She had done some prep work before inviting @Vysemala with her. It had been her mates idea, and after making sure that their sons would be able to manage for a few days without them... she had gone to try to find a place suitable for this small "vacation". Jewel had come here once before with Topaz and hoped that she remembered the way. Finding the falls had been a bit difficult, but she had managed. The black female had found furs, some soft moss and sweet grass and started the process of laying out a comfortable bedding area for them. She knew vee had a great idea..but didn't want her to do all the work. Thr ebon queen fussed and fetched and carried until she was sure it was as good as it was going to get. Then, she returned to the waters and pulled some larger fish from the surface, bringing them towards the bed beneath the stars. Once that was done, the woman returned to the Cove to try to entice her caramel Gemini with her.

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When she was with Jewel everything hurt a little less. The worries were numbed, uncertainty restrained. Because, with her mate, it didn't matter so much what the future held. If her shadow was in it it'd be ok, it would all be things that Vee could manage. So as their life within the pride shifted, as fate wretched control back into its own claws, it was cause for pause but not cause enough to call off this plan. Vee wouldn't let it fall to the way side forever. Their boys would be safe, the lot of them were strong together. They were sensible things, and Vee was thankful to have such a complete feeling with them around. I'm going to close my eyes now- you lead the rest of the way and tell me when to open them. She playful spoke up as they wound their way up the peak side and into an area more dense with foliage, beautiful and secluded. Her sapphire eyes would close and both tails would dance over to hold a touch on Jewel's guiding hip.

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A smile - rare these days, though no less genuine- touched her lips as @Vysemala spoke, trusting her to lead and guide her along the path. "Are you sure? I have a problem with depth perception now." The ebon woman chuckled, the joke falling a little flat - but at least she was trying. She knew that her mate had been strong her for these months and Jewel wanted to be strong right back wherever was possible. The female would seek to twine her tails through the double appendigates of her mates. The pair walked side by side, Jewel careful to make sure that the smaller female wasn't too close to anything that would trip or hurt her. When they arrived, she inhaled the slightly damp air - the mist coming off the falls filling her lungs, soothing. She had noticed that the less dry air helped the feeling of being strangled by the lingering dregs of pneumonia. "We're here.." She would pause, carefully trying to gently nuzzle the nape of her mates neck, purring softly. They stood on a flat area, her gaze lingering - the sun had started to set, casting hues of reds and golds over the area, the mists from the falls glowing vibrant rainbow. The bedding she had set off to the side with the waiting fish stood unbothered, and Jewel smiled - having worried a little that something or someone would have come through and upended her hard work.

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She grinned and reached over to kiss @Jewel's cheek. I trust you. Not to purposefully run me into anything... Gently Vysemala's tails wove around Jewel's blackened twin tails. She kept pace beside her mate, let herself be guided and build the excitement inside of her chest as they got closer. She tried to imagine what might be beyond her closed eyelids. The aroma of green, of forest. The sound of falling water began to swell and build in her ears. They stopped and Vysemala inhaled deeply the scent of the surrounding, the scent of her mate at her side and drifted into a lull, a warm and happy feeling built up in her gut. Jewel's touch caused her to exhale and while the Queen of her heart nuzzled into her neck she opened her blue eyes to find the setting. Perfectly placed, illuminated in a blazing warm glow from a setting sun. She gasped, leaning over into Jewel immediately feeling like she could melt into a puddle right there. Oh Jewel- It was better than anything she could imagine. A secret paradise for just the Gemini women. She wrapped her head up around Jewel to nuzzle up along her neck and chest. - it's perfect.

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The lioness smiled, pleased that her gift was well received. "You did say we should take a vacation..." her tone held amusement as the ebon woman would shift. Gently nuzzling her mates shoulder. "The boys know we will be gone a few days... so we can spend some time with just the two of us.." besides, in a few more months their youngest pair would be going through their own naming ceremony and Jewel couldn't wait. She was glad that the chocolate lady had allowed her...her strange naming conventions. Jewel had been worried at first that @Vysemala would find it too odd and not wish to follow such a unique tradition. "I found this place a while ago... I thought you might find the scenery to your liking." She spoke softly as if to try not to upset any of the wildlife that shared such a space with them. Apex predators that they were. "I'm glad you're happy..." She shifted, leaning into her mates side with a hearty rumble. "You are...happy...aren't you?" This last few months couldn't have been easy for her and she felt bad about it.

