The crisp breeze of autumn night floods the Brook. Restless and uncertain, Cathán emerges from the warmth of his den. The grove envelops him; its gentle touch cradling his body, and the softness in which it upholds him. Such a place like this never fails to rekindle his love of the land. As he walks through the Brook, it feels as if they had known one another his whole life.

It was almost a year ago now that he had decided to cross into the Brook, and devout himself to serve Icefang; the boy cannot help but to think fondly on that night. He pauses at the edge of the river, and his body settles placidly beside it.

Sigh.

His eyes fixate on the sky which swaddles him. The boy thinks of his old life - before he lived with the lions. Cathán imagines his mother's fond expression, and he thinks of the siblings which he spent his days with. In the Brook cubs ran free, and they played with one another - there was no struggle. Food was provided by the entire pride. Such a paradise would have been inconceivable to the boy if he had not witnessed it himself.

Still, he finds himself longing for what he does not have. Could he truly ever be satisfied? Was this not what he wanted? The days grow longer as he watches the children of the pride grow. As lovers entwine themselves. The Brook kindles their families. Cathán knows he is wrong to desire in such a selfish way, for the Brook is his family.

But it is not enough. It will never be enough. No matter how much blood he spills to defend it.

Helpless. All he can do is push these thoughts down.

@Icefang ♔

She lingers outside the den longer now that all five children have survived their first month. She stalks through the brook, welcoming the autumn night air on her pallid pelt. Each step is graceful, calculated, and no longer plagued by the clumsy stumble of half her vision. @Cathán's spotted presence is a welcomed sight and the queen chuffs a greeting towards him. Always the boundary breaker and space intruder, Icefang strides right up to him and drops her larger, muscular frame besides him slightly rolling into him. Perhaps the friendliest she has been during the year he has lived inside the Brook, but his loyalty to her and her cause was appreciated by the elder female. Besides, she needed a break from the mewling and pushy paws of tiny newborns at her teats. "Something bothering you?" She rumbles noting the brooding mood that has seemed to engulf him, while she on the other hand is happy to have found some company. Whether she is wanted or not and Icefang always assumes she is hence the mindless suffocation of herself into his space.

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His clouded plague of thoughts is cut straight through by ice cold claws – a chuff breaks free his trance. Slowly, the cheetah turns his head to see who is calling him. Who else would be seeking solitude in this empty night?

He spots her then, @Icefang ♔. It was always a relief to see her well and thriving; after all the Brook had gone through, she never showed weakness. It was something that he envied deep down, but never would he admit it. She presses soft into his own, and for a second the boy is nearly swayed rightwards – yet he soon regains his balance.

“Hello, my Queen,” Cathán greets her with a gentle purr. His head shifts now, focused once more on the trickling river before them. “It is a lovely night out, don't you think? Best to enjoy it...Winter is soon approaching.” He falls silent for a moment more, unsure of how to address her questioning; truthfully, something did bother him. To admit it...He hoped it would not constitute him weak.

“I...Suppose,” the answer is vague – leaving more questions than answers. Dejectedly, Cathán lowers his head ever so slightly. “It's just...Well,” he starts with a sigh, “I love the Brook. It is my home, of course. My family, even...” The cheetah tilts his head ever so slightly, his eyes shifting to face the sullen earth.

He wonders if she would understand of what he speaks. Could she?

“It just gets lonely sometimes. It is hard to be so different amongst so many familiars. I know I am an equal, but sometimes it feels so isolating,” the boy admits. “I would never leave here, yet I can't help but to wonder what I'm missing...If I could ever fill that empty gap,” his paw drags aimlessly in the mud. “Cub season is passed, now. Seeing all those happy smiles,” the cheetah stares back at Icefang once more. “It is selfish of me to have such thoughts, but I'm sure you can understand, my Queen. To be robbed of opportunity...It is hard to bare. I have not met a single cheetah in these lands.”

He feels the hotness of embarrassment flood his face, and foolishness which is in tow. How silly, to let his heart out all at once this way. “The war is over, for now. To know all of the growing life in the Brook is safe another day is a relief. Even if they are not my own...I don't know. I still cannot help but to long for what I cannot have.”

Such satisfaction will never come.

In spite of their similar size, Icefang exceeds the lanky cheetah in muscle and weight. Her affectionate tumble into his side nearly topples him, but just like a close friend she tenderly remains glued into his side once her belly meets the Earth. "It is lovely," she rumbles her agreement "I am out by the brook most nights." It is true, though this is one of the first time she has happened to see him. Usually it was Lathan, though she wonders if @Cathán is subjected to the same habit, or if recent troubles had caused his night late meandering. "Winter does not concern me too much. The brook was plentiful last season. I am sure it will be again." Hence why she had done all she could to keep the land under her paws especially as the X'uekai numbers slowly multiplied.

When he speaks again, she watches with her good eye a tilt of her head as he stumbles over his words. Ears flick forward and she feels a slight crushing sensation in her chest. That statement sounded as if he was reconsidering things. Reconsidering being here. Icefang is silent, hoping that her anxiety is getting the best of her in this moment and proceeds in allowing him to speak, uninterrupted. When he confirms that he would never leave, the greedy part of her silently exhales in relief.

The silence feels heavy between them as she considers his request. "You want your own family," she states, an understanding as she considers how much she has done and conquered for her own. To be truthful, she hadn't seen any other cheetahs within Amaryllis either. Cathán was a rarity and that was part of her desire to snatch him up for the Brook's purposes. "Have you considered...expanding your sights outside of your own species?" Though he wouldn't be able to produce young with a lioness, but Icefang assumed the companionship wouldn't be any different. Regarding children...she could come up a solution or two for that. Her eye roams over him searching for any reactions as she throws her next idea into the air. "Occasionally, I mother orphans. Would it please you if I gift you one?" As if they were flowers she could so easily pick and bring back.

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