He had run away, in true Calder fashion. His fragile, peaceful life within the brook had grown strained in those days – strained by a lioness who would not tether herself to the brook as he had, by cubs he could never have imagined to wish for, and a family that was beginning to expect things of him. One by one the tensions stacked upon him, leaving the lion shaky and panicked. It had not even been a decision, really – only that his paws started carrying him away from the mounting pressures, and, by the time he looked back to see what he had done, Amaryllis was far behind him.

Approaching that same grove he had known all his days, Calder's heart raced like a rabbit. He had only been gone for a few months, and the guilt of it had eaten him alive. His sleep was wracked with nightmares of cubs he had not seen, and of a pride that could have fallen into ruin without him to bolster up the next generation, as Aquila had wished. Finally, it became more torture than he imagined the responsibilities themselves would be, carrying him back to the land of his ancestors.

"Hello?" He called out at the borders, clearing his throat. "It's Calder; I'm home," he announced. A frown pressed against his lips as he looked at the shadowed lands, early-morning sunlight just barely beginning to glow on the horizon. Calder's stomach lurched at the realization that he would be trying to join Vermeda for the very first time, having been born into the pride and remaining until that point. You ruined everything, he cursed himself.

---

|| february y9 | three years | rogue lion | at vermeda brook | @Cassandra + fam + AW ||

code by corvus, art by moogle

Elysian was collecting various things to bring back to the den to show papa and father when he heard the call. Dropping his feathers, sticks and even a couple of dead bugs, he raced towards the source. He had no idea that this could be dangerous, that he was putting himself at risk. No, to Elysian he was coming to say hello! Bursting through the underbrush the plum cub jogged up to Calder with a smile. "Hi! I'm Elysian!" he chirped happily moving to sit in front of Calder with a wide smile. "you're big!" he added with a impressed tone.

Although Septima loved children and longed for her own one day, she barely paid this particular child any mind. @Calder returning home was far more exciting if for no other reason than he was a familiar face in a world that seemed determined to keep her miserable. The Miroslav moved towards the borders, striding confidently in a way that her adolescent self had certainly lacked. A young woman now, Septima was eager to greet her old acquaintance with a broad smile. "Calder, it's good to see you again. Don't be shy, this is your home." More than it was hers, at least.

Stock by flickr

Calder practically held his breath as he waited there at the borders, his mind racing over hypothetical scenarios and reciting theoretical arguments. He tensed his muscles at the sound of rustling underbrush, his fur standing on end until a little puff of purple fur sprang out of the bushes.

"Oh," Calder deflated with relief, his heart still hammering in his chest. "I'm Calder. Who do you belong to, kid?" He asked, letting out a nervous laugh at the mention of his size. It was perhaps all that had saved him from being skinned at various times – appearing much more burly than he truly was. Someday he knew someone would call his bluff. Peering down at the cub, Calder finally took the time to scent him: a Vermedan boy, perhaps belonging to Aquila.

"Calder, it's good to see you again." He shifted his head to view the source of the voice, struck with its familiarity. There approached a monochrome lioness with distinct patches of white and grey – an acquaintance he had met only briefly enough to know they shared a home. Oh, but everything felt an eternity away – like he had lived another lifetime outside of Amaryllis's borders. "Don't be shy, this is your home."

"Septima, I'm glad to see you again," he greeted lamely, sporting a nervous and crooked smile. If he was due for a chewing out, did that mean she had to witness it? "Oh, I dunno. I'm afraid I ran away rather recklessly." Calder confessed with a downturned gaze.

---

@Elysian @Septima @VB

code by corvus, art by moogle

With her husband having to step down after falling into the Brook and getting sick, it had kept her even busier before. While she had gotten used to ruling alone before her husband stepped up to his new position, she had then gotten used to having help after he had stepped up. So going back to ruling the Brook on her own was quite the task. She had been on the clear other side of the territory along the borders when a familiar voice rang out faintly.

Because of the distance between herself and where the call had come from, it would seem she was not the first to greet the guest at the borders. One of Aquila and Caligula's youngest brood, @Elysian, was there greeting her cousin. @Septima was as well, though as she hung back for a moment to assess the situation she heard the Miroslav inviting @Calder into the Brook. A slight frown graced her face for a moment at the lioness she had fought to allow the choice for her to continue to live in the Brook or to leave seemingly trying to act like she had a rank she didn't have.

Stepping forward, Cassandra revealed herself from the darkness of the shadows. "Calder - welcome back." She said as she stepped forward. "The youngster there is one of Aquila and Caligula's newest litter, though I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting them now that they're roaming about the Brook." She said, having caught the tail end of her cousin asking who the kid belonged to. "Was wondering where you'd run off to." Cassandra said with a chuckle.

actions. "speech."

Art by Rabbit | Table Code by Zodiac

Elysian grinned at Calder when he asked who he belonged to, "Vermeda!" he chirped with a obvious tone. Like duh, why else would he be here? another lioness appeared and he gave a happy little warble at her. Elysian considered mostly everyone in the brook a friend or family, so he could be rather affectionate with them whether they wanted it or not! And then auntie Cassandra arrived and though they hadn't met officially he had been told of her. Moving to wrap himself around her front paws he blinked looking at Calder with his good eye before chirping up. "I am Elysian!" he grinned at him proud of the name he had been given by his fathers. Though he often preferred 'Ely'.

