Nyira sat in the golden warmth of the sun, her amber eyes lifted to the open sky. Clouds drifted like slow prey across the blue, and for once, her muscles were at ease.

Soft pawsteps approached from behind.

Zuribra.

She didn't turn, but her ears twitched. His green eyes settled on her, silent and steady.

"Thank you, Sonleeu," she said at last, her voice quiet, a soft chuff in her throat.

Zuribra's brow lifted, one ear flicking in question. "Thanking me for the warm weather?"

Nyira blinked slowly. "…Yes."

A pause stretched between them—neither playful nor cold. Just there. Present.

Without a sound, Zuribra lowered himself beside her, body pressed to the earth, his broad tail brushing lightly against hers.

She moved her tail away with a flick. Not angry. Not rejecting. Just… hers.

He didn't comment. Didn't try again. They sat like that in silence—Nyira lower her gaze and look at him, really look at him, her's claws play in the earth without thinking, ears forward, eyes scanning him.

Zuribra held his head high, muscles reflex yet coiled with his every shift, his mane, dark and thick move in the wind, green eyes lock on something in the savanna.

he turn towards her, Nyira quickly look away "enjoying the view?" he aksed in a low moan

she twist a ear at him "don't know what you talking about" he let out a low laugh "you where staring, enjoying to see a real king?" 

Nyira look at him then huff "i was looking to see what you think you doing, lying you tail on me" she try to sound confident, it work...almost, he just flick his ears, whisker twisting with amusement "okay.."

a lioness from the pride, Nyira thought for a minute before a name come to mind 'Hunter, she look at Nyira then at Zuribra, she bow her head and nuzzle forehead against Zuribra cheek, he make a low puffing sound.

'pride greeting' Nyira thought. but got surprise then the lioness Hunter turn to her.

Nyira tensed, one paw shifting against the earth. She expected a snarl. A warning. Maybe even a bite.

But instead, Hunter paused in front of her, eyes sharp but not hostile. The lioness dipped her head—not as low as she had for Zuribra, but enough to speak of something other than disdain.

Nyira's ears twitched. Suspicion flared in her chest.

Then Hunter leaned forward, just enough to brush her forehead lightly against Nyira's—a fleeting touch, warm and silent.

Nyira blinked.

A greeting.

Not a full welcome. Not trust. But something.

When Hunter turned and walked away, tail raised, not once looking back, Nyira didn't follow her with her eyes. Instead, she looked down at the earth, where her claws had dragged shallow lines in the dust.

Zuribra hadn't moved.

"You confuse them," he said, not unkindly.

"I don't care," Nyira replied, gaze still down.

"But they're watching. They're always watching."

Nyira looked sideways at him. "Then let them learn something."

Zuribra let out a low breath through his nose—a sound that might've been approval. Or caution. Or nothing at all.

Above them, the sky darkened just slightly. The wind picked up, carrying the scent of dry grass and distant herds.

Nyira's thoughts drifted, her muscles no longer at ease.

Peace was a strange thing.

It didn't last.

"i need to go out and hunt," Nyira said, getting up, stretching in a cat-like stretch

"alone?" Zuribra flick his tail in confusing, Nyira nod once then trotted into the high grass, Zuribra look even after her tail had disappeared.

Nyira sneak slowly up on a warthogs. but a mix between a roar and growl got the warthogs to run, Nyira flick her tail and stood up again. 

a male lion, dark golden fur, thin but strong male lion walk towards her. "Zuribra? i todl you i would hunt al--" she stop midt talking, as two amber eyes stare back at her owns.

Nyira's paw froze mid-step, claws half-buried in the dry grass. That wasn't Zuribra.

The male walking toward her was slimmer, younger maybe—but there was strength in the way he moved, his steps sure and silent. His mane was lighter than Zuribra's, a burnished gold that caught the sun. But his eyes—

Her breath hitched.

Amber. Just like hers.

They stared at each other. The air between them went still, as if the savanna itself held its breath.

