With her face pressed against the ground, the stout lioness listened both to the sounds of the earth and those on the air, with her one erect ear flicking every now and again. The gentle, steady step of an elephant herd was like a heartbeat that could lull her to sleep. Below the topsoil, beetles scrabbled and meerkats chattered. Like the second movement of a symphony, the sounds blended together in a calm, rich harmony-

until it wasn't a symphony at all, it was Lion Concerto No. 1 in the key of Savannah by....Well, Juliet wasn't sure who the composer/performer was, but it was interesting, at least. She rolled over onto her side and murmured softly as she shook bits of chaff from her fur, flicking her ear to dislodge an ant that had had the gall to crawl up its tattered edge while it'd been pressed to the ground. She blinked as she searched for any sign of him on the horizon, to see nothing but the dotting of marula trees, limbs sprawling toward the heavens. Should she follow his voice? Perhaps he had a pride, but searched for more, perhaps he sought to brawl...Either way, it was worth the effort before the temperature began to climb. The heat of mid-day might provide some good entertainment, at least.

She lumbered forward, sacrificing as little energy as possible; she might need it later.