it's just the way you are

when you're overgrown

From his hiding spot in the dense foliage, Hemlock eyes the new arrivals wearily. His sister has already introduced herself with a smile, seemingly assured and confident in a way Hemlock is not. He wishes her brightness was contagious, that he could borrow some of her eager charm to introduce himself as well. The shyness he faces in the crowd of strangers is new to him, unsettling, and he's not sure how to proceed from here. His first instinct is to hide under his father, where he could hopefully keep an eye on everyone else while not drawing any attention to himself; however, Kiton offers to show the adults around their pride, and Hemlock has a feeling his father doesn't want him tagging along.

Reluctantly, he makes the other choice he has other than hiding away, which is to carefully move up behind Kallan. The familiarity of his sister would hopefully be enough of a buffer for him to break out of his shell. "Hello," he mumbled to the group, not wanting to be rude.

code by corvus

Being surrounded by her cousins as well as her littermates and parents, Juliette was feeling a lot better about where they were location-wise. While it wasn't like the Brook in any way -- it was very messy, which she did NOT like one bit -- she was pleased to see others show up. A large dad showed up and expressed that only the bravest souls were invited here which was confusing, at first, before she realized what that meant. That she was a brave soul! Bright icy eyes turned to her father expectantly before also looking to @Nymeria who was a little farther away. Eyes cautiously found @Rhaella in the hopes of gauging how her sister felt before noticing @Calder sidling in. Brother went straight for mother's legs, which left her to stand bravely at her father's side.

With a deep breath, she let her gaze wander over each individual before she spied @Hemlock who was the closest to her and Gareth. With a brush to his leg very quickly, she began to make a beeline towards the Mire boy. Heart hammering away in her chest as she raised her chin and hoped for the best, only to stumble on her feet on the way over but catching herself just a foot shy of where he stood. H-hi, she offered with a swallow and a brush of her shoulder, I'm Juliette. Or Ju. Or Juju. Whichever. Smooth. Juliette was infinitely nervous and didn't know what she was supposed to say or do. Or how she was supposed to interact with others when she didn't know what they had in common.

There was another nearby that looks vastly like the new-dad, to which they readily offered their name and Juliette felt the need to bridge the conversation between Hemlock and newly appointed @Kallan. Though, didn't know how best to do that -- she hated excluding others but hadn't quite mastered the art of knowing how to multitask. Perhaps one of her sisters or brother could make sure that Kallan wasn't left alone?! If not, Ju would make sure that no one was left alone. Everyone would have a friend, she would make it so.

table by ferus, art by dusk

unsurprisingly, they were not left waiting for long upon the borders of the mire -- @Kiton arrived promptly, offering a warm greeting to both herself and @Talisa ♔. "kiton, thank you so much for having us. how have you been?" the druid replied brightly, a wide smile slipping along the edges of her complexion as she twisted her attention towards @Gareth with a tender and loving gaze. he was quick to introduce their children and himself to the hodari king, and nymeria was thankful, finally, that the two men could put names to each other's face. given that they would all be spending much more time together, bonding between the adults was just as important, in nymeria's eyes, as it was for the children.

speaking of which, @Calder was soon between his mother's legs, seemingly caught somewhere between curiosity and hesitance as he stared out into the sea of strangers before them. the queen was quick to bend down and press her nose gingerly against the top of her son's skull, hoping that the simple touch would reassure him that he was safe to wander beyond her shadow. "don't be shy, my loves. go say hello, we'll be right here." she cooed towards both him and @Rhaella, pride swelling in her chest as she watched @Juliette take it upon herself to make the first steps towards friendship. so young, and yet so brave! another look would be casted towards her husband then, wondering if he, too, felt the same nerves that were rattling within her chest.

there were so many things to be excited about, and rhaella could sense that this was going to be an amazing day, for reasons that she did not even understand yet. but it was soon that a large, mauve figure appeared from the darkness of the mire, which prompted the princess' lips to part into a small look of surprise. just like when the obsidian lions had made their visit to vermeda, she found herself enveloped in a similar sense of wonder and curiosity -- feelings that only intensified once other children began to appear from the woodworks. "nice to meet you, mr.kiton -- i'm rhaella!" she chirped, feeling emboldened by the presence and the coaxing words of her parents behind her, before her eyes flashed towards the group of more reasonably-sized playmates.

