"Just Empty Words" (C) DakotaWereWolf, 2013

Haja (C) Khione

Ngosi, Dawn, Imani, Ikinya (C) Namacub95

Kiara, Simba, Mheetu (C) Disney

All other characters (C) Me

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            "This weather is unbearable," snarled a light colored lion with a dark scarlet mane. "I wish the rainy season came back. Ugh, I'll have to swim in the river when we get back just to feel better."

            His companion, a dark red lion with a dark mane, nodded his head in agreement. "Well it is called the savannah, Faraj. It's kind of smart, in a way."

            "Oh yeah? How so?"

            "Well it's so hot out here that no one will hurt them."

            "And the Outlanders lived by a river, and look what happened to them."

            The dark lion wrinkled his nose. "I can't believe that still happened. How strong do you think they are, these lions?"

            Faraj paused to moisten his drying mouth while eyeing his companion. "I don't know, Haja. Mom wouldn't say anything about it."

            "And your dad?"

            Faraj scoffed. "Forget him, he's in his own little world. He should've gone to do this instead of me."

            A hurt expression crossed Haja's face. "Oh, I guess I'm hardly good companion, huh?" He meant that in good fun, but there was a hint of fear in his voice. Faraj did not answer him, instead choosing to press forward. The red lion sighed and pursued his companion.

            It wasn't that Faraj meant to say anything bad about Haja's company - in fact he kind of liked it when the red lion hung around him. For one, that meant that he didn't have to be around his family for a while. For another, it meant that he could spend some time with the lion who he was eyeing. He wasn't like his sister Kagiso and Haja's friend Nzuri, who came together pretty quickly under a spell of true love. Nzuri always spoiled Kagiso, took care of her when she could not, and soon Yejide entered the picture. Faraj could not stand the happy family image they set themselves - after all, he had not grown up with that kind of sincere love.

            True, Khari loved them all she could, and she was the only one who softened Faraj's heart. But Bour... he ignored them all, for whatever reason there was. Faraj remembered the one time Bour tried to talk to him, but it ended with Faraj walking away. His father's attempts to be close to his son had been futile, and in fact only served to anger him further. He didn't need his father's love when he never had it to begin with. Khari and Haja were all Faraj really needed.

            Still, no matter how fondly he thought of Haja, Faraj could not find it in him to want to anything friendly around him. The pair were friends, and often got along though not without their own spats, but Faraj wanted more from them. But he couldn't, because of Khari and Bour, and Kagiso and Nzuri. There was too much pressure for Faraj to decide what he wanted to do with their friendship. So he would just ignore it for more pressing matters.

            He and Haja climbed over a small hill in the arid air, pointing their noses up, and inhaling for any markings. "There's one," said Haja, gesturing to a dried out rock. "About a couple of days old."

            Faraj nodded his head. He could smell them too. "They're around."

            "Well we better go introduce ourselves then. Let's go."

            "I hope they're friendly lions."

            The further along they went, the less dense the air became. It was easier for them to breathe, and the warmness of the savannah was cooling off. It was becoming bearable though, having lived by a river for most of his life, it was still too warm for Faraj's tastes.

            Haja bumped his shoulder, gesturing ahead. "Look, there's a pride there."

            Faraj paused, squinting to see what Haja had seen. Indeed, ahead of them were the specks of a lion pride. Some of them blended so well into the dried grass that Faraj would've almost overlooked them.

            "You think that's them?" he asked.

            "Only one way to find out," replied Haja, and it was he who led them closer to the pride.

            The pair slowed their pace as they got closer to the pride. At this time the distance between them was closing, and Faraj could clearly see that the majority of the pride had a brown or dune colored coat. Fitting, considering where they took residence.

            The pride noticed them, and paused in their mingling to eye the two strangers that were steadily getting closer to them. A brown lion broke away from the pride and approached the two, no hint of hostility in his eyes whatsoever. If he was the leader, then he was a lot smaller than Faraj would've expected him to be.

            "Hi, can we help you?" the lion greeted, his voice so young that he still sounded like a cub. This can't be the leader, thought Faraj. He's just some other lion.

            "We're here to speak to the leader of this pride," said Haja, when Faraj failed to speak up. "Urgent news from the Riverlands."

            The smile on the lion's face faded. "T-Trouble?" He shook his head, clearing his throat. "Uh, yes. The leader... that's me. My name is Adwin."

            No way, he can't be the leader! He doesn't even look that old! thought Faraj.

            Even Haja seemed taken aback by the sudden proclamation of this lion's power. "Uh... right."

            Adwin smiled. "I know I'm not what you were expecting. I don't blame you-"

            "Who're they, Adwin?" A brown lion with a startling similarity to Adwin approached them. Brothers? thought Faraj.

            "Oh, they're from the Riverlands, Ngosi," said Adwin, trying to ease onto the younger lion that these lions were not a threat. He turned his attention back to the pair. "You said that there was trouble?"

            "Lions." Faraj finally found his voice. "They ran the Outlanders out of their pride."

            Adwin and Ngosi's eyes widened. "B-But... how..?" inquired Adwin. "Are they a huge pride?"

            "Supposedly not," said Haja.

            Faraj said, "My mother is Khari. She sent me out to tell you to watch you."

            "Oh dear..." murmured Adwin. He looked over his shoulder. "Better tell Mheetu what's happened..."

            Ngosi seemed uncomfortable with the news. "Are they traveling?"

            "Supposedly," said Faraj. He shrugged. "Don't really know much more."

            Ngosi whirled his head to face Adwin. "I'll be right back."

            Adwin nodded, his eyes never leaving his guests. "Well... thanks for, uh, bringing that to us. Do you want to rest up here for a while before heading back? You've had a long journey."

            Faraj frowned at the idea. He didn't want to spend any more time in this land, but when he faced Haja, to see what the red lion thought, he saw a look of gratefulness on Haja's