Zinnia

Zinnia was pleased to have Reti alive and home. The youth had slept outside the den that night instead of within her own. Having dragged furs out and snuggled into them during the winter night to stand guard. It was childish, foolish, given her own injuries, but she did it anyway. She was determined not to let him leave without her knowing and the best way to do that was to stand guard. She had brought some herbs, though she wasn’t entirely sure what they did. She had seen Zabrina collect them by the waterfall of the peaks so she knew they were safe. She knew vaguely how to use them….it would be a learning experience. For both of them.

As the sun had begun to rise, the brightness of the sky would wake her, causing her to wince and then yawn. She shifted to stand and flinched, gritting her teeth at the tugging of her own healing flesh. She turned her skull as best she could to look at the angry lines that cut through her spotted shoulder and reached towards her neck (where she could no longer see). Maybe she could get the Queen to look at them? They didn’t look infected though.

Grabbing her bundle of herbs, she chuffed, calling to @Reti ♔ and @Aphrodite, asking to enter before walking in anyway. "I brought plants." She called, words muffled by the mouthful, though she tried not to speak too loudly due to her siblings still sleeping…or pretending to. Her playful tones were gone, there was still a tightness in her chest that she didn’t understand…which was part of the reason she slept outside the mouth of the den- where anyone would trample her if they tried to leave. In the bundle that she delicately sat down were a few strands of lavender, that she desperately wanted to chomp into herself, but she resisted. Reti needed it more.
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Reti had been caught between amusement, concern, and touched - noticing the young one had placed herself as 'guard' at the mouth of the den. It was far too cold for that, frost was not a pleasant thing to have settle on your fur even as a grown arse adult.

He understood having a fierce desire to protect, that there was comfort in taking a defensive position - so he was ... going along with the situation amiably for the moment. If he had known she was using herself as a 'ward' against his 'escaping' well, his amusement would have taken a different shade.

Reti had however, moved his own sleeping hides close to her position, so that when sleeping his warm broad back would be near to her - body heat radiating off it hopefully helping to keep her warmer than she would be otherwise.

The sun was just rising. Normally he would be awake at this time as a semi nocturnal soul - having stayed up at night and going to bed as the later morning hours crept near.

But healing from varied wounds, and having to recover from heavy blood loss left him worn out - drained - and needed to sleep longer and more often than his usual routine. Not to mention various parts of his body hurt like hell in the bitter cold at the moment, the pain did not inspire any wish to move more than necessary for proper healing.

He felt her move in he early hours, heard her wake and leave.

Eyes slid back shut for a few more minutes until the youth returned and chuffed. Bracing himself and loosely clenching his teeth against the discomfort Reti knew would come the chimera forced himself onto his stomach and then scooted away from near the entrance and off to one side so @Zinnia could enter.

Breathing through the pain Reti forced his breaths slow, steady, counting each until the pain dulled back into a constant background noise. Unclenching his jaws Reti looked curiously at what his fellow light and shadow marked feline had brought.

Herbs?

Ahhhh, for helping him heal?

A little smile pulled injured black lips up at the corners, pulling healing flesh a bit - but worth it!

He knew some of them. A 'side effect' of having a mother 'aunt' and close friend who were healers. Others however he was uncertain of. Lavender was one he did know however, and Reti laid his large head on the ground near the flowers - just enjoying the scent for a few moments. "Thankyou Zinnia." he murmured, voice still a bit horse from the damage to his throat and mouth - but strong and tinged with warmth regardless.

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Zinnia

The girl watched as he inspected the plants and smiled slightly. The injured black lips stretching in a way that Zinnia thought would be painful, it stretched and tugged at the healing flesh. She gave him an encouraging smile, though it was also slightly disapproving. He shouldn’t be smiling until it was healed. His gratitude was met with a large grin, his voice hoarse and that realization made her smile falter a bit. It was strong and warm, but it was hurt and raspy. He shouldn’t be talking…yet… she knew that was asking too much.

"You’re welcome….they work better if you eat them." She pointed out, a smirk tugging at her lips as he savored the scents of the herbs. Then she was silent, chewing on her lip as she watched him, as if deciding on if she should say anything or not. He was important to her, important to Aphro, and he had died. "Do you feel different?" She blurted. Remembering what the other scarred lioness had said. He wouldn’t be the same. Yet…aside from the wounds…he looked the same.

