Standing only slightly shorter then the splotchy lioness that trailed a little behind her, Lelya wasn't that impressive aside from her gorgeous chocolate brown coat, the blue markings on her should and under her eyes and then the piercing icy blue eyes that gave her an impressive contrast against the number of browns that made up her pelt.
Groomed, but ill-fed, she still made sure to keep her head up, though not with pride as it usually was. No, fortune had not smiled on the pair in the last few weeks. Herds had proven scarce and the two lionesses had lived on hardly anything but scraps (that they promptly lost to vultures or hyenas) or bugs that they could find (gross!) and their bodies were suffering for it. Normally in their prime, they would have been fearsome huntresses that would be feared in the roguelands.
"Lelya,"
A gentle voice pulled the chocolate lioness from her thoughts as she quickly glanced over her shoulder to look towards her companion while still keeping pace. Behind her was a sandy colored lioness, only a few inches taller then she, with white splotches covering her body. Dutiful and kind, Lelya had taken Chiku with her on her travels as two was much better then one in the roguelands.
Chiku's ears were back and her tail sagging to the point that it dragged along the ground as she continued to walk after her companion. Each day seemed to get worse and each day another pound seemed to vanish as their bellies stayed empty. It was getting harder to get up every morning but the promise of fertile green lands and plenty of food kept them both on the move.
"Yes Chiku?" Lelya asked cautiously, worried what her usually soft-spoken friend needed to say.
"Are we almost there?"
- - - - -
Elsewhere another body was stirring, a hunter of red, white and black that laid basking on the rocks towards the borders of the Pridelands. There he watched with Alor'el, thought the darker male was currently absent running an errand for his father. Huozai was still training to become a scout just Alor'el was now. Someone had to keep the borders safe after-all and he couldn't trust all of the hunters to do it. There were still threats from the outside world even with their numbers.
Blue eyes looked over the borderline from the Pridelands to the roguelands, the evident of the green fading to brown and eventually into nothing. It seemed odd to him now, the thought of even leaving like his brother had. He had family here, a mother and grandmother who at least showed they cared to some degree and a whole slew of aunts that surrounded him. Sure his family was a big one, but that didn't matter much to him.
Not that far away from him, just now appearing on the horizon from Huozai's perch, was the pair of lionesses that were on a journey to a better home.
The grass was beginning to change color for them, the golden hue they had grown used to seeing for miles slowly began to give way for a lush green color. It was an uplifting sight that made their spirits soar but it still left the hard question echo between them: 'Are we almost there?'
Lelya could not answer except with a, "Just a little further. We're almost there." It was all the comfort she could offer for now until they learned what land they were entering. It was obvious that this land was inhabited by how fertile it was and then there was the large rock formation in the distance as well. If not, any lion that had passed this place up in hope of 'finding something better' was a fool and the gods should smite them down.
Chiku wasn't stupid, she knew they were in trouble if they didn't find somewhere to rest and something to eat soon. Still, it swelled her heart to hear Lelya try and keep the situation a little lighter and far less grim then it actually was. The tan and white lioness just smiled and kept her mouth shut as she dutifully followed behind her charge.
Suddenly Huozai sat up, arching his back as he raised the front half of his body while his rear stayed lower to the ground. Ears swiveled forwards as his tail began to flick almost angrily behind him. Intruders. Or at least they could be and he wasn't going to take any chances. As quick as he could, he darted from his sentry post and towards the two lionesses caught in his line of sight.
Chiku's slightly higher vantage point gave her a slight advantage when seeing the red, black and white blur barreling towards them. Her hackles raised up and her head lowered to give him a poor chance at getting to her neck. There were scent markers all around them, so the land was occupied; but by who was a different matter. If needed, she readied herself to defend not only herself but also Lelya. She knew the smaller lioness' overwhelming kindness, it was the reason the two of them were traveling together in the first place.
Almost opposite to her companion, Lelya's head raised, held high as she halted her advance, waiting for him to greet them. Despite her poise and apparent calm, she was shaking ever so slightly as the form a large male lion began to appear out of the blur. She was readying herself for a fight, but hoped for the best in the situation.
"You enter the Pridelands!" Huozai called out as he jogged the last few meters until he stood still, a sentinel of the 'guard' the Pridelands had, with only twenty feet between him and the two lionesses. "What reasoning do you have for coming here?" While the pride was open to all who sought entrance, it was still wise to at least why they wanted to join.
"My friend and I starve beyond your borders! We seek a place to rest our paws and fill out bellies with meat in exchange for our joining of your pride." Lelya called back, never losing her nerve as she finally saw how many heads taller he was then her. The most she could say was the truth and hope it was enough, assuming all the tales of the Pridelands she heard from her birth pride were true.
The slightly larger lioness kept her mouth shut, but her green eyes watched the large male carefully as she took a single step to put herself closer to Lelya's side instead of behind her; just in case.
Starving? Now that he actually stole a glance at them, their ribs were showing in a few places and the larger one's spine was beginning to show as well. Huozai could not help but frown as he continued to look over them, each passing moment confirming their reasoning for wanting entrance to the Pridelands. But could all rogues be trusted at their word? After all, his father was a rogue as well, one that his mother never spoke of and one he never met. An absent father would cared nothing for his blood, so why should these two? But they did seem to want to swear a sort of loyalty to King Simi...
He scoffed, his brow narrowing as his lips raised. "You may rest within our borders and then hunt with the others within the pride. Once you have regained some of your strength, I will take you to see our King and he will decide if you may stay or not." After all, their numbers were swelling with each new rogue that waltzed in and each new litter. It was only a matter of time until the number broke what the herds could support and disaster struck. Perhaps the royal family and the council were keeping track of that horrible number to ensure they did not reach it.
Perhaps that was why his brother left. The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth as he turned and began to head back towards Pride Rock. Quickly looking over his shoulder towards the two, he called to them; "Follow me at a distance. I will take you to the dens and there you can find space to rest." Not a single word more and he was off.
The entire exchange surprised Lelya. She had expected more of a fight to get both her and Chiku entrance into the Pridelands. Surely a pride with such vast resources would want to keep it to themselves? It was...odd and something that would take time to adjust to, but it was a good feeling that left her heart warm and her legs weary. Now all of the exhaustion from their trek began to set in as it was all coming to an end. Looking over her shoulder to steal a glance at Chiku before following after the strange lion.
She was weary but a smile began to appear as she followed after Lelya. The little brown lioness had kept her promise and gotten them to a safe place. Her paws ached and that feeling went through all of her nerves with each step further in their new home. Home. What a beautiful word it was.
[word count]: 1550
