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You descend over the crater's lip, hoping to find a drink in the old watering hole. The scent of lions is all around you, and you only hope you've made the right decision as a few figures stalk close. A few lionesses stand guard, some covered in hunting scars, but all looking quite angered by your presence.
Perhaps retreat was the best option? As you turn to leave without quenching your thirst, another figure appears; the lionesses part for the thick-maned male as he approaches you cautiously. His pelt is a reddish-gray, though his most striking feature is the dappled white spots spreading down his body and ending just before his wrists.
He looks quite young, though he holds himself powerfully as his shining trinkets glimmer in the harsh sunlight.
"Greetings, my name is Prometheus, and this is the lakebed of the Southern Pride." He's definitely young from the sound of his voice. An adolescent in a big lion's body, heh.
Luckily, he doesn't seem to want a fight, if anything he's acting as a wall between you and the angrier lionesses. You catch the scent of cubs as little gleaming eyes peer out from behind their mother's forms and are glad you hadn't walked a bit further- otherwise this could have gotten ugly.
You tell Prometheus that you hold no ill intent and are only searching for water so you may return to your pride. At this Prometheus chuffs, his long spotted tail thumping the dry ground in amusement.
"If that's all you need, I can lead you to the nearby watering hole. My father is out now, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
You sure hope not- the last thing you need is a lion ambushing you on your way home! As you follow the other male, the cubs from earlier seem to squirm out of their mother's protective holds and circle you like tiny hyenas.
"You smell funny!"
"You're huge!"
"You're mane's so soft! Lemme see!"
"You look like Prometheus and Adeyemi! Are you brothers?"
You chuckle and explain to them that you have a pride of your own in another part of the savannah, only happening upon this place by chance.
Somehow managing to avoid being tripped by their little bodies, you're eventually spared their curiosity by their mothers dragging them back to the safety of the den.
Prometheus leads you to a tiny stream where you quench your thirst. The young lion wishes you good luck in returning home, flicking his tail on your back before returning to his pride.
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