"The aim of the game is simple - probably a bit too simple for some of you that are getting older and wiser - but you guys will have two minutes to find a hiding spot and the adults will come and find you." Lena addressed the assembled youth with an easy smile and a raise of her eyebrows. Earlier that morning, the new Vermedan had sent out a series of chuffs to invite the cubs of the Brook to a little game and any adults wanting to play as well. It was something her father had done with his children when they were little and it was more about learning new skills than it was just about fun. The seeker could hone any scent-related skills - following certain trails to find those hidden - and those hiding had an opportunity to practise hiding their scent and camouflaging themselves.

"Try not to make it too easy on us - you can hide your scent and use mud to obscure yourselves. If anyone wants to do any of those things, now would be a good time." She instructed with an easy grin - no doubt there would be some creative ways the growing Vermedan cubs came up with to hide themselves. Lena had gathered them in a little glade that had access to the forest on one side and a wide open meadow on the other. There were plenty of places to hide, a muddy puddle not too far away to help with camouflaging and a few wild flowers that might help with scent obstruction. When all of the cubs were good and ready, Lena glanced at her co-conspirators and closed her eyes tight shut, beginning to count out loud so they would know that their timer had started.

@Rhaella @Juliette @Calder @Ariadne @Cassandra @Khal @Ori
ooc; I've tagged all the current cubs, but this is totally open for anyone who wants to join. Just post below with your characters attempt at hiding and roll a 2 sided dice in Discord. If they roll a 1, they are successful in hiding. If they roll a 2, they will be found by Lena (or another adult who would like to be a seeker!).

code to ivy

This had become one of his favorite games. Calder watched the group with wide eyes as the lioness explained their instructions, already knowing the game by heart and that it did not require him to have as many claws as everyone else. Sure, they would be helpful for climbing trees, but he thought himself more clever than this--especially as Lena explained that they could use camouflage to their advantage. Calder scampered off the moment it was allowed, an airy laugh whistling past his lips as he tried to find something that might do nicely to disguise him. He tromped through mud and rolled in leaves, shimmying behind an outcropping of rocks and settling in to try and hide.

(calder rolled a TWO and can be found)

@Rhaella @Juliette @Calder @Ariadne @Cassandra @Khal @Ori

Wait 'til i get over this phase

Is that i knock on an early grave?

code by corvus

Over the last couple months, time had gone by like an inchworm on a large branch. Vermeda a gentle place that allowed her to frequently explore to her heart's content as she found every nook and cranny there was to find. So when someone nearby called for the children of the Brook, Juliette studied the sound and the voice. Not recognizing it at first but it sounded somewhat familiar, as she had to trust in the call's from within the pride to know that it was someone good. Especially when a game was to be had.

So the striped royal came upon @Lena and subsequently her favorite brother @Calder, and listened to the instructions laid out before them Ju listened without distraction. Thinking immediately to what places would be the best places to hide in and not be found because she wanted to win. Though, as she gazed to her brother she also wanted him to win, too. She wanted all of them to win. So the girl ran off and quickly as she could to find some mud to roll around in, attempting to cover as much of herself as she could while not knowing when the adults would begin their search.

Eventually she found a dead tree that was very beige-colored, one that had lost a lot of its normal sheen and could easily house her sandy coat and the mud that adorned her. Slipping into its roots and closing her eyes almost entirely (for she could not camouflage those pearly blues and wished to see if there was someone approaching beforehand), she waited to see if she could get away with her clever spot.

(Ju rolled a one, but I am OK if she is found :P)

In Ari's humble opinion, hiding was not as fun as sparring and running and swimming. However, the seeking aspect? Oh, now that was fun. Alas, it would be the turn of the adults to hunt for the children. With a quiet huff, the albino would wait to be given the all-clear before bolting away to find herself a place to hide away. Her albinism made squirreling away a little more difficult than it would be for her siblings, but - never one to shy away from adversity - she would plow on all the same. This was the perfect opportunity to adopt a technique learned to cope during the hottest of summer days; packing mud onto her chest, legs and flanks in a bid to conceal herself better against her foliage-heavy backdrop. Hastily, she would locate an abandoned thicket and nestle herself within it, bidding herself to remain quiet and still while she waited to see whether or not she'd be found.

