Night Watch - S-prompts

S2. Write about a harsh lesson or major turning point/change one of your lions received in their life. As a cub, or adult. Explain why it impacted them, and how they changed as a result. What would they have been like if it didn’t happen?

[ 717/500 word minimum ] - 2 points

He knew he’d find him there. Lying on the sand on a small hillock under a starry sky, watching them with unseeing eyes. Sen probably hasn’t realised that himself, but he would tend to do that when he was especially worried or pensive about something. Fan lied next to him and was welcomed with a heavy sigh.

“What is it this time, sunshine?”

“It’s Lasan. Or rather, what he said” Sen lifted his head up, picking his muzzle up from the ground. ”Today, he… he asked me if I thought he was evil.“ Another sign. A dust cloud rose from the dirt. ”Because he’s a nightmare. He knows we’re nightmare hunters. I think he was afraid. Of me!“ He put a paw on his head and shook it. ”He asked if I hated him.“ He put both paws over his head and groaned.

“And what did you tell him?”

After a moment of silence Sen looked up from under a tuft of white hair. “I don’t know. I think I blanked out. I mumbles something. I hope it was reassuring? I’ve never seen him look so sad. Or felt so bad.”

Fantom bit his lip. “But you like some nightmares” he nudged Sen hoping to cheer him up a bit, but Sen was so self-absorbed, he didn’t notice. “and you definitelt don’t hate Las.”

“Of course not, I love you two more than anything in the world.”

A soft blushed crept up onto Fan’s cheeks. Sen almost never shared his feelings so it took him by surprise, but Sen seemed not to realise what he said. Fantom smiled reassuringly nuzzling the lion’s mane with his nose.

“Just tell him that and you’ll be fine. He’s your son. He loves you and he will understand. I can be there with you if you’re afraid you’ll panic and lose your words. Does that make you feel better?”

Sen stayed quiet for a couple of minutes. His breathing calmed down, he seemed to relax.

“It does, but… that’s not all. It made me think. I don’t know how, maybe I was suppressing those thought, but“ he stopped. He struggled to pick the right words. ”My whole life. I’ve been driven by hate to nightmares. That’s why I’ve become a soldier. That’s why I’m a captain of nightmare hunters. All my life I’ve been told that nightmares are those terrible, brutal lions that want nothing but bloodshed and they can’t be reasoned with. But… none of that is true. I’ve met you and Las and Aku… well, maybe she’s not the best example.“

Fantom chuckled at those words. Sen was joking again, so at least some weight has been lifted off his heart.

“We’re at a state of war, but… is it really the right thing to do? Las is making me think otherwise. I want a safe world for him to grow up in.” He looked into Fantom’s golden eyes, preparing to say what has been weighing him down and looking for support. “There has to be another way. And it’s up to us to find it. We can live in peace in our pride, we just have to show that it’s possible to the rest of the realm.” He sounded confident and determined, but all that seemed to float away as he spoke the words. In a much more quiet, uncertain voice, he asked: “Do you think it’s possible? Or am I a lunatic?”

“Both.” They both smiled, despite the seriousness of the situation. “Whatever you decide, I’ll be by your side, captain.”

Sen, usually reserved and shy, rubbed his head against Fan’s in appreciation.

“It’s time to let go of the past. I will never forget it, but I can’t keep on going driven by hate“ he looked up into the stars. ”That’s what my father would’ve wanted. He did what he did to protect me. Now I need to do what I can for my son. Our son.“ Sen turned his gaze back to the other lion. ”I feel like I’ve changed so much since we adopted him. I never expected this little cub to have such a great impact on my life.“

“And he’s not even a teenager yet. Better prepare for a lot more changes to come.”

Sen nodded his head. “I’m ready for them.”