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Small and delicate was she against the harsh backdrop of the land. Blistering cold and unforgiving. Yet there she played at the waters edge. Leaving bystanders unaware of just how horrific it had been for her just three days prior.

Shoved into the thick poking dead brush as great big smelly horned things chased off her mother. Or she had lead them away. Yet she had not returned. For three days the small cub had been all alone. Waiting. Watching. Playing with the tall dead reeds that lined the watering hole.
Yesterday she had fallen in. Only to come out freezing cold and whimpering. She had since dried but most importantly she had learned her lesson. No more falling in. No more getting wet.

@Dominic

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code by scorpixia♡︎

Dominic's large, plum form moved with idle boredom as he approached the watering hole. A single pale eye peered out along the waters edge, curious as to if there would be anyone interesting to meet today. It wasn't often he was feeling social, but he was beginning to feel better - more...something. Reconnecting with his brother had made him feel apart of something, so he felt compelled to do...something. He didn't know what yet.

He's pulled from his thoughts by the sound of a small cub. That blue eye of his flicking in it's direction. Small, too small. Worry plastered itself across his face, but he looked to be scowling. Did he approach? Surely she'd be appalled by his face and run away. Where were her parents? Why did she look so rough? Jaw clenches as he takes a deep breath and just approaches, "Hey, what are you doing?" Great start, Dominic.

 

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An old shriveled lilly pad was the new object of her focus. A tiny paw batting and boooping only to pause and watch it make ripples in the water.
She went on like this fir a good while, finally stopping when a voice came her away.

Excitement forced up her head, body jerking, eyes wide, a grin across her face. She had for a moment expected the presence to be that of her mother. Yet even still, her joy remained upon seeing an unfamiliar face.

Makin water dance! The three month old chirped. Want see? Pale paw dipping back toward the floating plan, gently sending it bobbing. Miniature waves rolling and so too do her giggles.

@Dominic

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code by scorpixia♡︎

Brows furrow a bit as she speaks, seeming so excited, so happy. Despite everything. He wished he could have that resilience. To be happy even in the face of...what she was experiencing. Given her alone status and the fact that some angry lioness had yet to come out and attack him for even looking at her - Dominic could only assume no one would be coming for her.

His good eye casts down, looking as the water makes those small waves. They ripple outwards and for a moment, the beast lets out a low sigh. Approaching closer, he attempts to very subtly offer some of his warmth to the girl, without pushing himself right over her. He feigns just looking over her shoulder at the water, acting fascinated. "That is so cool, I didn't know water could dance like that." He muses, offering a light chuckle.

"I'm Dominic, by the way. What's your name, and your Mom's?" Dominic wasn't great at this, but he was doing his best at trying to be very casual. The plum male didn't know what he would do if she started crying.

 

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He moves closer, seeming to get a better look and she even scoots over just a bit. As if the two extra inches would make a difference. Dancin dancin dancin. She sang, shoulders giving some tiny shimmies.

It eat you! She exclaims, nose wrinkling at yesterday's memory of falling into the freezing water. So you gotsbe careful!

He asks for her name. Her mother's name. Arehfeel!. The girl chirps. And Mama! Because of course her mother was simply that. Mother. Aureviel, having had her full attention on the ripples, now shifts to look up at the big man. Her smile faltering the barest bit as the jewel of his eye gleams. For a second her eyes grow wide. Mouth hung open in a gaping gawk. Perhaps the prelude to a scream from some other cubs.

Not Aureviel.

What that?! She yells, turning and hoping up against his foreleg, a tiny paw reaching for his face. Gimme!

@Dominic

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code by scorpixia♡︎

He watched with mild amusement as she began to sing, her body shifting a bit to accompany the lilting words. She was so happy and carefree, but it was obvious...at least from his perspective, that she was alone. Suddenly she exclaims and Dominic nearly jumps, instead he focuses on what she means. Oh. Had she fallen in? He nods, as if understanding her warning. Taking it into consideration.

The way she said her name didn't make much sense, but he was trying to make sense of it. "Arehfeel? Did your Mama say it a certain way?" He didn't want to mess it up, unless that truly was her name. But it felt as if it might just be the way she said words that might be interfering with the truth of it. Just as quickly as she was admiring the water, she was looking upon him and...trying to take the gem from his eye?

He blinks and jerks back, though not enough to jostle her. She would still be able to try and climb up his leg, but not reach his head, as he raised it a bit. "Ah, that..." Hell, how did he explain this to a child? "Some bad man took my eye a long time ago. A friend put a pretty gem so that I wouldn't look so scary." Dominic smiles, hoping that it was at least doing it's job. He'd never asked anyone if it did.

 

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