Dawn arrives slowly; indigo saturates the sky, and the low clouds of the night are stained pink as the first light of day reaches upwards. The shadowcat watches the ceremony obediently, her trained eyes glistening with anticipation for the halo of gold that will soon spread from the horizon to mark the day as begun. It is the first dawn after the new moon, and her superstitious soul was deliberate in timing her arrival to this very moment; new beginnings were important to get right, and the witch did not care to take chances in this continent reigned by lions.

A facet of hypocrisy keeps the tree-dweller seated on mountain stone rather than draped across one of the many branches of this continent. A tiny bundled shadow, with neatly tucked paws and a thick tail snug around her waist, her sable palette does much to hide the tension lurking beneath her spotted hide. Protection spells had been cast prior to her arrival, but the aspiring healer found herself praying that this new beginning would be met auspiciously and that her time amongst lions would not prove a mistake.

So now she would wait, and watch, and see what her future has in store.

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Naz was not a creature of mornings, but one liable to stay up through the night on a whim. In the name of exploration, tracking down paths not yet explored through the night. It made for a chilly few hours on the mountain as they wandered. And although perhaps not a fact they'd admit it was due to in part becoming lost up there. The paths were surprisingly many, and some that seemed to go down turned and cut upwards just as quickly once your rounded the bend. One miserable night was plenty and Naz wanted down.

At least the sun was showing signs of rising- they sighed with relief as the hints of rose appeared in the sky. It gave them energy to push forwards, to continue down the latest path they'd chosen. Whether or not it yielded freedom from down the stony mountain was yet to be determined howevers as a shape of shade appeared ahead of her. Hello? Nazonal called out, air of tired and weary in their voice.

@Sparrow

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Rounded ears twitched and tension swept up into her shoulders and neck as movement was detected at her back, but the leopardess remained in studious attendance of the dawn until a greeting – or was it a question? – confirmed the unexpected manifestation of another. The small cat twisted around, the dark lines of her sable expression tight with surprise, and glistening eyes settled quickly on the larger feline. The sun was still rising, and the light was still weak, but Sparrow was a creature of the night and forest and making out details in poorly illuminated circumstances came naturally to her.

There was a moment of silence as her mind spun with thoughts and her chest trembled imperceptibly with emotion, but the other did not seem aggressive. In fact, they seemed tired, and with this observation she felt the adrenaline of her surprise fade. Hello. She echoed the greeting, her expression relaxing a bit as curiosity soothed her ruffled fur. If she were a more prudent leopardess, she may have made for the nearest tree or clambered up the mountainside. But the fates had placed the leopardess on this path for a reason, and surely it was not to die. Perhaps their intersection might prove the auspicious beginning she prayed for. Were you here to watch the sun rise too? I hope I am not blocking your view. A flighty smile accompanied the faint amusement in her tone; it was laughable to assume her diminutive stature would present any obstacle to this stranger, but she hoped her effort at congeniality might endear them to her and deter any thoughts of likening her to a meal or a threat.

She did possess, after all, a scientific heart that did not care to test her previous assumption about the fates.

@Nazonal

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The view? Again that dreamy, tired voice sounded out from their lips while Naz's earthen gaze looked past the inky shadow to the sky behind. As the sun continued to rise the details on Sparrow became more and more obscured by the halo of light beyond. The leopardess was quickly becoming just a void in space casting a long reaching shadow towards Naz. Oh, oh yeah sunrise. Something seemed to click into place, lost in their own thoughts and drunken sleeplessness it had been easy to forget watching the sunrise was something one night do. Especially along the mountain side it seemed marvelous.

They shook their head gently back and forth. No actually, I'm a bit turned around. I can't find the path that will take me all the way down. She did not outright ask for help but Naz's eyes widened a tic. Their ears perked upwards, peeling forwards towards Sparrow. Undeniable hopefulness buried within her expressions and ringing on the echoes of their voice. Maybe this speckled leopardess knew the way?

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The dreamy voice, inflected with weariness, puzzled the leopardess—in her earlier surprise, she had not fully acknowledged the larger feline’s discomfort, although she had recognized it. The first sunrise after a new moon is always favorable for new beginnings, She explained matter-of-factly; there was more to it of course, but other probably would not appreciate a lesson on her family’s superstitions at the moment. Sparrow could recognize that, at least.

Her unblinking gaze widened notably when the other spoke of having lost the path and a keenness thrummed in her veins, a feeling of purpose emboldening her. I know where it is, She chirped as she unraveled from her twisted posture and stood to face the earthen cat. Her smile widened perceptibly, white teeth bright against her dark complexion, and her eyes glittered with a warm eagerness. I can show you the way, if you’d like? Reluctance born from unfamiliarity with lions held the leopardess stationary for the moment, awaiting approval to bound off into the pale morning light.

@Nazonal
+5 Listen to a living character’s problem and try to help them

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The supersition was not one Nazonal was exactly familiar with. But that auspicious feeling of cosmic significance? Surprisingly that Nazonal understood. They'd spent the last month or so watching the fires in the forest, watching things grow in the wake of ash and smoke. It felt important, like some grander plan was in motion and being inacted. For her it had been the flames, for @Sparrow it was the timing of a sunrise. Nazonal's eyes looks past the dark form and into the horizon. She squinted in the wake of the rays, not fully bright yet but enough to cause an iota of discomfort until they narrowed their gaze. What do you know about fires? Are they significant? Something about Sparrow seemed intellgent and knowledgable. It made Naz want to seek out comfirmation of what she felt inherently.

