The King of Grass Walls [Private: ImaniFaith and Amadeus]

[ImaniFaith]

Imani raised her head, breathing the warm scent of sunlit grass that her mate carried in with him. She licked his cheek affectionately. "So I see. How were the cubs?"

Then, seeing them for herself, she smiled. Her smile was quickly replaced by a frown, however, when she saw the troubled expression on her youngest's face.

"Tinashe, " She said softly, "are you alright?"

//

Unwilling to give his brother away, and still interested in the idea of the barren lands himself, Tinashe shook his head roughly, "Nah, I'm just tired."

"Well, that's understandable." Imani sat up, squinting out at the sun, "You two have been out over half the day."

"Yeah." He chuckled nervously, lying down beside her. "Yeah, we just need some rest. Right, Usugu?"

[Baya]

Tenga sighed. "They behaved. It seems they pay more attention when it involves something they are interested in." Tenga pointed out with a chuckle. He watched as Usugu and Tinashe approached them.

"Well if you two are tired, you are free to take a nap." Tenga offered. Usugu frowned slightly.

"I'm not a baby! I don't need a nap!" Usugu pointed out with a frown, but he was clearly tired and grumpy. Tenga chuckled as he grabbed his son by the scruff and placed him between his mother's paws.

"Even grown ups take naps when they are tired Usugu. Don't fight it." Tenga murmured quietly.

[ImaniFaith]

The rest of the day passed quite uneventfully. Tinashe did his best to pretend he was asleep, and when he finally 'woke up' the sun was low on the horizon. Usugu was lying nearby, his eyes closed, apparently off in dreamland. Had he actually fallen asleep and forgotten about going to the barren lands? If so, Tinashe certainly hadn't.

Getting up, he saw the adults gathered together a few paces away outside the den. His mother, he knew, had gotten up gently enough so as not to disturb them while they were 'sleeping'. Now was the time for the lionesses to get ready for their nightly hunt, while the males stayed nearby to guard their home. If he and Usugu were going to sneak away, they would need to be fast and silent-- and this was the perfect time.

"C'mon, Usugu! Wake up!" Tinashe nudged his brother, "If we're gonna' go, it's gotta' be now!"

[Baya]

Usugu groaned slightly at first, and when he realized who's voice it was hastening his awakening he quickly opened his eyes and looked to his brother. Were they going right now? It was a very bold move. However he did not really hesitate as this was his idea to begin with. Usugu stood up gently as to not alert his father and slowly made his way out of the den with Tinashe.

"So, you afraid Tinashe? We are treading on territory dad said not to." Usugu said with a devilish smirk. He was really excited about this trip, more so because this was territory his father found dangerous, so it must have something worth going there for! Usugu heard rumors that within the barren lands there was a sea of bones of many animals. He thought just the idea of that was pretty cool.

He and his brother walked for quite some time before reaching a sort of steep hill side that led down to the barren lands. "Alright, this is the way down. You ready?" Usugu asked his younger brother.

[ImaniFaith]

"Yeah...." 'As I'll ever be', Tinashe thought.

The two cubs slowly made their way down the steep incline, tripping on loose rocks and other scattered debri. Once, Tinashe's nose caught the smell of... but, no. No, it couldn't be. Still, he felt a prickly wave of fear go up his spine. "I hope Dad doesn't catch us."

Truthfully, if Imani caught them, she would be angry-- but she was usually much easier to deal with than their father. When Tenga set down a rule, he believed it to be a fair and easy commandment to keep; that was why he became so displeased when someone broke it. If he found out what they were doing, Tinashe feared that he would take back what he'd said about letting him stay when he was older, 'Fine, if you like the barren lands so much, why don't you live there?'

Suddenly, he smelled it again. Not an unpleasant smell, such as the rot of an old kill or the filth of hyenas, but something definately alive... and definately of his own species.

As they reached the bottom of the hill, Tinashe thought he saw a flicker of movement to his right, but when he whirled to look, there was nothing there. "Usugu, w-- we should go...." he stammered.

[Baya]

"What's wrong Tinashe? Ya scared? There's nothing around here." Usugu pointed out with a snort as he pawed some skulls and bones out of his way. Though truth be told, Usugu was terrified as he too smelled the other lion around as well. He just hoped it wasn't a huge threat, because then if they ran into the den, their mother would find out where they were.

