— C A S S I A N —

---

The warmth of the day was draining gradually away — rain still cascaded from the sky as the youth made his way from the quiet brook that cut through the territory and towards the borders of his home. Bit by bit his courage bolstered under the careful ministrations of youthful folly and the watchful eye of the pride — and yet this evening the boy wanted to test the extent.

Onwards he went until he was at the edge of the border; head low as he tentatively gave it a few curious sniffs. The scent of multiple women seemed to uphold the border; mingled in with the scent of his father. The thought rose to ask about it later and yet the youth would lower himself down towards the scent markers and sharply roll — both to cover his scent and also diminish the scents that cluttered the border.

[ tags ]
@Miaran

[ exp ]
+20 Learn something from a Master of your trade

---

art by drifty ♡︎ code by scorpixia

The Executioner felt an unwelcome restlessness gnawing at her soul, each passing day igniting a fervor within her to remain in peak condition. While her husband languished, indifferent to the weight of his responsibilities, Miaran poured her self into every exercise, every stretch, every effort to keep her body lithe and ready. She was acutely aware of the new lives stirring at the borders, precious additions to her family. Where the ghost of Renozuri would choose to mold warriors from the strength of males, Miaran yearned to nurture fierce females, daughters who would wear the mantle of her legacy. The tantalizing thrill that hung in the air during their fleeting meetings meant nothing to her; she had little patience for the weaklings. No, she would weave the very essence of Death into her children’s beings, forging them into fighters who would either seize victory or embrace the sweet release of oblivion.

As she moved, her keen ear, ever alert, swiveled to catch the symphony of sounds enveloping her. Slipping gracefully along the borders, she spotted a young cub not far from her—an innocent soul, utterly unaware of the tempestuous world around him. She crouched low, her singular eye fixated on him, intrigue sparking within her. But then, a realization washed over her as she observed him rubbing against the borders, claiming the scent as if it were his to possess. A wry smile curled her lips, a predator’s thrill awakening as she stalked forward, the thrill of the hunt coursing through her veins, before making her playful pounce on the unsuspecting boy.

@Cassian

table code by daanyen

— C A S S I A N —

---

The boy is working hard at erasing the stench of woman from the border. His tiny ears would wiggle wildly atop his head as he continued to viciously roll about; his body thrashing as he continued to try to scrub clean the scent — not aware at all of the woman that was stalking him from a bit further away. The boy found himself getting into it; wriggling violently too and fro against the ground before a shadow loomed over him.

Alarmed hiss seeped from between his lips as he rolled onto his paws — ears flattened against his skull as the thought to call for her parents rose high in his heart as he violently bristled at the unknown woman.

[ tags ]
@Miaran

[ exp ]
+20 Learn something from a Master of your trade

---

art by drifty ♡︎ code by scorpixia

The boy was so utterly consumed by the task of erasing the scent markers, his mind honed in on every subtle detail, that he remained blissfully unaware of the menacing presence that would sneak ever closer. The world around him had faded until the Executioner loomed right before him, her shadow casting an eerie chill over his heart. She paused, savoring the moment, delighting in his startled hiss, a sound that seemed to echo in the silence between them. Miaran held her claws poised, each muscle taut with danger, her ear pinned back in a fierce display of defiance as she hissed in reply—a symphony of aggression played between them.

The unmistakable glow of the moon etched on his forehead revealed his lineage, a secret written in the stars, yet she would never bow down to anyone, not a single man. Not now, not ever. Even cradling the life blooming within her, her spirit burned fiercely, a tempest of defiance and strength, ready to unleash the same ferocity that had always defined her.

You would make for a pitiful spy, she purred, her voice laced with venom, each word dripping like acid from her tongue. So delightfully easy to track, so incredibly simple for me to snuff your life out should I choose. The air crackled with tension as she began to circle him, her movements graceful yet predatory, revealing the sharp glint of her fangs—an unspoken promise of the peril that danced just beyond the veil of his ignorance.


@Cassian

table code by daanyen

— C A S S I A N —

---

The cub's body is tensed — poised in the position of arched back and lofted fur along the edges of his spine. His bottom jaw is quick to separate from his top; hanging open in threat of tiny milk teeth poised to strike. The cub would splay his toes upon the ground; needlelike nails digging into the soil as he puffs up further.

Who did this woman think she was?

'You would make for a pitiful spy.' But the cub curls his upper lip above his fangs in silent threat — his body rigid as the adrenaline violently torpedoed through his veins. 'So delightfully easy to track, so incredibly simple for me to snuff your life out should I choose.' A spitting hiss would reverberate from the hollows of his chest as he sharply lurches forward in a faux charge; his tail rounding in indignation.

But she threatened his life. A small part of the boy wondered what his father would think of that should his tiny roars breach the horizon. Cassian stands resolute; his tail is flagged high behind him as he glares at the woman. "My papa is gonna beat you up." The cub would give a childish hiss with complete confidence as he kneads the ground restlessly. "I'm not easy to track." He would rather quickly add in protest.

