-Neema had settled into her new pride. Well.. atleast sort of.

She had no inclination of trying to escape, nor to try and pick fights with the sultan of whom she apparently 'belonged'. Vika seemed happy, the new girls.. they all seemed nice and fairly happy too, and the babies. Oh the babies. It was so nice to have young wandering around again like the pridelands. And so most days were pleasant for the ebony lioness, and she'd fallen dutifully into a routine of helpfulness. She hunted for her group, looked after and corrected the harem's cubs when necessary, offered comfort or help towards her sisters whenever necessary. There was just one thing...

And that thing was the sultan Aali.

He'd never been rough with her since the day of their capture, though part of that probably had to do with Vika's favor and for her sake. For Neema had been less than.. easy to work with. She tended to ignore him for the most part, when she could. Do as he said, but not a lick more. Give him her servitude but not her affection or even much in the line of conversation.

Even she was smart enough to realize that she'd never really given him a chance. That she wasn't being fair. She was just so stubborn though.. Men had never been her strong suit.. unless they were merely boys. Perhaps she'd have to try to be more civil.

This is what she thought as she sat and waited for the sultan, waited for whatever task he'd beckoned her for today.-