There was the swiftest change in the world as somewhere in the midst of the tunnels of the Hollows, a boy had gone to sleep but a man had woken up. Cosmin Savante was swift to wake up today of all days, giddy with glee at the prospect that he was no longer some obnoxious boy but he was a yearling! He and his siblings had finally reached their first year and could contribute even more to the pride. Not without haste or fanfare, he chuffed around his area to alert everyone around him that today was the day and he wanted to share this news with the whole world because they deserved it. Though, he had no idea what he wanted to do for the day because he was slim out of good ideas all the time but he was sure that someone around here might have a clue.

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Thella had been enjoying a leisurely stroll through the Hollow, taking in the silent peace surrounding her when she heard the chuffing up ahead. She quickened her pace until she reached a corner and turned to find herself face-to-face with the source.

"Oh!" She took a step back so as not to intrude any further into the space of the young beast before her and glanced quickly over his most notable features - reddish-tinged pelt and pale splotches. I wonder about his relation to Alexander, she mused. As her gaze reached his pale blue eyes, yet another resemblance, she found herself taken in by his happy demeanor. It was undeniably contagious and she couldn't contain the smile breaking across her face.

"You seem quite pleased," she chuckled. "May I ask why?"

@Cosmin

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Living in a pride that consisted almost entirely of family members, he was more than surprised and certainly rather excited to find that someone other than that had come to see his happy moment. Hi! he greeted excitedly, not knowing who she was and most certainly not making any sort of assumption that she was anything other than a pride member that he simply hadn't met. There was no sadness that she didn't know why he was excited and most certainly couldn't have any negative thoughts now. Absolutely not, because he got to share with some new lion that it was his birthday. Oh! Because it's my birthday! A look on his face that very obvious spoke aren't you lucky?? and isn't that awesome!? @Thella ♔ looked a little bit older than himself so maybe she could understand how awesome a birthday was but this one in particular, as a member of Royalty, felt quite special.

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"Your birthday? Well that's surely deserving of a celebration!" Thella whipped around, and began to scan their surroundings with fervor. In her short time in the Hollow, she'd come to find that the lava tubes were home to many black stones of different shapes and sizes, though most of them were quite nondescript and touched by dirt and debris. Occasionally though, one could be found with a much smoother and shinier surface, and this is what she sought. Such a beautiful reminder of this place she now called home.

It took her a few moments before she finally caught a glint. She rushed over and inspected it, making sure it met her standards before gently grabbing it between her teeth and turning to prance back over. Setting it down in between the two of them, she smiled, "It's not much, I know. But you can't have a birthday without a gift! My name is Thella. You?"

@Cosmin

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There was a pompous, proud and excited look that passed over him in slow motion as @Thella ♔ excitedly addressed that today was a day worth celebrating. As though it was the most important day of the year and she was just thrilled to be a part of it. Because, well, she should be! Though, he hadn't a single clue what she was suddenly doing as she whipped around and began looking all around them frantically. Cosmin's head swerved and dove, body continuing to stand in place, trying to get an idea for what it was that she was on the move for.

Without missing a beat they suddenly spun back around to meet him, carrying something in their mouth. With fervor they dropped it in between them and expressed that it wasn't much and that it was a birthday gift. Oh! he shouted, that's so very nice of you. Thank you!! I'm Cosmin Savante! Cosmin then leaned his head down to inspect the item. His nose touching its surface gently before he raised his head.

Brows furrowed, question marks in his eyes as he cleared his throat, I don't mean to be rude, but like... what is it... exactly? Cosmin's first thought was that it was simply a rock which was cool and all and a gift was a gift but he was still learning and hadn't a single clue what the lioness had put in front of him. Only way to do know was to ask, even if it was poorly asked.

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A laugh escaped her at @Cosmin's puzzlement. "Well, I don't know if I can give you quite the answer you're looking for. I've been wandering the passages quite a bit since my arrival, as a way to clear my mind, and I've noticed these particular rocks every now and then. I'm not entirely sure where they've come from, but aren't they beautiful? I've got a few that I've collected back in my den."

She admired the shiny surface with a soft smile before continuing, "Nice to meet you Cosmin. I'm Thella! So, what sorts of things does the Savante family partake in for birthdays?" As she spoke, she began to think back on her own family's birthday antics. It took everything in her to quell the lump rising in her throat at the thought that she would never again get to enjoy them. But this wasn't about her. No, it was time to celebrate a new friend and have fun with new traditions.

