Elira soon came upon a dense thicket, its underbrush thick with vines and tangled roots. She paused at the edge, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger or prey. Her keen senses were picking up on subtle changes in the air—the smell of something unfamiliar.

A rustle came from within the thicket. Elira tensed, her muscles coiling in anticipation. Out of the foliage stepped a sleek wolf, its fur a silver-grey that gleamed in the dappled sunlight. It locked eyes with her, its posture casual but alert, as though sizing her up in the same way she had studied Suna.

"I am not here to fight," the wolf said, its voice low and melodic. "But you, lioness… is there an end to this journey of yours?"

Elira didn’t move, but her ears flicked toward the wolf’s voice.

"I… I don’t know," Elira admitted, her voice quiet. "I only know that I must learn how to survive."

The wolf nodded, its eyes thoughtful. "Then perhaps it’s time you learned more than just hunting."

The wolf turned and motioned for Elira to follow. Her curiosity piqued, Elira fell in step behind, careful not to make a sound. As they moved deeper into the forest, the wolf began speaking again, each word weighed with meaning.

"Survival is more than instinct, more than strength. It is about balance. A predator must understand its prey, just as it must understand itself."

They stopped in a small clearing where sunlight pooled in golden patches on the ground. A few small creatures, birds and rabbits, scurried in the underbrush, unaware of the two predators that stood still, observing them.

"Do you see them?" the wolf asked, its eyes sharp. "They are prey, yes, but they are also survivors. The strongest are not always the ones that take down the prey. Sometimes, it is the ones who wait, who listen, who know when to act and when to hold back."

Elira watched the creatures for a moment. Her instincts urged her to pounce, to claim her victory, but the wolf’s words stayed with her. Patience. Understanding.

She watched as the wolf didn’t move, didn’t rush, but waited, allowing the small creatures to move around them, unaware of the looming danger. Time passed, and Elira felt something shift within her. She wasn’t simply hunting for survival anymore. She was learning to listen to the world, to the rhythms of nature. There was power in stillness.

After what seemed like an eternity, the wolf finally moved. It crouched low, silent as a shadow, and in one smooth motion, it darted forward, capturing a rabbit with swift precision.

"You see?" the wolf asked, breathing evenly. "It’s not just the chase—it’s knowing when to wait, when to move, and when to let go."

Elira nodded slowly, her mind processing the lesson. There was wisdom here, something deeper than what she had learned from Suna. This was about more than just surviving—it was about understanding the balance of the world and her place in it.

The wolf stood and began to walk off, but not before it paused and glanced back. "Remember, lioness, the forest is full of paths, each leading to different lessons. You shouldn't follow all of them. Choose wisely."

With these final words, the wolf disappeared into the trees, leaving Elira with a sense of quiet contemplation. She stood in the clearing for a long while, the soft rustle of the leaves around her reminding her of how much there was yet to learn.

***

Elira had been wandering for days now, following her instincts through unfamiliar territory. Her lioness form was still foreign to her. She had hunted, fished, and learned from the wilds, but there was an emptiness in her chest that gnawed at her. As the sun began to dip, casting long shadows over the land, she picked up the scent of lions—a pride. Her heart quickened.

When she broke through the trees, her amber eyes locked onto a small pride ahead of her. The lions were not part of her father’s pride. This was unfamiliar territory, and the air was thick with tension.

The lead male, a burly lion with a dark mane, was the first to notice her. His eyes narrowed, recognising the challenge she presented, and he immediately growled in warning. “You don’t belong here.”

Elira stiffened, her muscles coiling like a spring. She was larger than the other lions in the pride, but there were more of them, and they were sizing her up with hostile intent. She didn’t flinch. Her instincts told her to stand her ground.

“I’m not here to cause trouble,” Elira replied, her voice low.

Her massive form was poised, and despite the unease in her chest, she stood tall, unyielding.

The lead male flicked his tail, signalling the others. The lioness closest to her snarled, her fur bristling. “We don’t take kindly to strangers. Leave now, or we’ll make you.”

Elira’s lip curled into a snarl, her claws scraping the earth. She didn’t back down—not now. The pride circled her, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Elira might have been larger, but these were experienced hunters. They weren’t afraid to fight.

