Darkness... then voices. Murmurs, low and guttural, filtering through the haze of pain and exhaustion that clouded my senses. I tried to open my eyes, but my lids felt like lead weights. My body, still wracked with pain, was unresponsive.
Panic welled up inside me. Predators? Had another hunter caught me vulnerable?
I strained to make sense of the sounds, the scent of dry grass and dust mingling with something else – a musky, unfamiliar odor. Lionkin, but not just any lionkin. These were different. Stronger. A pack.
The ground vibrated slightly as several of them moved closer. I could feel their eyes on me, heavy with curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place.
"She's still alive," one of them rumbled, her voice deep and resonant. "Barely."
"To think she managed to bring down a rhino in that state," another voice chimed in, laced with awe. "She's tenacious, that's for sure."
"What do we do with her?" A third voice, this one sharp and laced with caution. "She's a liability. We can't afford to care for a cripple."
A wave of dizziness washed over me. Their words swam in and out of focus. I wanted to speak, to snarl, to tell them I wasn't helpless, but my throat was bone dry, and my body refused to obey.
"We can't just leave her here," the first voice boomed. "She's one of us. We take care of our own."
The ground vibrated again as they moved around me. I caught glimpses of golden fur, heard the soft jingle of claws against stone. Then, strong arms were lifting me, surprisingly gentle despite their obvious strength.
My world dissolved into a blur of movement and disjointed sensations. The scent of lionkin, of dust and something herbal, filled my nostrils. Then, blessed darkness swallowed me whole.
———————-
When I finally regained consciousness, the first thing I registered was the weight of a soft fur against my cheek. Blinking open my eyes, I found myself staring up at a thatched roof, the air thick with the scent of dried herbs and something subtly sweet.
I was in a hut, lying on a bed of woven grasses. A bandage, surprisingly well-crafted, encircled my torso. I was naked beneath it, the smooth, heated clay beneath me strangely comforting.
Sitting cross-legged beside me was a lionkin futa, her golden gaze fixed intently on my face. She was older than me, her features more defined, her mane a rich tapestry of gold and auburn. Her build was lean and muscular, her breasts full and round, barely contained by the thin straps of hide that crisscrossed her chest. The sight sent a jolt of unfamiliar awareness through me, a flicker of something I quickly pushed down.
"You're finally awake," she said, a low purr in her voice. "I was starting to think you were going to sleep through the whole dry season."
I flinched at the sound of her voice, my hand instinctively going to the scar that marred my left eye. Old habits died hard.
The futa reached out, her touch feather-light as she traced the path of the scar with her fingertips. "You poor thing," she murmured, her voice filled with a strange mix of pity and something else I couldn't quite decipher. "What happened to you?"
I flinched away from her touch, my muscles tensing. I wasn't used to kindness, to concern. It felt alien, unnerving.
"Don't," I rasped, my voice hoarse from disuse.
The futa withdrew her hand, her expression unreadable. "My name is Ashira," she said, her voice softening slightly. "We found you by the watering hole, clinging to life. You're safe now."
-Safe? The word felt foreign, wrong somehow. I hadn't been safe in a long time.
"Why?" I rasped, my gaze fixed on the thatched roof above us. Trust didn't come easily to me. "Why bring me here?"
Ashira leaned back on her haunches, her golden eyes studying me intently. "You were dragging a dead rhino," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "That takes strength, spirit. We could use someone like you in our pride."
Pride. The word hit me like a physical blow. I hadn't been part of a pride, not really, since... I pushed the thought away, refusing to let the shadows of the past drag me under.
"I don't need your charity," I muttered, my gaze fixed on a point just beyond Ashira's shoulder.
"It's not charity," she countered, her voice firm but not unkind. "We believe in strength in numbers. You clearly have strength, even if you don't see it yet. We can offer you protection, a place to belong. All we ask for in return is your loyalty, your skills as a hunter."
Part of me scoffed at the idea – belonging. As if it were that simple. But another part, a small, flickering ember deep inside me, wondered if she might be right. Could I really survive out here alone, forever on the run, forever fighting for scraps?
Before I could respond, the sound of rustling grass and hushed voices announced the arrival of others. Five lionkin entered the hut, their movements a symphony of grace and barely contained power. All females, their gazes sharp and assessing as they took in my prone form and the bandage encircling my torso.
"So, the little rogue is awake," one of them remarked, her voice laced with a sardonic amusement. She was tall and muscular, her mane a fiery red that matched her fiery gaze.
"More than awake," Ashira countered, her tone laced with a subtle warning. "She brought down a rhino practically single-pawed. Her name is Zarina."
The lionkin exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
"A rhino?" Another lionkin, this one smaller and more lithe than the others, stepped forward, her eyes wide with awe. "By herself?"
"She's strong," Ashira confirmed, her gaze meeting mine for a fleeting moment. "And resourceful. We could use someone with her skills."
"She's also reckless," the red-maned lionkin pointed out, her voice sharp. "And headstrong. She'll be more trouble than she's worth."
The lionkin gathered around me, their voices a low murmur as they debated my fate. I lay there silently, my body tense, every muscle coiled, ready to fight if I had to. But what chance did I have against six of them?
"Enough," Ashira's voice cut through the murmuring, silencing the others. She turned to me, her expression unreadable. "Zarina, we've decided to offer you a place in our pride."
I met her gaze, my heart pounding against my ribs. It was a tempting offer, one that promised safety, companionship... a life I hadn't dared to dream of.
But could I really trust them? Could I let down my guard, even for a moment?
"And if I refuse?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Ashira's expression softened slightly. "The savanna is a harsh mistress," she said, her voice low and steady. "It takes more than just strength to survive out here. It takes loyalty, trust... family. Those are things we can offer you, Zarina. Things you can't find on your own."
She was right. I knew it in my gut. As much as I craved independence, I was tired of fighting alone.
I drew in a slow, steadying breath. "Alright," I said, my voice hoarse but firm. "I'll stay."