hoping and bouncing, the black lioness found herself right in the middle of a cave, where the chittering and screeching of bats made her ears positively ring. this place was perfect, absolutely perfect!

"BATS?!" she yells up at the hovering creatures, only increasing the frenzy of their screeching and some of the more flighty beasts swept out into the dusk- away from her crazy ass antics.

perhaps this place had bad omens, that is why they were fleeing. this was clear to her by the amount of filth on the ground, and the sickening smell. so, marja began walking around, chanting loudly- calling on gromm and zorya, the goddess of the dusk and dawn- calling them to cleanse the place. "ochistite etu peshcheru!" she yells to the top of the cave, sending the next batch of bats flying out.

"ochistite etu peshcheru" she calls again, waiting for one of the bats to perhaps swoop down and befriend her, but instead, they swoop low- and scream, as the massive colony seems to flee.

"alone." marja whimpers sadly, as she uses her tail like a broom to sweep some dust away, chanting softly. "ochistite etu peshcheru" a breath, "ochistite etu peshcheru" she falls silent, as she begins praying to her god quietly- praying that he and zorya will cleanse this place and bring her a bat or any kind of friend really.

potential xp (doubled): +10 cleanse an area of bad omens, +10 meditate or pray by yourself or with someone else (cleric) -- +10 learn about another families traditions?

ART BY IRISH, CODE BY LARS

@Marja

Potential EXP
+5 Learn about a new language
+5 Advise someone with a problem
+5 Follow someone through a territory (sleuth)

The bats which shared their cavernous new home are an interesting discovery. Aria had first been attracted to the high-pitched squeaks which echoed from the walls several days ago. Whenever they had a moment to spare from their duties, they liked to watch the creatures twist and turn. It was hard not to feel a sense of kinship to the small and agile animals, given how they both had to eke out an existence in a world of the strong and large.

A bellowing voice caused his ears to flick and steps to falter today. It seemed as though the Aviary were not alone in their choice of haunts. And the more, the merrier, Aria thought with a smile as he padded in the direction of the sound. Whoever, or whatever it was, had stirred the bats into a frenzy given the cacophony that assaulted his ears. At least they wouldn't be difficult to find.

Aria freezes at the unfamiliar words booming from the cavern. Accompanied by the distinct and unpleasant aroma of the bat's refuse, he was beginning to have second thoughts about this endeavour. The shout came again, a confused swirl of small bodies issuing past them. Aria lowered themselves to the ground, dainty paws, barely a whisper as he approached the lair's entrance.

In the gloom, a feline silhouette appeared. Her voice was low and soft, as she brushed her tail along the floor. Pale pink eyes scanned the shadowy ceiling for any sign of inhabitants, before settling on the lioness. Creeping forward, Aria trilled a greeting in the typical musical manner of his kind, adding, ”Hello?”

code by corvus

@Aria

she works hard, her tail sweeping through dust, droppings, rotten fruit, carcasses of bugs... she works tirelessly, because this place must be cleansed- the omens must all be bad, because the bats flee her. so, while she does, she chants quietly- praying to gromm to help her prepare this place- praying to him to send her a friend. a bat friend, preferably.

marja tires of feeling so alone, and so unwanted.

she pauses, when a voice interrupts her- her tail freezing, mid stroke, and a sneeze leaves her at the dust she has stirred up, as she speaks into the darkness- looking for the source of the voice. "Gromm?" she questions. well, this isn't what she thought he'd sound like... but... maybe? "bats?" another question- perhaps more realistic.

ART BY IRISH, CODE BY LARS

@Marja

The lioness continued her sweeping motions, though it drew detritus from the floor. Aria started as she sneezed, lowering themselves closer to the floor at the sound. He stared at the other with wide eyes, his muscles tensed in anticipation. His eyes adjust, and gradually her form coalesces from the shadows. She is as dark as her surroundings, with the only hint of colour being her green eyes.

“Gromm?” they repeated the name, a look of confusion upon their face. “Who is that?” The angled curves of his body rippled in the dim lighting as Aria padded closer to the female. The air here was dry, and the acrid scents tickled his nose and throat. Aria squeezed their eyes closed as they sneezed, and rubbed the mucus away from their muzzle with a paw. Ugh, not my finest introduction.

“As you can see, I'm not a bat either.” Teary-eyed, the cheetah gestured to himself with a sweep of his head. The show must go on, Aria mused. “My name is Aria. What is your name, and why do you sound so sad, sweetheart?”

code by corvus

the other does not know gromm, and as they move closer- marja realizes that they are not a lion either. a creature, that she rarely sees- a cheetah. smaller than most lions, but super fast. could a cheetah be her friend?

"gromm god of storms and keeps swamp muddy." she says. she jumps, her paws leaving the stone when he sneezes and glares at him rather reproachfully, but when he speaks again.

"try to make friends, but no friends. bats no come down to be my friend." she says sadly and with a sigh. "so i bless this place and prepare it for ritual." she says heavily. always working, always preparing.

aria is the creature's name, and so marja speaks. "marja of swamp and hollows. devout of gromm." she says, giving her entire titles- self given and all to the strange cheetah.
@Aria

ART BY IRISH, CODE BY LARS

Gromm was a god, as it turned out. Aria blinked, and nodded once at the information the stranger provided. The female didn't seem overly upset or angry that her deity had not just strolled around the corner to greet her, so he hoped that meant he was safe from harm. Now that they had a good look at the other, they noticed the strong shapes that made up the lion's face, giving her a permanently sorrowful expression.

