sometime into the fourth age, southern lands of Middle Earth
They were on a mission for Lord Cirdan in the cape of Umbar. They were supposed to be discreet, not waste time and to return to Lindon immediately once they made contact with the fantastical elves of the east, if they existed still. Well... that premise implied that everything would be smooth sailing, but on the literal other side of Middle Earth? Anything could waylay them and indeed something did, that very morning.
Earcalie decided that the task of gathering information was better suited to Ristor, he was discreet and more patient than her in dealing with the locals. As he was busy talking to some Men of a nearby orchard, she got tired of waiting and left their campsite to follow the trail of something more interesting than the Secondborn.
Not for the first time since setting foot in this strange land she heard mention of some wild cats that the locals both feared and tried to tame. She wondered what could be so special about these creatures, there were plenty of lynxes where she came from and while taming one wasn't easy, the term "fearsome" was definitely too much. So she climbed up Jêbel Lakha, the Gathering-stone marked on their map, apparently a point of congregation for the wild cats.
A vantage point indeed for high up the rock formation she could see the land around her as far as the city of Men. Her thoughts briefly went to Inweth, the silvan elleth who moved to live in Ithilien. She would have hated this place: nothing but hard dirt, dust and sand with barely any greenery... "savannah" it was. Earcalie liked it, despite the heat. Any creature that could survive this harsh environment must be tough and respected. She crouched behind a few thorny bushes, hearing a crack.
Two of these wild cats tumbled down a small boulder, wrangled together in a fight... but they were... small? She blinked. They definitely looked like cats, and the sounds they were emitting a mix of high pitched mewling and a lynxes growl, but they were also not lynxes. While of the size of a lynx, with short fur the color of sand, larger paws and longer fangs Earcalie assumed these to be wild cat cubs. Their fight also looked like play, neither of them trying to seriously hurt each other. Smiling amused, she moved to have a better view, inadvertently stepping on a stick *CRACK*
Oh no... she froze in place, the two cubs immediately going on alert, hissing at her as they saw the elf. She did not move as the cubs stared at her, wary, but with a hint of curiosity in their slit pupils. Perhaps I could befriend them... if they are just cubs it should be safe
"Aiya, essenya Earcalie ná"* she tentatively made a step forward
"Rawwwwrrrr!" the cubs growled together, retreating. "Oh no wai---"
"Roaaaaar!" another wild cat jumped from up high, landing near the cubs. Much larger, with the same features of the cubs, by the way it herded them protectively between the paws, the elleth guessed it to be their mother
"I don't want to harm them I swear---"
"ROOOARRR!" the deafening sound shook her to the core. Atop the Gathering-stone, appeared a third wild cat. Calling it cat though seemed almost an insult for the sight Earcalie was seeing. This wild cat was massive. With short fur except a long mane that covered his head to the shoulders, copper coloured and blowing in the wind, massive clawed paws and fangs that put those of a sabretooth to shame. Earcalie could not tear her eyes away from the creature, both scared and awed, "majestic" is all she could think. The male cat descended the rock, when an arrow planted itself between her and the wild cats, followed by another
"What...?" the mother and the cubs hissed, retreating as two more arrows hit the ground close to them
"Run, fast! While they are distracted" the voice of Ristor came from a group of withered trees a hundred meters behind her. With a last glance at the wild cats, she bolted and followed her elven companion running as fast as they could back to their camp.
"Penig channas?"** he yelled at her once safe. "You would have been as good as dead if I didn't arrive in time!"
"Do not insult me. I was fine, and had no intention of getting killed by a couple wild cats, obviously"
Ristor sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "Wild cats... those creatures are called lions. They are among the most dangerous wildlife and are also called the Kings of the savannah"
"Lions..." the elleth repeated the name. "Well they are feline aren't they? I heard some mortals calling them so"
"These people don't speak the Westron that we know, you surely misunderstood. Anyway, I'm supposed to be the guide here. Can you please stop being so mule-headed and let me do my job? We have a task to see through and no time to waste". Earcalie huffed and raised her hands in defeat, if only to make him stop the tirade. After a moment of silence she said out loud "I cannot believe the people here tame these lions"
"They've been sharing these lands for centuries. Unlike you, the Umbarrim know what hey are doing"
She made a face, changing the subject "What about you? Any luck?"
He tilted his head. "One of the farmers I talked to said sometimes there are elves that come from the east at the market... or so her grandfather told her. She hasn't personally seen them"
"So it is rumors again"
"Better than nothing. now if we travel further---" Earcalie gradually tuned out Ristor's voice, her thoughts drifting to the lions once more. What an awe inspiring sight they were. She saw sabreteeth. She saw drakes and gwibers. She saw bears as big as these giant felines and yet, none of them could compare to the male lion roaring on top of the rock. Maybe because it was all a novelty to her. She wondered what other strange and beautiful creature lived in these far away lands that they had yet to see, or never see. Giant dogs? What about dragons? She guarded herself from mentioning dragons in Ristor's presence, but surely somewhere.....?
She glanced at the high rocky outcrops. The roar of the lion still ringing in her ears. Maybe Ristor had a point about her throwing caution to the wind, but it was worth it and one thrilling story that she would tell her uncle back in Lindon!
translations:
*Aiya, essenya Earcalie ná: Hello, my name is Earcalie, Quenya
**Penig channas?: are you stupid?, Sindarin
