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The day was relatively clear and dry as Rose moved through the savanna, the cool winter’s sun fighting to try to warm her back against the frigid cold. Fortunately where the sun failed her thicker than average coat did a decent job keeping her warm enough. She was on a bright spirit as she reached the watering hole. Long the narrow winding path the queen did send her men. she sung as she strolled along the water’s edge. It hadn’t been thirst that drove her there but rather curiosity. what they sought they knew naught she continued to sing, eyes lazily scanning the assortment of fauna that had made their way there. She felt the eye of many a beast fixed on her weary, ready to run should the predator show sign that she desired a quick snack. They simply marched as they’d been taught, glory to their queen. her tune was lively and upbeat, even if the words didn’t quite match with the melody.

code by Shazaki`

Genesis dared to believe she was settling in quite well, especially without her siblings' taunts, criticisms, and doting in her ear. Not that she did not miss them--in fact, the longer she went without hearing their voices, the more she itched to see that they actually intended to meet her here. However, she was also thankful for the opportunity to poke around these new lands on her own and planned to take full advantage of it. Today was no different as she crept around the watering hole and admired the diversity of its visitors. For now, though, she steered clear of the frigid water, knowing full well that--in this weather--she would be unable to warm her small frame if she got wet...or defend herself if something pulled her in.

While on her stroll, a pleasant song struck her ears, and she was quick to pick out one sound--one voice--from the rest of the gentle commotion. After all her recent encounters with lurking males and no signs yet of her sister, perhaps Genesis was sensitized to its jaunty and feminine notes, but she welcomed it nonetheless. She decided to seek it out. After all, if the voice's owner was singing, then surely she did not desire to pick a fight?

Even more pleased was she to find that its owner appeared to be nearer to her size. So they did exist, she mused to herself with a sigh of relief. When Genesis felt she was within @Rose's line of sight, she approached her with bright eyes and an unassuming smile, taking a moment to secretly admire the other girl's boldness and apparent nonchalance. "Your voice is very pretty. Do you know any other songs?" While this one was a bit choppy, it was already worming its way into Genesis' head. She was hopeful she could collect some more to hum to herself during her lone ventures.

code by scorpixia♡︎

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Rose was surprised to be suddenly face to face with a rather small lioness - probably a teenager from the looks of her. She was even more surprised when the girl was suddenly asking her if she knew any other songs, even more so she was very surprised at the enthusiasm in which she asked. She blinked for a moment, trying to take in what was happening before a grin brought out across her face. Well hello there! she spoke happily, confidence beaming from her expression, I’m Rose Swan’e, minstrel extraordinaire! Of course I know many song! she boasted, aiming her best grin at @Genesis before she continued to add, What sort of song would you care to hear? she asked.

code by Shazaki`

For a moment the girl prayed she had not overstepped. Perhaps she had caught the stranger off-guard or put her off by indicating she had been listening? Genesis did not think she looked bothered by her approach, but regardless, she held her breath as she awaited one signal or another. After seeming to need a moment to process the encounter herself, her acquaintance lit up at her with a colorful, "Well, hello there!"

Genesis let go of her breath with a new smile of her own as @Rose introduced herself. Needless to say, the name suited her, her self-proclaimed title even more so. Perking up a little, she giggled and tilted her head at her. "It's nice to meet you! I'm Genesis Farron." A pause before she echoed thoughtfully under her breath: "What sort of song...?" She had not really thought that far. What other songs even were there? Blue eyes idly skimmed the scenery before focusing back on the young woman as she finally said: "How about something you might sing while foraging? Or to a patient?" She did not quite know what she could say to someone to calm their nerves. Usually she was on the receiving end of that exchange. But a little tune...something to provide a distraction. That might be helpful.

code by scorpixia♡︎

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She couldn’t help but brighten further at the pleasant reaction she received from @Genesis towards her as she actually seemed to genuinely enjoy her singing and actually gave her a request towards what Ti sing. Ah, well my dear Genesis, are you a healer perhaps? she ventured a guess based on the girls request for a song one night sing for a patient or out foraging- she could only assume she’d be foraging for herb that might be used for that patient as well. She paused for a moment, both to give the other lioness a chance to respond and to wrack her brain for any songs she might know about healing. Eventually a tune began to play through her mind. Clearing her throat she began to sing. Healing hands, in the darkest of days, bringing hope and comfort in so many ways, with every gentle touch, she mends the broken heart and soul, with her sacred art. she beamed happily as she sung, watching the singular member of brr audience for clues as to whether or not she was enjoying the performance as she went.

code by Shazaki`

It occurred to her, following @Rose's next question, that she had not specified aloud the reasons behind her desire for such a song. Genesis nodded attentively in response. "I would very much like to be," she said, voice laced with determination. A girl like her was not well-suited for many other trades--at least, as far as she was concerned--and anyway, she did not much like the idea of shedding the blood of her own kind. She was better off leaving her siblings to that sort of thing...and waiting in the sidelines to catch them as they fell to patch them up and send them off again.