"Why did you do it?" She asked, though the real question swam in her eyes, ‘why would you risk leaving us?’ Did he not think that he was needed? That his death would not be mourned? That he would not be missed? She hoped that he understood now that he couldn’t die. That he could not just leave like that again. The thought tightened the already tight knot in her chest, forming a lump in her throat, but she tried her best to push the anxiety that bubbled up down. It wouldn't do her any good right now.



@Reti ♔
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'You’re welcome….they work better if you eat them.'

He paused gently sniffing them, gaze shifting to look up to @Zinnia while enjoying the scent. Her words earning a slightly rough chuckle from his throat, chest vibrating, while a definite spark of humor brightens his multi hued gaze.

"Yes. But then I won't have them anymore. And I like the gift and the scent." he teased, although there was more than a touch of truth to his words. Just smelling them was relaxing, and looking at them reminded him someone who cared about him had brought them.

'Do you feel different?'

Ahhhh. Understanding flicked into his expression at the question and his smile softened from amused to an almost...gentle and subtle expression. "Only alot more sore than usual. Other than that, I am fine. I am myself." he sought to reassure with soft, certain and calm words.

He was the same lion as he had been the first time they met. And he would remain...himself...even after death. Now if that was a 'good' or 'bad' thing would depend on the individual judging of course!

" Zinnia... did you know...that sometimes, if a lion who has a strong ties to others and the living world dies, they can be reborn into a cub body? The energy in these lands is so strong that sometimes those who can feel it, might be able to call those who are badly injured or newly dead back - but it also means that sometimes spirits of those passed can be born again. I have seen a lot of incredible things." and lived through them too.

'Why did you do it?'

His expression sobered then. Lips pressing softly into a line as he took a few moments to - recompose his words, to put all the reasons into a...explainable chunk.

"Because...I didn't want you and the rest of the family, or my friends to be killed." he sighed then, a slightly tierd exhale of air from a bruised and sore chest. "Miaran told me she intended to bring war to all the prides. She swore to get rid of 'witches', to 'purge' and 'burn'...kill ... clerics, those who talk to spirits, anyone who might save or heal the dying. She was a leader and building an army of allies and followers. The longer she stood ... the more suffering to others she would bring."

He took a deep breath in, claws flexing into the ground as he spoke - it was not easy for him to speak like this so openly about what had happened. "That day, when she attacked my elderly mother Hanneth, because she prayed and spoke to the spirit of my father, I knew she meant everything she said. I thought ... if I could take her out right then.. that I could save many innocents. But I failed. And I am sorry." because now that war, that chaos would come. And he had even less of a chance to lessen the bloodshed with this body now permanently damaged.

Yes, he had faith the ones he loved would fight back on their own. But that had not been the point. He had not WANTED them to have to bleed, and fear, and suffer. He had not wished for his little cubs to learn of war and fear so soon. For Zinnia and the others to have chaos and death heaped on heavily.

But life only occasionally gave a soul what they wanted.

Yet he was not beaten. Just...battered. Not out of this race just yet. He would still fight back, the tactics used would need to be adjusted.

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Zinnia

Reti had paused, a rough chuckle coming from his healing throat at her words. He sniffed at the flowers again, but the girl didn’t realize it was to savor the scent, she only assumed he thought they were the wrong plants. She frowned, brows furrowing. She knew they were the right ones. When he looked at her, his eyes shined with humor and she huffed slightly, but smiled all the same. Maybe he was just teasing her. When he explained the smile turned into a grin. "I can get more." A challenge and a promise. She would bring him more gifts in the form of medicine, if it meant that he ate the ones she brought today.

Understanding flickered in his eyes at her question and she listened as he spoke, his expression shifting and softening as he did. She nodded at the soreness, but when he said he was fine, that he was himself, her brow furrowed. Wheels churned behind those yellow eyes. Was he though? He seemed like he was…but…that scarred lioness… she had said he wouldn’t be the same. "How do you know?" She asked, curious and prodding. How did he know he was himself? How did he know if something was missing when he was still so newly…revived?

At the mention of her name, she shifted, focusing on her adopted father. She listened intently to his words, but her confusion only grew. She didn’t necessarily understand how the afterlife worked, but she had not heard stories of rebirth before. He continued, stating being that were badly hurt or recently killed could be brought back and be born again. Her head shook slightly, he hadn’t been reborn though, his body was the same old body it had been. "You left." She stated, "you stopped breathing, your heart stopped beating. I didn’t hear it anymore. You weren’t born again… what if being put back in your body…damaged you?" Her head tilted this way and that way as she worked through her thoughts and finally came up with the word damaged, because what else could be if he weren’t himself? What if the process broke some piece of him? "What have you seen?" She asked, more of an afterthought than anything. Had he seen others brought back into their old, broken body?

