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Crack.
Elora was no stranger to the sound of human firesticks. She'd sent quite a few of their wielders running for their lives back in her day, of course, as any good pride member would. But this time felt different. This time, her muscles quivered with fear instead of rage, and a kitten-like mewl escaped her throat. This wasn't one human hunting solo, from the sound of the rapid staccato gunfire, but a whole party of them. And they were close, much too close for comfort. Maybe a particularly large and bloodthirsty pride could have lain waste to these defilers, but Elora's pride was neither of those things. Their only choice was to run. They couldn't risk too many of their ranks dying in direct combat.
A panicked roar from her king signaled the pride to flee, and Elora struggled to her feet as quickly as she could. She wasn't the spry young thing she used to be, that was for sure. And there was something else that would slow her down too, evidenced by the startled squeak from the ground when she shifted. Her newborn son, the last cub she would ever bear. No way would she leave him. Tail lashing with fear, she scooped her son up by the scruff and launched into a sprint, her old bones and creaking joints screaming at the sudden exertion. She could hardly tell what direction her pridemates had fled towards, with the cacophony of rifle shots drowning out any voices that might be calling for her. She couldn't keep this up for long. Her only hope was to find shelter and pray to whatever spirits were listening that someone from her family would find her eventually. A confused yelp from her son brought the sting of tears to her eyes, and with her vision momentarily blurred, she caught her paw on a rock. Instinctively she curled around her cub, shielding him as they tumbled forward and slid down a riverbank and splashed into the shallows.
Elora winced sharply as she dragged herself out of the water and onto the muddy bank; if luck was smiling on her today, maybe this pain was just bruises and not broken bones. She let herself sink a little bit into the mud as she gingerly placed her son on a rock, gently licking him to calm his frantic wailing. Good, he didn't seem to have been injured in the fall. "Hush, my son," she whispered. "Hush, if you want to grow up to be the king you're destined to be." His crying tapered into soft mewls before he fell silent, and Elora curled lovingly around him, holding her breath and shutting her eyes. If she was lucky, the poachers hadn't seen her fall and wouldn't think to check down the bank.
Minutes dragged like hours and it felt like she hadn't taken a breath in eternity, but eventually, she heard a roar. An unfamiliar roar. The gunfire had faded, but this voice wasn't her king, nor anyone else in her family. Quivering, she kept her body pressed into the mud until the strange voice's owner poked his head over the riverbank and made eye contact. She must have accidentally crossed a border into another king's territory. A tiny whine escaped Elora's throat, and the mulberry-coated king's expression softened. "Don't be afraid, I am not here to chase you away." A gentle smile spread over his face. "Are you lost? I heard the commotion from the pride the poachers were chasing." Elora's eyes widened. "I think they escaped unharmed, but I don't know where they went. I am sorry." Her eyes fell and her heart ached, but... maybe this king could help her reunite with her family.
Slowly, unthreateningly, the king descended the riverbank, attempting a reassuring purr as he approached Elora. "My name is Amanojaku. Would you like some help? I could take you back to my pride, so at least you can be safe while you decide your next steps." Elora nodded gratefully, and Amanojaku leaned down, allowing her to bite into his short mane. Amanojaku gingerly picked up the cub, and together they scaled the bank. Several more lions awaited them at the top, some kind-eyed, some not. But all seemed to look upon this admittedly rather plain king with respect and reverence. Maybe this wouldn't be the worst place for her son to grow up. Maybe this could be his future family.
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