[PRP] Old Friends Found

[Gelfin]

Idril sighed. if it were not for the strange tang in the air, she could almost feel as if this place was home. The ground felt right, the trees and plants looked right. Only the soft distant crashing noise and the smells carried to her upon the air were wrong.

I want to go home, she thought. A tired little messenger bird every few moons is not enough to stave off homesickness. She'd sent the last such bird back with a message that she'd be returning soon. The sickness had finally left and the Clan Leaders were getting anxious with no Royal about to give orders. Though thankfully, not so anxious that they were ready to try and replace her. Snorting in amusement, she cast a sideways glance at her two companions.

Her father had been very clever when he'd decreed that the Gods had chosen Biz as the pride's future Wise One. He'd been even cleverer when he'd given Nafasi leave to roam the pride's borders freely. Normally, the pride would have torn a wild dog to shreds had they found him in their lands. But not every wild dog came acting as surrogate brother and guard to a lioness cub either. Such a thing was unheard of and Idril's father had been quick to use that fact to make more than a few shrewd political moves designed to protect his daughter.

Finally, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, the white lioness paused and tilted her head at her two traveling companions.

"Well," she began, "I haven't seen anything all that terribly interesting here. Have either of you? I thougth we could start to go back towards home within the next few days."  

[Gelfin]

Idril watched the two from lowered eyelids. She trusted their instincts absolutely, knowing that neither would have lasted long wandering without strong instincts and hunches.

"Well, if you both think so, I suppose we can look about a little longer. But we can't delay too much. I already told the bird to let the pride know we'd be returning soon. And what is that crashing noise?" she flicked an ear irritably. It wasn't threatening sounding. Merely odd and frustrating because she couldn't place it.

Kere lay curled in some shade, hoping that the heat would lessen a little so he could go visit the shore and think. He'd been having the oddest dreams lately and even the Rain didn't seem to have any insight. Finally, he rolled to his feet, feeling too restless now to stay still. It didn't matter if the sand would burn his paws. The sea water would cool them again.

Walking through the plantlife, he caught a murmur of voices and after a moment's thought, crept closer, grateful for the still breeze. It wouldn't bring him any scent, but then again, it wouldnt' carry his to whomever was talking either.

Finally, he could see a white form and he heard a feminine voice speaking. Forcing himself to hold his laughter in at her indignation, he heard her ask what the crashing noise was. Unable to contain himself, he poked just enough of his nose through the bushes, so they would only see his face and chuckled.

"That, miss," he stated cheerfully, "is the sound of the waves hitting the shore. I promise it's perfectly harmless unless there's a storm raging."  

[Gelfin]

"Waves?" Idril repeated. "Waves? How big do they get?"

For a moment she felt taken aback more by the thought of the size a wave would need to get to make that much noise. She'd seen tiny ripple waves when the wind blew across the lakes at home, but they'd never made noise!

Peeking around Nafasi, she grinned back at the stranger, "I want to see this, can I?"



For his part, Kere was staring hard at the wild dog and the pink lioness. Something about them was tugging at teh back of his mind. Especially the dog's markings... Now where had he seen those before?

And when realization hit, Kere's eyes went wide enough for the others to see the whites all around and he launched himself at the wild dog with a wild, kittenish exuberance.

"Nafasssiiiiii!"  

[Gelfin]

"Biz?!? You're here too?" Kere had just enough time to gasp out the words before he was bowled over by both of his old friends. Purring and chortling, he did his best to curl around both beasts. After a few moments, he remembered his manners and glanced up at the white lioness. Smiling sheepishly, he wrinkled his nose up at her.

"I can lead you there with no problems, miss."


Idril watched the reunion with a small, amused grin on her face. So, this black lion was one of the lions that Biz and Nafasi had been friends with so long ago. As she watched the three, a glimmering of an idea sparked in her mind and her grin deepened. This Kere was certainly handsome enough with well groomed black fur and sparkling pink eyes. He had to be strong and intelligent to have survived on his own for so long. Purring to herself, she nodded a gracious acceptance to his offer to show them the waves.

"Thank you. I can see you already know my companions, but allow me to introduce myself. My name is Idril."  

[Gelfin]

Rolling carefully to his feet and standing, Kere returned Biz's affectionate headbutt with one of his own. Smiling, he turned to the white lioness and bowed his head politely.

"It's very nice to meet you, Idril, ma'am. Thank you for giving my friends a place to live."

Then, formalities done, Kere turned to his friends and crouched playfully, ready for a game of tag.

"I've been all right, I think," he answered Biz's question. "I... joined a pride here and... and...," he paused and looked troubled for a moment. His friends were in a pride and wouldn't be able to stay. And he had a place here and couldnt' really leave either. And he did NOT want to lose his friends again.


Idril watched Kere carefully and noted the look of troubled introspection upon his face when he mentioned being a member of whatever pride lived here. Perfect. Taking advantage of his distraction, she sidled closer to her two companions and whispered just enough for them to hear without Kere knowing they were talking.

"Play along with me," she ordered. "We have to take him back with us and he won't go unless we play this just right."

Then, moving towards Kere and speaking at a normal level, she half purred at the lion.

"Can you show us the waves now? Oh please say yes! You see, we three have to head home soon and I would like to see the waves so I have stories to tell when I get home."

She paused and allowed a troubled look of her own to flicker across her face. It was all sham, of course, but if she didn't act a bit helpless, she'd never convince Kere to join them. And she wanted him to come with them.  

[Gelfin]

Shaking off his fit of melancholy, Kere nodded and smiled again.

"Of course. Follow me."

Leading them through the lush jungle growth, Kere found himself noting that Idril seemed troubled when she mentioned her home. Well, if she was wandering, she'd probably left behind friends and family. She more than likely missed them terribly. For that matter, he thought, Biz and Nafasi seem awfully quiet too. I guess they miss their friends there too...

And for one awful moment, depression swallowed Kere whole. He was going to miss them when they had to leave again. Not even the Rain could fill the hole that loss woudl create.


Nodding with satisfaction at how quickly Biz brought herself under control, Idril made certain that she followed Kere at a respectful distance. Wouldn't do to seem pushy on another pride's territory. So, rather than chatter, she simply looked curious as a kitten and concealed her thoughts carefully. If she was judging Kere correctly, it would hurt him deeply to lose Biz and Nafasi again. So, what better way in insure he didn't than by pretending that they needed his help in escorting back home? Surely by the time they made it back, he'd be too happy at being with his friends to want to come back here. So, time to begin laying the groundwork for her plan.

"This is a lovely place, Kere. It reminds me so much of where I grew up before my father sent us away to protect us from a strange sickness. That's why we're going to go back soon. I'm just afraid of the long journey back, you see. Nafasi is very brave, but I am afraid that any marauding lions would still see Biz and I as easy prey and Nafasi as a hindrance. If we had another lion with us, I'm sure we'd be much safer. Do you know any who might be willing to escort us?"