It had been a hot day, humid and stifling. Your paws were tender from the heat of the parched, cracked earth, your muscles wearied from the distance you had traveled. Three days you had been walking, not a meal in sight; not a lick of water or a droplet of rain to be had. Tipping your head back, you cast your gaze upward, to the vast, endless blue ceiling above, before turning your face to the blinding white heat of the sun. A vulture drifts lazily overhead, blocking the glare momentarily. It is soon joined by another, their movements lazy, effortless. You lose count of the vultures - you can no longer tell the difference between two or four. You cannot go another step. This is the end of your story. With a deep sigh, you let go - your body crumbling to the dry, brittle earth. There is nothing but darkness.

"Izem, they're waking up.. " A soft voice seems to be whispering directly in your ear. Your head is pounding, your mouth is dry - you struggle to open your eyes, they feel as if they're held shut by hyena butter. Gross. You hear the soft padding of paws, feel a presence looming over you. You don't feel afraid, but you don't feel safe, either. Eventually you manage to open your eyes, a dim flame flickering into view as you try to focus your blurred vision on the dark silhouette before you.

" Welcome back to the land of the living, traveler.. " A dark pelted lioness stares back at you, her eyes glinting gold and green in the flickering fire-light. An ominous feeling wraps itself around your throat, but you shake it off, sitting up so you can gain your bearings. The lioness surveys you quietly, slowly sinking to her haunches as you look around, realizing for the first time that you aren't where you were when you collapsed. Somehow, you'd been moved into a vast cave; so large that the edge of the fire-light couldn't begin to touch it's sides. Beyond the light of the flame was nothing but inky blackness. Where the hell are you?

You were about to ask, when you notice another lion stepping into the firelight - she's smaller, her pelt pale, her face a lot softer, her eyes kinder. She makes you feel safe, not uncertain, like the other lioness. "We found you, on the plains. " Hers was the voice that woke you up. You turn to face her, confusion etched on your face. "We brought you back here, to our home. We thought.. Maybe you could help us, since we helped you? " You have no idea what the hell is happening, so you just nod your head. This seems to please the darker lioness, and she rises stiffly back to her paws. Her stare is even more intense than it had been before. " I'll let Hadize know that you're agreeable. That you will help us. " You just nod again, dumbly. You have no idea what these lions are talking about. The dark pelted one, Izem you assume, pads away - her tail flicking and twitching behind her swaying hips as she departs.

You turn back to face the other lioness, the pale one, hoping she can help to shed some light on what is happening - but she's gone. You twist your head around, looking behind you, but no. She's definitely gone. Eerie.
You're distracted from your thoughts as the soft thumping of paws alerts you to the return of Izem - and apparently, somebody else. Another lion accompanies her - this one coloured like wet earth; almost chocolate. A luxurious mane frames their face, though it has been carefully slicked back from their eyes; nothing worse than not being able to see where you're going because you have hair in your eyes, you suppose. You lock eyes with this lion, their golden gaze glinting back at you, almost mischeviously.

" Well, well, well. You did decide to favour us, after all.. " The lion looks you up and down, almost flirtatiously. Their voice is deep, and yet serene at the same time. Again, you just nod your head dumbly - you still haven't any clue what is happening, and being outnumbered three to one.. It is probably best to just agree and play along. Your agreement seems to please this lion no end, and they draw rather close to you - nearly nose to nose, a low purr reverberating from them. You gulp. Maybe you should find out what exactly it is you've been agreeing to..

" Er, um.. What exactly.. What is it you want me to do? " You manage to choke out the question, the strange lion still up close and personal. Your question invokes a smile from them, and they retreat marginally, casting a look toward the darker pelted lion. It almost seemed.. sly. But surely you were just imagining that.

" I'll tell you a story, maybe that might help you along a little, my friend.. " The lion smiled, showing a sharp set of pearly whites, before tossing their head back, and dropping down on their haunches. " My name is Hadize. This here is my sister, Izem. " A paw is waved toward the darker pelted lioness, sitting stiffly at the edge of the fire-light. She doesn't bother to look your way, " And that is my other sister, Nerium. " A tail twitch in the opposite direction, and you look up to see the smaller, pale pelted lioness coming back to the fire-lit circle and taking a seat alongside you. She gives you a shy smile, though says nothing.

" Long ago, when the land here was bountiful, the grass was green, the food and water plentiful, we roamed this world as two-legs. We yielded great power, an ability to conjure things from our imaginations, and from the things that surround us. We could create something from nothing. " You simply stare incredulously at Hadize, then at Nerium - then at Izem, a realization slowly dawning on you. They're all mad, stark-raving mad. Completely bonkers. You remain silent, however, and try to avoid expressing your disbelief. Instead, you refocus your attention back on Hadize, as they continue to speak.

" A jealous mage did not like the power we had - so he turned the sun upon these lands, and slowly the grass turned yellow and the water dried up. Life became hard for everyone and everything here. They blamed us, naturally. We were cast out by our people. In order to survive in these harsh conditions, we had to pay the ultimate price. We had to sacrifice our bodies, and adopt new vessels. This is why you see us before you now, just as you are. " You resist the urge to run away from these crazy lions, instead meeting the gaze of Hadize with a tight, small smile; trying your best to look like you believe their story.

" After the pact, the mage placed a curse upon us. " You turned, startled, as Izem approached - her expression bitter, angry. " Forever condemned to these plains, we can only leave this cave at night. Wander too far, and our vision begins to fail us. We cannot see, until we turn back.. And every day, when the sun rises, we become one with the earth upon which we stand. We turn to rock. " You can't help but let your mouth open at this, but still you contain yourself, resisting the urge to run and never look back. A small part of you tries to believe them. After all, they did save your life..

"This is why we need your help. " It's Nerium's turn to speak, and her expression is so pure and helpless, you can't help but to wonder if maybe there is something you can do.
" But what can I do? I don't know.. Magic? " You shrug your shoulders, somewhat perplexed - but Nerium smiles at you, encouraged that you didn't just laugh at their extraordinary tale.
"Go from here, traveler, and collect for us the things we need so we can try and reverse our curse. You will not be without reward, we can assure you of that. "

You are doubtful... but yet.. What have you got to lose?