Cirilla knew Stygian Shore like the back of her paw. She had grown up here, made a life for herself within the sea-walls of the territory, and had brought her daughter up here. There was no nook, nor cranny, that the tan lioness did not know about. Whilst she did not mind visitors to her home (she did not own the land, after all), she was always curious to know and learn more about the less frequented areas that Vellen had blessed.

The tunnels were one of these areas. She, admittedly, had not spent much time within them. Rising from her idle slumber and with a stretch, the woman made her way into the confines of the tunnels as the rain began to fall. With one paw in front of the other, the Sigrún began to pay attention to the smaller details of her surroundings, whilst listening for the sounds that might alert her to company.

the tunnels were not silent. sound of the ocean beats on the other side alongside its churning waves and the cries of the many birds skimming the sky. this was faustine's first venture here, as a little gift to herself before her first birthday. she had lived long enough to know the lands surrounding the bluffs, a testament to her personal power and that of the noble dieudonne bloodline flowing inside her. the girl had also started grooming herself, following in the steps of her sisters and mother to look just normal enough -- at least, in her opinion.

sunlight wasn't strong here but faustine quite liked the shadows that moved along the stretch of floor. she smelled the scent of a living lion upon entering, had even followed them until their scent was overpowering everything else. if that lion realized she was here then it meant faustine had to track them down even more. she wasn't hungry, but she would like a quick bite. of course, she didn't anticipate the lion to be older. this wouldn't do; this wouldn't work at all.

faustine slipped out of the darkened space towards @Cirilla, the dark red of her eyes the only color that was brighter than the rest of her. hello she said. are you lost?

code: cala | art: drifty

Cirilla rather enjoyed the amplified sounds of the tunnels. They were never silent, always testing its visitors with a cacophony of sounds that seemed to reverberate against the walls. Cirilla delved deeper, picking up on the small drops of water as the moisture dropped from the ceiling.

The lioness knew that it would not be long until another would join her - the sound of small paws combined with the youthful voice allowed Cirilla to understand that her company was, in fact, a child. Rose eyes turn with her crown as she looks to the girl who had, she assumed, followed her into the depths of the tunnels. The lioness allowed the rest of her scarred body to turn to face @Faustine.

Hello, are you lost? The girl asks, and Cirilla cannot help but smile and shake her head. Not lost, little one. Are you? She asks, looking at the bright red eyes that stared back at her scarred face.

i am the storm / and im coming for you

the woman reminded faustine of her maman, with her mosaic of scars and ears that looked like they'd been ravished by fangs. she was not dieudonne, but faustine knew a strong woman when she saw one. alas, the woman had the scent of a pride on her. if she didn't then faustine would have asked her to join the bluffs.

no faustine said, slipping closer to the woman. i've been following you. she wondered if she had figured it out anyway. not many other smells were present here in this narrow cavern. not much noise either. i am looking to hunt here too she added, ears swiveling at the distant sound of a water droplet. while it felt calm here, faustine wouldn't be surprised if there were small animals scurrying about.

CODE BY DAANYEN + ART BY HUSH

Cirilla had always found young cubs curious. She had only ever had the privilege of raising one, Reli, but she wondered what it would be like to raise a litter. Her thoughts began to wander whilst she stared at the darker child, but her voice brought Cirilla back to the presence when she had announced that she had been followed.

Did you observe anything interesting? Cirilla asks, knowing that she would have done a similar thing at that age. Hunt, huh? The tan lioness could not imagine hunting anything exciting within these tunnels. You might be so lucky to find a bat, or a stray hare, but nothing much lives in these tunnels other than moisture and noise.

this woman did not seem to be bothered by her dark appearance or the presence of a slick of saliva in the corner of her mouth. shadows and chills always seem to bring out the hollowness of her stomach. they activate something primal, a fear of famine inside her skull. faustine had chained herself to control that part of her brain, though she would never discard it. so she was glad the older woman was here. their conversation could prove to be useful in more ways than one.

there is good hunt here faustine said, eyes catching the flickering shadows, the smidgen of lights. preys come thinking they're safe. i like that, i can prove them wrong. her ears flicked back at the sudden increase in water. could there be prey near the water source here? no, there wouldn't be in these tunnels. i only need a way to conceal she said, remembering the last few hunts she had been in. how do you hunt? @Cirilla



+10 discuss hunting needs with another
+5 tell a hunting story

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

The child remarks that there was a good opportunity to hunt within the tunnels, and for a moment, Cirilla actually agrees with her. Rosé eyes look around the eerie tunnels with a sense of calm, also spotting the shadows that seemed to shiver in the dim moonlight. The lioness looks back at the yearling and smiles. You're right, prey does come in here thinking they are safe. Topic then turned to how Cirilla hunted, and she paused for a second to think about her answer.

I tend to hunt in those neutral group ones that pop up here and there. I like to drive the prey into a corner, and then attack. The woman explains, thinking back to the last time that she had hunted. What about you? How do you conceal yourself, and then hunt?

only seasoned hunters could carry on a conversation like that of faustine and her new companion. she sensed that the woman had more than a few stories in her to tell, from battles won to hunts finished with success. faustine, young as she was, would like to indulge in as many tales of victories as of failures. that was how she will build herself and, once she was ready, she want to best the same adults and any kings or queens standing on her throne.

non, madame, it's the chase that's most important faustine said, the french of her tongue dripping out with ease. it was not often that faustine let slip, but she did not care. her eyes studied the striped woman for a few minutes to allow faustine the chance to see if she recognized the dieudonne tongue. i conceal, oui, but i also give my prey a head start so they think they may win a soft growl rumbled out of her upon the last word. indeed, faustine did adore the image of a prey, with their heart still beating so recklessly and believing they lost her. only, faustine would never lose her prey, for she had simply allowed them their brief respite. but my first real hunt was not by myself, it was with my sisters faustine paused, allowing another silence to hang over her, before she continued we worked together. the prey was a young thing, a zebra astray from her flock, sleep had overtaken her, but our maman took us there after she tracked her down. so my sisters and i had to work together to bring down a hunt bigger and older than us at just six months of age. faustine could still hear the young girl's cries of agony. she could taste her blood, so rich and sweet it had made her mind dizzy. @Cirilla

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

Cirilla listens to what @Faustine has to say, curious to hear such enthusiasm escape from lips so young. Quiet rose eyes study the darker form of the lioness, watching as her lips moved to tell a story. The scarred lioness nods, noting just how impressive it was that they had brought down such a large prey at such a young age. I beat a yearling in a fight when I was just a child, Cirilla remarks in reply, guessing that Faustine would find that piece of information interesting, given the fact that her three-year-old body was now littered in scars. Quite how she had not lost an eye yet, was fascinating. Do you like to fight? Cirilla asks, before adding on: What is your name, little one?

there was no doubt the older lioness had skills, which faustine found admirable. women were brought up to be subservient starting from when they were children. especially among the lions they were treated as lesser beings. not in the bluffs, of course, that was the only place where faustine and her sisters could live and lord over boys and older men. their papa listened to mama and grandmama without question as both family and guard dog. faustine's brother, donatien, followed her and her siblings like their shadow. a guard dog in training essentially and who knew his place just as well as papa did. and so when a boy came into her line of sight one too many times, faustine had no qualms but to hurt him for his audacity. me too she quipped as her eyes shone for the first time, in vain excitement and pride. i fought a boy and then another. but we were all babies; i won of course. she puffed out her chest. i love to fight because that's what mama taught us to. i'm faustine, what about you? @Cirilla

code: cala | art: drifty