R(b) Prompts

Paws flying across the ground, Catalina pants with exhaustion. The train's speeding up, the 'chugga chugga' of the engine becoming increasingly rapid.

"Stop her!" three hyena's scream from behind her, enraged. What, she had only challenged them to a game of cards, pretended to be really bad and lose a bunch of rounds, then make a miraculous comeback during the final round that had resulted in them loosing all their money. So what can their deal possibly be?

They're gaining on the lioness and her ears flatten against her head. The train's picking up pace, the side door only a few feet in front of her but soon to be miles away if she so much as trips. Her legs fly underneath her and she's almost there. Taking a flying leap off of the cracked dirt ground, Catalina soars toward the open train door. But she lands awkwardly, front caramel half of her body in the train compartment, other half dragging outside the train. One of they hyenas has gotten closer now and he snaps at her rear, right where a tail would be. She's glad now for the accident that had taken it from her, as he would have dragged her out.

But now she's slipping. She claws desperately at the wooden interior of the train car, trying just to hold on.

"Here, I've got you!"

A voice, then someone's grabbing her scruff, dragging her inside. Hauling herself in fully, the train door rolls shut behind her and she finally has time to relax. Until she remembers there's a stranger here.

"Who are you?" she demands, whirling around to face him. The dark lion, chocolate fur paired with sepia mane, just looks at her.

"I'm Finneas, but you can call me Finn," he says calmly, as if it's perfectly normal to help a stranger onto a train who's clearly on the run from powerful individuals.

"Why did you help me?"

Finn is taken aback. "Why? Because it's a nice thing to do? Because you needed help."

Catalina doesn't believe him for a second. No one does anything for anyone in these parts of the desert. "Right... well then, nice guy, you stay over there and I'll be over here."

Finn shrugs. "Ok."

His compliance makes Catalina even more cross and suspicious. She has been readying herself for a fight, but now the adrenaline finally has a chance to cycle out of her system. She doesn't like that. It's an unfamiliar feeling as usually the fight comes so she feels she must be prepared until it arrives.

Catalina eyes Finn as he drifts off to sleep, the monotonous motion of the train riding over the tracks rocking them soothingly. She tries to stop herself from drifting off as well, but her eyes slowly shut.

"Hey, it's-"

Finn's only able to get out two words before Catalina leaps up, shoving him backwards.

"What were you trying to do, attack me? Steal my money?" she sharls.

Finn shakes his head. "No, not at all! I was just trying to tell you that it's our stop. Or, it's your stop because I'm supposed to be on this train but if you don't want to get caught you should leave while they're getting more energy."

Catalina stubbornly holds her ground. "Why don't you mind your own business? I'll get off when I'll get off."

Finn backs away, ears lowering in hurt. "I'm sorry. I've just been trying to be nice but you're kind of being... you're kind of being a jerk. I won't bother you anymore."

He walks away, though Catalina doesn't feel any victory. She lays back down, lowering her head over her paws as the train resumes it's motion.

She hesitates, sitting their quietly. What this lion said... well, he's right. Maybe not all lions are out to get her. That idea is as uncomfortable as not having a fight occur, but Catalina sits with it until she can no longer. She stands up, walking over to Finn.

"You're... you're right. I'm sorry. I just don't know who I can trust. I've only been out for myself, and so has everyone else."

Finn looks up at her. "I accept your apology. But it's not like that, not everyone is out for themselves. You should travel with me. I'm heading away right now to meet some other lions, but when I go home then you'll see."

Catalina thinks about it then nods. She'll give him the benefit of the doubt. She'll trust another lion, for the first time since she was a cub.

"Ok."

(761/700 words) - claimed for levelup 7/29/21