"I thought you were—" Nyira's voice dropped into a growl. "You're not Zuribra."

The lion tilted his head, gaze flicking down and back up. "No. But close."

Her hackles rose.

He gave a small, dry chuckle. "I'm Kova."

Silence.

Nyira's ears flicked back. She didn't know that name. But something in the way he said it—calm, edged in pride—made her uneasy.

"You know me?" she asked, taking a step back.

"No. But you're hard to miss," Kova said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The rogue lioness Zuribra lets near his kills. The one who growls at everyone but hasn't been chased off yet."

Nyira's lip curled. "You got a problem with that?"

Kova didn't answer right away. His tail flicked once, then settled. "Maybe. Maybe not. I just wanted to see you for myself."

Her claws slid out fully now, digging into the dirt.

Kova glanced behind her, toward where the warthogs had fled. "You lost your hunt."

"I'll find another," she snapped.

Kova gave her a look that was almost amused, then turned and began to walk away through the grass. "Good luck, rogue."

Nyira stood still, heart pounding, ears straining after his steps long after he vanished.

Kova.

A name she didn't know.

But something told her—this wasn't the last time she'd hear it.

Nyira's muscles stayed tense long after the grass had swallowed Kova's form. The warthogs were long gone, but she no longer cared. Her mind raced, turning over his name, his voice, the way he spoke about Zuribra.

She didn't like it.

With a frustrated huff, she turned and padded back toward the pride lands. Her paws moved on instinct, but her ears twitched at every rustle in the grass, every bird call overhead. She was still alone, but something about the air had changed. It felt… heavier.

When she broke through the last line of tall grass, the familiar scent of the pride hit her—stronger now, soaked into the land, the bodies, the bones of this place.

Cubs chirped and tumbled over one another in the distance, and a few lionesses lay in a loose circle under the shade of the marula tree. Their eyes followed her as she returned.

Zuribra was lying near the edge of the clearing, his body half-shadowed beneath a low bush. His gaze met hers at once—he had been waiting. 

His green eyes searched hers for something. Relief? Anger? She couldn't tell.

"You were gone longer than I liked," he said, voice low.

"I didn't know I was being timed," she muttered without looking at him.

Zuribra stepped closer. She didn't move.

"You didn't catch anything?"

Nyira's claws slid into the dirt, then out again. "I was… interrupted."

His brow furrowed. "By what?"

She met his gaze, slowly. "Another male."

Zuribra stilled. His tail twitched once.

"Did he touch you?"

Nyira let out a soft snarl, not directed at him—just at the question. "No. He didn't have to."

Zuribra stepped back, visibly troubled. His head lifted as he scanned the horizon behind her, then again toward the high grass. She saw his mane ripple with tension.

"Describe him," he said.

She hesitated. "Dark gold. Thin but strong. Amber eyes."

Zuribra froze.

For a moment, the wind died. Even the flies seemed to pause mid-buzz.

Then his voice dropped into a growl so soft she barely caught it.

"…Kova."

Nyira's ears pricked. "You know him?"

Zuribra didn't answer. Not right away. He turned, walked a few paces toward the brush, then stopped. His shoulders were tight with some invisible weight. When he finally spoke, it was without turning back.

"He's not part of this pride."

Nyira narrowed her eyes. "But he's your blood."

Zuribra's silence was answer enough.

Some of the lionesses were watching now, pretending not to, their ears tilted subtly in their direction. Nyira gave them a glare before lowering her voice.

"He said I was hard to miss."

Zuribra's mouth curved, not into a smile exactly—more like a quiet understanding. "You are."

Silence stretched between them again, full of tension, full of things left unsaid.

Nyira finally stood and walked toward the tree. She leapt up into her usual branch with a hiss at the sore tug in her shoulder and lay down, tail flicking over the side. Below, Zuribra remained where he was, his gaze heavy on her.

She didn't look down.

But she didn't stop listening either.