Sarangerel had not been happier. Her children were now fully grown and leading their independent lives and she now had the time to make the most of her companionship with Zizima, the grey lion who had captured her heart so completely. It was almost as if she were dreaming. These sorts of things just did not happen to her. Not ever. Still, even if it were to be short-lived, she was doing to make the most of it. In their line of work they could see their end-of-days sooner than they would like, after all.

With a stretch, she groaned with pleasure at the sun on her back and turned an ear to catch the stomping tread that had become oh-so-familiar to her these past few months.

Her son.

She didn't even need to look or smell him to know him by the stomping frustration of his paws on the earth. He was a boy trying to live up to his father's reputation and utterly failing. Sarangerel was not sure whether that was a good thing or not. His failed attempts at trying to work his way up the ladder and even find himself a mate was starting to make her look bad. He was too hot-headed to listen to much needed advice. But what could she do if her thick-skulled son just wouldn't listen?

"What have you done now?" she asked, turning only an ear towards him.

He came around until he was in front of her and sat heavily, his thick tangle of mane curling down over his gloomy eyes. "I hate this place. I hate everyone in it. At the rate I'm going, I'll never be like father."

Sarangerel snorted, flinching her whiskers in response. "You can't just be a worthy warrior over night. You refuse help. Even your father had help. Swallow your pride and take a lesson or two - it's what you should have done as a youngster when you would not have looked quite such a fool. How do you expect to win a female, let alone take up your father's mantle?" Her eyes closed briefly and, slowly, she exhaled into the dust.

"I'm not a baby. I can learn on my own."

"Listen, for once in your life. Mother knows best. I even know someone who might be willing to help you if you ask him nicely."

"Who?" Nokhoi spat miserably, "your boyfriend?" His jealousy of the 'Grey Warrior' was palpable and she could not help but smile a little at that.

"Daor Zizima is more than that to me. Perhaps very soon you might find yourself with little brothers and sisters. Would you not like to be one of their family members who can teach them how to fight?"

Nokhoi made a disgusted face. "Won't their daddy want that job?"

"It is the job of the pride to nourish and teach the young," she reminded him sharply, finally pulling herself to her paws and giving him a condescending look. "Now stop feeling sorry for yourself. You need to be strong and I'm done with your ridiculous pride." Her paw snapped up without warning and cuffed him across the face. She wasn't sure whether his cowering made her feel good or not. A true hot-blooded male would not have stood for such a thing...and yet it was nice to command the authority over her son. "Listen to me. Go seek out Zizima. Tell him that you are in need of his help. He is the finest warrior we have. If he can't make a fighter out of you, then no one can."

Nokhoi growled under his throat, pulling himself up from his submissive posture. "Not without testing myself first."

"You haven't done that already?"

"I'll challenge the males for a female. It's about time I found a mate."

"Oh? But who would you make an attempt for? The Kaar Oma?" Sarangerel laughed, throwing back her head. "She's claimed by the shuko so you're of rank."

Nokhoi flattened his ears at her scathing tone, curling his muzzle up to lay bare his teeth. "I don't want her."

"Why not? She's of high rank."

"She's old."

Sarangerel laughed again, making another swipe for her son's muzzle. This time he ducked away, skittering back towards the edge of the thorns where a couple of ravens watched them with beady eyes. The birds croaked at his closeness but did not move. They had grown bold as of late.

"What does it matter how old she is if she can bear you children?" Sarangerel continued. "Your father had a thing for her when he was still alive but he could not take her. Why do you not succeed where he failed? Would that not then prove your worth?"

"I had my eye on another..."

"Who?"

He bristled, digging his claws into the compact earth as if preparing for her to throw herself at him in an angry assault. "None of your business."

"Shall I guess?"

"No!"

Sarangerel smiled. She liked this game and how riled he was getting. An adult he might be, but he still acted the boy. "The speckled dark one?"

His face set firmly.

"The ex-slave?"

His body tightened, his claws digging deeper into the earth.

"Am I getting closer?"

"Enough, mother. You'll find out once I've won her." He hissed, swiping at the ground and then turned to swipe at the ravens as they burst into hoarse laughter behind him. The birds scattered noisily, circling up above their heads before moving off in another direction. The gossip they were overhearing was clearly not worth risking an injury for.

Huffing under his breath, Nokhoi turned to leave, circling wide to stay out of range of his mother's paws.

"Where are you going? This conversation isn't over."

"It is now." He replied moodily, leaping a broken branch and disappearing as noisily as he had approached. Sarangerel sighed deeply, settling herself back down onto the warm earth and stretching out again. She hoped that he'd take her advice and seek tutoring. Zizima was truly a powerful and skilled lion and it would take someone like that to make something of Muunokhoi's moody, impatient son.

/fin