The sun beat down, warming her fur as she lay stretched out upon the rock. Her vantage point gave her an excellent view of the training area where he brand new husband was fighting. A swooning sigh came from her right as her best friend and sister Brenna sank against her, paw waving before her muzzle where a grin lingered. “Oh my Soma..” She purred, eyes fixed on the males down below. “That lion of yours is seriously hot!” Feeling a heated blush creep up to warm her face she swotted at her sibling, though her own gaze remained fixed on the dark-coated lion down below. He moved so easily, springing forwards, ducking and dancing, avoiding attacked and dealing out his own. Yes, he really was hot.
“That’s my soon-to-be-husband you are drooling over!” She playfully chastised, not expecting and not receiving an apology. Brenna had always been the more forward going of the sisters, brash and proud, and certainly never afraid to speak her mind. Ignoring the slightly lecherous laughter that sounded in her ear, Soma resumed studying her betrothed. “Seriously though… have I made the right decision?” She asked, finally allowing her worries to surface. Yes, he had been picked out for her by her parents, but she could have refused if it had really came down to it. But she trusted her parents judgment and knew Holmgeir came from a strong bloodline. Plus he was a fine young male, strong and brave, a good fighter and perfectly acceptable as a hunter, considering he had brought her the requested meal the very same day she had offered her challenge to him. Plus he really was very handsome indeed with that dark coat and pure black mane.
Beside her Brenna turned, regarding her sister with far too knowing eyes. “He hasn’t given you any reason to doubt this match, has he?” She asked, all of a sudden full of seriousness intent. A moment later she relaxed when Soma shook her head adamantly.
“Not at all. Quite the opposite in fact.” She replied, turning at length to meet her sibling’s gaze, already regretting bringing up her nerves. Brenna was just as likely to laugh at her as not, once she understood. Wilting under her sister’s considering look she finally turned her head away again, feeling both foolish and far too young.
The chestnut-coloured lioness watched her sibling for a long moment, seeking some kind of explanation. But eventually it became clear that Soma wasn’t going to offer anything more on the subject. “You are nervous.” She finally stated, head tilting. “That is completely understandable, and natural. But mum and dad wouldn’t have chosen him if they weren’t sure he was right for you. Have you spoken to him very much?” The shy shake made her grin. “Oh Soma… Come along, lets go say hi.” Standing she nudged her sibling firmly, neatly dislodging Soma from the flat rock they had been resting upon, before jumping off herself and heading down the hill to where the subject of their observation was sparring with the other pride males.
Soma tumbled off the flat-toped rock, barely managing to catch herself with her paws as she growled mock angrily at her sister. “Brenna!” Already her sibling was off, moving down the hill towards the reavers and reavers-in-training. Caught between excitement and horror she bounded after the russet-hued lioness, only catching up after Brenna had already started to gather a few stares. Falling from her quick lope into a smooth walk she eyed her sister darkly, growling at her low under her breath while keeping a slightly forced smile on her lips. “What are you doing?!”
Brenna smirked, completely unperturbed by her sibling’s obvious ire and enjoying the chance to make Soma squirm. “Why, we are going to have a chat with your betrothed, of course.” She replied, as if it was obvious. She could see Soma deflate, accepting the inevitable as Brenna led them between the sparring reavers, returning their curious glances with her easy smile and even exchanging brief greetings as the two young lionesses moved deeper into the training ground.
All too soon, for Soma’s comfort at least, they arrived near the sandy area where Holmgeir was working. The large dark-coloured male was breathing heavily, and his coat was streaked with dust and sweat, but he didn’t look worn out. He was sparring with an older reaver, a big pale brown male that Soma knew from around the pride but didn’t know on a personal level. As was the case with such a large pride, faces were familiar but names tended to get forgotten unless the lion in question made himself –or herself- memorable beyond the usual looting and battle prowess.