Aria's ears twitch back and forth at her reaction to his sneeze, and he flattens himself at the look of disfavour she gives him. “I'm sorry,” the soft apology reflected loudly around the enclosed space, an unwelcome reminder of the stone walls surrounding them. The lioness sighs as she explains her so far unsuccessful search for friends. A pang of sympathy arose in the cheetah as he frowns, a sigh escaping from his maw. His ears perk forwards at the word 'ritual', a sudden chill tracing its claws along his back.

They smiled crookedly as Marja introduced herself in a much grander fashion than they had. It's not like it's a competition, he shrugged mentally. Besides, there is plenty of time to make a few names for myself here. “For starters, I could be your friend. How does that sound?” He laughed, beamed and fluttered his eyelashes in what he hoped was an encouraging manner.

code by corvus

She studies the cheetah- @Aria , with an oddly gentle expression- something she doesn't wear often. Especially for one who interrupted her preparations for the pats- her cleansing of omens and bad juju of this place. Yet, something about the small creature appeals to her. She smiles at him, the expression wide and toothy as she looks at him. "Friends." She affirms.

"What friend doing?" She asks curiously, wondering why he was in these caves. "Friend looking for bat too?" She asks. "I live in sometimes in swamp but sometimes in caves too now, but I want to have a bat friend." She shares- looking up at the ceiling of the cave sadly, wondering why the bats won't simply like her.

always alone and unwanted

I don't mean to be so crass about the situation -- But it's easier than breaking down -- The reasoning your loose interpretation --
In a sea of motherfuckers, man, you were no salvation

code by corvus |art by dispero

OOC: Sorry for my slowness! ♥

His efforts appeared to have worked, as Marja's disposition softened. Aria relaxed, letting the tension go from his neck and shoulders that he didn't realise he was holding. Their own grin widens, and he chirps as the lioness accepts his friendship. Perhaps I could show her the Aviary, he mused with a twinkle of his eyes. Then Marja wouldn't have to be alone, either.

“I'm new here, so I thought I'd take a look around.” Aria nodded, his brows raised as Marja spoke about the bats. “I think it's good to have all kinds of different friends, don't you?” This was a truth in the spotted feline's life so far – if Aria could, they would befriend everyone. Ears perked forward as Marja entrusted her haunts with him, and he hums in his throat. “I don't know what a swamp is, but I live in the cave system with my family. I'm sure they'd love to meet you!”

Something drove her to look up at the ceiling, and Aria drew alongside her. His shoulder grazed Marja's gently. “Maybe something is scaring them. I hope it isn't me.”

code by corvus

OOC: No worries, I'm super slow rn now and am trying to catch up myself! <3 So apologies for my own delays! <3

Marja considers the spotted feline with a curious, yet dazed sort of expression as he speaks. She nods, and speaks in her own turn. "Marja has few kinds of friends. Yet no bat friends yet. Difficult to convince." She agrees. "Yet many lion friends, but you first non lion but feline friend. Unless you secret spotted lion?" She asks of him- very curious about the slender feline.

"What your family do living in caves?" She asks, for that is strange. "I met lioness who family live in caves too, but you no smell like her." Strange to her- that two different sort of families could live in caves. "She white with bat in her fur. Name is Fae." She shares, her head tilting, as she wanders if he knows her.

As they look up at the ceiling, and she speaks. "You no scare. Bats just stubborn me think." She says slowly. "I should have brought fruit and more bugs. Or maybe the cave cursed. I was cleaning it of bad energy for Gromm." She explains.

@Aria

always alone and unwanted

I don't mean to be so crass about the situation -- But it's easier than breaking down -- The reasoning your loose interpretation --
In a sea of motherfuckers, man, you were no salvation

code by corvus |art by dispero

Aria hummed sympathetically as Marja shared her friendship woes. To begin with, they assumed it is easier to connect with other felines than bats. What is there to discuss with a nocturnal flying creature? “Keep trying. I'm sure you can win the over.” His lips curl in a smile, and he chuckles at the curious tone in the female's voice. “My kind are called cheetahs.” He explained, adding gently, “I'm not a fancy lion, nor have I lost weight.”

“We've moved around a lot. There are many of us, so our leaders needed to locate somewhere big enough for everyone.” Securing Grimoire's Labyrinth had been a good move on Magdalene and Fissure's part. There was plenty of space for the birds to spread their wings and build their nests.

The cheetah shook their head as Marja described meeting a lioness with a bat companion. “I haven't met her, but I'll keep an eye out for her.” Fae sounds interesting, Aria mused and made a mental note of Marja's information.

They shivered at the notion that the cave was damned. “What makes you say that?” The question came unbidden, in a small voice. He would rather believe that it was the lack of juicy treats that kept the creatures away than supernatural reasons.

OOC: I'm so sorry for the wait

Possible sleuth exp:
+5 Learn something interesting about a character

code by corvus