ROLL: Ariadne has rolled a 1, so will be successful at hiding!

any chance to spend some time indulging in a bout of friendly competition was well-received by rhaella, who beamed towards @Lena as she went on to explain the game to them. age was but a number after all, wasn't it? and so who was the say that the valour brood could not enjoy an afternoon of laughs and pleasantries, and partake in the simple, yet endearing, game of hide-and-seek!

the babe's eyes shifted curiously between her siblings as the older lioness concluded her quick summary of the rules, transitioning into counting not long after -- oh, that meant that rhaella should probably get to the hiding part of it all, shouldn't she? fumbling over clumsy paws and attempting to withhold the laugh bubbling in the back of her throat, the girl veered off in the direction of the nearest bush, galloping through a thick puddle of mud along the way. it coated up the sides of her plush coat, staining the ivory a dark and murky shade, which she hoped who help her blend into the shadows more easily. she did not waste much time working on her disguise, however, for she was quick to propel herself forward a few feet further, and beneath the cover of some tall grasses and wildflowers, hoping that their fragrant aroma may further hide her scent.

ooc: rhaella rolled a two and can be found

table by ferus

She counted slowly, but two minutes was a long time to wait when you felt the excitement building. Unable to keep the grin from her lips, she squeezed her eyes tight shut to stop her from peaking and dutifully counted until the timer was up. At first, she'd heard the scramble of paws as they had scattered, trying to disguise themselves and mask their scents as she had suggested. But as the timer ran out, it all grew quiet and Lena imagined them all hunkering down, trying to be sneaky and remain hidden. "Ready or not, here I come!" Lena hollered, before her eyes sprang open and she glanced around the area first. When she'd been young, she'd once tried to throw her father off the scent by hiding almost in plain sight, right near the counting place. It hadn't worked, but it had thrown her father for a moment to find Lena hiding so near.

Lena began her search, using her nose and her eyes to search. There were quite obvious signs of disturb mud where some of the cubs had rolled to dampen their colours a bit. She had her first stroke of luck when she rounded an outcrop of rocks and spotted @Calder, covered in mud and leaves, hunkered down. She pounced, a bright laugh erupting from her lips as she caught him. "Found you!" She crowed, swiping a bit of mud from Calder's forehead where it threatened to drop off. She wasn't done - she turned and continued her search. It wasn't long at all before she managed to locate @Rhaella - the tall grass and flowers were a great place to hide, especially for hunting purposes - but Lena caught sight of the girls pink eyes and similarly pounced. "Gotcha!" The young girl giggled, before turning her attention to those she was yet to find.

@Ariadne @Juliette

code to ivy

(Once again rolling a one) Juliette was hidden away, delicately placed as she tried her very best to control her breathing. To keep herself as quiet as possible and most inconspicuous. Ju was surprisingly good at concealing herself and maintaining optimal silence, she waited and waited -- hearing what sounded like two of her siblings being caught which meant that she was competing with one of them. She couldn't begin to guess who but she suspected it was one of her sisters but then, maybe it was Calder? He could be pretty quiet when he wanted to be. Nevertheless, she sat still -- closed eyes as she slowed her breathing down as best she could while waiting for the other sibling to get caught or for @Lena to actually find her.

table by ferus, art by dusk

The thrill of the hunt was upon the Nursemaid, whose soft blue eyes were lit with a hidden light as she stalked through the area. She had given them good instructions it seemed as the two remaining Valour girls remained hidden to her. She especially marvelled at @Ariadne, whose starkly white fur should have stuck out like a flamingo on the plains. Never the less, she narrowed down her search and began to try and scent specifically for @Juliette, hoping to track them down one at a time. It was not as easy as she had hoped - she caught a muddled scent every now and then, but could see and hear nothing of the girl "Julietteeee -" Lena sing-songed quietly, creeping forward and hoping to spook the girl from her hiding place if she happened to be close by.

code to ivy

(She rolled a ONE again! XD) Juliette was convinced that she was the best hider in all the world. Even though she was so great, she couldn't deny how badly she wanted to laugh and toot her own horn. To announce her presence completely to @Lena but she was more so focused on winning this game entirely. She wanted to be the crowned victor but she knew that her other sister was somewhere, right? Maybe she had a good hiding place too or had simply wandered off and gotten distracted. Juliette hoped it was distraction, since that it made a lot easier to be the winner. All the while she pulled her front leg up to her nose and covered it, as though it would eliminate any sounds of her breathing or muffle her laugh if it happened to escape.

table by ferus, art by dusk

For several heartbeats, Lena really thought that @Juliette would crack and jump out to announce her presence. Its what she would have done, what she had done on several occasions when she had played similar games with her own family. But the striped girl managed to remain silent and Lena felt a heart-stopping doubt that perhaps she had lost Nymeria's cubs in her attempt at play. Taking a deep breath, she decided that the crown of victory most definitely resided on Juliette's head and she stopped searching. "Congratulations Juliette, you have evaded detection and are the winner!" She announced loudly, mirth in her tone as she waited for the striped royal to pop up from her ingenious hiding place.

code to ivy