The lead lion lunged first, his powerful paws striking out toward her. Elira dodged, but the attack was swift. His claws raked across her side, sending a jolt of pain through her. She retaliated with a swipe of her own, her claws finding his shoulder, but the other lioness was already on her, darting in from the side. Elira twisted just in time to avoid the full brunt of the second attack, but the lioness still managed to rake her teeth across her flank.

Pain flared, but Elira refused to show weakness. She swung again, using her size to her advantage as she knocked one lioness to the ground. The others weren’t deterred. They were relentless, battering her with blows, pushing her back with their combined weight. Elira fought with everything she had, but the numbers were overwhelming.

The lead male roared in challenge, his voice echoing through the trees, and Elira could feel the pressure mounting. She was being worn down, her body aching from the blows. Yet, she kept fighting, refusing to give them the satisfaction of her retreat. It wasn’t until one of the lionesses landed a crushing blow to her shoulder, pinning her down for a moment, that Elira realised she couldn’t keep this up much longer.

The lead male, seeing her struggling, finally signalled for the others to back off. “Enough,” he growled, his voice laced with frustration. “You’re strong, but you’re not welcome here.”

Elira’s chest heaved with exertion, but she lifted her head high, refusing to look defeated. The pride’s gaze was wary now, cautious. They had tested her, and she had proven she wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

“Leave,” the lead lion commanded again, his tone final.

Elira stood slowly, her muscles aching, her body bruised but still strong. She didn’t acknowledge the victory, but as she turned away, she couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of pride in the way she had held her own. She had faced them, fought them off, and had earned their grudging respect, even if they didn’t acknowledge it.

Without another word, Elira retreated, her body bruised but her spirit burning brighter. She was a lioness, and she would carve her place in the wild, whether they accepted her or not.

She walked across the dry plains, gaining distance away from the lions. She came across a deep pool of water, and she used a small amount of energy to catch a fish as she remembered what Suna had taught her. Her wounds stung as water splashed against the side of her body, but it was also soothing. After eating the fish, she stepped into the pool, only leaving her head above the water.

She watched as a herd stopped near the pool. It was their chance for water so they could continue their journey. A young gazelle came to the pool where Elira was lying and began drinking.

“Ali, get away from there, there’s a lion in there!” a gazelle called over.

Elira slowly climbed out of the water, growling lightly before lying next to the pool and licking her wounds.

“But mother, she’s wounded!” Ali called back.

The mother gazelle walked over and saw the injuries Elira had. A scratch across her side, a wound to her neck, a cut near her eye and a few bruises near the wounds.

“She could attack at any time, dear,” the mother said.

“I’ve had my meal,” Elira grunted as she flicked her tail across some fish bones. “Please, drink. I’ll be leaving soon.”

“What happened, Miss Lion?” Ali asked innocently.

“I was in the wrong territory,” Elira said.

She slowly stood and grunted against the pain.

“Stay, lioness,” the mother said. “We are not your prey today. Rest.”

Elira hesitated for a moment, her muscles sore, but the offer was unexpected. She looked at the mother, who stood firm, her stance gentle but resolute.

"Not my prey?" Elira questioned, her voice rough from her previous exertions. She was not used to being around others, which made her feel uneasy.

"Not today," the mother said, her eyes calm and unafraid, despite Elira's imposing size. The young gazelle, Ali, gave a tentative glance toward the lioness, clearly still on edge but also curious.

Elira lowered herself slowly, feeling the cool earth beneath her paws, a faint sigh escaping her as the wounds on her body throbbed in unison with her heartbeat. She had faced off with more than one challenge today, but this moment—sitting beside prey, resting—was a different kind of tension.

"I’m not used to this," she murmured, her voice still holding the rough edge of a fighter. "But thank you."

The mother gazelle nodded, her eyes soft with something akin to understanding. "We all need rest, even the fiercest among us," she said quietly, lowering her head to the water again. Ali, her curiosity winning over caution, took a few steps closer, still eyeing Elira warily but not fleeing.

