[PRP] Just Wait For It [Lunastre + Nefertiri]

[viatorai]

"What's it like?"

Nefertiri had taken to hanging around the sky-marked lioness more and more frequently lately, and though the nurse had other cubs to look after, she seemed to always have time for her.

Her stories were always fantastic, about the life she'd led before. And Nefertiri, though a guard, loved to hear of the lands beyond the borders. It was so fascinating to hear from someone who'd had a life before the Pride.  

[viatorai]

Lunastre chuckled at Nefertiri's excitement. The younger lioness was not so much more than she, but her youth didn't seem to be leaving anytime soon.

"You'll have to be a little bit more specific, Nef." Lunastre tilted her head to one side. "I know I've already told you about the great desert and the swamp..." It was flattering, really, how much she was sought after just for her stories. And, this time, without cubs clamoring around her, she might just be able to tell a longer story. Or two. whichever Nef wanted.  

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Nefertiri had to think. Well, two stories down. How many to go before they were exhausted? It would be better off to start with some of the shorter ones.

"Um...Well do you have anything about...Something that happened at night?" It was very vague. Very open-ended. A nod to Lunastre's star-marked pelt, something Nef was somewhat envious of, if she was truthful.  

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What an odd request.

"I might have one or two...though one certainly is longer than the other." While she had no qualms about telling a story that would take hours, Lunastre also didn't want to keep Nef from going about her day, doing her duties.

"Which would you rather?"  

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"Shorter!" Nef nearly yelled, shrinking back as she realized she was awful loud, giving Lunastre an apologetic smile.

"I mean...it's already past high noon, so...maybe shorter for now? and in the morning, maybe the other? Either way, I'm going to love it. I mean, I'm pretty sure I am. Your stories are great!"  

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"Flatterer." Lunastre smiled and shifted herself to lay down, get comfortable, and summon up the memories.

"Well, this story actually starts in the evening. Before the stars fully emerge from their dark blanket, and there is just a little bit of pink still on the horizon." She paused to wiggle a leg out of the position it was currently in, preferring to not be twinging with pain, thanks.  

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"So it's more of an evening story?" Nef interrupted, now settling down herself to listen for what she expected was still going to be a long story.

Even now she could imagine her sister calling for her as she listened, and felt only a hint of smugness that she would simply be too busy to answer. She loved her sister, she did, but...Lunastre's stories were just so much better than watching her royal butt.  

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"Yes and no. It spans throughout both."

"Anyhow...The lioness that wandered had found herself, in the evening, at a lush oasis. With the sun setting and night falling, she decided that she would watch the sun set from the oasis. Paws in the water to cool from the day's journey, she stood and watched the darkening sky. But as beautiful as it was, it also instilled a sense of dread within her."

Kneading her paws into the ground, Lunastre felt the memories wash over her like a soothing wave.

"The evening was mostly uneventful, if it wasn't for the other lioness that happened by. Also a wanderer, she had the intent to simply pass by without even a nod to our lioness. The thing that caused that not to happen, was a distant rumble of thunder."

"The lioness pleaded to the other to not go on, as she had a bad feeling. The other was determined to go farther by nightfall, despite the stars already fully emerging from the dark. And so, she took a drink, and went on."

"Concerned but unwilling to leave, the lioness stayed huddled under a bundle of large leaves, watching as the rains approaches the oasis. A gentle rain, it was not."  

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"Oh no, was it a typhoon?!" Nef interrupted, ears perked up high. It was...unbelieveable, actually. Wasn't it just an oasis? In the middle of a desert?

"Was the lioness safe through the night?!"  

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"It was simply a freak rainfall. A storm out of nowhere." Lunastre giggled at Nef's interest in this story. "And you'll hear the rest if you don't interrupt again."

"But yes, the rain finally came and the leaves were so large and so thick, she was warm and dry. It was almost a thicket, actually. And she had had the presence of mind to hunt before taking shelter, and had several rodents that had been scurrying around the oasis."

"Soon enough though, a figure appeared in the entrance to the shelter. Drenched with rain and limping, the other asked if the shelter was big enough for two. There was, and the Lioness welcomed another with her."

"When the other entered...the lioness realized she had been mistaken. It was not another lioness, but a lion. His mane had been nearly all ripped out, and was barely starting to grow back. She was not afraid, but asked something that could have gotten her killed. If he was a dethroned king."

"He was not. He spoke about how he never had a chance to take the throne, as he was ill. His father, frightened of him infecting the pride somehow, had thrown him out after taking his mane, insisting it would let him be mistaken for a female, and not killed right away. The lion had hoped to reach another pride, but now, he was weak and unworthy."

"The lioness stayed with him through the night, his body was hot with fever and wracked with coughs."

"He would not make it through the night, but instead of dying painfully, starving, violently or alone, the Lioness stayed by his side, telling him of places he could go. Others he could meet."

"When she woke, the lion had passed, a smile on his face. Peaceful and not alone."  

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By the end of the story, Nef had tears in her eyes. It was a sad story, and one she hadn't expected. Such a short, sad life being kept alive as a story to be told to others.

"...Did the lioness bury him? Do anything? Did--"

Her name was called. Almost angrily. And she gave Lunastre a hurried thank you before she hurried and ran off.

"Tomorrow, Luna!"  

[viatorai]

"Tomorrow." Lunastre smiled after Nef before getting up and walking over to the corner of her den where she kept her prized things.

Gently, she nosed a single, short strand of bright pink hair, smiling softly.

"One day I'll tell the full story...I promise."