The Search for Nayra

Having left her mother's side at the Southland/Westland border, Castus padded solumnly north in the darkness of the night. Along the way, she alerted her pride to the situation: Nayra was missing and Castus would be looking for her sister. If any wished to join in the search, they were welcome to do so, but not ordered. She wouldn't take it that far just yet.

With a determined countenance, the Westland queen trudged onward. Before she crossed into the Outlands, the oaken lioness sighed and called out Nayra's name, hoping for a response, but only receiving her own echo back. Fluffy elfin ears flopped down in sadness, at the lack of her sister's voice. Looking over the vast barren wasteland, Castus stepped into the neutral area, noting the cracked ground.

Starting at the southern most point the sun began to rise over the horizon, it would begin warming up very soon. Unthinking about the heat, Castus walked along the border heading north, along the desert border then the Pridelands, and finally the Northlands border. She had zigzaged her way up, checking out every crack, crevice, and cave along the way. So far, no scent, sound, or sight of her sister. Frustrated beyond comprehension, Cass lashed out at a termite mound, shattering it and spreading the insects to the wind. She realized how much that hurt and looked down at her paws. Her normally large paws had swollen from the heat and the long trek. She was sure that they were burned, but until she couldn't walk, she would continue her search.

The queen eyed the unknown lands suspiciously and slowly headed into the unknown. Nothing deterred her from her mission... until she came across a field of razor rocks. Cass attempted to bound through them, but only caused severe lascerations to her already fragile paw pads. Shakily, Castus stood still on the rocks, taking slow breaths. With tears in her eyes, she finally turned back, taking each step deliberately and carefully placing them to cause the least damage. She bellowed out, "NAYRA?! Where are you?" while holding back sobs. Only now did the queen fear the worst. She would need to let Mbele know of her failure.

A full day had passed by the time the Westland queen was able to make it back to her pride. Bloody paw prints showed her path from the Unknown lands, back through the edge of the Outlands, and finally through the Westlands where she collapsed near the central waterhole, too far to drink but too hurt continue. Her vision blurred and the edges darkened, Castus let out a weak roar to alert her pride of her location before promptly passing  out.

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Crusty eyes opened with a groan. Her mouth was cottony and her head pounded. Castus kept her eyes squinted and began to shift her body to get up. "Oww!" she exclaimed as her paw pads touched the ground. Suddenly turning them inwards to examine her front paws, Castus could see why she hurt so badly. They were covered in fresh scabs and crusted in dried blood. At least they weren't as swollen as before. Steeling herself against the upcoming pain, Castus rose to stand. With a soft breath, she took the first few steps. Eventually the pain in her feet was dulled by the pain in her head. She knew cool waterfalls and pools would soothe her aching body so the Westland queen headed south to the Jungle. Not long after her journey started, her scabs cracked open and bled freely. Bloody paw prints followed her to the first small pool of water in the humid Jungle. The small pool soon tinged pink, but her aches and pains were soothed. Cass allowed her head to rest on the dry ground beside the pool with her body still covered in the comforting water. She smiled softly for the first time in days, but soon it turned into a frown. "Where are you Nayra?" She asked to the air around her as she drifted in and out of sleep. For a moment she thought she smelled her sister, but soon the queen was asleep dreaming of happier times.