@Juliette was already making her advancements towards @Hemlock, but rhaella would have had to have been blind and deaf to miss the equally enthralling form of @Kallan, just a little ways away. pushing forward upon bold, eager steps, the valour would look to close the distance between herself and the hodari girl, smiling as she did. "hi," she greeted kindly, before the invitation to engage in some well-fashioned competition was proposition out across the air. "oh, me! @Khal, @Calder, @Cassandra, come play!" comes another enthusiastic reply, glancing over her shoulder and gesturing towards her family with a small, ivory paw. surely, the game would be more fun if they all played hide-and-seek together!

table by ferus

Let me swallow the sun

ride until my time is done

There was a myriad of lions, both adults and cubs gathered, and the small youth came onto the scene with wide, interested eyes. He looked around, a bit bewildered and unsure what to think, though the extrovert within had no trouble making himself comfortable. Kiton had mentioned there might be visitors, and so there were.

Aphelion looked around, unsure what to do first. He spotted @Talisa ♔, who he had not met before, and marched right up to her. For only a year old, the youth bore a charisma and well-spokenness that allowed him to converse easily with adults, and he could never understand the shyness of other cubs around adults. "Hi, I'm Aphelion." the stout boy said, the faint crackle of growing pains in his voice. "I'm Kiton's son." he added, unable to hide the pride from his voice. Though adopted, he couldn't be prouder to announce his father to the world.

code by corvus

For once, it was nice to be out of Vermeda and socializing with new individuals even if they were mostly children. That seemed to be Talisa's favorite company sometimes so it was easy to simply blend right into the crowd. Wandering around from time to time to catch all the small interactions between the children. Until eventually, she found @Aphelion. Or he found her. Hello Aphelion, she greeted to the handsome soon-to-be yearling and while he did not look anything like @Kiton and was properly assumed as one of the elder children that he had adopted, Talisa saw nothing but friend in his face. Family, she might even say. For blood had never been the only factor in family for the Valour's. You have quite the family. Your father is one of the good ones. As Kiton was what bonded them all here today but perhaps they might leave with something a little more than that if they were lucky. Perhaps a bond that might follow them home and continue in the future. I'm Talisa, the Heiress of Vermeda Brook, sister to Nymeria. She pointed her paw towards her wheat sister, and a close friend of your father's. For just as the boy held pride in his father, Talisa had pride in who she called her friend.

manip & table code by k'sariya

Cassandra Valour

She didn't truly understand why they were here at this stinky place. The Brook was much brighter and prettier - in her young eyes at least. Glancing over to her cousin @Juliette, Cassandra noticed she was cleaning the muck off of her own paws. It made Cassandra glance down at her own paws. Was it worth it to be perfectly clean here when there appeared to be so much mud around? Mentally shrugging, Cassandra lifting one of her own paws to start cleaning her paws as well. As she was cleaning her paws, her Auntie @Nymeria arrived as well with one of her other cousins (@Rhaella) following along behind as well. The young Valour had no idea what was in store for today, or why they had trekked all this way only to stop at the edge of some muddy area.

However, that reasoning would soon be made clear when a large male would appear from the depths. Cassandra would instinctively shrink back towards @Talisa ♔ for a few moments, unsure of who this stranger was. He would shortly introduce himself as Kiton Hodari, and that the place was known as Ecrosia Mire. ""What's a Mire?"" Cassandra asked, tilting her head as she spoke. Bi-colored purple eyes looked to her brother as he introduced himself, figuring she ought to do the same. She started to open her mouth to introduce herself, but then @Gareth would start speaking and the Valour girl would close her mouth again - resigning herself to having to wait for the adults to finish talking before speaking. There were a few other cubs here now - one who seemed about the same age as her cousins, and who didn't seem to understand the whole concept of 'hide and seek', since she just said 'hide' when asking if they wanted to play. Another one showed up, half hiding behind the first one. They seemed much more shy than the other cub, that was for sure.

