"Wheeee! Bi! Wheee!"

Al squealed happily as he swung from his Uncle's grip on his scruff. Not only was he high enough to be at eye level with his brother but they were also leaving their territory to see something new. It was officially the best day ever. His eyes were lit up with excitement and his paws were waving around happily as he moved by his Uncle's power.

Meanwhile at the borders of his own territory, Maahes was walking slowly around his perimeter. Despite being close to death's door Maahes refused to slack on his own duties as Alpha Male. He still patrolled his territory, he still took care of his pride and raised the cubs alongside his females. Fortunately there hadn't been a threat in ages but even if a threat did turn up Maahes wouldn't hesitate to protect his pride even at the disadvantage his age held him.

Fortunately he had an heir already lined up to take his place. The young lad was loved by the whole pride. Infact they all cared for him so much that each member of the pride was trying to help teach and train him to be a good, fair Alpha. Today he was with his mother and sister watching the hunting party take down some prey. Maahes guessed they'd probably go for something small and easy to catch - a warthog.

Maahes paused mid-stride when a scent reached his nose he hadn't smelt in a very long time. A smile spread across his fiery muzzle as he turned in the direction of the scent and waited by his border for his old friend. It would be a refreshing break to talk with a good friend. Especially since he still had a problem where he needed to find an heir for the territory beside his that once belonged to an ancestor of his. Unfortunately the pride was in chaos at the moment and really needed a proper Alpha to bring it back round.

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Afzal's eyes shone with curiosity and amusement as he watched his brother waving about, laughing slightly as he swung, ignoring Ezekiel padding further and faster to meet the lion at the border; only noticing once he walked straight into Maahes' legs.

"Oh geez, sorry!"

"Careful, Afzal." Ezekiel rumbled as he placed Al down beside Afzal, smiling up at Maahes as he greeted the lion. "It's been a while~"

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Maahes raised an eyebrow, lifting one of his front paws upon being ran into. It didn't take him long to see the resemblence between the adolescent male and the cub male. They looked almost like spitting images of each other. Although the cub was definitely... fluffier. Like a big ball of fluff. It was really rather cute. The elder lion lifted his gaze back up to look at his friend Ezekiel. It had been a long time since they'd seen each other.

"Hello Ezekiel. It has been too long. How are you?"

He asked, his voice deep and rumbling like thunder. Whilst his personality may fall within the 'Evil' bracket it didn't mean that Maahes was without friends. It just meant that those who weren't - he had very few friends - we're likely going to end up killed. Brutally.

Al couldn't help but look at the shimmering fire coloured male in fascination. It was such a pretty colour! He looked like the sun. Infact Al was so amazed by this discovery he had to point it out to his big brother.

"Bi!" He called, "Su. It su!"

The words 'Big Best! Sun. Its sun' didn't quite translate to Maahes' ears but he didn't have any doubts that the cub's family would understand what he was saying.

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Ezekiel chuckled as he pulled Afzal back up, looking into Maahes' eyes with a soft chuff.

"It really has...I've been very well...a good boom in the pride size, I'm running a bit ragged but...at least I have Rameses to help me...how have things been with you, my friend?" He sat down and curled his tail around his paws, delicately...very delicately.

Whilst Afzal looked down at Al with a smile, slowly nodding and chuckling at the same time.

"Oh yes...he's amazing isn't he? He's bigger and stronger than Uncle Zeke...and he is a bit like the sun, huh?"

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"Its been very busy the past few months. I forgot how old I was to be honest until a month ago when my body started to complain. Its been a mad rush to find an heir for my pride, but I've managed to produce one, my own son so I'm very happy with that. Unfortunately an ally's pride that has long since gone without an Alpha is still in chaos and I've yet to find a proper male to take over. I was only meant to keep an eye on it, but its gotten out of hand. As experienced as I am, I am still very old and getting older every day. It'll take someone of great strength and energy to sort that place out. Someone with a kinder soul then I do, and a leader besides. Still, I have some time left I suppose."

Maahes replied, only realising a bit too late he had rambled on and on. Had it been so long since he'd really talked to a friend? It must have been. On the few times he had left the territory of late he hadn't run into anything but prey and two leggeds. Nothing he could talk to. Shaking his large head he couldn't help but sigh ruefully.

"I apologise friend. It must have been a while since I've been able to talk properly. Tell me, who are these strapping two lads?"

Al found himself nodding along to his big brother's words although the only thing he understood from it was that he agreed the lion looked like the sun. Without any fear Al got up and walked right over to the fire coloured lion. His eyes went even wider at his large, fluffy mane - just like his!

"BI! BI! MI MAN!"

