There is a fire inside

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of blood and cub endangerement

All she could do was run, run until she couldn't do so anymore. All she could do was run, run, and never turn back, running as blood dripped from her face. A face that had just been marked by the ruthless claws and teeth of the one she once called her father. Banished from all she had known until today, signed with her own blood. At this age, she couldn't comprehend, why her? Why like this? What did she do wrong?...all she did was refuse to obey him, to obey his wish. How could someone ask a cub to kill their own sibling? Not only she didn't know how to do such an act, she wasn't going to hurt her own brother...Never. And now she paid the price on blood.

She ran and ran as tears charged with rage, sadness, and fear fell down her face. The blood from her face's claw markings painted the ground beneath her as her tiny legs carried her all the way through this trail of land. Her lungs burned with the lack of oxygen. And finally, the cub fell to her feet and collapsed with exhaustion. She couldn't move any further as her bloodied face rested on the sand...

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When Kvare had imagined his ascension, he had pictured something similar to him enjoying the spoils of a crown, defending his honor and brokering alliances with other Kings and Queens. He had not imagined pacing the Passage in a desperate search for new soldiers, hoping to fill the ranks of their fledgling pride and build an army for a man that was not himself. But as time continued steady onward, Kvare had found himself more and more amenable to growing underneath the tutelage of the Caladan King, and had forced himself to the Passage in hopes of learning the political landscape.

And, perhaps, flexing his claws a bit.

His search so far had been uneventful, the day drawing on at the Passage unsuccessfully. At the very least, he supposed, it was a pleasant day. But as he continued down the beach the smell of salt and sand became accompanied by iron, the unmistakable scent of blood instinctually causing his pace to hasten, his paws to turn and carry him in its direction. And by the time he came upon @Ainsley, she were nothing more than a bloodied lump of fur and staggered breathing. Kvare quickly made his way toward her, nudging the cub in hopes that it was still alive.

Come on, he begged of her, his brows knitting with frustration. His nudges grew more and more fervent, a foolish and desperate attempt to revive her. Get up.

@Ainsley

Art by Raph, table by cala

There is a fire inside

She remained there, lying face on, legs extended like a god. Her face burned with the deep lacerations caused by the lion she once called father. A father is far too cruel for this world, for this cub who only got the worst of it. She was ready to give up, she was too young to think beyond the immediate sensations. Pain and exhaustion taking over her senses.

That was until she caught the subtle motion of someone approaching her. She raises her head a bit to find a reddish lion. He didn't carry a familiar smell so it was a complete stranger. She was glad he wasn't her father coming back to finish the job.."Me tired...me hurt..." She tried to speak with her limited speech.

She tries to stand up but fails to do so.

@Kvare

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She was heavily wounded. Dried blood caked into her fur, weeping from lacerations scattered along her face. Kvare's gaze narrowed, attempting desperately to catch the scent of the lion who did this off of her, but she was far too bloodied and far too buried in the sand, the smells of him wiped clean in the wake of her escape. He would not so soon let whatever lion it was come back to finish the job, however, and quickly did the man seek to attempt to grab the nape of her neck as she struggles to stand; were she able to catch her balance, he would seek to release her and let her stand on her own. However, if she were to fall limp in his jaws, Kvare would simply try to pick her up and carry her back.

Kvare were greedy, and ambitious, and cruel, but he would not stoop so low as to maim a child.

Thus, though his voice was muffled against her fur as he attempted to corral her back in the direction of the Cove, his words were resolute: We will get you fed and healed. The feeding part he could help with, but he was unsure if Sunder would have any plants that would help this cub instead of killing it. It was worth it to ask, at least. Whoever did this to you—did they follow you? He asks, but knows the cub may simply be too worn to answer.

@Ainsley

Art by Raph, table by cala

The queen had been coming I he passageway often, with offers of food for hungry travelers, her cubs were fed milk still but not everything could so she carried the limp gazelle fawn in her jaws, eyes landing on the scene before her. She gently dropped the food near them as she moved closer, her head bowed a little, "Hey.." She was mostly directing her words to the little girl, but her eyes briefly glanced at Kvare, she could scent the Cove on him, so she knew he was an ally.

"I know some med basics.." She offered, ears flicking to on against her head as she wondered what or who could have done this to a child, her own thoughts turned to.her children and she felt the motherly instinct to protect surge inside of her.

There is a fire inside

She tried once more, her legs shaking under her weakened state. Mostly from exhaustion and hunger. Luckily Kvare's hold on her nape helped her find her footing more easily. But ignoring the burning sensation in her face was hard, and every now and then she drove her fore paw at the face, wanting the pain to go away, unable to process it wasn't going to get better by doing that. "Okay," She wanted to go away from her father as fast as possible. "I dunno if daddy is coming to hurt me again". And hopefully, he will not.

Then a lioness with food on her jaws approached them. She became weary thanks to her father, and as such she froze in her place. Quietly, unsure of what to say or do with the newcomer. "hi.."

@Kvare @Levana

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He had almost made it interrupted. It was a near miracle to escape the Passage with a cub without encountering others just as greedy and in need as he. Thus, when @Levana first approaches, Kvare's eyes narrowed, his lips pulled back to bear his teeth even if a snarl did not pass his throat. But as the scent of Firnen accompanied her approach, he relented; though he knew nothing of the Rainforest, he'd known it was a Caladan ally, and he would be a fool to anger Keligan over the needs of a wayward cub.

His irritated stops only when @Ainsley talks of her father being the perpetrator, and even he cannot stop the way his fur rises along his spine, the widening of once-narrowed eyes that seemed to spell disbelief that any lion could do this to their child. Even Kvare, brutal and brutish as he was, could never imagine hurting his progeny; they would be his future, after all. I'll kill him if he returns, he promised, a hint of a growl lacing his words.

As his attention turns back toward the Firnen Queen, his tail lashes out behind him, keen to get her to safety as much as he was to ease her pain. Though, to a man who knew nothing but the strife of war and growing up constantly littered with bites and bruises, he suddenly found one choice far more pressing than the other. If it's quick, he says, relinquishing his grip on the cub so that Levana may have a better look.

Art by Raph, table by cala

There is a fire inside

The girl breathed heavily trying to hold into the pain from her wounds, every move she made was hell...she couldn't comprehend with her young mind why. Why did her father cause her so much pain? All she did was refuse to do something no child should be forced to do. That of killing their beloved siblings...And now upon stranger's mercy, she was doing her best to not flee, as if she could in her state. She was also feeling tired, and exhausted. She could barely keep her eyes open, she needed to rest, and soon.. She couldn't wait much longer. "Me sleep..." Was all she could mutter.

@Kvare @Levana

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Levana nodded, she would do everything in her power to make this quick as she could, her paws carry her away from the two, paws leading her to a patch of herbs that she made quick use of collecting, before returning after grabbing some moss.

She would return with the herbs and moss carried in her jaws, before laying them down at Kvares feet, "These will provide antibiotics, so nothing gets infected.and the moss is to cover any wounds." She instructed gently, eyes trying to avert from his, she may be a queen but she as not as stupid as to challenge someone's authority especially if she could tell his type.

"I hope she gets healed." She would say carefully before dipping her head and retreating.

"exit"

He was almost thankful @Ainsley was as tired as she was. It would make the short journey home much easier if he could simply carry her. As skinny and lanky as she was, she were feather-light in his jaws. Even @Levana's gifts were little consequence, and though he'd a mouth full of cub nape now, he nodded toward the Firnen Queen and wished her off for her long journey back to the Rainforest. Such was a development he would be sure to let Keligan know about, but for now, his priority remained in getting the cub back to the Caladan, and seeing if any of the many lionesses there were willing to take her under their wing.

---

Exit with Ainsley.

Art by Raph, table by cala