[PRP] Going home (Wayra x Joto)

[Tanakako]

It had been a while since she had returned to her old pride land, though she had made semi-regular trips since recovering from her injuries enough to make the trek. But already she knew something was different. There was a sense of life here that had been missing every time she had visited before. Pulling herself up the last steep climb she rounded the corner and stopped in her tracks.

Fresh paw prints.

Closing her eyes she focused on the wind as it ruffled through her fur, felt the sharp cold of the ice under her paws and the intense chill spike through her lungs, listened to the deep silence that blanketed this remote landscape.

There! A sound on the wind, a scent tickling her nose, a sense of warmth within her where her visions lived.

They were back!

Turning the old lioness set off at a swift jog, moving through the deep snow with a speed and agility that belied her age. Through deep valley drifts and over stark rocky outcrops she made her way from the remote spine of the mountain and deeper into the heart of the pridelands.


 

[hibi-tea]

Joto had been surveying the pride's altar once again, attempting to figure out in what way they could possibly chip away at the ice. He already knew it would be an impossible feat for just him and Jugnu to attempt, and even one more set of paws wouldn't do. They'd need the entirety of the pride's help (if the pride ever returned) to free their holy place from it's ice and snow shackles.

He had been deep in thought when he heard the crunching of the branches, snow and leaves beneath someone's feet and assumed Jugnu had come to grab him for something. Flicking his tail side to side, he growled in his chest before politely ordering who he thought was Jugnu over.

"Com'ere and give me your opinion on this damn thing, it's bothered me enough for one day," He huffed.  

[Tanakako]

For a moment she was taken aback by his growling comment. Had he known she was coming? And if so, the how of it escaped her. Or was someone else up here as well? Either way she couldn’t help but be reassured by his gruff manner. She had missed the old lion, remembering with fondness their many conversations before the pride had been shattered.

A warm, amused laugh slipped free as she padded the last few steps to his side. “You haven’t changed, I see.” She purred, looking up at him with a mix of relief, amusement and joy, the emotions all tumbled together in a hopeless tangle that came out as the once familiar dry humour the grey Ikhansela had been known for.

Stepping round the large body, unable to resist brushing against him as she did so, if only to affirm that he was indeed real and not one of her visions again, she examined the ice-bound shrine.

“It would be best to heat it…”

hibi-tea

So sorry! I lost this!