For a while, only the sounds of the water and the whistling of the wind filled the air. Elira allowed herself to relax for the first time in what felt like ages, the warmth of the sun on her back soothing her, even though her mind was still alert. Her thoughts wandered briefly to the pride she had crossed earlier, the way they had attacked her without hesitation—her own kind showing her no mercy. It was a jarring reminder that not all lions are alike.

"Are you… always this kind?" Elira asked, glancing at the mother, her eyes searching for something she wasn’t sure she’d find.

The mother gazelle paused in her drinking, a soft chuckle escaping her. "Kindness is a rare thing in this world, lioness. But even the weakest can see when it's needed. We don't always fight just because we're supposed to."

Elira thought about the words, turning them over in her mind. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the gazelle's strange offer of peace, but there was something in the mother’s voice that reminded her of Elena. Elira had learnt something as well: the world wasn’t always about domination. Sometimes, there was room for understanding.

Ali, her eyes wide with wonder, continued to inch closer, still cautious but eager. “Are you going to stay, lioness? Or will you hunt us tomorrow?”

Elira’s gaze softened. “I’m not hunting today,” she said quietly. "And tomorrow… I don't know what tomorrow brings."

The mother gave her a slight smile, and the lines of her face relaxed. "Then, I hope tomorrow finds you stronger, lioness. And may it bring you peace."

With that, Elira felt a wave of quiet gratitude. She had come to the water pool looking for rest, and for the first time in days, she found something unexpected: a moment of refuge.

As the gazelles drank their fill and prepared to leave, Elira stood slowly, her limbs aching but no longer in as much pain.

“Little one, don’t let anyone catch you, because I would find them first,” Elira called over.

The gazelles departed in a graceful, unified stride, their movements fluid and calm as they disappeared into the distance. Elira remained at the water's edge for a while longer, the soft current soothing her thoughts. She had learnt much from a bear and a wolf, but today, the gazelles had given her something more: a reminder that survival didn’t always mean fighting.

When the last of the gazelles had vanished from view, Elira stood, stretched her sore muscles, and, with a final glance toward the empty pool, began walking once more. Her journey was not yet over, but perhaps a little more tempered by the unexpected kindness she had found in the unlikeliest of places.

More days had passed, and Elira had been putting her lessons to use. She watched a herd as it ate, waiting patiently as the wolf told her to. However, a lion jumped out in the distance and began chasing the youngest of the herd. She remembered what she had told the young gazelle, so she sprang into action and pounced and bit into the lion's back. It roared out. Luckily, it was alone, but it fought back, shaking Elira off its back. However, due to how deep the bite was, the lion ran off. Elira skidded across the ground in the herd's direction.

“Lioness?”

Elira turned to the mother gazelle and Ali.

“I told you I would find them first,” she said. “But how did you recognise me?”

“Your scarred side gave it away,” the mother said.

Elira’s scars were faint, so it wasn’t obvious to anyone.

“You are quite observant,” Elira said.

Ali stepped forward with a bounce in her step, her tail flicking as she beamed up at Elira. “You really did mean it. You’re not like the others, are you?”

Elira tilted her head slightly, her amber eyes flicking toward the retreating figure of the other lion. “I don’t know what I am yet,” she admitted. “But I know what I’m not.”

Ali looked like she wanted to ask more, but her mother placed a hoof gently in front of her, a silent signal. “Come, Ali. We must not linger.” She turned to Elira with a dip of her head. “Thank you, lioness. Whatever your path may be, may it never harden your heart.”

Elira blinked slowly. She had no words for that—not yet. But something warm curled in her chest as she watched the two gazelles return to their herd, safe.

She turned her eyes back toward the trees, where the lion had disappeared. He hadn’t been from the pride that attacked her. Alone? Maybe. Just like she was.

Elira’s ears twitched.

There was still so much she didn’t understand—about other lions, about herself. But she knew she had grown: sharper, faster, more attuned to the land. Each lesson brought more questions, yet for the first time in days, she wasn’t just running. She was choosing. And today, she had chosen to protect.

With the sun now tilting toward the horizon, casting a golden hue across the dry plains, Elira began to walk again, not limping, not fleeing. Just moving forward, her pace steady and sure. She didn’t know where her paws would carry her next, but something told her she was getting closer.

Closer to whatever destiny the stars had carved for her.

And maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t alone on that path after all.