“Can you feel that G?” Cero says nervously. His shoulders are hunched and he keeps glancing around at the trees that he and G are walking among.

“Feel what?” She replies slowly, watching her companion closely. He shivers.

“There's some sort of… Presence, do you think it could be The Maker?” G tilts her head, and glances around, humming thoughtfully.

“It could be, she doesn't seem to want anything if so.” She looked back at Cero. “Why? Do you feel something this time?”

“I-I’m not sure.” He hunches his shoulders a bit more. “I just feel like I'm being watched.”

The two glance around the forest for a moment, cautious of others sneaking up on them. It wouldn't have been the first time, many don't seem to appreciate wanderers, no matter their beliefs.

It's quiet, but now they're paying attention the silence seems ominous. The birds are chirping less, the wind is almost still, until it's a soft and cold breeze brushing against their ankles. Trees creak to break it up and for a moment they sound as if they are reaching towards the two lions. Despite knowing its likely nothing both their hearts speed up, G has her ears back and her tail is low in warning. C is just stock still, as if any movement could cause the Something to attack.

Nothing happens.

And then - Cero feels something on his back. He spins already screeching as the thing falls off. Only the size of a mouse yet he leaps away from it as if it was a bear. He hasn't stopped shrieking even as G starts to laugh.

It's a starfish. Little limbs waving in the air happily for a moment before it disappears. Presumably back to the ocean.

“That i-Isnt funny!” Cero complains his voice breaking, and he stomps his foot. G giggles a little longer and he can feel the Maker’s joy swirling in the air. Its the closest he’s been to Her yet he continues to frown. Until G’s continued laughter breaks his stoic expression and he cant help it but flush with embarrassment.

“You should’ve seen your face C.” G wheezed. C smiled a little more imagining it, though he still attempted to act angry. He couldn't really be angry at the maker, or G to be honest but he would’ve easily preferred his day to have less starfish.

Suddenly a smell reached his nose, one that made the annoyance fade away. He looked over at G to see if she had noticed as well.

“I think the maker feels a little bad C.” G said smiling, she started trotting towards the smell. Cero trailed behind, surely his nose was misleading him. The maker wouldn't have kept track of such a minor detail about him. Yet he followed G into a clearing and sure enough there lay his favourite food.

Young boar. It smelled simply divine and with a prayer to the Maker he dug into the delicious feast, the apology gift. Maybe getting scared was worth it, if he got this treat more often. (511/500)

Cero had no way to know that the strange lioness who had been escorted into his pride would be the one that would send his life in a whole new direction.

But there was any lioness who would send a young, excitable and yet jumpy Cero on a quest to find himself it would be someone like the strange lioness.

She was just lion enough to be approachable looking, about the right proportions and colours. But her tail, her ears and that spark in her eye labelled her as other.

She was being led to the center of the pride. On trial for something Cero hadn't yet discovered, and so he slunk behind others also curious to find out what the intruder was in trouble for.

Because unlike others, who had pleaded to be let free, that they didn't mean to hunt, steal, trespass on the prides territory.

She looked happy to be caught, eager to give a speech to the masses. It made even more pride members curious, as well as cautious. What did she want an audience for? She was supposed to be intimidated by their show of strength, not standing in front of them like a queen about to give a speech.

And a speech she gave. She told them that their way of life, their traditions and culture. And she told them all their gods were false even as the guards tried to shush her.

Every one became angry at her disrespect. How dare she come and say such blasphemous things. She was crazy and needed to be taken care of.

V, as she had said her name was, didnt seem so keen on being 'taken care of. Temporarily or permanently. She ducked under and between the scrambling lions claws and fangs.

And then, she chambered straight up a tree, shouting insults and prophecies the whole way as she sprinted across the tree tops. Far more agile and speedy in the tree tops than any lions Cero had seen before. In many ways she was far more like a squirrel.

It shouldve just been a strange day, a strange part of the day that they would laugh about in the future. Remember that strange lioness the other day?
But that wouldn't be the case, they found Cero too annoying to relax their guard around him, or to include him in their fun.

But V’s words had struck a cord in Cero. Surely there was more than this life? Than this constant fighting among themselves, this constant fighting others for territory. Maybe, maybe the strange lioness was right, or at least more correct than others here.

He decided to at least ask her more, see who else she had on her side. See who Cero would be joining if he made the decision. But all her words of where to find her and her gang had been gibberish, or at least riddles. Cero had never been good at riddles.

He decided to just wander, investigating the most note worthy looking places just outside the prides land.

And eventually he came across V.

Not surrounded by her pride, celebrating her on her incredible speech and run from his pride.

No. She was alone. No one with her. And tear tracks down her face.
She wasnt the sure arrogant looking lioness he though he’d seen. She was sitting there, looking just as unsure about everything as he was.

And so Cero decided. Perhaps they should discover their place in the world together. (583/500)