For a long moment, they were silent, her waiting on his words and he trying to find the right ones. When he spoke, telling her why he had done it, she listened, trying and failing miserably to keep an open mind. He didn’t want his family and friends to be killed. He went on, before she could argue. He explained the things Miaran had told him and she frowned, nose wrinkling in disgust. It was wrong to purge and burn others, the words he used causing her to gasp in shock, she had seen how that ended and it was a nightmare. It left many broken in more ways than one. It left one orphaned. She swallowed thickly, blinking away the thoughts and focusing on his words as he continued. The longer she stood, the more suffering she would bring. Zinnia nodded, understanding.

He took a deep breath, paws flexing int o the ground, and she recognized the nervousness and nudged the lavender closer to him. It helped her calm down, it would help him to. He continued speaking and she listened, but she wanted to argue, others had stepped in to defend Hanneth! He didn’t need to die. She understood Miaran had attacked her for the wrong reasons, prayer was nothing to be faulted for and neither was talking to a ghost. He had done it to save others and Zinnia would regard him silently. For a very long tense few minutes, she regarded him silently, her expression a confusion of emotion from anger, to grief, to understanding. "You can’t do it again." She stated, her tones blunt and sharp all at the same time. You can’t-" She shook her head, trying to clear the emotion. "You can’t leave me. Us. You can’t leave us." The emotions swirled as the girl glared up at him, pleaded silently with him. She was no longer a child, but she still needed him there. Aphro needed him there. He didn’t see that look her adopted mother had given Miaran when she tore Reti’s throat.

He may not have wanted them to bleed, to fight in some war, but they would. Because Miaran was wrong. She understood (in some way) that he didn’t want her siblings, his children, to see war and death so soon…Zinnia had seen both before she had came to Amaryllis. It wasn’t new to her. Her first war and seeing death had broken her, she was still broken and fragile, but she could handle the death of anyone….except Reti, Aphro, and her siblings. She needed them. They held her together. "So how are we going to kill Miaran?" She asked, head tilting to the side, as if that was the most logical and reasonable question to ask next.


@Reti ♔

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'I can get more.'

"Alright, alright." he chuckled softly before humoring his little healer and eating the flowers instead of just smelling them. Which was not fun by the way. Lavender smelled great - but tasted.... like...flowers. Bleehhhh. She had better bring him more to just smell later! XD

She had seemed uncertain despite his reassurance. 'How do you know?' the worried question posed to Reti. He listened as she mentioned his heart stopping. To her voice, taking in her expression and engraving it into his mind. This is how his death had effected those near to him. The next time he felt the need to challenge another to death - he would remember the devastation wrought if he lost.

"I have died before and returned unchanged. This is how I know...death does not change me. It is a deep secret - only two other living people know. I hope...it doesn't change how you see me." not everyone would be able to handle that truth. But he wanted...very, very, much wanted, his family to know - and to accept him for what he was. Even if there was a big risk of rejection that came with the truth.

'What have you seen?'

"Empires rise and fall. Bloodlines surge then vanish. Three different vast lands full of prides- destroyed by nature, by raiders, by famine and sickness. Survivors moving to the next land to start the cycle again. My spirit is very old." he could never be sure of course, but Reti would be willing to bet his spirit might be the oldest of those roaming these lands presently. At least he knew of no others born at the edges of the land of Stars, who had walked the Valorous territories, and been Deified beneath the great tree.

There would never be a way for him to tell, to know for sure. There may well be others who kept the secret of their supernatural pasts close to their chests as he did. All the chimera could be certain of was his own story. His own past and present, and the things he could still recall.


'You can’t do it again. You can’t leave me. Us. You can’t leave us.'

It was a little humbling. To see once again the worth he had gained in young eyes. The value this present life of his carried for others. "I...." he paused. Shifted taking in a slow breath. "...can not promise never to die of course. And if I am challenged to the the death I must fight. But..." his multi hued eyes sought out @Zinnia 'a gaze as he made a quiet promise "you have my word not to start a deathmatch again." He would just have to settle for repeatedly horrifically maiming enemies in the future instead.

