bit better once the familiar scenery began to pass under their paws. Once they reached the pridal lands and Asban excused himself, she nodded and flicked her tail before heading off into the pride. She wanted to see if anything had happened while they'd been gone.

FIN