Tepezade'd never known his father. His mother hadn't been shy about spinning him tales of their great love, nor about how his father couldn't stay, as he had to go with his people to find the desert warriors' pride. She'd told him, all through his youth, that one day he would return and fetch his tiny family, whisk them away to a land where all the lions were red and black and white and brilliant flame-colored orange. Her old pride had reviled such colors, but that, that was why Tepe had gone away to find them a new home.
And seasons had passed, and at last Tepezade was grown. To his mother he made the promise that he would go and find out what had happened to his father, and if they had found the land of the desert warriors, he would bring her there to make her a queen.
Of course, finding such a land wasn't the easiest thing. Plenty of lions had no idea what he was talking about. Others wanted nothing to do with the pride he sought. A very few gave him good directions, and so it was that he found himself perched atop a low ridge, staring into the far distance. All he could see was tall waving grass and little trees, here and there a jutting stone - no desert. Not yet at least. A fleck of movement caught his eye, and he perked up at what he saw. A lioness! And better still, one who's colors matched the description of the land he sought! Perhaps she was one of the warrior people! Perhaps she'd seen his father! "Hello there!" He called down, all smiles.
The lioness, meanwhile, was nothing of the sort of the stuff that made up a fighter. Pampered and primped, she'd been raised in a very different pride. One where females were traded and served their male masters. Beauty was sought after and her own father had always been particularly gentle with her, if only out of some misguided idea of her being unlucky because she looked like him.
She was red and white, with a gleaming moon-like marking on her hip. All of her mother's sass and her father's mysterious elegance mingled in her. And now that she was out on her own, she was keen to work it, to flaunt what she had at others around her, to see what she could win with her wiles and her looks. Her mother had done this for seasons before meeting father. She'd never had to hunt, always charming meal with a story or a smile.
Now this dark fellow was clearly looking at her, and why not? She WAS radiant. "Come on down from there, why don't you?" She chimed back up at him, batting her long lashes and turning partially away. "Or do you make a habit out of keeping ladies waiting?"
Of course, Tepezade was just glad to have found someone. Unaware that he was about to be sorely disappointed, he came strolling down from the ridge with ease, jogging to catch up to the female he hoped would lead him in the right direction. "Sorry about that! I'm Tepezade," He introduced himself, still beaming. This really was just perfect! If he had his way, he'd have directions and be able to go fetch his mother by sundown! Of course it would take a bit longer than a day to get back to her but...it was a good start!
"I'm so glad I spotted you! You see, I'm trying to find my way to a pride..." He rambled on a while, describing the place as best he could. The vast rolling sands (he assumed) and the blowing winds. Lush oases and lions of all red, white, and black. Like her. Did she know of them? She had to know about them!
...But she didn't. Not really. At first the lioness had been rather irritated to hear that he wasn't here for HER, per say. He was here because he thought she knew something. But then it dawned on her that that shouldn't matter. As long as he thought she knew what he needed he would stick around, do what ever she wanted. She'd have him twisted about her claws in no time.
"The 'Motoujamii', you said? Oh my...I do know that pride. I'm not a member, of course...brutish savages. Only the very strong, brave lions go to find them." She could ply his ego and win him over. "You must be frightfully strong..." She batted her lashes, and was pleased to see his smile widen and his eyes lid slightly as he fell under her sway. Silly, harmless male. He had no idea of the power of the wit of females. There was a reason her old pride had kept them firmly in paw.
"I do know of them though. The way to go and...so on."
He rambled on a while about the pride again. About his hopes to find it and bring his mother there, make her a queen...well probably not a queen. They probably had one already. A subtle word from her though and the dark male was agreeing that she would make a perfect queen as well. She was certainly lovely enough, yes, yes. That flattery did much for her ego, and she led him along a long while. Every time he asked her for directions though she would turn him down, mention being hungry, and that she would show him after she caught something. Inevitably he ended up fetching her a fresh hare to gorge upon...perfect. Not bad at all for a trial run.
When she grew tired of his presence, the lioness pointed him in a random easterly direction and let him go on his way. of course she didn't really know the way, but he'd never see her again. If he came back through, she'd be long gone. Long gone and with a belly full and spirits high. This was going to be far, far too easy.
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