There was no perfect parenting. One could argue that too much freedom or not enough of it would drive a cub to stray from the den, eager to get their fill of the world and test their budding strength against reality. There was no telling exactly what gave Hrefna the idea that slipping out of the protection of the hollows would be an action without consequences, her head held high as she surveyed the barren land before her and wondered just what awaited beyond the horizon. She had slipped from the territory seemingly unnoticed and wandered until she could no longer see the hollows behind her, the figure replaced with the billows of smoke rising from the earth around her.
Hrefna swept her ears against her skull as she trotted forward. The vast horizon had been clouded over by the shadow of the smoke and steam and skewed her vision considerably, forcing the cub to rely on her hearing to try and detect if any danger was approaching.

code by javs | art by irish

he's taken to wandering, not yet feeling comfortable enough to settle down at a pride. he's been thankful, thus far, for the information given him, but the idea of having anyone rely on him again for anything, even something so simple as showing up leaves a poor taste on his tongue. he's been spectator to the bloodsport, to the vengeance of hate a king can command, and it's left him wary. so his weary paws continue to drag him across amaryllis, exploring the places where the pride stench is thin enough that he's ( more or less ) sure it belongs to no one.

this place was decidedly dreary and it fits his somber mood. reflecting briefly on the drama of it all, dorian meanders through the fog, occasionally trying to catch scent of something on the wind and cursing himself in his mind when he recalls how poor his sense of smell really is. just like the child, he's forced to rely on sound - but little paw steps don't make much sound on the hardened ground and he's nearly upon her before she becomes apparent.

she startles him perhaps more than he does to her, fur standing on edge and his entire body jerking an inch of the ground as an "OHHOLYSHIT" bursts from his lips. heart hammering, he squints through the fog, eyes narrowing on the young princess with a sheepish expression. "you, uh. you frightened me." uncertainly, the boy flicks his gaze up past her, searching through the smoke, expecting to see an enraged mother or protective father barreling at him at any moment. he's more comfortable with the child than he's been with the others he's met, even so, and leans down slightly to peer at her from behind the curtain of his mane. "whatcha doing out here, alone, kiddo?" he chirps, a brow quirking. she seems rather young to be on her own, and appears well taken of - he can't imagine she's an orphan.

@Hrefna