The pride leader turned to Kael who looked back at his father.
Their eyes jammed across the distance. One pair red, the other pair golden. Seconds passed with none of them shifting their gaze.
The hair on the pride leader was already standing on end. A little more time of this staring contest and he would act.
Finally, Kael turned around, not because he was scared, he just wasn't interested in fighting the pride leader.
The pride leader grunted, squinting his eyes at Kael's shrinking back. He raised his head to the sky and gave a mighty roar.
Some little grasses around caught fire before going out due to the ground's wetness. For a brief second, the pride leader painted an apocalyptic scene with him at the center.
Kael went to lie down under the shade of a tree. 'It seems my time is near,' Kael mused as he enjoyed the morning breeze
These moments of peace and serenity were what he enjoyed most. He would rather soak himself in a cold river all day or sleep under a tree perpetually.
Unfortunately, this was not a lifestyle he could afford. He still had to hunt if he wanted to eat, he still had to draw out schemes to make sure he was at the top.
Luckily, he wasn't alone in this. Five young lionesses came to lie down under the shed with him.
They rubbed heads with him affectionately, Kael responded in kind, as though he was used to this kind of greeting.
Out of the five lionesses, four were Eidel, Ruda, Zabita, and Katari. All had an exotic appearance that set them apart from other lionesses.
They were no longer the little cubs of before, a along with their growth came a sense of maturity and responsibility.
Eidel for one now had fiery orange fur, which was not normal among the lion race. Her eyes were fiery red, just like the pride leader's. Currently, the temperature around Eidel was high, no doubt, she was the same subspecies as her father.
Ruda, just like Eidel also had the color of her fur changed. Hers was a light purple and occasionally, there would be sparks of electricity swimming through her fur like sea snakes in the ocean.
Compared to the two sisters, Zabita looked more normal. Her fur was still brownish but it was very pale, even though she looked healthy. His claws which would expose themselves once in a while would give off a metallic glint because they were not made of metal.
If not that her mouth was always closed, anyone would be able to see her sharp metal fangs that looked like they could tear apart the toughest of flesh and break the strongest of bones.
Katari still looked the same way she looked after awakening her own lionheart. Light brown fur that looked well taken care of, deep black eyes, and poise of elegance.
The last lioness among them was the one Kael called Olivia. She had yellow eyes, similar to Kael's except dimmer and not as glittery. Her fur was the usual brownish yellow that most lionesses had.
The most peculiar thing about Olivia was her size. She was on the large side, some would say. Amongst lions, she would be considered chubby.
Kael could not see a single muscular feature through all that flab full of fat. Olivia was the most cheerful among all of them, despite the weight she should supposedly possess, she had no problem skipping around like a little cub.
Olivia was very important to Kael now that he knew what type of Lionheart she had.
Olivia was the last cub who still treated him normally even after the stigmatism from Big Aunt.
A natural who knew how to appreciate the one that fed her once. Kael offered her a contract after some deliberation which she accepted.
Initially, after adding her to his pride and helping her awaken her Lionheart, he was confused.
Olivia didn't have any physical changes other than getting chubbier and she had never shown any special abilities.
Now Kael knew that Olivia was simply a fortune lion, his mind was cleared like the sky, 'She would be very useful in the future.'
Six big and exotic cats lay under one tree, casting quite a sight. The combined aura from them made the other lionesses not dare to get close.
This was how it had been for some time, the pride looked like it was divided into two factions. The pride leader's faction and Kael's faction.
On the pride leader's side were eight lionesses and two subordinate lions, Pavel and Uncle. While on Kael's side were just six young lionesses.
Those who were still on the sidelines were Nalii, Priya, Diane, and some sub-adults born at the same time as Kael.
The pride leader could also be said to have seven and a half lionesses on his side because Big Aunt could no longer be considered fully capable of most things as of now.
Creatures are born and they die eventually, unless they could break the chains of mortality, they would forever be a slave to this rule.
Big Aunt was not exempt from this rule. She might have looked bigger and healthier two years ago but that was just how old age started.
She had thought she was in her prime but she was very far from it. Now she was old and weary, she had long stopped going for hunts and if not for the pride leader, she would be considered a burden for the Pride.
Perhaps, not all lions were cruel and ruthless. Other lions may have left the weak and elderly to die in the wilderness but the pride leader didn't.
The pride leader showed surprising kindness and care to Big Aunt. So surprising that even Kael was surprised.
Since Big Aunt could no longer go hunting, she stayed behind to watch over the latest batch of cubs, of which none were hers.
The pride leader would always bring a large piece of meat for her provided that the hunt was successful. He was unfailing in this responsibility he had put upon himself.
Kael guessed that it was much more than loyalty. Maybe guilt or a kind payback for something she did in the past but he knew it was not just loyalty.
There was surely more to the pride leader than he was showing. Kael just didn't know how deep it was.