"Singing? Sparring? Races?" she continued as her heart began to pound with anticipation. "With a family as seemingly big as yours, I'm sure you all can't help but have a fun time!"

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Interesting... he mused quietly as he stared at the strange obsidian rocks that were almost true to their natural location of Obsidian Hollows. Perhaps that was why the pride was so aptly named... Cosmin had always assumed it was just because the Hollows were as dark as. It's very nice. Very... Obsidian Hollows-esque. Surely that was a good gift, right? To have a memory of your home in the shape of a very well-meant gift. After all, it was the first (and only) gift that he had gotten for his birthday thus far and it was the best one. How could it be anything other than special?

As for what Savante did on birthdays, well... I actually have no idea if we do? Not that he was aware of, anyways. Cosmin sometimes didn't pay attention to the important going on's of the family but it didn't mean that he didn't like what they talked about! He just had a bad habit of tuning things out when it got boring or if there wasn't enough action in the midst. @Thella ♔ mentioned singing, sparring and races and Cosmin twisted his bottom jaw as though trying to piece together if he had heard his family talk of any sort of events like that.

Me and my siblings often get into those kinda things. Not the singing though. Cosmin was quite positive that he never wanted to hear any of his siblings attempt to sing. Certain that each one of them would probably break everything around them if they even so much as attempted to let out a first note.

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Though Cosmin didn't seem to quite enjoy the gift as much as she did, Thella took it in stride and quickly moved on with a sly smile. "No singing, eh? Well, I'm no bard, but a birthday song is a must."

The widest grin broke across her face as she began the most off-tune song, making up lyrics as she went, and she couldn't help but giggle her way through it.

"In the Hollow's whispers, tales of old,
For @Cosmin, here, a new year unfolds!
'Happy birthday!' I say, in this little rhyme,
We're winging this celebration, isn't it sublime?"

She almost couldn't finish between her fits of laughter at how awful it was but with tears in her eyes she looked over at Cosmin. "That's one more thing checked off the list! What next?"

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As if he could already see where it was going, Cosmin opened his mouth to say that she really shouldn't. That she most certainly did not need to sing him any sort of song nor sing it loud enough for anyone else to hear. The first note she sung, he flinched. Cosmin tried his hardest to cover the movement and hoped to have succeeded, for @Thella ♔ was most certainly no bard as she had suggested to him. While her singing was not on key and made him want to hide his head in the ground, she was rather surprised by her whimsical lyrics. She had actually... made it work. Cosmin laughed, chuckling a good bit as soon as she done and feeling... well, like he had truly been seen today. Not as a Savante but as Cosmin. Just Cosmin. You may not be a bard, but you're an excellent lyricist! Or a wordsmith, whichever one was fancier but a lyricist sounded more bard-like than the latter. As for what they could do now, well, he felt that he had gotten as much excitement as he could handle for the moment so instead chose, don't suppose you would indulge a birthday boy in telling me about yourself? It was clear that she was enthusiastic and good with a rhyme or two, but what else?

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Thella took a dramatic bow at Cosmin's praise and feigned humility, "Why, thank you! Thank you! Oh, it was nothing! Nothing at all! Ha ha!"

What fun that was! She hadn't had a good laugh in ages and it made her so happy to see someone else enjoying their time as well. She loved nothing more than her family and friends, even ones that she just met, like Cosmin, and wanted so much happiness for them.

Don't suppose you would indulge a birthday boy in telling me about yourself? Her wide smile faltered and the glint in her eyes dimmed a little at his request. She could feel the lump in her throat returning. "Umm... well." Her gaze drifted up momentarily to meet Cosmin's before flitting away quickly and she had to steel herself—if she was going to get through this, eye contact would not be possible.

She took a deep breath before continuing, "As you've surely noticed, I'm not from here. Not from the Hollow nor whatever land the Hollow is in. I found myself here after many many months of... escape. Over a year, I think, but I wasn't doing a great job of keeping track of time. I was just trying to get as far away as possible..." Her voice trailed off with a slight tremble and she stared out at nothing, not realizing she had stopped speaking.

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