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BS: 219
First Felis in the pride!
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It was the middle of the night when Queen Emera awoke, breathing heavily and nostrils flaring. Ever since she had lost her sight, she had been given strange dreams of a cub in a far away land, owned by an unknown pride. Xasil, her mate, had insisted it was the Shaman's magic, as the Shamans were active in their rituals. He had told her that it was just her mind reacting to the magic that was in the air.
But no.
This time, it was different.
Emera shot up out of her sleeping spot and made her way out to the cave's mouth. Although she could not see, she fared quite well in the world using her ears, nose, whiskers, and her paws. She remembered clearly where this cub was, and started in the direction in which she felt was right. Her paws felt like electric as her excitement increased, and, soon, she was running. Her senses were on fire, as she leapt and bounded through shrubbery, over streams, down the rocks. She ran and ran and ran.
It was morning when Xasil woke with a large yawn. He rolled on his side and went to lick Emera's face, and noticed she wasn't there. He stood, and looked around,"Emera? Emera? Where are you?". No answer. Xasil licked his nose and started out to the mouth of the cave, and looked around the mountan scape for his queen. Nothing.
I small wave of panic flew through him as he remembered the dreams his queen had mentioned passionately. He immediately looked to the ground, as there was a light but fresh layer of snow that had fallen upon the mountaintop. Her large paw prints went down the mountain side. Xasil called his sons, Filius and Tokaa, and commanded them to watch over the pride while he was gone, and darted off to find his companion.
Emera has stopped at a stream to drink. She didn't know how long she had been running, or where she was. She had a feeling, however, she was in the right place at the right time, and her journey was almost over. She would find this cub somewhere. As she lapped the water, she heard a twig break behind her. Her ears swiveled towards the noise, as she continued to drink. It was only when the noise grew closer, when she leaped around, snarling, and teeth bared. A growl came from the thing, and Emera felt a large presence before her.
"Who are you?" She asked, puffing out her chest.
"I am Onaki, king of the Jungle Pride. You are in my lands. Who are you? And why are you here?"
Emera's ears swiveled, "I am Emera, queen of the Mountain Pride. Bonded mate of Xasil, our pride's king. I am here for a cub I saw in reoccurring dreams. If I am correct, you are a Felis Pride. I saw a Felis Lioness cub. And I was supposed to bring her back to replace me when I pass."
She heard a growl come from the king, and then footsteps approached around her. She felt surrounded, she sounded like she was surrounded.
"And what," he started slowly, "is this cub's name?"
"Sahennest," Emera answered loudly and boldly.
The things around her went silent, as she felt the king grow near to her right ear. He whispered that she was who they were waiting for, and the Shamans had sent her. As he stepped back, another lion, a younger male, cane forward with a small body in his jaws. He laid it down in front of Emera's paws, and stepped back to the side of Onaki.
"Here is the cub, take her, and one day she will be queen of your pride, and we will have a strong connection for years and years to come. And, maybe, our kind will be found amongst your pride in the years to come."
Emera nodded and gently picked the cub up in her jaws, and turned to leave. The lions had watched her leave, quietly. The small body in her mouth was warm and fuzzy. It reminded her of when her own cubs were small. But this cub was different. It was more slender, and lighter than the cubs in her pride. The Felis species was always said to be a lot more slender than the other types of lions. They were made to be fast and agile. This cub would be a great step for her pride.
She began running home, careful as to not hurt the cub, who was apparently named Sahennest. Emera had not known where she learned the name from, but it must've been a sign from the Shamans.
Xasil was quickly and quietly following the scent of his beloved queen. He had worried she went off the deep end, following some dream that would lead her to her death. The scent of her paw prints were growing faint, and he was anxious on what he would find when he finally caught up.
He had stopped to rest when a giant mass thudded into him. It had knocked him over, and he growled in anger as he stood to confront the animal that had the audacity to touch royalty in this way. But he stopped when he saw Emera sitting, a cub lay between her paws.
"The dreams.." Xasil said, staring at the small cub.
"They were true," Emera said, rubbing her ear, "the Shamans sent me to get this cub, and bring her back to be my replacement when I can no longer fill my duties as queen."
Xasil was in awe. He nodded, accepting Emera's choice. He helped her up and gently picked the little Felis Lioness up. Filius would be a great companion for her. The pride would be in good paws.
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