| Sarafina leaps at the stranger and bites his throat. But he is an experienced fighter, and hurls Sarafina against a rock. She closes her eyes and pretends she is dead. He waits for a few minutes, then approaches cautiously. He prods Sarafina with his paw. Maintaining her pose, she holds her breath and doesn't move. He prods her again, more boldly. Sarafina, who also has a powerful build, though she is leaner, sends him flying with an unexpected swipe of her large paw. He is knocked backward. Sarafina is upright again, snarling with livid eyes and her claws out. He lunges. They tumble, then Sarafina flips him just as she taught her daughter Nala, and her mother taught her. The fight has been silent save for some scuffling and snarling : Sarabi remains asleep. The lion smiles a wry smile. "You fight well," he says. "Release me; I will not waste my energy battling you any more for now, though someday I hope to fight you again. I think it would be a fight to remember." You step back, and he stands. A feeling similar to a crush riddles through you. Without another glance, he walks away with his same quiet steps, tail twitching. You: |