The first few hours had been hard - but Kireena knew she had a chance to teach @Etain a few things about healing. When she arrived in the assigned den, the red woman had struggled to get comfortable. "How are you doing, little dove?" Her question came softly, checking in on the young female that had been pulled into the pride of the Rainforest with her. She was more worried about the girl rather than herself - as Kireena knew that she'd had a hard time with being a prisoner of a pride in recent times. She hoped that the girl would still be able to find a stride despite having been claimed by Ryker. Truthfully as far as being a prisoner went - she wasn't doing so bad. Confined to the rainforest rather than a singular den was a refreshing change. And something she intended to use to show Etain more skills that would serve her well in the future.

code by koi

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

Confidence had evaporated within seconds. Prisoner yet again. Just as she'd gotten used to freedom and caught a glimpse of how life was supposed to be. How it should have been this whole time.

But she'd followed @Kireena, no matter where it took them. When the woman spoke to her, the girl had been curled into a ball at her side, trying to make herself as small as possible. Small, that was always the solution. Be small, be harmless, maybe then things won't be as bad. At first she didn't really respond, but eventually she did lift her head, floppy ears pulling back. "Feels...strange. I don't like him...he seems mean." She looked down at her paws, poking a little at the ground. "But not as mean as the dark woman from the Plains."

code by corvus

@Etain was taking it hard - but Kireena knew she didn't have all the information as the discussion of her imprisonment here had gone on between herself and Ryker. "He's doing what is his right as the king... but you, little dove.. You are no prisoner here." Kireena chuckled, wondering how that news would sound to the young lioness. "You were only claimed - you can come and go as you wish." The red woman was pleased - and it made accepting her own terms of imprisonment here a little easier. "As far as inprisonment goes - this is a kind gesture they didn't have to offer." The woman would seek to try to nudge Etain gently, hoping to pass her tongue over the girls head in comfort. "I'm neither confined to a den or a space.. I simply can't pass beyond the borders without recourse. I'm not being starved, beaten, nor injured further. It is..a shocking thing really." And knowing that Etain was free to work her way up the ranks should she so desire? That was even better. "And you, little dove.. could claim a rank for yourself if that is your wish." A freedom she had that Kireena didn't. But one she hoped she could eventually teach the other how to reach for.

code by koi

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

It sounded...foreign. To her it made no sense that she'd been told he'd keep her as well, but that she was no prisoner. Was that not how it worked? Her expression twisted the tiniest bit in thought, making it quite plain to see on her face how hard she was trying to make sense of it.

A faint rumble escaped her from the gentle caress of her mother's tongue and she tucked herself a little more against her in search for comfort. Her ears wiggled a little as she listened, though mostly still seeming to struggle with fully understanding all the information. "So as long as they don't hurt us...things are okay..." Etain eventually muttered.

"A rank...but I'm not old enough..." Another puzzling thing for her. How could she even be considered for anything if she didn't know much. Looking up at @Kireena she tilted her head. "They wouldn't want someone stupid to have rank."

code by corvus

Seeing @Etain calm slightly eased Kireena's own worries and she would seek to try to tug the other closer with a paw, fully intending to give the pale girl a good grooming. "If they try, we leave.". A shoulder shrugged as she arched a brow. Etain could leave without issue, Kireena would have to sneak if it came to that.. but she wouldn't simply to make sure the curly eared lioness was safe. "You are smarter than you think, little dove. Not all ranks are expecting you to stand in for leadership or those more versed in politics. Some, such as Gentry are simple ones.. patrol the borders.. if you smell intruders, call for help and keep your nose on them.". She knew Etain might struggle to work her way into a pride, but the red giant hoped to show her how it could be done. And give her some confidence in the process. "Show up and help in hunts..even if you're not fast or nimble, take part in your pride...I can't hunt well to save my own skin.. I'm too slow. But I will always try.". She chuckled, hoping to show the younger female that ranks weren't just for those that Etain felt were better than her. As far as Kireena was concerned there wasn't a difference in her daughter or anyone else beyond life experiences teaching them different things. She had full faith that given the right guidance and support she would grow into a strong and confident woman. And if not? She would still care and support her no matter what happened. Their meeting had been fate, of that much the giant was sure. But that simple meeting had emblazoned the pale gold lioness across her heart and psyche for eternity and she would stand beside and behind her..and when needed in front of her.

code by koi

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

When she was pulled closer, she didn't resist and even relaxed a little more. For so long she'd not known the motherly warmth, hadn't even known how it felt to be cared for. So she intended to soak in every bit of affection and care that was given, still fearing that it wouldn't last. Her eyes slowly closed as she relaxed under @Kireena's grooming tongue, her tail flicking from side to side. As much as she wanted to agree with leaving if they got hurt, she understood it would bring even more trouble and she didn't want that.

Floppy ears drooped sideways as she listened, face scrunching up a little in thought. No other had really given her the chance to prove herself or even encouraged her. No one else had believed in her like the older lioness did. "Maybe..." she muttered.

There wasn't exactly much confidence just yet. Not after only ever thinking she wasn't good enough for anything. But maybe...maybe things could really be different now. Maybe she really should try. "I can help protect...I think."

code by corvus

"I can show you how if you'd like. To protect not only yourself - but those around you." Kireena smiled at @Etain, her eyes softening as she watched the young lioness with interest. "Its a skill everyone should learn sometime... how to defend and protect themselves." Not everyone was adept at it, but often it would make sure that they lived long enough for help to arrive. The red woman rumbled a purr, her gaze watching the young, floppy eared lioness. "Even if you're not good at it - all you need to do is manage to hold someone off long enough for someone else to help you." She smiled, hoping that it would help the young female with her usual feelings of inadequacy and not being good or smart enough. Because she was intelligent and had a lot of potential.. just needed some confidence to find herself.

code by koi

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

For a moment she was quiet, brows creasing as she thought on what her mother had said. Floppy ears twitched and quivered, only adding to the adorableness of her intense thinking face. She really didn't have all that much confidence, never really had a reason to believe in herself. After all, no one had really shown her that she could be more than a waste of space. At least until @Kireena found her. Maybe that woman from the Plains who had been nice...maybe she cared to an extent. Or maybe she simply planned to use her for her own gain. Etain wasn't too sure about it. But things were different now and she was coming to understand that she really could be more.

"I...suppose I do have to learn how to fight properly...I mean, I'm big....I know I can use that...." Her words were quiet and thoughtful, but proof enough that she was trying to figure things out, to find her place in everything.

code by corvus

"Your size would definitely help.. but also you have something else on your side." Kireena grinned, her lips spreading into a smile as she attempted to tilt her skull and gently knock into her daughters head lightly. "You know about herbs and how to heal... which means you ALSO know how to hit them where it hurts." She chuckled, her lips spreading into a smile before she grinned. "I can show you.. How to defend yourself and use your size and your strength to your advantage. And.. how to make sure others don't use it against you for THEIR advantage." The woman grinned, waiting to see what @Etain would like to learn.

ART BY VASILIA, CODE BY LARS