He squealed excitedly, looking from his brother, to his tuft of fur on his own head and to the male's fluffy Barbary mane. Of course in reality Maahes' mane was a full, fluffy, Barbary mane and thus nothing like Al's tuft of fur but both were fluffy and poofy in their own ways which could be seen as similar. Which Al, of course, did.

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Ezekiel softly chuckled as he looked up, he was shorter, definitely...and his voice was a lot more delicate, soft and silky.

"It's all find, my friend~ But you need some help? Oh my...what has been going on? Anything I can do to help you?" His voice was heavy with concern...very heavy, he had never heard Maahes worry so much. "Rameses and I are always here to help you, we know you all well, and it's the least we could do. Apart from that...these two are Al'Afzal Asad, or Afzal," He put a paw on Afzal's shoulder, smiling as the younger lion jumped. "And this little one...is Al'Asad Alnnamr." He nodded down to Al with a smile. "Brothers, Lesedi's sons, actually~" He looked up into Maahes' eyes, his gaze was soft...it upheld his well known kind reputation.

It took a lot on Afzal to not laugh as Al squealed, looking up at Maahes with a grin.

"He seems to like you, Sir."

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"Lesedi, hm? She's outdone herself once again."

Maahes murmurred, watching the fluffy little cub with amusement. He could barely remember being an adolescent let alone being such a tiny and exciteable cub. Like everyone else who had met Al, Maahes couldn't help but feel a spark of fondness for the little thing. He was certainly nothing like his heir, Kleintjie, in appearance although he could see a similar spark of curiousity and perhaps even adventurous nature in their eyes.

"Cubs do seem to like my mane. It helps that my coat makes me stand out on a clear sunny day. Sparkly fluffy things do seem to hold younglings' attentions."

Maahes replied, unable to hold back a small smile as he watched Al who was currently trying to climb inside his fluffy mane.

Al was eager to see what he would look like with a full mane like 'Sun's' and so he pressed his back against Maahes' chest, pushed his head through the mane and then popped his head out in the middle of the mane on his chest so that Maahes' mane surrounded his head. Grinning proudly, he let out a happy squeak as he showed off his future look to his Uncle and Brother.

"Zizi! Bi! Mi man, it mi man!"

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"She's always done good...fantastic huntress too..." Ezekiel chuckled as he watched the cub's antics, smiling at Maahes in amusement. "I can see why~" He looked at Al, unable to hold back the smile himself. "I prefer the wavier locks but...it keeps the boy happy."

"I agree..." Afzal looked up at Maahes in awe...he'd never seen a mane like it. "Wow Sir, that's amazing. How long did it take for your mane to come in?" He tilted his head, though smiling as he looked at Maahes' mane, as well as the cub in it.

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"Hm? Oh, I think it started coming in when I was about a year old. There is a lot of it you see. By the time I was two and a half years old my mane was half the length and thickness it is now - which is still rather big. By the time I properly matured at about three it was all grown in, and its been like this ever since. This may be a bit morbid but if you like, and you can find me, when I have passed on you are more then welcome to take my mane and use it as bedding or whatever you wish. I like the thought of my mane keeping those I care for warm, even after I'm no longer there to provide it."

Maahes replied, his gaze having wandered over to Afzal. Besides, he had a soft spot for the younglings of which he counted anyone under two years old as. Of course in hi opinion even 'adult' lions were often younglings in his eyes anyway - mostly due to immature behaviour or their looks or just for the fact they were younger then him. He really did like his friend's younglings, Afzal and Al. The pair were very cute together, and he couldn't help but think how growing up would be a challenge for them. After all, so far it was impossible for two lions to run one pride. They'd have to split apart someday. Maahes just hoped they could stay in touch even from different territories and prides.

Al, meanwhile, was having a blast pretending to have a full length mane just like the others. Infact he was so happy that he lifted his fore paws off the ground and pawed the air whilst saying:

"Ra! Ra! RAAAAAAAAAA!"

A better imitation of roaring, at least Al thought it was better then his usual squeak.

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The story, however short, greatly intrigued Afzal, he always loved elder's tales, especially of their own past.

"Wow Sir, that's...a long time for a mane to come in..." Afzal's voice was full of amazement, it was something Ezekiel had never heard. "Not even uncle Zeke or uncle Rameses said that it took that long for theirs to come in..." He looked down at his chest, slightly sighing at what he saw as a pathetic amount of growing mane.

Whilst the youngster was talking to Maahes, Ezekiel kept his eye on Al, a wide smile spread across his face as he watched.

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"It is a very thick and long mane. It helps me to look more intimidating as well as bigger then I am. Its a good defense."

Maahes replied to the youngster, not at all worried about sharing such vulnerable and valueable information. At least not to Afzal. He trusted his good friend Ezekiel and Maahes knew he'd never have brought anyone to him that he couldn't trust. Not without telling him somehow anyway, so he wasn't at all worried about telling the youngster about this.

