Chapter 4: Time of peace...

[Flash]

Shiva stared at the cub, it was a cub so of course she wasn't going to attack it. Shiva had always had a deep passion for cubs, now, if it was an ~adult~ that would be a different story. Using her paw she would draw back Niomi behind one of her front legs. The cub must have been part of a pride because there was no mother close by, or, not one that she could scent. Not exactly sure how to respond she just stared at the cub curiously with her dark blue eyes. Wondering where on earth the small cub came from she just stood there, one leg placed in front of Niomi to shield her in case the cub tried to attack her, though she doubted the small thing would do such a thing.

[Sabre]

As Sabre glances about an ear twitches, he could have sworn he heard Nadya crying out from a distance. Deciding not to take any chances the large male begins sprinting in the direction of the sound, thousands of scenarios flooding his mind...his daughter could've been caught by a hyena, a rogue, trapped in a stampede, swept away in a river, fell into the claws of Xeros or, what he fears most, was found by Rendarin and his Shaderian clan. Panic begins to flow through him as he realizes any of those could be true and he picks up his speed into a full run, going as fast as his muscular legs could carry his large body, his coal-black mane trailing in the warm savannah wind.
He finally spots a few mysterious figures ahead of him and his protective instincts kick in, he doesn't slow down, but growls as he closes in, only slowing as he begins to come into close proximity.

[Coral]

"I have no idea; isn't that nice?" she'd purr softly; as the two trotted outside the premises of the cave. Of course Coral would have some idea where the duo would be heading - she wouldn't risk taking her daughter somewhere dangerous... especially where sharp objects are, children strangely are prone to poking their own eyes out with sharp objects! Lumbering on; the queen would come to a halt before sitting her rump down in the grass, tail twitching. Than, with a faint grin - she'd stare down at Flash. "So, where you want to go kiddo? You lead away, alright?" she'd say cheerfully; than would attempt to push Flash forward with a large paw.. 'encouragingly.'

[Flash]

Shiva's eyes widened as the male came charging her ears quickly flattening themselves aganist her skull she would jump back a few steps, hissing angrily in warning, she stood absolutely no chance aganist a male of his size. Grabbing Niomi in her jaws she would plop her young daughter behind her, not wanting her to get hurt if things got violent. Her eyes would flicker to the other cub sitting in front of her, perhaps she should get the young cub out of the way of the angry male? Or, what if the male charging at her was here for the cub, then she would probably get killed if she touched her. Crouching slightly in a kind of, ' don't hurt me. ' way yet all the same in a way where she could easily defend herself if need be.
Flash giggled softly, the shy teen would quickly walk after her mother. " Of course you don't know. I mean, why would you? " She rolled her eyes and walked along before sitting down next to her, " Umm.. I.. I don't know really.. Hmm... " She would peer around the Savannah, then getting a shove she wasn't expecting she would stagger forward, almost falling down on her face. Huffing irritably she would turn and eye Coral before walking forward, snickering.

[Asani]

The two cubs looked up from each parent then back at eachother. What was it that they had done wrong exactly? Niomi sat behind her mother and crouched low to the ground thinking that the male would harm her and her mother, so protective instincts kicked in. Nadya on the other hand tilted her head to one side in utter confusion and let out a small mewl, wondering why Sabre was growling at the strange female before them.

[Sabre]

Sabre gently pulls his young daughter to him, even with the fierce look on his visage, his voice comes out calm. "Who are you?" He simply asks, he has never seen this lioness before, and he had to find out if she was a risk to the prides. They didn't need another foe in the area, especially after the devastating war between the Bolsheviks and themselves.

[Flash]

Seeing that Sabre wasn't pouncing on her and trying to kill her she slowly stood upright before sitting down. " I'm Shiva.. This is my daughter, Niomi. " She would use her tail to motion to the cub behind her. " I.. I erm.. I didn't touch the little one.. She just kind of wandered here.. " she would nod to Nadya. " I'm sorry if I upset you.. " She'd wince away from the lions gaze before continuing. " I'll leave if you want me too. Just.. Don't hurt me or Niomi.. " She knew for a fact that life was hard enough living on her own, if she got injured there was no way she would be able to survive.

[Sabre]

As he listens to the lioness talk, his expression softens. It was all just a misunderstanding, the lioness had no desire to cause harm to him or his daughter. He simply chuckles before he responds. "Yeah that's Nadya for you, she's always running off to explore. My name's Sabre, I'm the king of the Heshima pride. And you do not have to leave, I can tell just by your words that you won't try to kill us in our sleep." He sits down and loosens his grip on the young princess, lovingly patting her on her head.

[Asani]

As Sabre's paw landed on top of her head, the princess let out a small smile and ran underneath him staying close to his body. She didn't want to lose him again..well not really considering that he had left her while she was napping but nonetheless she didn't want it to happen again. Niomi, peered out at Nadya from behind her mother before stepping out from behind her to eat some of the food that Shiva had brought back with her. She knew that she had worked hard for it and certainly didn't want it to go to waste.

