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One day... he was just there.
No one know, from where he has come, but he made his home near a waterfall. Lionesses on huntig duty and patroling males reported strange smell. Not a leopard, not a lion. The elusive creature somewhat escaped all attempts of comunication.
Miwezi had enough of this mystery. He decided to track that interloper on his own. It was not long after he left the main camp of his pride, when he detected, that he is not alone. After a quick sniff he was able to identify his shadow:
"You are not in battle shape, Foretold One. Please, return to camp. I dont know, what are we facing and I cant guarantee your safety." His tone was soft and polite.
"My claws are still sharp and there is enough teeth to make holes in your pelt, cheeky boy," scolded him Utabiri, now old and almost retired shaman of River panthers. "You need me for this, so here I am. Lets be on our way, hunters return at dusk and I am promised a nice chunk of wildbeest."
There was wery little, what Miwezi can done about it, so he just continued on his way. They folowed the river, until they came to a place, where body of the water split in few smaler streams. Few of them created small waterfalls.
And there, near one of these, sat a lean feline. Smaler than lion, bulkier than a leopard. It has even something, what could be considered for a mane. Strange feline looked a little bit warily, ready to escape. It was hard to tell the color of its pelt. Maybe gold with onyx rosette? Or it was black...?
Miwezi stoped a few steps before... him? It looked kind of like a male.
"My name is Miwezi and this teritory belongs to River Panther pride. My pride. Who are you?"
Stranger just flicked his tale, but he reminded silent.
"River Panther pride greets you. I apologize for our late arrival. I am not so good ad divination anymore. I still dare to hope for a blessing for my pride," said Utabiri and bowed her head. Miwezi just stared bevildered, with no idea what is going on.
The creature stand up and slowly apoached Utabiri, for a moment hi rested his chin on her head and then he finaly spoke:
"My name is Aislin, The Black Panther. I was searching for a place, where Mark of the Panther is revered most. And here I am. My blessing for your pride is clear: as long as I will stay here, your line will be strong, you will never go hungry and your lands will enjoy peace. Return now to your pride, king Miwezi. There is a lioness in labor. One of her cubs will be your heir."
You rolled your eyes once again as Aislin asked you about going to the forest. No, they can not become one with the leopards.
You were surprised to find Aislin sopping wet when you went to say hello. She had apparently heard leopards were decent at fishing, and she wanted to try it out.
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