"Thats the thing really. You've got to be able to intimidate. Half the fights you get in you can win just be scaring the threat off. You don't even need any fighting skill to do this - sheer size and other intimidating factors will do the fighting for you. Of course it does help to have the fighting skill to fall back on if you can't scare the other off."

He added absentmindedly as he brought up a hind paw to reach and scratch at the back of his own ear.

The shaking caused Al to fall out of the thick mane, going headfirst into the ground before rolling over so that he ended up sat on his bottom, stunned, when he eventually came to a halt. Huffing, Al shook his head and slowly got up, stretching his body out as if to say 'I so meant to do that'. Upon noticing his brother's attention solely on the sun lion, Al frowned, pouting. Thats his Big best, not Sun's! His gaze then wandered over to his Uncle and without hesitation he walked over with a sad look on his little face.

"Zizi, Bi go Su. Bi mi! No Su."

He said sadly. 'Zizi, Big best gone with Sun. Bi mine. Not Sun'. It was the longest sentence he had ever said, which just helped prove how sad Al felt now that he didn't have his brother's full attention.

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"...I don't think I'd do well..." Afzal examined himself, and his seemingly puny size...and mane growth. "Would I?" He sighed, he wasn't the tallest male, or the largest...sometimes he thought he would be better off helping the females in hunting.

Ezekiel softly huffed as he watched Al, chuckling slightly at what the cub must have translated into a smooth recovery.

"Hey..." He wrapped a paw around the cub, pulling him close and chuckling. "You've got me? Su is a good friend of mine...like another uncle of yours, really~"

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"Look, very few are born big. I mean look at the cub brother of yours. Under all that fluff I bet he is as skinny as a rake. Now, he could go either way in size. All depends on the food, how often he gets and what quality, as well as training. Walking, hiking, even play fights whilst you're young will help. I'm sure you'll get big and strong when you're older."

Maahes replied whilst looking Afzal over.

"I took a lot of intense, dark training since I was a cub to get as strong and lethal as quickly as possible. Its a tradition in my pride and its what my heir, Kleintjie, is going through as well. Its why we've fared so well as dark Alphas. However its different for light Alphas, I'm sure. So just listen to your Uncle here and you'll turn out alright."

He added, gesturing with his head to his friend Ezekiel. Ezekiel was the only lion with a positive personality that Maahes had and trusted. Infact he'd sent over a lioness before because whilst she had been a pretty one she didn't have the same dark heart the rest of the pride had. He had heard over the years how happy she was and Maahes was glad for that.

Al whimpered sadly as he looked up at his large Uncle. For a moment he wondered if he should change the object of his obsession from 'Big Best' to 'Zizi'.

"Mi Zizi."

He decided, nodding firmly before burrowing into the older lion's mane. He felt so warm, soft, and safe.

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With perked ears and full attention, Afzal listened; he was silent, and that didn't happen often. Well, to what Lesedi thought anyway, to what the entire pride thought.

"We've always been taught about judgement...fair judgement, to let lions talk and explain before taking any action..." he sighed softly, looking around and then back up. "I hope I turn out strong, at least, if not tall..."

He only half heard the conversation between them, but Ezekiel nodded in Maahes' direction as he spoke of Afzal listening to him, before turning back to Al and gently huffed; their father wasn't around, he never knew why, and Lesedi would never tell...but he would make sure he was a strong figure for all of the pride's cubs, no matter what.

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"I am sure you will turn out to be the best lion you can be. Just don't forget that as your Uncle teaches you, you must also teach your little brother there. He looks up to you, and with such a close bond he'll look to you for all the answers in the world even if you don't have them. Like in fighting, bluffing is half the battle. You don't have to know it all, you just have to look like you do."

Maahes responded, a smirk on his lips at the end. Yes, it was fun sometimes to be the one others looked to as a teacher or mentor. To be the trainer, the master, the Alpha. He could say the sky was green to the cubs and they would accept it just because they looked up to him and he was the autoritarian that was teaching them. At the end of the day it didn't matter if you got some of the little facts wrong. What mattered is teaching the cubs the valuable moral lessons as well as teaching them to survive. If you had that then it doesn't matter the sky is green or that rocks were stars in disguise. All that mattered was that the next generation lived on.

Unable to understand a single word of what anyone else was saying, Al couldn't help but let out a low suffering sigh. This wasn't fun at all. He was bored and his Bi wasn't even looking at him. Huffing, Al stood up and wandered past the three older lions and ventured deeper into Sun's territory. At least he'd be able to say he'd seen something new out of all this. It didn't even occur to him that anywhere but his home territory was dangerous. To Al everywhere was safe, happy, and full of sunshine. Especially at Sun's home. It had to be the best, good-est place ever!

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