The Dreamcatchers / Night Watch

  Sen was doing his best to look positively dignified and proud, but all he managed was awkward. Today a year ago was the day the Alliance was established. Raziel decided that an anniversary celebration would be a great way to boost morale and to allow lions from different branches of the facility to hang out and make friends, not just co-workers. That's what he announced in his speech that he gave in the early morning for the whole pride. Then music started and he disappeared somewhere within the crowd. If Sen knew him at all he probably returned back to his office where he worked like normal. Sen wished he could do that as well. He was a strategist and a fighter, even a husband and a father, but not a party-goer and certainly not a dancer. And still, as a captain of the Night Watch, he had to be there. Fantom tried his best to make him look better than ever. His fur was clean and his mane freshly brushed and the tuft of hair on his head that always gave him a messy, just-woken-up look today was a little less of a mess. Fantom also looked his best and so did their little son, Lasan. Usually at parties they would play silly games and joke around, but today Fan decided to teach Las how to act according to the occasion and the little cub was doing his best, with his head proudly held up and a little bow around his neck that he resisted to scratch. Today you could really tell that Fantom used to be a prince and had royal blood in his veins.

  Sia, the usually quiet and mysterious fluffy lioness was on the dancefloor with the shy Hefina having the time of their lives.

  The researchers huddled together in a little group and discussed their recent findings, more interested in that than in any form of celebrating.

  Ejsza was everywhere, walking from one social group to the other, meeting and greeting everyone she laid her eyes on. She was the type to remember them all too and consider them friends from this point on.

  As time went by different districts started mingling with each other. The party was becoming more lively and everyone seemed to have fun or at least be glad that they could relax and didn't have to do any work.

  Sen spent most of the day prompted by Fan to meet new people and make contacts with other captains because it would be useful to them, but also because it was required of him as the ruler of the Night Watch. After a couple of hours he noticed Raziel making his way through the crowds, exchanging a few words here and there. He sat next to Sen with his usual smile that Sen thought said: "everything according to plan".

- Having fun? - he asked, in which Sen was sure, was a mocking tone.

- Plenty - Sen answered, smiling through gritted teeth. - Was this really necessary, sir? We have plenty of work to do.

  Raziel nodded his head.

- All work and no play will make you a dull boy, Captain - he chuckled. - But yes, it was necessary. A feeling of bond between different members of the Alliance is necessary for us to work as one unit. We are trying to unite all lions and for that, we need to be united ourselves. I won't be taking any more of your time, Captain - he said and his voice changed from a serious to a more joking tone one again. - I'm sure your husband would like to dance with you - and with that he left, once again disappearing into the crowd.