Talisa was, without a doubt, a hover grand mama. Without a question in the world she kept a relatively close leash upon Vermeda so that if her daughter or son-in-law or any of the babies called out, she would be there in a heartbeat. Regularly she would come by and drop some medicines at the entrance of Cassandra's den or even a meal or two, despite knowing that Myrkvi probably had that one handled. Yet, it was also a ploy for Talisa to occasionally sneak peaks at the kids without hovering too much. Today she didn't try to cover up her hovering of the area around the den and was very much on the prowl to try and see the kids. So she wandered close to the entranced of chuffed, eager to get the attention of anyone within.

^{MANIP BY ZODIAC !}

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Talisa's eager chuff did not go unheard by young Imber. In fact, it came as a surprise to the boy's ears. Belonging to neither his mother nor father, the new voice roused feelings of inquisitiveness (and some healthy wariness) within the muddy brown cub. Having been pawing keenly at a spotted feather on the ground, Imber paused in his investigating to cock his head towards the voice. Unaware that she was his grandmother, he observed a sandy brown lioness standing before their den entrance.

Suddenly feeling a bit shy before the new face, Imber approached slowly on unsure legs. A high-pitched mew escaped his tiny lips once he stood roughly two meters away from @Talisa, half in greeting and half in fascination. He knew that he was safe here in their family's den, but made the prudent decision to keep some distance.

At the sight of one little one scavenging outside of the den, she supposed that one was more than enough to play with. A tiny little darker-coated Cassandra in the form of young @Imber. A little thing and she would have to remind herself in the early stages that it was a boy. That even if he looked like Cassandra and her brain connected that to the child, he was likely going to be a rough and tumble boy. Hi, she murmured softly to the mewling child as he crawled closer. A face that didn't seem to be too sure of himself (or her) but he had every right to be cautious.

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@Talisa's voice was friendly and soft to the boy's ears, and the hesitation Imber had originally displayed waned with her greeting. Haaaa, he attempted in response, not yet grasping the complexities of language. The cub's wobbly legs reached the lioness, and Imber lifted his head to stare up at her curiously. He sniffed at her caramel fur, and noticed that she smelled a bit like mama. Feeling comforted at this discovery, Imber chirruped gleefully and weaved himself between her legs, nudging her with his striped nose.

The grandmother never need worry about the shy nature of any child nor would she herself ever feel such a thing. Talisa wanted nothing more than to secure that babe into her arms and to whisper all the sweet things in the world. To shower the child in the greatest goodness so that it might never know evil. Hello, she echoed her own more mature greeting to the dark child, good morning, little cherub. These little one's were still so small and yet they were quite bigger than the last time she had seen them. Growth did not stop for anyone and while she was thankful that they were growing, she was always sad to notice the loss of their baby months. With @Imber moving as swiftly as he could through her legs she made sure to not make any movements lest she topple the boy over. So quick, you are!

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@Talisa's voice was sing-songy and sugary sweet in the the youngster's ears. A pleasurable grin plastered itself ear-to-ear on Imber's face, excited at the prospect of making a new friend. Having weaved himself between Talisa's legs, Imber noticed the the furry end of her tail tip from where he stood beneath her. It was surely a tantalizing sight for a curious child! Feeling emboldened, Imber's nimble paws shot himself forward, attempting to bat at Talisa's tail tuft.

Looking at young @Imber's face, she felt as though she were reliving the long-ago days when Cassandra was a young cub. When she had moseyed on around and found interest in the littlest things and when she couldn't quite stand up without help. She was no stranger to being a target for sharp claws and teeth, however, and the second that she noticed he was eyeing her tail like it was the juiciest piece of meat, Talisa grimaced. Whipping her tail back and forth purposefully now as she taunted his movements. Perhaps he was quick, but if he wanted this tail -- he would have to be quicker!

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@Talisa's reminiscing of Imber as young Cassandra was hardly unfounded, considering the babe's striking physical resemblance to his mother. He looked like a miniature Cassandra as he lurched at the lioness' tail, only to fall flat on his belly with no sought-after prize between his claws. Whipping around, baby Imber rose to his hind legs (shaking unsteadily, still getting used to this whole balance thing), and attempted to bat once again at Talisa's tail tip. He was certainly a determined little ball of energy!

Talisa's cheeks were tight in a smile as her tail whipped away from him too quick for his tiny paws. So, she aimed to be a little slower with the take away. Waiting patiently for him to find his snow-feet again and find that balance of his. A few trademark movements of his body giving him away that he was going to pounce and allowing him to land directly upon her tail. You got me! she exclaimed, feinting trying to wiggle her tail out of his clutches. Today this victory would be @Imber's and surely with claws like his he'd likely be ripping out a few hairs but she had plenty to go around.

table by cush

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Imber felt his little heart thump in glee when his outstretched paws met @Talisa's tail tip, holding it against the ground with all the might a babe could muster. Talisa attempted to wriggle out of his grasp, and the cub couldn't help but explode with the giggles as he tried to keep a hold of his claimed prize as much as possible.

Eventually feeling content with his catch and growing bored as toddlers tend to do, Imber unsheathed his claws and plopped himself down in front of the lioness, staring up at her with an admiring lavender gaze. He studied her face, her eyes, her smile — saving it all for the future, wanting to remember the friendly lioness (Imber was quite familiar with strangers coming and going from their little family den, and this was a stranger he wanted to remember for next time).

The interaction had been quite the exertion for the little thing, who opened his maw wide and let out a mighty yawn, flashing milk teeth which had just begun coming in. He curled up against Talisa into a fuzzy chocolate bundle — feeling warm and safe in her presence — and sleep quickly found him.

exit Imber via sleep