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Just the two of them. A dream like old. Their boys were nearly a year, in that year how many chances had they gotten to have time to themselves that didn't involve pride life or work? You best believe I'm going to make sure you relax. She reached over with her paw to bop the top of Jewel's black paw while grinning. There was a demand in her voice, unlikely there would be many options for @Jewel other than to obey. I do like it. Vysemala said with blue eyes momentarily only for Jewel, the best looking thing out here. Her brown lips smiled softly I am but... She would give Jewel the benefit of her honesty, and where as in the months passed Vysemala might have sugar coated it she didn't feel it necessary right now. Jewel was growing stronger again, a grown woman who did not need to be babied or coddled. ... I am worried about you. I'll love you no matter what but you're not the woman I first met. And she wasn't sure if it was for the better or not. But regardless she had no intention of abandoning Jewel's side anytime soon while she rebuilt herself. Vysemala would be here to see Jewel through to the end

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There was a moment where she felt her mates weight fall on her back and let the smile cross her lips. She did as she was told and let her weight flop to thr side, watching @Vysemala in silence. When she spoke, there was that oh so pregnant pause and Jewel felt her breath catch in her throat. She said she wasn't the same and the ebon woman sighed, her eye closing before she shifted, trying to get comfortable for what she knew would be a...long discussion. "I feel like I've lost myself, Vee. I haven't had...direction. I had thought not being a leader was the safest for us all, but.." to see the work they had thrown into their home go by the wayside as it saw two changes of leadership in less than six months.. "I'm still out there.. in the waves." Her tone had grown soft, tails flickering nervously as she worked out how to get her words to come out. "I .. feel like I'm drowning sometimes." She didn't want to be the type of creature that only drove herself by power, but she had been struggling since casting off the Caladan crown. Jewel thought back to what Gwyn had said and wondered if he ans she were more alike than she realized. She had to WORK.. something to throw herself into. Lazing around doing nothing only left space for her thoughts. Yes, it gave time for family and things like this...but..she hasn't felt connected to the covein some time. "I have started to wonder if its...the disconnect in what was and what is.."

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Vysemala too felt the budding of a conversation in their future. She let herself be comfortable, to fall into a relaxed position against her mate and to occasionally, but freely, pepper the shadow woman with soft kisses or grooms to her dark features. The heaviness of the topic need not cease their affectionate touching, it need not be the only defining event in these moments. And more than anything else Vee felt it necessary to feel connected right now. United against whatever @Jewel was fighting in her mind. I won't let you drown. She reached a paw over to brush it against Jewel, mentally reaching out with all she could for the Queen and mighty figure of her life. But Vee knew Jewel could have to do some of this herself, that she wouldn't let or want someone to perpetually hold her afloat forever. Then let's get you some direction. Set out, make a new home somewhere like we built up the Cove. That had been the highlight of their life anyways right? Not the flourishing strength of Caladan but the work it had taken to get it there. From early days of just a few of them into something grander than that. A home. Building that again... maybe that was what Jewel needed? What was, what is, there's one more. What can be.

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The touch of @Vysemala was like a lifeline. A duckie floaty thrown to a drowning man. A thing which she clung to with every ounce of her remaining strength. Her limb splayed over her mates hide, ebon toes flexing against the chocolate of her fur. She listened with rapt attention as she spoke. Her thoughts had merit and she hummed. "I think..." Jewel would shift slightly to groom her mates shoulder, wondering idly if the stripes had a different texture...and got distracted focusing on trying to find that out. "You're right. But.. I don't think a home from the ground up is in the cards for us.. all the prides are established as far as I'm aware...or ruled by those I would consider friends." It wasn't something she wanted to do...take a pride from a friend or ally. "Gwyn spoke recently of trying to claim a home again but.." her ears fell against her skull as she mulled over that. "He has had bad luck...I wonder if he's done something to upset the gods of this realm." Did she want to chance that karmic damage on her own family? "Perhaps the next prides to fall...we should see who the leaders are..see if they would permit us to work with them..." for a time. She wouldn't admit she wasn't ready to lead..but she knew it hung there just beyond reach. Jewel hated to admit it to herself but she had been happy as queen. Confident..she had known that the health of the pride was a direct relation to their hard work. Nothing had truly compared to that. Even raising their sons.. she was so used to doing it alone that having help had been...fantastic.

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Either he's upset someone or he's just unskilled. Vysemala mused with thought in her voice, wondering if Maua who had granted them cubs and blessed life might have strong feelings about lions that way. Alter reality to their whim... Either way, If you doubt his home to be the right one, then I know there is better. The last thing this plan needed was some perpetual doubt or worry to hang over their heads. The family needed to focus on growth not merely maintaining. So that meant elsewhere, maybe somewhere rather unknown with strangers. I know they won't be worthy of you. No matter who they are. She was not as connected as Jewel had been in the day. She'd conquer anyone in a heartbeat without a second thought if asked of her but that made Jewel the better leader between them. That was dine. But we can see if they maybe come close. Vysemala teased with a warm bit of laughter, reached forwards to lay her neck and chin up against @Jewel while blooming with warm encouraging purrs. Lets go on our next adventure together Jewel.

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