Safia was.. bored. It took every ounce of her mother's willpower to entertain her throughout the day, but now mama was sleeping and had already nipped her behind once for interrupting. She didn't understand why her mum was so lame all the time, as if her world didn't revolve solely around Saf and her brothers. It was rude, really, and the tiny grump was busy pouting away about the injustice of it all outside of the den. She wandered this way and that way, sniffing idly at dandelions and sneezing as the seeds tickled her nose. It didn't provide ample entertainment, however, and she dramatically flopped onto her belly with a groan.

As per usual, the young girl was nearby when she heard a dramatic flop and groan of a small body. Lena was usually somewhere close by when it came to cubs - they always needed watching, or entertaining or herding back towards their own den when the day was through. With a mischievous smile, Lena crept forward all sneaky and when she was only a few metres away from the young girl, she blew a big wet raspberry sound that ended in a giggle. Part of the reason Lena enjoyed the cubs was because it meant she could continue to be childish. "Hello little miss!" The Nursemaid crowed, a wide grin on her lips as she looked down at @Safia.

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Something seeded in Scipio's blood from before his creation stirred. Protect. It didn't matter just how tiny that he was or that he might be headed forelong into danger himself. He heard his sister wander off, sight of his speckled sibling lost amongst the grasses and scenary beyond the den, and then from the direction she traveled a voice. Friendly by all stretches of the imagination but still managing to wind up the pale brother. Scipio proceeded to 'charge' in @Safia's direction snarling and kitten hissing the entire way until his pale face too appeared from some grasses and greens and bore upwards fearless to the very sweet grown lioness @Lena.

It was the strange "plftftftftt" noise that stole her attention from moping. Safia had never heard anything quite like it, especially coming from a lion! Her eyes hardened into deep thought as she studied the lady approaching. It was the stare of someone trying to figure out an impossible math equation without knowing the basics and Safia knew deciphering the mystery sound was life or death. Alas, no matter how long she squinted, the secrets did not reveal themselves. Safia had almost given up and resorted to simply saying hello when her brother came charging in, heroically defending the girl. Oh. If he was upset, should she be upset? Was this lady BAD?! Safia gasped and scrambled to hide behind him as much as possible, ducking down into the grass. "Scippy says YOU BAD!" she snorted, sticking her tongue out at the poor lioness. "Bad go 'way! No bad here!"

As expected, the young girl did not quite know how to take a wet raspberry and it was almost comical to see @Safia try to work out what to do. And then a white streak of hissing cub came to the rescue and Lena grinned easily. The young girls words made Lena giggle gently and she lay down on the ground, rolling onto her belly and batting her paws in the air. "I'm not bad, I'm Lena." She introduced looking at the cubs upside down with a silly grin on her lips. They might not know who she was yet, but soon enough they would learn that the Nursemaid was always around, usually delivering food and always up for playing.

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Upside down @Lena was a mystery to Scipio. This big stranger rolled right over onto her back and as she did some of the bravado and hot air left little Scipio. His breath was a slow exhale, warm breath rolled along the edges of his muzzle, and he stepped forwards so that he was closer. Still very much between Lena and his sister, with a wide stance as if ready to go after the big lioness if she so much as looked at @Safia wrongly. As if the fluffy cloud could stand a chance... Hubris and pride ran in his veins. The odds didn't matter when it came to his sister and her safety. What you want? He challenged Lena's intentions while looking back over his shoulder to Safia, tilting his head and indicating it was okay if she wanted to come back a bit closer.

"Whassa @Lena?" she asked, her brows furrowed so deeply that it began to give her a headache. The toddler squirmed up beside @Scipio and ducked her head around his side, quite happy to let her brother be the big man on campus. Safia was a queen, thank you, and she needed subjects to protect her. It was convenient that she had been born with two built-in guards, wasn't it?

Safia sniffed the air and sneezed, shaking her head. "Stinky." Was Lena actually stinky? No, but her vocabulary was limited and that was about all she could think to say at the moment. Her brother seemed to have things covered, so she remained behind him like a ghost, her pale eyes staring blankly at the older lioness.

"Just to play." She crooned gently at @Scipio as he demanded what she wanted. Upside down, she grinned and batted softly at the air, a grin upon her lips. It was only natural that they would be wary, but as the Nursemaid it was her job to get to know the cubs and entertain them. @Safia similarly asked what a Lena was and the lioness in question chuckled. "I'm Lena." She emphasised, before flopping over onto her side. "What are your names?" She asked, unphased by the cubs wariness and plowing on nonetheless.

code to ivy

Scipio. Brother was still understandably cautious. But he was beginning to engage more with @Lena. He could do so while still feeling like he was protecting his sister so was okay with getting a little closer, investigating Lena's upside down expression by lowering his own pale face to stare into her eyes. Scipio's look was intense with a gaze that was entirely judging the Nursemaid without knowing just want he was looking for in her eyes. He didn't know quite how to best spot danger or what might be a bad or a good sign. He just looked. And then glanced over to @Safia. Was she okay with this?