Starglow Basin Panthera Leo

soto does not see the lion's gaze shift, hunger there behind dark iris.

he moves in a slow trot that once could be called loose-limbed, were it not for the obvious limp. he would recover in due time, but for now his body's a map of scars, dictating stories of battles he'd only barely survived.

soto brings him to the stone quarter; a rendezvous cleverly hidden by a sharp arch of sandstone and slate. there's makeshift dens laid haphazardly. one for qiao, one for the boy, one for osiel. soto motions to the man and suggests he make himself comfortable.

he does not linger. climbing up the steps to lookout point, soto spares sangre a quiet glance and resumes watch over their tentative keep.