[ tags ]
@Miaran

[ exp ]
+20 Learn something from a Master of your trade

---

art by drifty ♡︎ code by scorpixia

The Executioner stands unshaken, a fierce embodiment of fearlessness, untouched by the shadows that loom around her. She has embraced Death so many times, entwined in its macabre embrace, that it has become a dance of triumph. A chilling smile plays on her lips as she confronts the boy, a haunting light sparking in her eyes. He lunges forward, a futile gesture, yet she remains rooted, an unyielding monolith. Miaran looms above him, and as laughter erupts from her throat—sharp and echoing like knives—his empty threat crumbles into insignificance. With a flash of her fearsome fangs, she leans in closer, her voice dripping with venom. I have committed acts of violence that would shatter your fragile spirit. I have waltzed with Death itself and emerged not just alive, but victorious, she snarls, each word a challenge, a testament to her dominion over fear.

Her tongue flicks across her lips, and once more, that wicked grin curves her mouth, glinting with a menace grin that could send shivers down the boy's spine. You, my dear, are a pitiful excuse for a spy. But I could teach you the art of becoming one with the shadows. I could unveil the secrets to masquerading as whatever—and whoever—you need to be to dismantle your foes. You can dance with Death alongside me and emerge as the harbinger of terror that you long to be, if you truly wish to stand against those who cast their sinister gaze upon your loved ones, she offers, a seductive promise cloaked in darkness, eager to mold him into a weapon capable of inflicting pain upon those who threaten their very existence.

@Cassian

table code by daanyen

— C A S S I A N —

---

The woman's laughter grated on his ears as he pushed them far against his head. How dare she laugh at him? One day he would tear her apart for such an insult — but that day wasn't today. Instead, the cub would still stand resolute; back arched and fur raised and ruffled; his pale eyes focused upon her — upon the threat within their home.

'I have committed acts of violence that would shatter your fragile spirit. I have waltzed with Death itself and emerged not just alive, but victorious,' Whatever she just said went directly over his head. Not only did the cub not understand; but it also sounded like gibberish to him. "Uh hu," the cub would almost offer in confusion; his ears swiveling slightly atop his head before plastering back once more.

'You, my dear, are a pitiful excuse for a spy. But I could teach you the art of becoming one with the shadows. I could unveil the secrets to masquerading as whatever—and whoever—you need to be to dismantle your foes. You can dance with Death alongside me and emerge as the harbinger of terror that you long to be, if you truly wish to stand against those who cast their sinister gaze upon your loved ones,' and all that went over his head as well. It was too many words for the young cub to really absorb so he merely picked out the words that he liked in her speech. "Okay! I learn!" The boy would chirp even while his ears remained pushed against his skull; only tentatively rising ever so slightly.

[ tags ]
@Miaran

[ exp ]
+20 Learn something from a Master of your trade

---

art by drifty ♡︎ code by scorpixia

The cub could wish to harm her with all his heart, but she, with all her experience, had long learned to greet Death as an old companion. Not with terror, but with open arms, embracing it as one would a cherished friend returning after a long absence. The words she had for him were not few, but they held a weight beyond measure, and she felt the urgency to guide him as she shifted to the beginning of the lessons that would shape him.

The first step, she said, her voice steady yet infused with an intensity that could not be ignored, is to wash away every trace of yourself, every scent of familiarity. You must become a blank canvas, as pure and untainted as the morning dew. That is your first challenge. With a determined flick of her paw, she gestured toward the shimmering brook that wound its way through their home. She paused, watching with fierce intent at Cassian, knowing that if he aspired to become a master of stealth, a secret bringer of shadows, the time to learn was now, and her guidance was but the first step on his perilous journey.

table code by daanyen

— C A S S I A N —

---

She tells him to erase him; to severe what makes him smell like him and not like the pride. It seemed easy enough — something that he practiced often but his gaze would follow her pointed paw; the brook itself. The cub would quietly toddle towards the edges of the brook before taking a step down into the water; shivering slightly as he allowed the liquid to flow over his body. The cub would shiver sharply before glancing inquisitively at the lioness. Was she teasing him?

[ tags ]
@Miaran

[ exp ]
+20 Learn something from a Master of your trade

---

art by drifty ♡︎ code by scorpixia

The boy was not just intelligent; he was a shining beacon of potential, hanging onto her every word like lifeblood. Miaran watched him intently as he submerged himself in the icy waters of the brook, washing away his identity little by little. A slow, knowing nod emerged from her lips as her tongue flicked over them, savoring the gravity of the moment. If you aspire to be the most cunning spy, the most lethal whisper of danger in the night, you must don the mask of someone else. Scrub away every trace of your true self, envelop yourself in the alluring scents of distant lands. Become a shadow amongst your enemies, their ally in disguise, she said, a mischievous smile dancing at the corners of her lips, eyes glimmering with the thrill of what lay ahead.

When you have honed your skills, you will slip through the cracks of their perceptions, a ghost unnoticed, unseen. The air crackled with possibility as she posed the tantalizing question, But what calls to you more — a silent executioner wielding poisons, or a masterful spy lurking in the depths of darkness? Both paths are vital; both weave together a tapestry of power. I can guide you through both realms, but they begin and end with the all-important act of erasing yourself, shedding your old skin. Miaran could feel the weight of what she offered: the secrets of fear that could harden hearts, the knowledge that could pierce through the veils of deception, to always be one move ahead in the deadly game they played.

@Cassius ♔

table code by daanyen