He would still die one day. Perhaps ... not to far in the future. Old wounds would catch up to him. A life now lived on borrowed time was a candle burning at both ends. She would need to be prepared for it. Still...he could try to draw out the light of the flame for as long as possible.

'So how are we going to kill Miaran?'

And there was the question of the hour. He exhaled while pressing lips tightly for a moment, tail sharply flicking behind him a few times in mute contemplation.
"Unfortunately, my loss means that will become much, much harder. " especially as she 'forbid' him from trying it again. "Miaran is engaged to Velasco X’uekai, perhaps married by now. That ties her to the ruling family of the Brook. Attacking her again means taking on her new 'family' of in-laws, and perhaps pride allies as well." it was no longer cut and dry.

"..to stop her now means pride against pride, family against family. A true war." and that meant...more deaths, maims, losses. But what choice was there? It was fight or...allow the hunting and repression of clerics and advanced healers. Allow the lands to be ruled with a bloodied iron paw.

Perhaps fate will remove the problem before it came to that. An illness might take the lioness, an accident cut her life short before the lager conflict is born. But that would be a reckless thing to count on.

"If we are lucky fate will cut her down before it comes to war. I will be speaking to other pride leaders once I heal. To get a feel for where the prides stand." what prides would support the spirits? What ones didn't care either way? And what prides might join in on the 'witch hunts? The answers to those questions would prove to have very wide reaching effects.

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Zinnia

She was relieved when he caved and ate the herbs she had provided. She kept a sharp eye on him, making sure he ate every last bit, and tried not to giggle because none of them tasted great. She managed to stop the giggle but not the satisfied and amused smirk that pulled onto her lips.

He regarded her before speaking on how he knew he was fine. When he did speak, her jaw fell open and she gaped at him. He had died before and came back. Unchanged. Normal. Only two other living people knew. How many ghosts knew? "Does Aphrodite know?" She blurted, instead of answering his concern of if she saw him differently. Of course she did, but not in a negative light. That was freaking cool! But then, she couldn’t help but look over his form and wonder just how old he was. How had he been brought back the first time?

So many thoughts swirled in her mind as he answered her next question of what he had seen. Her eyes widened. He had seen more than she expected. His spirit was very old. "How old? How many times have you came back?" The questions came off smoothly, tone filled with curiosity, these were questions, but they weren’t the question. "Do you remember being dead?" Despite the prying questions, Zinnia did not look bashful or tentative about her questions, It didn’t occur to her that it might be difficult for him to talk about.

When he spoke again, she listened with earnest. Nodding at the compromise they had come up with. He would only defend himself to the death, he wouldn’t challenge again. She could live with that. "Good." Firm, concrete. He wouldn’t do it again. Zinnia had the mind of an adult, despite her youth, she knew he would one day pass, but she hoped that day was many years down the road. She needed him. Her siblings needed him. Aphro needed him.

Then they settled into the discussion of Miaran and Zinnia listened, though her expression was smooth, there was a difference in the level of attention she gave, her bright gaze reflecting the sponge of information as wheels turned in her mind. He said his loss would make it harder and she tiled her head. "Why?" She asked, not understanding how one loss could tip the scales not in their favor by so much. He went on to bring up her allies and Velasco X’uekai. Her brow furrowed. "What does he look like?" She asked, wanting to know what their enemy looked like. He mentioned the Brook and she nodded, so they were not friends, she would remember that. "Who are they allied with?" She asked, she had never paid attention to politics until now.

Zinnia nodded as he explained the gravity of the situation. Family against family. Her expression sobered. "My siblings won’t be safe." She stated the obvious. At least, not until they were older. She frowned. It would be so much better if Aphro was there. He mentioned fate, and she gave him an incredulous look, before her expression brightened. "Can I go?" She wanted to go and meet the other leaders too! She could help. She could…bring lavender.


@Reti ♔

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'Does Aphrodite know?'

"Yes. She is one of the two. The other is my mother Hanneth." and the third was now Zinnia. At some point he would like to be able to tell his one-time-ward Ani if there came a time he felt she could understand and accept it.

'How old? How many times have you came back?'

"Just twice." he admitted "Mmmmm. Lets see. I was known as Hunter Shakti the first time. I lived to about five years. Then I was a powerful spirit tied to a huge tree for...about... ten or eleven years. I was reborn as the cub Reti and am almost ten. So I am around twenty five or so? Give or take a couple years?" something close to that. It got a little fuzzy remembering exact numbers after death.

'Do you remember being dead?'

