Sundowners- 5:

~Kai~

Kai remained beneath the tree. He opened his great jaw and yawned, his teeth bared. He lay his head back down on his paws. All  he had to do was lay here, then return to his parents at sunset, and he wouldn't have to hunt a thing.
He hated hunting. Hated it with a passion. All that stalking, then running. Then the killing. He hated the killing. He didn't know why, he knew he was meant to love the kill, the right to take a life to feed himself, but he would rather let the others do that. The screams of the animals as the blood rushed through his jaws really got to him. He had only killed a rabbit before, but that was enough.
He closed his eyes, listening to the sounds of the Savannah. His ears swiveled, pin-pointing noises. He could hear wilderbeeste and their deep moaning noises, and birds in the trees. It was peaceful.
Then there was another noise. Soft at first but it got louder. His ears moved to hear it. Footsteps. His eyes opened and he leaped up roaring madly. He stopped. It was a lioness. She looked small, weak, and scared. His hackles settled as she crouched in fear, shaking, eyes wide.
She was pretty... Beautiful in fact. She was white, snow white, with a dark grey belly and gorgeous black stripes down her face. She had bright red eyes that glittered in her fear. Kai tilted his head to one side.
"I'm sorry," the lioness finally squeaked, "I'll leave. I didn't mean to disturb you..."
She turned to walk away, shaking violently, but Kai leaped in front of her, hold his foreleg to her chest to stop her.
"It's alright," he said reassuringly, "you just surprised me... are you okay?"
The lioness relaxed a little, but not entirely. She looked up at Kai like he was some scary god.
"I'm fine," she said, barely a whisper. She looked down.
"Hey," Kai said, lifting her chin with his paw, "It's alright. You're safe. Do you need help? Where are you from?"
She paused for a second, hesitant.
"Coldveil. I'm a Coldveil lion."
Kai paused.
This was the first time he had ever seen a Coldveil lion. Lions from the other prides often visited, to discuss with Ari about his rule, but no one knew what went on in Coldveil. No lion entered, no lion left. This was a rare opportunity. She had to be taken to the king, but Kai knew she would be scared.
"Well... what are you doing here?" he asked, puzzled. He could not think any reason a lioness would wander into the Sundowner territory. They lived in poor lands, but she was not hunting. She was too skittish even for the weakest pride to send out to other territories to hunt.
"I left. I was scared of how the pride was heading... I can't tell you though. I am sworn to secrecy."
Kai thought.
"Well... does your pride need food? Can we help?"
The lioness looked worried, "no... no we have plenty."
"Well," said Kai, "what's your name at least?"
"Diamond."
"Well Diamond, my name is Kai. Would you like to come back to the pride? We can get you some food and water and rest."
"Thank you," Diamond said.