Chapter Text
The Colorado Rockies was not their native homes, but it was where Prideland Sanctuary was located and so it became home. It was the safe haven for over fifty wild cats, most of them of the large variety. However it was also a sanctuary to a completely different kind of cat.
A sand cat and a bobcat would not typically be friends in the wild. Then again, they were barely friends here. The smaller sand cat glared over at the bobcat that just ran into him in an attempt to play. Making an annoyed sound, he padded off towards the small farmhouse that was for the employees of the sanctuary, the bobcat hot on his heels and making pleading noises that only served to annoy the sand cat more.
The side door to the farmhouse had a dog door made for some of those giant breeds, but an observant visitor to the sanctuary would note that there were no dogs to speak of on the property- save for the one crazy coyote but they tried not to talk about him. The sand cat slipped through the door, followed by the bumbling bobcat. Both felines then shifted into two very different looking humans.
“I kindda wanted to be alone Ray,” Brad snarked, rolling his shoulder from where Ray had ran into him.
“But you love me,” the bobcat retorted. Brad only scoffed.
They walked over to the bank of lockers that contained their spare clothing- walking around naked wouldn’t bother them but the visitors that would be arriving in a couple hours might have different opinions.
Patterson emerged from the front office. “Ah, there you are Brad.” It may have been Nate that owned the sanctuary but it was Patterson who ran the day to day. And as Nate’s mate, well, Patterson relied a lot on Brad.
For a human, Patterson sure understood shifters well. Though that probably had a lot to do with being mated to one himself. Barrett had taught him a lot about shifters but Bryan was already well versed in cat behavior long before then. It was what brought him to the sanctuary in the first place.
Not that Patterson was the only human on staff. They had a good mix of humans and shifters, though all of the former knew about the latter. Some of them came from shifter families, others had met shifters over time. Then there were people like Bryan who they had trusted with their secret.
“Need somethin’ Commander?” Brad inquired. His former Recon Marine days were showing. Everyone at the sanctuary was used to it by then- some of them had even been to war with Brad and had followed him home. The damn bobcat was the perfect example.
“We got the permit.” Patterson smirked. “Lucy is officially coming to Prideland.”
Brad didn’t bother hiding his surprise. Lucy was an African lion that had been through the ringer. Her pride had been attacked by poachers, her cub killed, and one of a few adults who had been captured to be used in canned hunting. The lioness had been saved by an African anti-poaching organization and placed into a preserve. However when threats from the poachers became attacks against the preserve and its people, the outcry from the world was incredible.
Public pressure had pushed the Kenyan government to agree to relocate Lucy out of the country. Several big cat sanctuaries had put a bid in, including Prideland, but none of them had really thought they had a shot to have the lioness come to them.
“Does Nate know?”
Patterson shook his head, smiling a little. He knew Brad would want to tell him the good news himself. “I imagine he’s going to be shocked. Which brings me to your assignment. I need you to get the enclosure ready.”
While a lot of the cats roamed the acres and acres of open land, there were others kept in the main compound. Some of them were the tamer or older cats there to help educate the public. Others were smaller breeds that needed to be kept away from the general population for their safety, and a couple that just didn’t play well with others no matter what they did. In Lucy’s case, since she was new she would need to be isolated in case of disease but also to help her adjust to her new home. Hopefully their small pride would accept her when the time was right.
“No problem. I’ll get Poke to help me.”
“When’s she comin’?” Ray asked, slipping his shirt on.
“Details haven’t been worked out yet but, maybe a week?”
It was exciting news for the sanctuary. They were about to get very busy.