With Revna temporarily stepping down from her position as Sovereign, and noticing thay her bright jewel of a daughter seemed to be more and more interested in following in her mother's pawsteps, Cassandra figured she could give Eisa some more power and duties if she wanted them. Give her more than just the title of 'princess', if Eisa was okay with it. Making sure her youngest were tucked safely within the den, Cassandra moved herself to an area a short distance from the den.

Calling for @Eisa as she moved away from the den, Cassandra made her way to the brook in the center of the territory that gave the pride its name. Hopefully her daughter wasn't too busy to heed the calls of her mother and would come to see what she had to ask of her. She hoped it wouldn't be too much of an ask of her daughter to take up this position. She herself had taken the position when she was around Eisa's age for her own mother.

actions. "speech."

Art by Drifty | Table Code by Zodiac

She wasn’t sure what stung more, her wounds or the humiliation. Losing a fight, that she really stood no chance in still hurt her. She had tried to be like her mother, tried and failed. That, somehow, cut deeper than any scratch, laceration, or wound that was sure to scar. She had been reclusive upon returning to the Brook, wanting her wounds to heal some before seeking her family out- not wishing to worry them, and yet — as fate seemed to have it, her mother called for her.

Wary of her mothers worry or disappointment, she approached the source of the call. She moved quietly into the clearing, silver eyes never quite meeting her mothers gaze as she came near. She knew the scent of blood still clung to her, the scent of defeat and humiliation- was that strong too? She remained silent, head hanging low- waiting to see what her mother would say.

@Cassandra

eisa sigrún

code by corvus

She hadn't really been aware of what her brightly hued oldest daughter had been up to, especially as of late. So when the scent of blood came towards her paired with that of Eisa - and that plum bastard as well - her head immediately whipped around to find her daughter. The expression on @Eisa's face, with her head hung low, ripped at the mother's heart. "Eisa, mea clara gemma*... what did he do to you?" She asked, swiftly moving to nose gently at her daughter's wounds if she was allowed to do so.

Any current thought in her mind was immediately replaced with an overwhelming feral desire to hurt him where he had hurt her. Hurt one of his own, see how he liked it. For the moment, the Brook Queen fought against the red that threatened to overtake her vision. Her daughter needed her right now. "I swear he will pay for what he has done." Cassandra muttered, tail lashing as she spoke.


*mea clara gemma - my bright jewel

actions. "speech."

Art by Drifty | Table Code by Zodiac

Should she worry that her mothers ire will be directed to her? Probably not, yet she feels herself shrink in on herself as her moms gaze shifts to her- as she moves closer to examine the wounds left by the plum male. "There was a younger cub at the passage. I was trying to do… I was trying to be brave like you and defend her." Soft ashamed words. "I was not strong enough." A disappointment, really. Not strong enough, not fast enough. Just not enough.

"She had three legs, Mom. I couldn’t just let her be claimed." A near desperate plea that somehow @Cassandra understands. She raises her eyes to glance at her mother, and sighs. "I tried, and it wasn’t enough."

I’m not enough.

eisa sigrún

code by corvus

The tone of her daughter's voice, of her want to be like her... to protect those who needed it - and her having failed to do so at the passage this time around solidified something in her brain. "Eisa, love. I am only strong because I have to be. That bastard has a vendetta against me and those who are in the Brook it seems. He attempted to claim your aunt too. Revna and I showed him that wasn't happening." Cassandra said, aiming to press her head gently against @Eisa's if she'd let her.

Her daughter saying she wasn't strong enough broke her heart. "I have failed in fights as much as I've won. It was through pure luck I managed to fight off that bastard when he came for the Brook. If you want to be more like me, we can make that happen my love." She said, thinking this would be the perfect way to bring jt up. She had a purpose now. Something to give her daughter strength after such a defeat.

"You know I challenged for the Mire when I was only 2 years old. Failed miserably, but every defeat made me stronger. It makes your grandmother Morrigan stronger too." She began. "We can start your battle training as soon as you are more healed. I also would like to offer the position of Heiress to you, if you'd like. Teach you more about what I do and how I protect the Brook." Cassandra said. There. It was up to Eisa if she wanted to accept the offers being given to her.

actions. "speech."

Art by Drifty | Table Code by Zodiac

soul full of sunshine

I am only strong because I have to be.

Those words echo in her mind, and yet she frowns because she doesn't quite understand it. She doesn't get it- her mother seemed so invincible, so strong, as if it were effortless for her.

"I have to train... I don't want to lose again. Not when a cub's life hangs in the balance." What kind of leader was that strange male? She worried for the cubs safety. "And the next time someone comes for the Brook- I want to be able to fight to help defend our home too." She had to train, she had to get better. Soft, quiet, determined words as she raised her head to meet her mother's gaze.