Eventually, the other young woman started singing her tune, and Genesis closed her eyes to engage with it fully and attempt to commit it to memory. Shyness kept her paws planted, but her head bobbed gently to the rhythm, and her smile widened almost in flattery of the lyrics rolling off the other's tongue. As Rose's voice trailed off, Genesis giggled and opened her eyes again, looking up at her in thanks. "I love it, thank you," she insisted. And then suddenly, amidst all the pleasurable sounds trilling forth, she realized this was the first anybody had ever sung to her.

"Where do you learn your songs, miss?" she probed with a tilt of her head. "To have so many to sing?"

code by scorpixia♡︎

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The small lioness confirmed her suspicions and she nodded with another smile tinted with just a bit of pride at being right. Ah, I knew it! You have a healing aura to you, and you think about what you could sing to soothe your patients? she more stated than asked as she nodded, You’ll make a good healer, patients will love you! she declared. If possible she beamed even wider at the praise offered to her over her song. The question about where she learned her songs though made her pause for a moment in through. Well, Rose has been many places, so I’ve learned from all over. she stated, smile fading for a moment as she tried to remember specifically where she’d learned the one she’d sung. It was a memory lost to her though. and if I don’t know one to fit the occasion, I make it up! she admitted as her smile returned. That was the beauty of art, you just made it up and others would take it how they pleased. Not like healing, a healer couldn’t just pick random herbs and hope they worked because they looked good together. @Genesis

code by Shazaki`

A warmth crept to her cheeks that she was sure could be seen beneath her pale fur. @Rose was not the first to incite this in her, however; it seemed that everybody she had encountered here so far was nobody less than a friend. In fact, Genesis had not anticipated nearly so soft a landing in Amaryliss as the one she had received. She was no stranger to the possibility that this would be short-lived, of course--all good things were--but she appreciated it for now. Appreciated this young woman whose gaze she did not have to strain to meet, who radiated a level of whimsy she could only hope to achieve with time.

"Thank you," she said earnestly, through a small chuckle.

She claimed to have been well traveled, which further piqued Genesis' interest in the form of a deeper tilt to her skull. "So you've been beyond Amaryllis, too?" she hummed. "I'm not from here myself. I was born elsewhere, but my mother sent me here with my brothers and my sister to, er...revive the family name. She told us she'd been a queen here, once." There was no way to say that, she realized, without it sounding far too serious. She took her mission seriously enough even despite not knowing how she would achieve it just yet, but this is not feel like the time or place where she wished to think about such things.

art by moogle

Eyes lingered on the small framed yet nearly grown lioness as she asked about her origins and described her mission in Amaryllis. Yes I was born in the elsewhere, my family and I were nomads. Our pride was much more- fluid than the ones here. she paused as she thought about it. These prides seemed to change paws frequently, but remembering back to her (very recent) youth she remembered very little about the structure they held. The elders were the wisest and usually solved their issues or made decisions, and everyone else either went along with it or did their own thing.

She tilted her head at @Genesis and her declaration that her mother had been a queen and sent her family to reestablish their name. Fascinating! she said, truly interested in the other lionesses history. Where did she rule? Under what name? If you don’t mind sharing for my songs and stories of course. she asked. By the time she was done with Amaryllis (if that day ever came) she would certainly have plenty of ballads if kings and queens to carry into the winds.

code x art

Gears turned behind her eyes at the mention of a rogue pride life. How nice that would have been, Genesis thought. She supposed her own youth had been similar in that she had lived with her three siblings and their mother, a sizeable crowd, but it had been only them--not really anybody else whom she could have called a proper pride mate. They had, however, lived with an ease like that which @Rose described. "A nomadic pride? I don't know that I've ever heard of such," she said admirably.

But the other woman had already moved on with questions about Genesis' own pedigree. She should have anticipated such, but still she met Rose's inquiry with flattery. "Come to think of it, I don't know much more than that. My litter mates and I were born into the name Farron, but that hasn't seemed to jog anybody's memories yet. I probably sound like some sort of...fraud, huh?" She laughed, but there was an air of embarrassment to the last of her words. Who could claim any relation to royalty without knowing anything about their lineage? Then again...

"All I know is that she made sure we knew her place...and ours. Somewhere, someday."

art by moogle