Lions - #AtoZChallenge

Sala and Bet prowled around in their den. They were ravenous. The humans who had enclosed the pride in their cave usually fed them more often than this. The pride was in disarray. Shatu, their alpha, lay listless on a rock. Two of their sisters were in opposing corners, licking their wounds after a petty fight earlier. The lionesses were being prevented from hunting and tensions were running high.

This couldn't go on much longer. Sala looked at their leader, laying there disheartened. She knew Shatu wanted to rip some poor sop limb from limb and disperse the carcass to his pride as he saw fit. That was his right. But no carcass was coming.

Bet passed her as they paced, and they exchanged a look. How much longer? Everyone's ribs were showing. It was disgraceful.

Then a creak and the rusty grate that hung above the lions opened. There was a blast of glowing light as some being covered with eyes and wings escorted a lean young man into the lions' den. The eyes of every lion turned up to the blinding brightness, stunned. A stone was rolled over the grate, but the glare of the brightness continued unabated.

As the young man arrived on the floor of the den, he looked around, startled alarm fading from his eyes. He turned a kind smile on each lioness in turn, then looked to Shatu, who looked at the winged being before nodding at the man. The eye and wing covered being had the big cats transfixed for a moment, but only a moment. That was all it took before they understood.

Bet moved toward the man, watching his face as she approached. His hand hung at his side. She nudged it with her nose and swished her head in a way to force a gentle stroke from his fingers. 

Daniel looked down at the lioness by his side and gave an attentive caress to her ears and neck. She started to purr. Sala strolled over and he reached another hand to her, squatting down now to keep one hand on the neck of Bet's form, reclining on the ground at his feet. "Aren't you a beauty?" he cooed at the lionesses. Their sisters emerged, one by one, from their separate places, and he reached to give each of them a pet. 

Sala, still standing near him, licked his neck as he petted her sisters. Soon he was singing soft tunes and relaxed in a circle of powerful, furry, felines. He slept that night, warm and safe among their bodies, his snores blending with the purrs surrounding him.

In the morning, at first light, the stone was hauled noisily away from the grate and pink light filtered in. "Daniel? Daniel? Are you okay?" The King's voice called out. 

Daniel groaned and stretched luxuriously, draping an arm over one big cat before answering. "I'm fine. Is it morning?" He crawled up to the opening, the lions mewing behind him.

Not long after he left, a series of ornately robed officials were lowered into the den of lions. Sala, Bet, and the rest of the pride leapt into action, making swift work of their long awaited meal.

Reference: The story of Daniel in the Lions' Den is told in the book of  Daniel, chapter 6. This part, from when he was thrown into the den until his release, is in verses 16-24. To be honest, writing yesterday's story from the perspective of the bears made me think to tell this from the POV of the lions. What other Bible stories, or other perspectives would you be interested in?