Crack & Plop
Nazonal had moments ago been acrobatting along an elephant's rib cage for fun. Their paws lightly, carefully, had been manuvering from rib to rib one after another. One however seemed unable to hold her weight, even for a slight and modestly malnourished cub such as she. It splintered at their touch and sent Naz tumbling into the rib cage itself. She landed upside-down across her left shoulder, she looked up from there with a toothy stupid grin. Ribs criss crossed the sky over head, vultures swam across blue sky and white clouds. They laughed and rolled to their belly, stood to their feet, and began to try and climb back out through the hole they'd fallen through despite many other options to take from here.

Gawain sat about 15 feet away and watched the cub play. They could easily swoop in and grab them if needed. Not that the cub couldn't defend themselves, they seemed to have quite the fire.

"Careful," he warned, a moment too late, and the little cub crashed through the bones. He took a step closer, but the cub handled the fall with no problems. So they sat back down and considered the cub. They were an odd case.

Historically, a year ago, the darkstone pride never would have entertained the idea of a female warrior. Sure, this cub was firey and fierce, but it went against the beliefs of the pride. It worried the large lion. Not because he thought a female warrior a bad thing, but because it could only bring strength to that revolting pride. They needed to keep a closer eye on the goings on there. But for now, they needed to get this cub somewhere safe. "How are you feeling? You aren't hurt, are you?"

@Nazonal

She scrambled up her difficult task and pulled herself back onto the ribs. Unceremoniously she tumbled right towards the ground and also to the concerned voice of Gawain. Her brown gaze found his face and she smiled from the ground down at his feet. "Not a scratch!" They sounded triumphant. There may be a small bruise across their shoulder later for her antics but what was a bump to them? The true nature of the fate she had been saved from was also spared from her- but she did come away with the benefit of a warrior's heart, and a warrior did not scoff at the little pains. She smiled to Gawain and to then prove she was fine she lifted each paw one after the other and shook it. Nothing broken. No blood to be found. "I'm ready to go again where are we going now?"

"Well done, little one!" Gawain chuffed happily as the little cub returned to their side. "You're a tough little cub indeed." After she lifted each paw, Gawain reached out one of his own paws and turned her one way and then the other, just to be sure.

"Well, where we go next is sort of up to you, little one. You can keep playing for a while if you'd like. We can explore here a little, I don't have any pressing missions at the moment. There are a few prides in the area, I could try to find one that would be a good fit. Alexon lives here as well, but if I take you to them, well... I'm not sure they're quite ready to see me again."

Truth be told, Gawain wasn't entirely sure what to do with the cub yet. They were a little fighter for sure. He needed to find a place for the cub where they would be safe, but also be able grow as they pleased.

She was rustled around by Gawain's large paw. It drew forth a bubbling laugh and she spent a few moments while he moved her and looked her over to try and nibble on his toes with no success. "The toughest!" Grr- she snarled. Their exposed lower teeth tips were joined by rows along the top of still fairly clean and intact teeth.

"I want to see the big trees!" She excitedly howled while she threw her muzzle into the sky, little bottom teeth poking out over her lip, she cried into the clouds and open air. The world was big and parts of her were dieing to see it all. They'd gotten glimpses of strange new things as they came into this pennisula. Mountains, crashing waves, green. So many many things to see and, as far as Naz was aware, plenty of time to go see them with @Gawain. There was a lot of adventure to be had. "And that ocean. I don't think I've ever seen so much water before." It hadn't been that long ago and still felt like a day dream. The salty smell was so pungent and the air thick, almost uncomfortably so. At least all of these new and novel sites were good distraction from the Alexon situation- in their eagerness there was little hurt that Alexon might not want to, or more accurately not be prepared to, see them. In the meantime Naz was occupied, Naz was happy in the company of her large protector and friend.

Gawain playfully lifted his lips to show his teeth to her in response to her little growl. "The toughest little cub around," he purred. He was so grateful that she hadn't realized her situation. It seemed that she just thought it was all training.

"Alright, you want to see big trees and the ocean? I think I can manage that." The lion was only moderately aware of the lands surrounding them, but knew how to find the ocean. He had heard casual talk of the rainforest on the other side of the peninsula, but had been to the bog in the grove, and he was aware that the ocean would butt up to the shoreline there. Big trees and ocean, all in one place. Easy peasy. Plus, he suspected she'd never been around evergreen trees before. New smells. Big trees. Ocean. "Alright kid, to get to the big trees and the ocean, we gotta head northeast."

@Nazonal

She wrestled her legs under her, scooping herself upwards onto them with eagerness and energy abound. Her little dark shape raced about five feet away and then immediately turned and raced back to Gawain, leaning up against his leg and aiming to push on his so they could get going somewhere. "How long are we going to be traveling like this?" Nothing in the way she spoke would suggest Naz minded this one bit. They were having the time of their, very short so far, life and were not eager for it to end anytime soon. Her legs were tired at the end of each day, they saw so many new things and smelled so many new smells. She was not too sure how this would make her a good warrior at the end of it all but being tired at the end of each day felt good, she felt accomplished and fulfilled with what she and @Gawain were doing day in and day out. It would be a shame when it ended and she went back to the regular sorts of training (she thought, unaware that although change may come it would not be back to what she knew.)

When she bounced against Gawain's leg, he laughed and tried to gently tumble her over. "I'm not real sure yet, kid. Until you get tired of it or I get called away, I guess." He shook his mane out. It was getting warmer and warmer, and the sun on his dark fur was hot. They might need to shift their schedule to traveling in the mornings and evenings instead of through the day.

It would be good to get her used to seeing in the dark more.

Gawain chuffed softly. "You're not gettin' sick of me already, are ya?" He needed to find someone who would be able to get her adjusted and integrated into normal lion behavior. The cub was sweet and clever, still easily moldable. Clearly, the old pride hadn't gotten into her head quite yet. Good.

@Nazonal

Tired of it? Naz looked offended at the idea she could ever be tired of @Gawain, of this journey he was taking her on. It had been unexpected, all part of a whirlwind they had never been told would happen but darn it she did love it so far. She had her own private buddy. They quickly moved to lean against Gawain's forelimb, caring little for how it might trip him up or impede their walking strides forwards. Nope. Not sick of you yet. Gently, more gentle than seemed normal for the rough and rumble toothy child, she exhaled a breath and then let herself drift a few steps away from Gawain so she wouldn't be trampled below him while they walked into the night. If you get called away... do you have to go? Or or- her eyes lit up. Or can I come with you?

When @Nazonal bumped his leg, he laughed and reached down to lick the top of her head. Such a sweet cub. He gently bumped his head against her. When she walked away, though, he paused.

Can I come with you?

He sat and frowned slightly, his eyebrows knitting together. "Little one... I go to... very dangerous places. You're a very strong cub, but... the places I go, it wouldn't be safe for you to follow."

He swept her paw gentle at her, aiming to pull her closer. "When I get called away, I will find somewhere safe for you. I promise. And I'll be back for you."