[Flash]

Glancing back at her daughter the lioness glanced at Sabre, bewildered. The last pride who's territory she invaded had nearly torn her throat out, chased her all the way to the border and then some all while little Niomi swung wildly back and forth from Shivas jaws. And here was Sabre, king of a pride offering to let her stay. She watched him suspiciously a moment as if waiting for the lion to pounce on her and kill her, realizing that he wasn't going to as long as she didn't do anything stupid. After letting Sabre finish what he was saying she paused, letting it process before her eyes widened and she would quickly say quickly and quietly, " I don't want to be a burden.. " Her worried expression faded and she watched Nadya for a moment a soft expression in her eyes, Nadya certainly loved Sabre and it was obvious Sabre loved Nadya, she could tell by the fact he looked ready to eat her when he saw her staring at his daughter... " She's very cute.. " She would smile lightly before turning her attention back to Sabre. " I don't want to be a burden, as I said earlier, but.. If I can stay.. It would be a lot safer for Niomi then wandering around.. " Her tail flicked from side to side nervously as she mumbled to Sabre, her words almost impossible to hear.

[Sabre]

The male looks over the lioness and cub before him before a smile crosses his face. "You're welcome to stay, you won't be a burden. And I won't be able to sleep at night if you two die, knowing I turned you away." He says in a friendly tone. He had no reason to not give these two shelter, they obviously couldn't be a threat in their condition, and the lioness didn't seem the sort to try to attack.

[Flash]

Shiva watched Sabre a moment, considering his offer. Turning her gaze to Niomi she sighed gently, she would do anything to make sure her daughter lived. Looking back at Sabre she'd nod her head a bit before mumbling. " Alright.. So long as we're not a burden, I don't wish to cause any trouble.. " Her tail swished back and forth nervously as she watched Sabre.
Flash wandered about aimlessly, casting an occasional glance back to make sure Coral was still following her, the white furred teen grew steadily bored, she had seen all this before there was nothing different, though it was better then sitting in a cave all day, looking at the sky she closed her eyes for a brief moment, soaking up the suns warm rays in her white fur. Yawning she'd turn back to Coral giving her an odd look, wondering what Coral would look like without her fur.. Flash quickly shook the thought out of her head, that was a bit disturbing to the young lioness.. Snickering at her own oddness she turned her attention back to where she was heading instead of her strange irregular thoughts, her amber eyes filled with curiosity.

[Sabre]

"You won't be, don't worry." Sabre says, his brown eyes never leaving the lioness as they speak. "Come on, let's get you to a safer spot, we don't want to chance a run in with something not friendly." He says, picking up Nadya gently and turning toward the caves. He turns his head back toward Shiva, making sure she would follow him back.

The Savannah may be vast and easy to spot things at large distances in it, but the threats that Sabre and his pride have encountered have made it so none of them could let their guard down even for a second or they could have villains such as Xeros or Rendarin's Shaderians bringing them down. Sabre knows of this too well, every now and then Sabre would find a heavily injured guard, often speaking of a strange black creature either with a white mane or long ears. Even after helping the Heshima and the Mlinzi in the Bolshevik War, Rendarin has kept his word about being enemies yet again. A war with the Shaderians is something none of the lions in Heshima wanted, especially after seeing just how ferocious they were during the war.

[Asani]

Nadya's body shrunk as Sabre held her by the scruff, her back feet dangling in the air. The sight of the female excited and confused her at the same time. Why was she coming back with them? Did that mean that the other cub was going to play with her? These things she didn't know, but at the moment she didn't exactly care. As the princess was carried, Naddie looked around noting the vast landscape of the Savannah. Someday she'd explore it, someday.


Niomi let out a mewl wondering if it was alright for her to eat since the strange male and the other cub were finally gone. She began to paw at the kill with her tiny claws, causing small cuts to appear that barely broke the skin upon the dead animal. "M..mommy.." she said, which was pretty much her first technical word. "Mommy! Mommy!"

[Flash]

Shiva swiped her tongue over Niomis head, ruffling up her fur affectionately as she thought, she needed to follow Sabre but Niomi was hungry. Crouching she murmured softly, " Take a few bites to tide you over darling, but then we have to go, you'll get to eat again soon... I promise.. " She murmured, nudging Niomi closer to carcass. " Quickly darling, we don't want to keep Sabre waiting.. " The lioness stood over Niomi as she watched, quietly coaxing her to eat faster, she didn't want to annoy Sabre by not following him.
Flash spotted Sabre in the distance along with the strange lioness she had seen earlier. " Mom, I'm going to go see whats going on, okay? " Not even waiting for an answer she dashed over to Sabre, " Sabre! Sabre! " She called loudly, before tripping on a root and face planting into the ground next to him. " Ngh.. " She looked up her face covered in dust. " Uh.. Sabre, theres a someone behind you. " She used her paw to point to Shiva and Niomi.