Soleil stretched out on a rock, eyes closed as she enjoyed the morning sun. It wasn't too hot yet, and water wasn't yet an issue. She wasn't blind - She saw how agitated the adults were. As it was looking, her mother wanted to take her and her brothers and sisters outside the prideal lands for water until things returned to normal. Soleil didn't like it. Any of it. She refused to leave. As she sat up, she looked over at Hinata. "You know what I miss? Ducking mud thrown by one of the other cubs."

The snake lifted her head, one brow ridge rising. "Why would you miss something like that?" She slid along the rock she herself was curled on, sliding up onto Soleil and curling around the cub. Like snakes were wont to do, she'd grown up much faster than the lion, already starting to sport quite the body length. As she lifted her head, her tongue flicked out. "I think time is better spent like it is now - Lounging on the rocks and looking pretty."

The cub thought about it, one ear twitching. "You're right, it is..." She giggled. "Though I feel a bit like dancing... But..." She reached a paw up, gently stroking the snake. "I know I'll get thirsty and need water... So I don't want to waste energy..." She let out a wistful sigh. "Mother wants to take us from the desert for a while... To find water until it returns here... But I don't want to leave all that I know and love." She didn't want to leave the pride she had in her lineage, either.

She considered her partner's words, tilting her head in thought. "Well... You could always dig your claws into your father's a**." She couldn't help smiling at the laugh she earned. "In all seriousness, he doesn't want to leave, either." The snake slid from her rock and up to her mistress, flicking her tongue in her ear. Another giggle was earned from the action. "He's as proud of lineage as you are, and how in the past everything's been toughed out." She inclined her head just a bit. "So... What happens if your father doesn't win the argument, and you all leave for a while? New lands... New faces..."

Soleil let out a huff. "I will NEVER leave! Even if I have to die of thirst!" Okay, she didn't want it coming down to THAT... But she was willing to try anything at that point. "What about you, where would you go?" She couldn't imagine her snake friend being welcome EVERYWHERE. Some prides would hunt her down. She gently batted at the snake's tail, contemplating her own future fate. She really DIDN'T want to leave...

"Why, I'll go with you, of course!" She wrapped gently around Soleil's neck, a smile on her face. The snake adored her lion companion. It had started out of ego, and it had evolved into friendship. Though they were drastically different races, Hinata considered Soleil her sister. Her eyes glanced toward where Soleil's mother napped, as well as her many siblings. Even the plethora of other cubs... Though Soleil was closer. Then there was Hinata's cousin, attached to one of Soleil's brothers... The snake shook the thoughts from her mind. "Do you think your mother would be mad if we went for a walk? As much as I enjoy sunning myself..."

"It's DREADFULLY boring here." The cub nodded, then climbed off her rock. After a few stretches, she set off across the sand, doing her best to stick to the more shaded places. When she neared the watering hole, she stopped, staring for a moment at the hulking lion guarding it. As parched as she was... She'd wait for her family's turn. Instead, the red cub turned and took off for the higher cliffs overlooking the prideal lands. It was here she finally relaxed, sitting to watch the sun stretch across the desert. Soon it would be as hot and dry as ever.

Tongue flicking, Hinata looked at the view. Or tried to. Snakes weren't known for good vision, but what she could see was... Stunning. The snake slid down to the ground, finding a spot and curling up to admire it as best she could. As the sun climbed higher, then snake closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth. And still it seemed to climb higher, as lion and snake enjoyed the warmth it offered after the night's chill. They had no idea yet, in their young lives, how cold the desert could truly become at night, but they enjoyed the day's warmth none the less. Finally, when the sun reached its pinnacle, Hinata slid under Soleil's shadow. "We should head back now, before we fry." Rising up, the green snake curled around the lion, until her loose coils seemed to form a necklace.

Rising to her paws, Soleil let out a yawn, stretching. "You're right... I'm bored and need something else to do." As she left the high points of the land, she mused about the lack of dancing their mother wasn't currently enforcing on them. With less water, they simply sought to preserve what they could. She hopped down some rocks, soon reaching the sand below, and thought about what she'd do now. She glanced at her snake companion, frowning. "What should we do now, Hinata?" The cub began walking, not seeming to mind the grown snake's weight.

She thought a bit herself, enjoying the ride across the desert. "Well, we can always go bug your cousins..." Any one of them. "Oh, I know, let's go bug that white-eyed cousin of yours! It's fun making him squirm!" It had been an accidental discovery, really. Some of Shula's cubs had been following the cubs of her brother, Vlam, around, and then Soleil had gone to say something to Luut... And the bright red lion had made possibly THE most hilarious choked screaming sound at the sight of the snake. Of course, he'd reacted the same at the sight of Ten, as well... Hinata chuckled to herself, eyes closing as she smiled.

Soleil grinned, looking at Hinata as she walked. "You find way too much amusement at my cousin's expense, Hinata!" But alas, it was true. Watching Luut freak out WAS fun. And the fact their much older cousin, Pavlov, also had a snake... That made it all the more hilarious. With a peel of laughter, the cub took off, intent on watching her cousin absolutely SQUIRM.