››From the Ashes‹‹

[roy]

It had been four full seasons since his father's death, Nurro minded as he padded through the sahara grass. Four full seasons since he had taken charge of the pride, yet only two since his brother betrayed him and sent him into exile.

For two full seasons the drake had roamed, resorting to scavenging and thieving. Four days ago, he had stolen a kill from a cheetah––a lithe beast, too delicate to protest his action. As he crouched over the supple, russet flesh of its kill, it loped lightly off. Only at a distance did it dare to cast him a mocking glance, his pants drawing back his lips in a grin. In that glance, in that yellow-eyed, laughing gaze Nurro saw a form of humoured pity. Those two golden orbs haunted him, they seemed to speak to him and say: Look at you, king of beasts... grovelling like a lowly hyena, without honour, without pride!

Since that day, Nurro had pushed himself further than his aimless wanderings had taken him in these long two seasons. As he paced through the tall grases, shoulder blates jutting rhythmically, mud and dust matting his sandy mane, he reflected bitterly on how he had led his life. He had been naïve, cowardly; now he would be wise, strong. He would divert himself from his kin and begin anew––here, in this wretched wasteland if he must, for that was all that there was for the taking.

By the time night fell, the drake had marked his territory and had come to rest on a flat, eroded boulder near the craggy rim of the cliff. Below the murky waters, now black in the evening light, lapped choppily against their shores. Earlier that day Nurro had spotted a lone crocodile wading in the pool, but it was the only one that he observed. He concluded that it was safe to assume that if there were others, they were upstream for the season.

Spreading back against the stone, Nurro sighed and craned his head to search the heavens. They were quiet tonight, the stars vigilant and rigid as they traced across the sky, occasionally shrouded out by a dark swath of cloud.

[R u m o u r | you are my life]

Long, lean pillars carried the tall, but thin essa into the terrace. Nares had picked up the scent of a lone brujo, so she came, she needed a pride, and a maes protection, even though she would fight for herself, unlike most fems.

Dark brown, wide optics searched for the brujo, as she carried her mass through the terrace, spreading her scent through the slowley moving wind. Alluring the brute with her scent, and looks, even though looks were not a big deal in the lion world. Hunting, and pedigree was more popular for a fem choice.

She never used to carry herself with confidence, until about a week ago, when she had just started to tell all her feelings, even though she didn't want to at first, but know she had realized what had been holding her back, and how to solve it, she was a fighter.

[roy]

As he laid back against the stone of the boulder, eyes scanned the vague heavens, a distinct and pungent scent drifted to his nostrils. Rolling onto his stomach, Nurro pushed himself up and allowed his mug to tilt and catch the scent as it floated by him on a passing breeze.

The scent was unmistakeable: he knew it well. Sitting up more erectly, his rounded ears swivelled forward, listening intently while his eyes roved over the dry grass, searching for any irregularity. It was not long before the lean outline of a lioness slinking toward him caught his eye.

What luck, he remarked to himself as he raised up from his haunches onto each of his broad paws. From his perch atop the boulder, he emitted a low, rumbling growl. It was not a growl to warn her off, but rather a wary growl, as if he were giving her credit for possibly approaching him with a sinister intent.

However, as she drew closer, the openness and the attractiveness of her poise laid his suspicions aside. Eyeing her closely a moment further, he hopped down from the boulder and strode slowly toward her––bringing them onto equal ground. Nurro regarded her before thrusting his brow forward and gently butting heads with her in greeting.

She did not seem hostile to him, and not because she did not have the potential to be a vicious fighter. Instead, he saw that she, like himself, was desperate for a source of stability that alone neither of them could provide. If that was what she desired, as Nurro readily and boldly assumed, then she would prove docile.

Afterall, one does not bite the hand that feeds it––in essence, that is, the drake reasoned further, all traces of wariness toward her vanished. Nurro did not doubt her strength, but neither was he oblivious to his own imposing appearance and strength.

Drawing away from her and pacing in an arc around her, studying her form keenly, Nurro uttered: "So tell me, doe, what brings you so far from home?"

[R u m o u r | you are my life]

As the brujo neared her presence she held her head a bit higher, to show her pride. "what brings me here, is an escape, from what, I do not know." she stated proudly.

Her scent still heavily flooding the area she was in. She began to purr very quietly, this brujo had been going through what she had been going through. It was enticing her.

She roared, then let out a yawn, she haden't been able to sleep in over 4 days. She would have layed, but knew better than to do that on a strange brujo's terrace.

[roy]

"Ah," Nurro snorted, rocking his weight to a halt, paws sinking into the parched earth. Eyeing her closely, the dark spots of his brows pinched in a frown and his jaw drew firm and grave. The lioness was young, younger than his initial impression had took her for. What he had taken for a vicious potential was merely youthful recklessness. She was naïve, but so that she was uncautious.

"Well it is neither escape nor freedom that you will find here with me," the drake told her grimly.

[R u m o u r | you are my life]

"Then what is it you search for?" She inquired smartly. Her scent still heavily tracing the air. Yes the fem was young, but she was intelligent. But not many knew it. She had to grow up quickly, but still her young age sometimes had shown in her actions, jsut daring herself, and whatever she was near to do soemthing.

[roy]

"I search for a new beginning," he replied, just as quickly, temper flaring momentarily. Nurro was not sure if he liked the cheek of this lioness, but he knew he must tolerate her if he was going to start his own pride. Turning from her and hopping lightly onto his boulder once more, he settled down on his stomach and continued to peer in her direction, amber eyes critcial.

The drake then scanned the evening horizon, his leonine features drawing in a frown once more. "Though this is a rather desolate place for the a new beginning––the sun has burnt everything dry..."

[R u m o u r | you are my life]

"Yes, it has." She stated as well, looking over the horizon. More of her scent comming out, she coudln't control it, no femora could.

She contiued to stand, incase the brujo would object if she sat or layed. But gave the hint, that she wanted to rest. Her long pillars showing her skinneyness, but still healthy. It was just natural for her.

She yawned once more, as she went to a tree, still tired, closer to the near brujo. He was young, but how old, he showed no aging what so ever. How different, but then again, that was great in her oppinion.