"You challenged for the Mire?" She asked with wide eyes. "But what... I guess I always thought you'd remained in the Brook." The thought about Morrigan and her fighting, made her feel weak again- her grandmother's prowess was legendary. She'd defeated a challenger for the Summit, and then fought on in a war- Eisa had witnessed it.

But Heiress? That was a lot of responsibility... what...

"Do you think I'm ready?" She asked, with a small whisper. She'd just lost a fight horribly... how could she be?

@Cassandra

eisa sigrún

code by corvus;; background image

Thr frown on @Eisa's face throws her for a loop. "Eisa, my love - I am only strong because I have the strength of my family and those I love behind me. They rely on me to help protect them, to keep them safe from harm." Cassandra murmured as she aimed to gently try to clean some of Eisa's wounds from her fight. "We can't protect everyone as much as we try. I have failed in fights in about as many as I've won." She said, hoping to cheer her daughter up a bit. "Losing is as much a good teacher as winning is." She added on, knowing every time she lost she learned something. It made her a better fighter because of it.

"I did. Right around my second birthday I challenged for the Mire. Your father and I were living as loners for the time since we'd lost our pride not long before that." Cassandra began, realizing she'd never explained to her daughter that she'd not always been in the Brook. "I was born in the Brook, and spent almost a year within the Brook with my brothers Khal and Ori, and my numerous younger sisters. When I was about your age, your grandma Morrigan moved to the Cove to rule alongside her sister. Your great-aunt Avaneira. I moved to the Cove shortly after, and eventually became Morrigan's Heiress after she stepped forward to take the position of High Sovereign of the Cove after her sister was badly injured in a fight." She continued, thinking of her past few years.

"I bounced between prides for awhile, after we were chased out of the Cove by a landslide. Went between Scilla Lagoon and Caladan Cove once it was reclaimed by an ally - those two were controlled by different lions when I was younger. Eventually, around my second birthday, I decided I'd had enough of it after the pride I was in fell again. I took it upon myself to challenge for the Mire. My challenge ended up causing a war, which I'm not proud of. It took me months to get over the guilt for causing the war. I ultimately failed in winning the Mire, and came back home to the Brook." She said, flicking her tail. "I've been here ever since."

"I wouldn't offer the position if I didn't think you were ready, love." Cassandra said, aiming to put a paw under her daughter's chin to tilt it up to meet her gaze. "We can train you to be a better fighter. You have quite the fighting legacy in your blood. You just need some training to refine that fighting skill." She said with a soft smile.

actions. "speech."

Art by Drifty | Table Code by Zodiac

She nods to her mother, and takes in what she is saying but it is her story of the challenge for the Mire that is more surprising- and even more so that Cassandra had lived in places other than the Brook. She.... Eisa couldn't imagine that. As her mother's paw lifted her chin, making her meet her mother's gaze she smiled, the expression growing on her face.

"Okay." An agreement. "I'll work hard, and get better." She says, and she means it- she means that she will become a stronger fighter, a better warrior. Because the Brook would one day need her to be, right? If not the Brook, some other cub who was in danger of being claimed, in danger of having the choice to choose their life.

@Cassandra

eisa sigrún

code by corvus

"Perhaps one day I'll tell you and your siblings about everything that happened when I was your age - it would serve as a good lesson for all of you." Cassandra said, thinking about how best to bring up the subject of everything that had happened when she was but a yearling herself. Her children eventually needed to know it - and she would tell them all about it, some day. She just wasn't sure how to come about and tell them that their grandma and aunts and such had been technically held hostage when she was Morrigan's Heiress in the cove...

Mentally shaking herself, Cassandra focused more fully at the task at paw. "I will train you to fight, and you will become a warrior to be reckoned with. Like your grandma Morrigan, your grandpa Magnus and your father. Few will want to tangle with you when your father and I have trained you." She swore, giving her daughter a soft smile. "You will be my Heiress, and I will teach you all that I know." She said, knowing she had made the right decision in choosing @Eisa as her heiress. Her maned daughter had the drive she did at that age - and she would make her proud, Cassandra knew that for sure.

"Come along, and we can start your lessons by the brook while we clean your wounds." She said, beginning to move off in the direction of the brook that gave their home its name.

-exit Cassandra w/ Eisa?-

actions. "speech."

Art by Drifty | Table Code by Zodiac

Eisa listens, her attention rapt as it fixes on her mother. "When you're ready, I look forward to hearing about it." She said with a small smile to her mother- an indication that she wouldn't push for the information but would listen when Cassandra was ready to tell the story. As her mother goes on, and names her heiress, Eisa feels a sudden elation in her chest, and a proverbial weight settle on her shoulders. "I'll do my best to make you proud, Mama." She swore quietly- vowing to do all that she could to be the best that she could for the Brook.

She made to follow her mother to the Brook, aiming to walk close, and was content to let Cassandra help her with her wounds. The wounds, she knew, in time would heal... and with them, she'd rise stronger than ever.

-exit-

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS