`

(Set before https://www.amaryllis-lions.com/showthre...?tid=25240) Silently she crept from her mother's den with silent paws, she was quick once outside to skedaddle away, disappearing into the foliage and once far enough away, she stopped in a clearing, looking around her, then her gaze settled in on the sunset that was Infront of her. She had never been this far from her den, and had never seen so much empty space with that pretty of a back drop, it amazes her. The small cub flicked her tail a few times before finally deciding to explore some, her head lowers as she sniffs the ground, following a scent that caught her attention, she is unaware of anything around her as she tracks this new unfamiliar scent. As she closes the distance between it and her, she lowers into a crouch, butt in the air, paws silently and slowly put one Infront of the other, eyes intently looking Infront of her and nowhere else.

Art and code by Shazaki`

Sweetling - are you okay?

Freja called gently, mismatched eyes having picked up on the young girl from afar and seeing her unaccompanied. She had once again been out in the Grove hunting for herbaceous treasures, anything that she could find to stock up her stores. It had been fruitless so far, though the spring greenery had looked promising. When she'd caught sight of the little girl, it had been a somewhat welcome distraction and she'd watched for a few moments as she'd followed along, perhaps after some scent trail. And then, creeping forward - though Freja could not see what the cub could.

Are you out here alone?

She asked, turning her gaze to the wider glade beyond to see if she was indeed accompanied. Freja had no desire to step on any paws, but she also couldn't in good conscience leave the cub alone out here.

@Kamaria

code by scorpixia ♡︎ || art by editjackson

`

Had she not been so focused on the scent of whatever caught her attention, she may have noticed the lioness long before coming this close, but being distracted is what she does best, so when a kind voice speaks out, it startled the girl, causing her to jump back and face the woman. She assesses her with wide bright blue eyes, coming to the conclusion that this woman is not a threat, she settles down. Kamaria watches her though, tail flicking behind her with uncertainty, ""I'm okay!"" She explains, giving a big grin. Knowing no danger yet, she creeps forward, coming even closer to the stranger, because whoever heard of stranger danger, right? She's asked if she's here alone and she looks around before focusing back on the woman, "Mmm, yes ... And no. My dens over that way, but I snuck out to go play." She gives a girlish giggle, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret between them. "Whatcha doin?"

Art and code by Shazaki`

It was inevitable that she startled the girl, probably because she'd been focusing so closely on whatever had captured her attention. Freja smiled, ears lifted as she noted the uncertain flicker of the young girls tail. Her answer is positive though and the piebald woman nodded in acceptance. She had no desire to cast doubt on the girls assessment of her situation - once Freja's own aunt had insisted that she needed help when she'd been a similar age and so she knew what it felt like to be controlled. When the young lioness mentioned her den being close, Freja immediately lifted her head.

If her den was close, then her mother likely was too.

My sons do the same thing - sneak out to play. She spoke gently, but there was an edge to her facial expression. It took her probably far too long to really look at the young girls face, but glancing back down and finally taking it all in, an uncanny sense washed over her. Her face reminded Freja almost immediately of Zira - the sharp peaks of a crescent moon mask just poking out. Then the solid dorsal stripe that lead seamlessly into a fully white tail.

Suspicion rose.

The youthful question that came was almost missed, the blink of her eyes slow as she processed. It was speculation, it was unfounded - she had no evidence. But they were so close to Vermeda - it couldn't be a coincidence. I was looking for medical plants, but they're all hiding from me. Freja chuckled softly. Was your mummy sleeping, when you snuck out? Could she expect an angry mama to come exploding out of the brush?

@Kamaria

code by scorpixia ♡︎ || art by editjackson

`

The girl toddled over and plopped in front of the older lioness, her chin tilted upward to look up at the piebald lioness, a smile on her face, she hadn't met many lions, honestly, she'd only met one other lion, and it was a cub! So meeting a lion that was similar to her mother was intriguing. The lion mentions sons and Kamaria cocks her head gently, ""Sons?"" She was one of two sisters, and never meeting others meant she was not quite sure what normal things were, she gave a small hmmm before settling her ice blue eyes on the other again, ""My sister sometimes comes with me but she was sleeping today so I didn't wait on her."" She giggled a bit, not catching the edge that came over Freja. Finally, she felt comfortable enough to move closer, winding around Freja gently, purring a bit as she did so. She giggles at Freja's explanation of what she is doing, the little girl plops down right next to the lioness, she is quite a bit calmer than most cubs her age, at least sometimes... When asked about her mother, Kamaria nods gently but a matter of factly, ""Yep, but it's okay, she's asleep asleep, I checked."" She giggled again and cocked her head to look up again at the lioness, eyes wide with interest.

Art and code by Shazaki`

Was this what a normal child was like?

What would it be like to have a conversation with one of her own children and not have to constantly bat away the advance of teeth and claws? What would it be like if just one of them wasn't unhinged? It was wishful thinking, but Freja felt the sharp pang of longing as the girl came closer and plopped down in front of her, an easy smile upon her features. What it would be like to have a daughter. It would be lovely, it would be calm and most importantly it would not be so exhausting. The bright chirp of a query from the girl does cause an answering smile upon her own features. Five little boys, just a bit younger than you.

Which wasn't suspicious at all.

And with the youthful innocence that came with being a child, the girl revealed that it wasn't just herself and her mother, but a sister too. What's your sisters name? And yours, now that I think about it. Then we won't be strangers. She asked, mismatched eyes once more probing the gloom around them as the cub answered her question. Oh, asleep asleep! Well, it's a good job you thought to check, clever girl. It was bittersweet, to think of what it might be like to have a daughter. I'm Freja.

Now they definitely weren't strangers. And was that affection? As the young girl wound herself around Freja's legs and issued an easy purr. As she peered once more around them, something caught her attention. A round, orange thing — Hey, what's that? She asked, lifting a paw to point in the direction of whatever it was in the bushes.

@Kamaria

code by scorpixia ♡︎ || art by editjackson

double, double toil and trouble;
fire burn, and cauldron bubble...

Nafasi watches from the bushes, never once letting herself be seen by those huddled around her perfectly-placed pumpkins. They really were a curious bunch, weren't they? But, unfortunately for them, the sprite was feeling extra mischievous today, and had a trick up her sleeve! And so, with a small grin, the being tilted her maw down towards the earth, eyes glowing, before she gave a pointed flicker of her tail and brought her vision to life in the process.

Uh oh...

A disturbing green fog begins to swirl and escape out of the top of the pumpkin, and with it comes a terrible (and I mean terrible) odour. In fact, the smell is so bad that your eyes immediately begin to water and your stomach starts doing backflips. It's completely foul -- and to make matters worse, seconds later the pumpkin EXPLODES, covering you in a mix of pulp, seeds, and a smell that rivals the worst of any skunk spray.

`

She listens as the woman speaks of her son's, Kamaria smiles up at the woman as she asks for her name, "My sister's name is Salome and my names Kamaria, it means moon." She grins, wagging her butt a bit, she giggles as the lioness calls her a clever girl, a purr erupting from her chest as she leans against the others chest. At the others question, she turns her attention towards the bright orange thing, her eyes quizzical, "What is that?" Before she can even make her way over, a green mist comes out of nowhere, her brows furrow as she watches, then her nose scrunches at the terrible smell, she gags and covers her nose, when the pumpkin explodes, she ducks but it's too late. Her fur is covered in disgusting gunk, seconds later her lip trembles, a precursor to the whimpering breaths that come after.

Art and code by Shazaki`

Salome

Kamaria

Names to attach to the pair of probable-Cassius daughters roaming the wilds. It couldn't be a coincidence, them being so close. Kamaria even said her name meant moon, a fact that brought a bittersweet smile to the piebald woman's lips. Even if it were true, what was she going to do about it? Cassius might very well know about them, they might be here for a reason. But it was certainly irresponsible of him, if he wished to keep his affairs from the Dieudonne wife.

Her thoughts had been distracted by the orange thing, Kamaria's question falling short of an answer as all of a sudden, foul smoke erupted. And then the gourd followed, drenching both in disgusting innards. Not surprising, the cub screamed and Freja jumped back too. In a state of shock, she gaped at the young cub for several long moments before she registered the tremble of lips and whimper that came soon after. Oh - oh Kamaria, it's okay. She rushed to reassure, stepping towards the young girl and swiping gently at her gunked-up face. We'll wash it off, no one will know. Freja placated, knowing there was a small tributary not too far away. Come on, let's get clean.

@Kamaria

code by scorpixia ♡︎ || art by editjackson