"Just keep your cool Tinashe. I-It's probably nothing." Usugu murmured as he too saw some movement around him. This wasn't as cool as Usugu thought it would be. He was more scared then amazed after awhile of standing in these desolate lands. No wonder rogues were such angry vicious creatures! If Usugu was forced to live on a land like this, he'd probably be very vicious and angry as well.

[ImaniFaith]

Tinashe could hear his own heart thumping in his ears. Suddenly, he felt he would give anything to see his father or mother right now, even if it meant he would get in trouble. As long as he was safe, then anything else could be dealt with.

There was another movement, and this time, he saw it-- a single, vivid green eye peering out from behind two jutting rocks.

"U-Usugu!" He yelped in panic, accidently backing into the brother in question. As said brother turned around to scold him, he seemed to see it too, for his mouth fell open in shock. The eye darted back into the shadows.

Whoever this lion was-- it was watching them, Tinashe thought with a shudder. And if it was a dangerous rogue, such as their father had warned them about, then they were done for.

//

Her heart was pounding, more from the strain of walking miles on little food and even less water than fear. As she hunkered behind the large rocks which had been offering her welcome shade from the searing sun, she had caught the scent of two lion cubs nearby, and peeked out of her hiding spot to get a glimpse of them.

One was obviously older than the other-- probably almost as old as she was-- and strangely pale, with a black tuft on his head that bespoke a jet-colored mane in the near future. The younger cub was brown and tan, with a darker brown tuft on his head. He was fiercer looking than the elder, with more angular features and intense eyes. This was the one that had spotted her first; she would have to be watchful of him.

Closing her own eyes, the young lioness breathed in the scent of fresh grass that was wafting down from above. It hinted at water, at food, at rest, and she needed all three badly. Had these two cubs come from there? Were they all alone, abandoned like herself?

A flicker of pity softened her heart towards them for an instant, but immediately died out as she glanced them over again. No, they were too well-fed and groomed. They doubtlessly had parents who loved them... 'but not enough to keep them out of trouble', she thought wryly.

Then, her exhausted mind began to form an idea: If these cubs had parents that lived where that fresh smell was coming from, then perhaps they could help her.

Even though it hurt her pride to ask for assistance, she knew that if she wandered ininvited into their land otherwise, she could be killed. Getting their help would have to be a necessary evil-- and a temporary one.

"Wait!" She called weakly, "Don't run-- I'm not going to hurt you."

'Yet.' "My name's Lesedi."

[ImaniFaith]

[OOC: Sorry; double post]

[Baya]

Usugu stood alongside his brother, wondering what they should do. If they ran, the rogue would surely run after them and kill them. If they didn't run, the rogue would do the same thing, except there would be no chance of both of them getting away. The scenarios played in Usug's mind until Lesedi showed herself. Usugu let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Why would we run? Not like we were afraid or anything!" Usugu pointed out, not wanting to let this female have the satisfaction of scaring him and his brother. Usugu could tell that she was not an ordinary cub, as he had not seen her around before. She was probably a rogue cub, but what scared Usugu now was that her parents might be around. Though the fear was kept locked away so that it didn't show in his voice.

"What are you doing here all alone? I've never seen you on the grass walls before." Usugu asked with a look of confusion on his face.

[ImaniFaith]

Tinashe's eyes widened at the sight of the young lioness. She had to be a few months older than the both of them, with a long, thin frame-- too thin, perhaps-- and light, golden-blonde fur that, even caked with dust, was beautiful to behold. She gazed on them with suspicious eyes the color of the richest green grass that grew by the water holes; set in a lovely, delicate, and frowning face.

Tinashe was tongue-tied in the presence of such beauty, and he couldn't believe his brother was being so bold with her....

//

Lesedi frowned at the older cub's question, "I'm alone because my parents are... dead." A half-lie. Truthfully, she wished the remaining one was. "I've been by myself for weeks, and as you can probably see, I'm starving. You mind telling me where I can get something to eat?"

The younger, darker cub stepping foreward, apparently choking on his tongue. When he finally did speak, it was to say, "H-hi. I'm Tinashe."

She raised a slender and highly unimpressed brow, "Thanks, but that doesn't help me much."

"Oh, u-uhh... well, you c-could come home with us!" He grinned hopefully at the other cub, "Right, Usugu?"