Opening Up (Open)

[Samwel Igwe]

Sam wondered when he’d gone from worrying to this.

It had been about a week since his acceptance into the Pride. And a couple of the cubs had invited him along to play. It was… Interesting. Before, Sam had made friends with some of the cubs, but mostly tagged along - friends with a bit of distance some might say.

This was the first time they’d actively approached him to join them like another lion.

Luckily, lion play was a lot like human play… Even if Sam didn’t have a lot of experience with that either. He did manage to join in a game of tag, and even learned a thing or two about how they pounced. (The latter of which he wasn’t too good at.)

By the end of it, they’d all fallen to the grass with a small chuckle. And Sam couldn’t help but feel a rush of - joy? Happiness? For the first time in so many years he felt like the kid he was again. ”Alright!” a cub around his age mentally announced. ”Race ya all back to Pride Rock!”

Sam, on the other hand wasn’t quite ready to head back for the day yet, even if he was quickly realizing most of the day had gotten away from them. At least by the looks of the sun. He knew he’d need to head back soon to grab a meal - but until then… Well.

“I’m right behind you guys!” He said as he sat up and watched them start off. “I just need to catch my breath.”

After all he hadn’t run around like that in well, ever… Still, he let them run off. He’d stay behind a little bit longer and enjoy what was left. After all, it was just so nice out there…

[Amara]

Ever since the Outlanders had rejoined the pride, Amara had found herself... adrift. It was a good thing, a GREAT thing, don't get her wrong! Having her sister back was more than Amara had ever expected. But now that the Outlanders threat had passed, Amara wasn't sure what to do with herself.

There was a new Lion Guard, consisting of previous Outlanders, so there wasn't a need for her to go around seeking animals to help. Likewise, she didn't have to stalk the borders to protect her pride from an outside threat. And she COULD have gone to spend time with Adeera, but things between them were... odd, for the moment.

And then a little odd twolegged hairless... THING appeared in her home, introducing himself as Sam and saying he was a human. Sam was odd, but Amara knew he meant no harm. Amara found herself more often than not trailing after the little human, unseen and unheard, just to make sure he stayed out of trouble.

So when the human ran off with some of the cubs of the pride, Amara followed. And when Sam stayed behind, Amara also stayed. The cubs of the Pridelands had more self defense in their claws and teeth than the human did, with his odd little 'fingers' and dull teeth.

Amara approached him, making sure to shuffle her paws so even with his bald ears Sam could hear her. "Hello." she greeted, stopping far enough away to not crowd him. "Is there... a reason you're on the ground? Should I be fetching Rafiki?" Of course she KNEW why he was on the ground. But if he knew she was following him around he might tell her to stop, and then she'd have no choice BUT to stop.

Samwel Igwe

[Samwel Igwe]

Sam nearly jumped out of his skin.

He'd been deep in thought when the lioness spoke up to him. Sitting up slightly and blowing a twig out of his hair, he stood and stretched a bit. The last thing he needed was Rafiki to come over here and give him an examination for, well, nothing, obviously. But he did slightly relax upon realizing that it was simply one of the Pride. While he didn't know all of them yet, he knew lions and that made interacting with them easier.

"Oh, sorry. No. I'm fine. But dang, even for cubs those guys are fast," He admitted as he did so. His eyes looking over at the lioness. His mind trailed in thought. "Where I come from, we don't usually have a lot of time to play. So I guess I have some catching up to do."

It was probably the most honest statement he could make about it. After all, there was no shame in admitting that he had spent his childhood working, right? Catching up wasn't bad either. "I don't think we've met before, what's your name?" He had a feeling if she were checking that he didn't really need to give his.