The sun's rays shone brightly down on Dhoru, turning his orange pelt golden and warming him to the bone. The large male lay stretched out on one side in the sun-soaked sand; to an unpracticed eye, he appeared to be dozing. In reality, while immensely relaxed, Dhoru's black ears were pricked and all his senses were alert for the sound of approaching pawsteps. He was expecting someone. Well, sort of.
"She'll come!" Hasi snapped defensively, but doubt shadowed her tone.
The expected company was her sister, Mapigano Huzuni, who had joined the pride about a moon ago and had yet to interact with anyone other than Dhoru, beyond the initial meeting with the pride leaders. With her past, she had been allowed a certain privacy, encouraged by the leaders. But if she wished to stay, she would need to start her alchemist duties; she would need to change her reclusive ways. Today was the day they changed.
------
'Zuni padded toward the beach, the designated meeting place, determinedly. Suddenly, her heavy pawsteps became uncertain and she spun around with a small, paranoid bounce, only to force back her bravery and turn around once more. This was only the thousandth time she'd almost fled back to her den.
Shaking her head and growling under her breath at her own childish fears, she slid her claws out and dug them into the ground as she strode toward the ocean - and Dhoru. She kept repeating in her head that she knew him, he was safe, he wouldn't lie to her.. but she couldn't stop the paranoid thoughts from barging in. Maybe he was just really talented at lying. Maybe his mate was really talented at lying, and he didn't actually know her at all. Maybe - oh, the list went on and on.
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Dhoru lazily lifted his head at the long awaited sound of someone heading in his direction. After a tentative sniff, he determined it was 'Zuni and dragged himself to his paws to stretch, yawn and watch her stalk closer.
He could see her agitation in every hair on her pelt.
He trotted toward her, easily closing the distance between them, and turned to lean his flank against hers, hoping that his touch would easily transfer his calm energy. He could feel her trembling, and she knew it, but neither of them brought it up.
Instead, the large male gently nudged the timid, black lioness further down the beach. All the while, he chatted about useless things, like the weather and how odd seagulls were, and 'Zuni hardly listened, giving non-committal grunts at every pause. Then they caught sight of the third - "Fourth!" - and final member of the party.
Briefly, Dhoru admired the way the sun made her white fur glow, while 'Zuni pondered if she would be able to dodge around Dhoru and race back to her den to hide for.. well, ever.
Every one of 'Zuni's hairs rose in terror as Dhoru called out, "Nema! We're here!"
It was too late now.
------
Nema padded down the beach, the small bounce in her step indicating her excitement. Fortunately - but also kind of unfortunately - the stars hadn't been out last night, so she had been able to sleep well and was full of energy for meeting Zuni!
Honestly, she was a little nervous. This new pridemate Dhoru had described seemed oddly attached to her mate, which was scary, and also seemed to be afraid of everyone else. What if she said the wrong thing? She didn't want to offend anyone. Dhoru assured her that she was perfect for Zuni first meeting with other pridemates, and she trusted Dhoru, so she tried to calm down.
When she reached the sand, squinting and blinking in the bright sun, she glanced around for the other members of the party. She didn't have to search long, as Dhoru called out to her from her right. Spotting them, she trotted forward with a beaming smile.
When she reached them, she briefly shoved her head under her lifemate's chin, nuzzling into his neck. Pulling back, still grinning, she turned her attention to Zuni. The poor thing looked so frightened! Nema glanced at Dhoru to take the lead, since he knew the young lioness best.
Dhoru draped his tail across Zuni's back in a brotherly way and said, "Nema, this is Zuni, our new Alchemist. Zuni, this is Nema, my lifemate and the Lead Mummer." He kept his tone natural, as if Zuni wasn't petrified. He found that acting as if nothing was wrong instead of pitying her was more helpful than cosseting the lioness.
Zuni forced herself to meet Nema's gaze - and found the lioness staring gently back. Dhoru had advised Nema ahead of time not to pity Zuni or treat her any different, and she was trying her best, but a small amount of caution that wouldn't be present with other pridemates was still evident. A part of Zuni was offended that this new lioness - one who had never even met her before - thought she needed to be careful around her, like she was fragile or something. But it lasted only a moment as the realization that she was rather broken, and she was even now poised to bolt.
"Good morning, Nema.", she forced out, her tone normal but her voice obviously shaking.
"Hello, Zuni. You have a beautiful pelt!" Nema tried to ease back some of her usual energy, so as not to startle Zuni more.
The black lioness forced her fur to lie flat, with a quick glance at Dhoru for reassurance, and started to relax her body - slowly.
The three lions spent the next several hours together, and as the day wore on, Zuni became more and more comfortable in Nema's presence. Since Dhoru had instructed the white lioness to be herself, she was rather bubbly, and Zuni found herself simultaneously attracted to the energy and drained of her own. She wasn't accustomed to being around others, and it was starting to wear on her.
Thankfully, Dhoru noticed, and suggested that that the group get some lunch before going their separate ways as he would like some alone time with Nema. Zuni and Nema in the group saw through his statement, and knew that he was simply trying to let Zuni retreat to her den and rest, but neither argued - Zuni out of gratitude, Nema because she understood that Dhoru could tell when the other lioness was reaching her limits.
After a quick lunch (where Zuni didn't feel like eating much), Dhoru and Nema departed. Zuni even allowed both of them to nudge her briefly, surprised to find that she wasn't that opposed to it. After picking up the extra food that Dhoru insisted she take back to her den, Zuni watched the two walk off for a few heartbeats, and quickly and stealthily sneaked back to her home.
As Dhoru had predicted, once back in her nest, the lioness started to feel the hunger that her paranoia hadn't allowed, and she quickly gulped down some lunch. Not long after, she drifted into a contented but thoroughly exhausted sleep.
------
"I think that went quite well," Dhoru purred to Nema. He could tell that Zuni was at least not stressed out by his mate's presence, and he was happy and proud for both lionesses.
"Did it? I don't know her so I couldn't really tell.. but at least she didn't run!" Nema smiled, happy that at least she didn't seem to scare Zuni more. She blinked affectionately at Dhoru and nuzzled into his shoulder.
"Want to go play in the water?" Dhoru gently shoved Nema's shoulder with his own, unbalancing her, and waited only a split second before racing off toward the ocean. Nema easily regained her balance, smirked and took off after him, quickly catching up and keeping stride, all the while yelling loving, joking comments about him being a cheat - that would still lose.