In an odd way he was actually really enjoying her questions, her interest in the topic. It meant she belvied him (probably), that she wanted to know more. And gods it felt good to be so totally, and completely honest and open for once. Like a breath of fresh air to one trapped underground for a long, long time.

"I do. I remember it very well. Are you referring to the first time when I was a spirit for years, or the short time recently?" He recalled both the first and second times.

She seemed very satisfied at his promise not to instigate another deathmatch. And he was glad. That promise had been just for her after all.

'Why?'

She asked why his loss made it harder, and he would take time to explain it - this was a good lesson in Warcraft after all.

"While I heal she will be gaining more allies. Spreading her madness - so this 'witch hunt' can no longer be stopped one-on-one. If I had killed her she would not have had time to build more forces." and that was the hard, unforgiving, tactical truth. "Also....I will never be as strong as I was before in battle. My front leg will never be able to hold as much weight. I need to be careful to keep that secret as long as I can."

'What does he look like?'

A good question regarding what Miaran's intended looked like. Unfortunately "I don't know. I have only the name. And the knowledge her marriage was part of an alliance with the brook and the X'uekai."

'Who are they allied with?'

"That is what I will be finding out as soon as I can travel safely." he would need to visit the other prides for that information. Carefully.

"I consider the rulers of Obsidian Hollow friends and will check to see what they know once I heal." there was a good chance Thella and Alexander might know at least a bit more.

'My siblings won’t be safe.'

He frowned. The seriousness of the topic obvious in the set lines of his face and slight press of dark lips. "No. Not completely. Not until this is handled. Nor will any clerics." he wasn't going to soften it for her. But he took no pleasure in confirming it either.

'Can I go?'

He looked a bit surprised at the request and then gave it thought for a couple seconds. "Mmmm. Maybe with one or two of them once I know who is safe. I don't want to risk you getting hurt. Buttttttt I will take you with me on visits to allies." as soon as he knew what prides were led by assholes and what ones were reasonable he could start letting her come with him on visits. And she could bring lavender to help him keep his temper if he started to get annoyed with politics.

@Zinnia

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Zinnia

She stared at him. Only Aphrodite and Hanneth knew? She imagined they knew everything about it. She was slightly upset that Aphro had kept such a cool secret from her, they were best friends after all, but after a moment, she came to understand that it was probably not her secret to share. It was his. He trusted it with her. That made her feel special. "Will my brothers and sisters know?" She asked, head tilting, wondering if he would eventually tell them too.
The yearling listened as he spoke, using that time to also look him over and take note of how he didn’t look to be in as much pain or discomfort. He seemed much more at ease. She knew the latter was from the lavender, both from breathing in the scent and eating it. The former…that was hard to tell. Was it because she was distracting him? Or because she had managed to find a pain reliever?

It was hard, she decided, being a medic, because she had to focus on so many different things. It was difficult to focus on his words when she stared at his form. Thus, it took her a second to respond. She was mildly confused, however, why he changed his name. He had lived a short life first. Five years. He had retained a form as a tree, for…a long time. "What happened to the tree?" she blurted. Had it been burned down? Broken? Had he simply left it in favor of a cub body? "Why did you- TWENTY FIVE!" She was caught off guard, jaw dropped staring at him. He was so…old. "You’re really that old?" She tried really hard not to wrinke her nose at the thought. It was difficult for her to wrap her mind around. "Did you look the same when you were Hunter?" She asked, wondering if he was born-again with the same markings. Did his former relatives recognize him?

So many questions. So many thoughts. When he asked her which time she had referred to, she thought about it for a long moment. "Both." She decided, ridiculously curious how he felt about being a tree for so long as well as the more sobering memories of when he was briefly a spirit recently. Had he seen the pain everyone felt, the murderous look in Aphro’s eyes? Or was it more…dark and just feelings?

He spoke of Miaran’s likely plan and she nodded, frowning. "Are there that many that think like she does?" She asked, it hadn’t seemed like she had many on her side…but then again… Milano had rushed to her side to fight Hanneth and Aphrodite. Her gaze shifted to his leg, the one that would never be the same. She frowned more. Was there something she, as a healer, could do to make it better? "I can spar with you to help you hide it." She offered, not sure she was really what the Sovereign needed in that aspect, she was a terrible fighter.

