King of the Jungle Rameé

~~~Stud Encounter~~~

Strolling through the once-great lands of the goddesses, you see the proof of that terrible war. Bones and ash dust the ground where grass and insects once lived. Smoke and death choke the sky, blotting out the sun and leaving the territory perpetually overcast, regardless of the weather beyond. Not a soul stirs for miles around, the only sound a whisper on the wind, perhaps the final breath of some long forgotten spirit. You shiver.

".....you shouldn't be here alone." A quiet voice says, and you turn quickly, startled. You hadn't heard anyone approach, but here is a lion, strong and somber. His fur is colorful, but muted due to the thick layers of soot coating it. His mane is tangled, uncared for, and his eyes cold and distant. You can't quite tell what he's thinking from his face, but he seems to be no threat to you.

You nod, explaining you were looking for somewhere to stay, your king having sent you off to find....well.....hopefully a warm den for the night. He does not seem particularly interested, and you wince, though he doesn't tell you to leave either. In silence, he walks by, and you feel you've been ditched yet again before realizing he's waiting for you to follow.

He doesn't speak much, though you have the impression that there is more to him than he shows. He walks with an old limp, and his shadow shows a winged form, rather than a mere lion. Curious...

Soon enough you arrive at his den, a crumbling thing filled with cobwebs and old claw marks. He assures you it is stable with such certainty that you can't help but believe. The lion—Elfangor, he calls himself—does not bother you that night, but in the morning you wake to fresh game already killed for you and some water in a pouch of leaves. He does not take credit for it nor draw any attention to the act, but the longer you linger, the more you catch him glancing at you when he thinks you aren't looking, and a soft purr from the other end of the den when you pretend to sleep...