For but a moment they forgot their plight, and it wasn't until Sparrow offered her help that Nazonal recollected the aching in her body. The weight of her eyelids. Oh yeah. They nodded their head, own naturally toothy grin born back Sparrow's way with lower teeth jutting up over the uppers. I'd like that. Better than wandering around and getting lost again. I'm Nazonal, thank you.

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This weary earthen stranger proved more intrigued in her superstitions than Sparrow had expected; and her subsequent surprise was warm, and pleasant. She was not the expert her father may have wanted, but she would do her best to answer the other cat. Sure, they can be… I know fires are used if you want to banish something, or for cleansing even… actually I think that’s the big one... Faceted eyes rolled up towards the whitening lavender sky as she attempted to recall the details of the tutelage her father attempted to instill throughout her young life, the momentary kinship she felt with her family inspiring a flood of words she had not exactly intended to speak. Truth is, I’ve always found it a difficult element to manifest. And when it pops up naturally, you know, like after a lightning strike or in brush fires or such, it’s such a terrible force - necessary of course, but individually I had never been able to master it… so…ah She fell silent as her gaze returned to the other, a sudden sheepishness finally calming her babbling tongue.

Sorry, ahm, you can call me Sparrow, and I am happy to help, Nazonal. This way! She chirped, some of her confidence restored in the purpose she had recalled moments ago, though her gaze remained flighty in her shyness and slid off the earthen cat to consider their mountainous surroundings as she starts forward, her steps light and carrying the small shadow at a trot past the larger feline, heading in a south-western direction. There wasn’t much of a path at first—large boulders and narrow ledges awaited them—but Sparrow hoped it wouldn’t prove too inconvenient for her weary travel companion. Glancing over her shoulder, her gaze would seek the other. Have you come across many fires recently, Nazonal? The leopardess was curious of what sparked the question in the first place but hoped her interest would not come across as nosy.

@Nazonal

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Her lips loosely parted and quietly she repeated one of @Sparrow's words. Cleansing. Nazonal had been viewing fire as means to move ahead, rebirth, but given this new word they found it fit just as well with the feeling the flames and embers left in her own soul. Out with the old, you could not rebuild without the tearing down of the old. This coin she found and mentally tossed had a second side that had not been fully examined.

So lost in that thought, navigating their own mind, were they that they didn't jump right to following in the shadow cat's strides. It took a second of realization, that Sparrow was moving and leading the way. Her voice calling. Nazonal blinked a few tired feelings away and turned, rapidly moving to fall into step. Full faith in Sparrow to lead her to safety down the mountain. In the jungle where I live yeah. They began to explain brown eyes absently glancing in the cardinal direction of her home although from this position it was not truly visible. There's a section that seems to have them frequently. And a few months ago a lot more of the Jungle was burning. It was not, judging by the tone of her voice, the most pleasant of memories. Seeing her home ablaze would not be too hard, but the fleeing animals and their cries were a halmark of the suffering. One they couldn't entirely shake free of even as the healing of the land began and it flourished. But curiously nor did Naz seem entirely bothered or troubled either- it had fortunately been far from as bad as it could have been. The feeling it ushered into her soul had been worth it.

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The healer paused for a moment, head tilted over her shoulder and faceted eyes fixed to the earthen cat’s form until their stride brought them appropriately close and then she started again, this time slowly and with frequent checks to ensure they followed. Rounded ears pulled forward at the larger cat’s words, wrinkled brows enhancing her dark countenance with concern. Sparrow said nothing as Nazonal talked, and although her gaze followed the others instinctually, she did not expect to see what they did. Nor did she, and so she looked back to the other for another moment before returning her attention finding the path for this feline.

Is that why you’re here, on the mountain instead of in the jungle? She asked, her tone gentle but no less curious and her focus still fixed to the terrain ahead, although her ears flicked towards the lioness, an indication of her attentiveness. The fires in the jungle might explain Nazonal’s presence here—it takes a while for growth to return fully, so maybe they spent their nights here in the interim. It didn’t quite explain the evident fatigue, unless perhaps they were experiencing nightmares or terrors that kept peace from their sleep? Or maybe it was as simple as stone being a less comfortable bed than jungle meadows. Sparrow puzzled over these assumptions, her mind was abuzz with activity, but her tongue was quiet in a combination of respect for Nazonal’s experience, and a natural caution to tread lightly in the presence of a much larger feline.

@Nazonal

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Oh- no embarrassingly I've just gotten lost up here exploring. That's it. Trees and hard to see paths? Easy. Wide open mountain paths? Friggin hard. In the jungle when they couldn't find their way they could make their own, to do that in the mountains meant to fall down the cliff side. Sometimes it felt like the right path was right over there if only she had wings. I've been able to stay in the Jungle through most of this, watching it regrow. Their voice was beeming, happy and even excited. Naz did have the teachings of a spiritual lion to her name. Few old stories, myths, or legends to recollect. It was just their heart, the jungle, and wanting to remake what their fathers had done before.

The yawned a little, tongue coiling up until their jaw shut once more with a few content claps. Little pricks of their lower jaw pointed up over their upper lips. What about you? Do you live up here? It would be a good place to watch the moon and sun if that was their thing and what they enjoyed. Sparrow was a little thing, different than a lion though. It was curious. Naz had seen leopards but never one this dark, or this close before.

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