The two females stood quietly, watching him finish his bout with the older lion. Holmgeir had glanced their way once, then appeared to return his formidable attention back to his opponent. Soma couldn’t help but watch him with silent admiration. He was clearly powerful, even as young as he was, being only a year older than Soma herself, and far younger than his much scarred trainer. But he was holding his own, and even seemed to be pushing the other lion back. Eventually he delivered a powerful blow directly to the other lion’s chest, sending him stumbling back and outside the boundary of their fighting area. Both males stopped immediately, Holmgeir raising up from the battle crouch he had been in, the other lion regaining his balance and shaking his head to chase away some evident dizziness. From where Soma stood beside Brenna, she couldn’t hear the quiet conversation that followed, as Holmgeir spoke briefly to the elder reaver. The brown male appeared to give several instructions and then turned away, moving off towards the near by stream with a brief nod towards Soma and her sister, leaving Holmgeir stood by the edge of the sand area.
Holmgeir had spent the morning sparring with his current trainer, a grizzled old lion named Vermundur. The reaver had a lifetime of battle experience, survival skills and tracking and Holmgeir was determined to learn all that he could from the old veteran. Soon he would go on his First Raid, and he was determined to succeed. To this end he had accepted training from every experienced reaver he could. Some had proven to be more hot air than actual action, while others had proven to know little other than how to hit the hardest and take the hardest blows. These he listened to and learned what he could from, but ultimately sought more useful trainers. Then he would find lions like Vermundur. Reavers with real skill and a lifetime of knowledge they could pass on. After all, it wasn’t his physical strength or stamina that he was concerned about, those he had in abundance and it was simple if not easy to improve in that aspect of his work. It was the skills that only time and experience could grant that he required, and while he knew that he would only be able to improve these after making reaver, he wanted all the advantages that he could gain before hand.
The arrival of the two lionesses had barely dented his focus, as he had noticed them on a incredibly basic level of awareness. He knew they were there, but until the bout was officially over, he didn’t actively think on why they had shown up or even register who they were. Only once the older reaver had taken his leave did Holmgeir finally let his focus broaden, sliding out of the ulter-intent focus of battle to a less hostile state.
Soma? What was she doing here? Nervousness suddenly settled in his belly, making him hesitate before he padded over. No other lion in the entire pride, aside from the Warlord Gunne, could make him hesitate as she did. Forcing the squirming sensation in his belly to stop he silently sucked in a breath, hoping to pull in some strength alongside the air that chilled his lungs, and finally advanced on the two pretty young lionesses.
“Greetings Soma, Brenna.” He offered, looking to each lioness in turn, noting Brenna’s smug smile as she looked at him with knowing eyes. Soma, on the other paw, looked.. not nervous exactly, maybe worried? He couldn’t actually decipher her expression, though the subtle glare she shot her dark-coated sister was obvious enough. Had they been arguing? He looked back at Soma, drawn by her warmth and stunned by her beauty. She was the most lovely, perfect creature he had ever laid eyes on, and he was terrified that her father would decide to absolve the union, but equally terrified to go through with it. He wasn’t worthy of her presence, let alone be allowed to care and shelter her for the rest of their lives. The very idea that a brute like him would be allowed near her, to touch her, was almost impossible to comprehend. Yet the idea of her not being his struck fear into the deepest parts of him.
The darker sister suddenly grinned, patted her sibling on the shoulder cheekily, and sauntered off, tossing a ‘Sorry, just remembered something I had to do!” Leaving Holmgeir staring at his wife-to-be in mute panic. What should he say? What should he do? Did he smell bad??? Soma hissed after her sister, clearly put out by the sudden abandonment. But then she gathered herself and turned a wry, apologetic smile on him. “Ignore my sister, she is crazy.” Those warm dark eyes regarded him with, he thought hopefully, a certain shy fondness. “Are you hungry? I haven’t eaten yet today…” With that she turned aside, looking at him expectantly before setting off towards the pride’s food store. With a sudden lightness in his chest he hurried after her, a rare smile barely twitching across his muzzle. “I am…”
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