"Ace! Ace! Wait for me, Ace!" The female cub whined as she pursued her older brother through the thickets. It was evening and because of her brother's dark coat, it was difficult to see him. She could only rely on the sounds of the bushes crunching beneath his paws to find him. The cubs' father, Tahib, would be furious if he found out that the cubs had ran off, especially when it was past sunset. Both cubs knew this and yet, Ace decided to run off in search for adventure.
Cajsa was starting to not recognize the land in front of them and she was growing even more worried, "Ace, I don't think this is part of the Pridelands. We should probably go back home. It's scary here." She complained, though she knew he wouldn't listen. Though he was sometimes reckless, he was stronger and wiser than her. He knew the risk he was taking and that he wouldn't let his kid sister get hurt on his watch.
Though it wasn't because Cajsa told him too, Ace stumbled to a haut and he picked up one of his paws. His paw pads were soaking wet and he could smell a horrible odor coming from the wet grass around them. The cubs seemed to have come across the beginnings of a marsh and Ace was unfamiliar with this land. Before he could react, another smell entered his nose. Blood. The fresh smell of blood disgusted Ace and yet, he wanted to find the cause of it, "Follow me and stay quiet, Cajsa." Ace ordered his sister before skidding off to find the blood's owner. Cajsa, who was too scared to return home alone, nodded her head and followed him silently.
The two eventually came across the dead lion's carcass and Ace jerked his head away, "It smells even worse up close!" He spat in disgust.
Cajsa stood next to her brother, who by comparison was much larger, and she frowned at the body, "He's got a branch in his chest. It must've fell on him during a storm. I feel bad for him and for his pride. They'll never know what happened to him." she cried, taking no notice to the orphan cub just yet.