And then her cousin Rhaella would spook Cassandra with a sudden invitation to come play. ""I... I'm good for now.."" She said, ears pushing back slightly as she spoke. She didn't really want to play hide and seek, if she was being honest. It wasn't her favorite game to play, not even back at the Brook. As another lion stepped forward, Cassandra's attention turned to him. He looked more along the age of her and her brothers. @Aphelion marched right up to her Mama, and since Cassandra was still seated next to Talisa, he caught her attention. He wasn't shy like the other cubs who had appeared, and seemed pretty well spoken for someone not that much older than her. Her courage rising with every passing second, Cassandra stood up and took a step forward. ""H-Hi.. Aphelion. I'm Cassandra Valour. She's one of my Mamas."" She said, having finally worked up the courage and the moment to introduce herself after her Mama had introduced herself with all the official stuff that she felt obligated to say. While talking about Talisa being one of her Mamas, Cassanda would lift a paw and point at Talisa herself. ""I don't really wanna play hide and seek... What else do you guys do here for fun besides that?"" She asked, tilting her head. Her initial shyness had worn off, and now that she had someone more her age to interact with - Cassandra was ready to do something.

text. "She speaks." 'She thinks.'

Art & Table code by Zodiac

With gentle nudges of encouragement from his parents and a coaxing summons from Rhaella, Calder toddled forward and attempted to approach the small gathering of cubs closer to his age. He smiled at them shyly and stood in silence, not sure what he should say while his presence implied his agreement to play the game.
"Who will seek?" He whispered sheepishly, trying to avoid the gazes of the cubs he did not know and instead look upon Rhaella to make the decision for them. He wondered if it might be easier to play if he just imagined that there were no strangers there, and it was a familiar game like they played at the brook all the time.

@Rhaella @littles

Wait 'til i get over this phase

Is that i knock on an early grave?

code by corvus

He wishes he could be like his big brother - Aphelion is already introducing himself, acting like a grown up and a prince ought to act. And here is Taj, hiding behind one of Kiton’s back legs. Big eyes watch everything going on, the adults and cubs, all strangers, and he isn’t afraid of them. Not at all. He just doesn’t want to speak up. Well, he does. He wants to play as well. But he doesn’t want to talk. It’s hard to understand, even for the little prince. Kallan is out there, of course, and Hemlock isn’t super far behind. Slowly, Taj creeps out to join them, pushing out from under his father’s thick mane.

“I c-c-c-can,” he stage-whispers, forcing the words out from behind his teeth. They always got stuck there. He looks from his siblings to the boy that’d asked, to the other cubs scampering around. “I’m the b-best s-s-seeker.” It’s a boast that doesn’t come from nothing - he likes sneaking up and pouncing on his hiding siblings. And he doesn’t have to talk - so maybe it’d be better?

I can feel it on my tongue

Brick and mortar as thick as scripture Drawing lines in the sand and laying borders as tall as towers I babble on until my voice is gone 'Cause like constellations a million years away Every good intention, every good intention Is interpolation, a line we drew in the array Looking for the faces

Looking for the shapes in the silence

code by corvus

kiton hodari.

Nothing could wipe the warm grin from his expression as Kiton watched the young ones begin to branch out and introduce themselves, seeming to try and coordinate a couple of games between the large group. Though he watched after them, his attention focused on the adults present and he widened his eyes slightly at the realization that he had never bothered to ask Nymeria about the father of her cubs.
"Sir Gareth--it is such a pleasure to finally meet Queen Nymeria's husband," he echoed the kindness, grinning and nodding to the intricately marked lion. With Nymeria at the helm, it had not occurred to him that there might be a man behind the scenes. It was just another way in which the Valour lived a life so unique from theirs. Settling into a comfortable seat as he watched the cubs scramble around, he began to speak in more hushed tones not meant for the nosy children.
"There--the reddish one offering to speak--is the first-born of our litter. He is shy so far, but perfectly well mannered," Kiton explained in a stage whisper to the other parents. Their previous discussion had been regarding him and Nymeria's oldest, but he had only been a few days old back then. He was finally beginning to turn into himself. "I think he could benefit from her confidence."

@Talisa ♔ @Nymeria @Gareth