New Future

Dirt flew as Uru carefully scrapped bits of earth away. The Galelanders were one of only two prides that practiced the art of digging, for many this was a skill that really was of no use to most of the other prides, in fact some lions actually believed that digging was for the lower animals, those inferior. To the Galelanders, this was a load of nonsense. Uru paused her excavation and shook. Dirt, sand, and bits of slightly damp mud flying off her pelt. The lioness gazed around her. It had been several years since she had returned to the Gale and it had not taken long for the princess to get back into the rhythm of her homeland. It felt good to be in such a comforting and peaceful place, unlike the lands where she had to roam with few resources and such competition, her tail lashed. Nobody had pressed Uru about her experience as a rogue, true some of the younger lions had asked questions, but anything deep was never prodded. The Galelanders believed that everyone should have their own secrets. For this, Uru was grateful beyond words. She never wanted to tell her people about her failed pregnancies, and...the incident. With her brief break over, Uru went back to work. There was no real reason to this digging, it was really just for fun this time. But the princess instantly paused when she saw her grandmother approaching. Queen Busara was not a royal who was distant from her pride, she did her own share of the work and always got down on the level of her people. But Busara was a Queen and there were some duties that she had to do. The Queen had been off doing matters and had just returned. Uru was surprised that her grandmother had chosen to seek her out first and not her mother. Jani was the Crown Princess, but yet Busara always sought out Uru, asking her opinions about certain subjects. The princess finally decided that this was because the Queen was getting her ready for the role she would one day have once Jani died or gave up the throne. Busara settled beside the young lioness and both worked in silence. Using their front paws to scoop lumps of earth and sent it back. The process was slow, relaxing. Had it been an emergency then there would had been a quicker pace, but such occasions were not common so slow and steady was the main practice.

After hours of steady digging, Busara finally spoke. "I can tell that being a rogue was hard for you," Uru felt her heart go in two directions, one was pounding at the thought that the lioness was finally going to make her sprout her secrets; the back-stabbing males and when she lost control, the other half was aching at the memories of her dead cubs. But Busara did not prod. Her deep blue eyes seemed thoughtful. "An old friend of mine has made an offer that...perhaps you should consider." Uru frowned, her heart steadying and curiosity filled her being. "What kind of offer?" the blue-ginger lioness asked. "Her son is looking for a potential betrothal," Busara explained. "Betrothal is not really the best word for it. The royal couple wants to give their son one last shot, in not then the sister will be switched as heir." Uru was quiet, letting her grandmother's words sink in. She didn't know what to think or how to act. Uru didn't know if she was really the best lioness for this task. She had thought she had love once, no twice, before. But both times had led to heartache. Of course they had been rogues, this was a royal lion. But would he be any better than the two rogues? Her mind couldn't answer that and the princess hesitated. It wouldn't hurt to try...would it? She would be dodgy, not be easily lured into his slick ways and false promises...she had been young and inexperienced at that time, but now...she knew what to do. She would put a shield on her heart, to avoid any heartbreak, if he was the right lion then she would slowly let him in, but not all at once. "Where am I to go?" Uru asked the older lioness. "The Pridelands," Queen Busara replied. "King Mohatu and Queen Bibi will send a party of lionesses to escort you to Priderock and..." she did not finish the sentence because there was no way of knowing what would happen. It could go many ways. The blue-ginger lioness casted her gray-blue gaze around her, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of her home. It felt weird that she would be leaving again after only just returning, but for some odd reason the thought of going to the Pridelands...gave her a sense of thrill. She was a pride lioness and...this just be may be what she had wanted all along, a chance to find love and have freedom...but still belong to a pride.

"I'll do it."