The lion cub squinted his eyes shut a little as the stag nuzzled his head, a sort of smile, his fear melting away. Whatever the problem had been, it was gone now, and his family, his--father? --would guide him, maybe guard him. He stood, little tail thrashing a little, letting out a soft grunting mew as the stag turned away.
He bounced along behind, leaping up to try and swat at the stag's tail and missing, faceplanting the rock with a grunt instead. He hurried at a bumbling run to catch up with the stately stride of the long-legged deer.
His paws were oversized white mitts, his eyes bright and pale as he took in the cave around them, the little nub-horns on his head glistening in the light of the lamp-orbs. His fuzzy fur was dried, by now, fluffed and white, and he let out joyful squeaks and growls as they walked, as he bounded along and around his "father."
Surely this wasn't so bad! Vazi would lead him and guide him and take him someplace safe, and they'd eat and laugh together and play and life would be great. This was but a fleeting concept in the white cub's mind; then he focused on the now, his childlike thoughts occupied by the shine of this rock or the buzz of that fly as they walked.
Life, it seemed, was going to be grand.
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