When it came to Velasco, he did not have much to give in ways of looks, only that they were an arranged marriage for the Brook to solidify the alliance. She frowned. The reality clicking into place. The male that had taken Aphrodite…that had to be Velasco, because her adopted mother had been fighting Miaran… That…was unfortunate. She wouldn’t worry Reti, however, not now, he would ruin her hard work at healing him by doing something stupid. Instead, she looked down and nodded, trying to hide the guilt at lying to him….or well…just not telling him the truth.

He mentioned the Hollows and she nodded, she remembered some of them at the wedding turned war. "I can go. I can ask." She offered eagerly, "I can learn while you are healing so you don’t get hurt." She amended with her own logic. Obviously, he would be able to walk fine soon enough, but that didn’t stop her from offering. The sobering knowledge that her siblings wouldn’t be safe would cause her to frown. She didn’t want them to be like her, broken and fractured by her past. "I’ll try to protect them." She again offered. She would have done it anyway, protected them. She was their big sister!

His surprise at her request would have her head tilting slightly, already summoning up an argument if he told her no. He hadn’t fully denied her though, he had said she could go to some… She nodded a bit discouraged. "I know lots of lions from different prides. I can help." She offered, it was sort of a lie. She knew Milano, she planned to go to the bluffs (but he didn’t need to know that), she knew Elara. She was young, she was innocent, she was more likely to not get hurt…or so she kept telling herself.

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@Reti ♔

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'Will my brothers and sisters know?'
"Yes. Once they are old enough to understand and keep it secret." but only @Zinnia was old enough, mature enough to tell right now.

'What happened to the tree?'

"I don't know. That land became very sick. It stopped raining and most prey left, then raiders came to fight the prides over what food remained. Most lions, including my new family left to find a new home. I never saw the tree again." the great tree might have survived if the rains returned in time, he preferred to imagine the land came back to life eventually - the raiders having starved and new families moved in along with new prey and plants.

'Why did you- TWENTY FIVE!' 'You’re really that old?'

He looked at the jaw-dropped expression and burst out laughing - immediately regretting it as he hissed a breath in slightly as the wounds on his neck stung. Still his smile remained bright, if perhaps slightly wry. "Yes. I'm that old. And getting older every year too!" he chuckled - but kept it soft and gentle this time. "So, I have seen and learned maaaaaaaaaannnny things." and made many mistakes too. Some of them serious. But they had turned to lessons as well.

'Did you look the same when you were Hunter?'

"No. I was a little smaller. Mostly bronze with dark brown stockings, a crème muzzle and belly. My tail tuft and mane were very dark brown with a reddish color at the ends. My eyes were mixed green and yellow. I still have some of my colors. One of my eyes is the same, my bronze swirls are the color my coat was, and the brown on two of my paws are the color of my old stockings. My mane and tuft are similar." he was enjoying this so much - it was ... incredibly cathartic to talk about his past so freely. Freedom he thought for the longest time he would never have with anyone in the younger generations.

'Both.'

Reti nodded silently then, indicating that yes.. he really did remember being a spirit both times.

'Are there that many that think like she does?'

"I don't know. There are probably a few. There will also be those who side with her because they can get things out of the alliance and not because they believe like she does. And others who just like to cause violence and chaos." there were always enough of those kinds of souls around to make the more peaceful lions lives routinely difficult. That was one of those lessons his long existence had taught.

'I can spar with you to help you hide it.'

"I would like that. It would help us both grow stronger." a little smile, an almost gentle one touched with fondness - and then a yawn. Damn it. Apparently his healing body was starting to demand rest. But he would fight it a bit longer.

'I can go. I can ask. I can learn while you are healing so you don’t get hurt.'

"I really appreciate the offer Zinnia. But I need you closer to home while I am healing, and to watch your little siblings. Besides, what if she catches you alone while your traveling?" as Aphrodite's daughter Miaran might lash out. And Zinnia wasn't quite skilled enough to take that on right now. "I will definitely have you help me deal with talking to people once I am healed." it could be a good learning experience for her.

'"I’ll try to protect them.'

Reti offered a serious little nod, treating her as an adult in this matter. He knew she would.

'I know lots of lions from different prides. I can help.'

Reti's eyelids started to droop a little as he struggled to stay awake and pay full attention - well as much attention as he could manage! "You are friendly, I bet you do know lots of lions, and that will be very helpful. We can use that to help everyone. But be careful when making new friends, some seem nice at first - but are cruel just beneath the surface." like Miaran for instance. Or many, many others he had known. Hell...even himself at one point long, long ago.

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