@Calder @Cassandra @Septima

Her welcome had not been one of misplaced authority, nor had she any desire to overstep anyone with a rank in Vermeda. It was not and never would be her true home, but the girl was timid to try and find somewhere else to thrive without having a pride to her name. Perhaps she was incorrect in assuming family would be welcomed back home, but Cassandra proved otherwise as she warmly greeted him. No harm done, then. Her folded ears drew forward as he spoke, saying he was glad to see her again. She smiled even as he tucked his tail. "Family means you are forgiven no matter what happens and that you always have a home. At least that's what it means to the Miroslavs," she said with a shrug. "Still don't think anyone is going to be upset that you're back, silly." Septima glanced at the two others, clearly family, and felt it was her time to leave. "I'll be around if you want to catch up, @Calder." With that, she dipped her head respectfully to Cassandra and slipped away. exit

Stock by flickr

He twitched his ears at the sound of paws prowling through the underbrush. Calder angled his head slightly to spot the familiar brown pelt of his cousin, his sheepish smile only growing in size and remorse.

"Thank you, Cass," he accepted her welcome with a nod, bobbing his head further as she explained the cub's lineage. It seemed that Maua had blessed their family with more cubs, and idly he hoped that Aquila would be too distracted with his children to be particularly hurt over Calder's absence. "Hello, Elysian. We are cousins," he informed him, settling his sheepish grin into a smaller smile.

"Family means you are forgiven no matter what happens and that you always have a home. At least that's what it means to the Miroslavs," Septima explained, and he turned a pointed glance to Cassandra. "I hope it means that for us," he joked softly. Though, it seemed that the other lioness did not intend on sticking around for long. She promised they could catch up and he nodded earnestly as he turned to watch her go. "Alright. Thank you, Septima," for easing his nerves somewhat.

With Cassandra's question on his mind, he finally turned his attention back to their newest sovereign with a more somber expression. His chest tightened as he raced to determine how much to tell her, unsure just how badly the truth would paint him.

"I got a bit spooked," Calder confessed with a sniff of a nervous laugh. "Cousin Aquila wanted me to help with the pride, and my personal life got a bit... well, tangled. I ran away from it all before I knew what I was doing." The truth out there in the open (if lacking some details), he trailed his gaze down to his paws briefly. "I know I messed up, but I wanted to come back and prove myself useful to the family again. If I can earn it, I want to help you, Cass," Calder explained, hesitantly attempting to meet her gaze once more.

"I'm sorry."

---

@Septima @Elysian @Cassandra

code by corvus, art by moogle

She hadn’t really expected her cousin to know of her new place at the head of the pride - it was a relatively recent development, and he hadn’t been around when she’d stepped up in the place her mother once held at Aquila’s side. And then when Aquila wanted to take time for his family, he’d passed it to her. "Valour family is always growing. I’ve got my own cubs too - they’re almost yearlings if you can believe it." She said with a chuckle, lifting a paw in an attempt to ruffle the fur on Elysian’s head as the little cub wrapped himself around her front leg. A nod would be given to Septima as she left the gathering, leaving her to her duties as the pride’s queen.

"Lots has changed since we were kids ourselves huh?" Cassandra asked with a shake of her head. It seemed like things were completely changed from when they themselves were as little as @Elysian… He’d been a prince then, with her aunt ruling the pride. Everything was simpler then. Easier too… Mentally shaking herself to chase away the memories of the past, she would focus on the task at paw. "It happens - no one thinks any less of you for it." Cassandra said with a shrug. "You’re home - and that’s what matters truthfully." She added on, hoping to assure her cousin that he wouldn’t be shunned from coming home for having made mistakes. They all made mistakes.

"You don’t need to prove anything @Calder. You’ll find your place when it happens. There’s no reason to push yourself to be something that you’re not. We’ve got an open Noble position alongside Caligula if you’d like it. Otherwise you’re welcome to not hold any position until you feel more comfortable." She offered, flicking an ear as she spoke. "If you decide you don’t want the Noble position now, you can always come talk to me about a different position later once you’ve settled back in." She added, not wanting him to feel pressured by anything. Perhaps he wasn’t meant for a leadership position - and that was okay. He just needed to find his place in this world. "Not everyone finds where they truly shine early on in life - sometimes it takes trial and error." Cassandra added, hoping to make him feel better about having gotten spooked about everything that had gone on in his life since the last time they’d seen each other.

"You have no need to apologize for anything."

actions. "speech."

Art by Rabbit | Table Code by Zodiac

Cousins?! Oh boy, his family was sure expanding! Excitedly he moved to try and brush through his cousins front legs before grinning up at him, "I go tell sisters! We have a cousin!" he chirped before looking to Cassandra and aiming to run to do the samw to her front legs giggling. Once satisfied they had both been rubbed up against he would turn to start his run to the den. Careful to try and not trip as he went his depth perception was getting better but it would never be one hundred percent.

exit Elysian

@Calder @Cassandra @Septima