The Forest Aches

As our company walked, we found a grotto south of the unexplored region of the continent. The men and I walked for hours through thick green waters and suffocating humid heat before coming across the strangest sight. In the center of the clearing lay a lion cub, maybe 4 or 5 months old, it was just a baby. As I saw the beast I took it as a sign from God, it was majestic. Its golden fur was perfectly maintained, a shining sleek and shimmering golden coat that seemed to dance like wildfire in the light. Surround the cub's home was a sense of calm, the bugs were quieter and the biting stopped, the humidity was surprisingly tolerable for the first time since setting foot in the marsh. We sat down to rest almost immediately, and as I took a sigh of relief at our chance for rest, the cub opened its eyes. They shone the most brilliant shade of gold I have ever seen. They possessed a sense of road worn wisdom about them, but all at once appeared so youthful, so full of passion and excitement. Him and I locked eyes and it began walking over to me. I felt no fear as the cub grew closer to me, he walked so calmly, so precisely, so elegantly to me. I was awestruck by his lack of fear. He approached close enough to touch and I slowly extended my hand for him to sniff, the cub walked right past it and pressed itself against me, he was so warm, his breathing so calm. I pulled my hand back and began gently petting the creature, I could see its eyes close as it relaxed further in my lap. I reached my hand to the cub's neck and carefully snapped it . He would look so beautiful mounted above the commander's wall with our other trophies.