@Talisa would attempt to soothe her worry over Maua’s lack of communication, assuring her that her prayers and such were being heard, but that the deity worked in mysterious ways. And that it was done in ways that they might not see at first. It worked, for now. But she had been told by Valhalla that Talisa was one of a few lions to have seen and talked with Maua multiple times, and that she seemed to have a connection to the deity that some could only dream of having. An ear would flick at her mother’s words about Maua, acknowledging that she’d heard her about the situation. "“I just wish I would see something that would be proof of some sort that my prayers and offerings weren’t going unheard…”" Cassandra said, not really understanding that Maua’s quietness was actually a way that the deity was helping her. It was definitely bothering her to feel like she was being ignored when all she was doing was reaching out for help, but she’d leave that be for now. Perhaps at some point Maua would appear and help her… Though she wasn’t sure if that would be - or ever.

Regarding Farrow, her mother would then ask if she had even tried to get to know him. "“I’ve… tried… But for whatever reason I just can’t bring myself to get to know him. I can’t figure out why, but its like something is in the way and I can’t break past it to get to know him.”" Cassandra said, her obvious frustration at her inability to do something that seemed so simple to instigate. As for her younger siblings… her mother would simply request that she give them time to grow and actually be able to explore and talk. She had been sorta cub-sitting once, mainly sitting in a tree and keeping an eye on her younger siblings. And that one experience had her not really willing to cubsit again because of how loud and obnoxious Tormund especially had been. "“I wanted to come in when they were first born, but something mentally blocked me from doing so, and I don’t know what it was or how to fix it.”" Her frustration at the situation was obvious with every passing word. She was in an emotional whirlwind right now, and she didn’t know what to do with the situation, nor how to make sense of what she was feeling at the moment either.

Talisa would soothe her worries about what she had been feeling with regards to having to put on a mask to feel like the perfect daughter. "“I just feel like if I don’t appear like the perfect daughter, that I’ll disappoint you. And Mummy. And Aunt Nymeria.. I feel like I have to be the perfect representation of a Valour, because I have such a reputation to uphold because of my name.”" Cassandra cried, tears freely flowing down her face now. All those pent-up emotions and feelings were finally bubbly to the top and just overflowing. She hadn’t wanted her feelings to come out like this, but she once she’d been prompted she couldn’t push them down any further.

Talia had followed her down from the tree, and her worry over her mother not wanting her in the Brook would be quickly soothed. The fluffy girl would move towards Talisa, aiming to bury her head against her mother’s chest as she sniffled. "“C-Could I go to the Cove with Mummy? I don’t want to leave you… but it feels like the Brook has been stifling lately. Like I can’t breathe when I’m here sometimes… I don’t know why.”" Cassandra said, her ears pushing back as she spoke. She didn’t want to leave Talisa, but she felt like the more time she spent in the Brook lately the more likely she was to explode or something. She didn’t like it. The Brook was her home, but it had felt… crowded as of late, especially after asking Mummy to help her learn to fight so she could protect others, and learning what she had from Valhalla about everything that had happened outside the Brook. "“Mummy could maybe use some help in the Cove. I know its been awhile since Aunt Ava’s cubs were born, but I’m sure she wants to spend as much time as possible with them…”" Cassandra said softly, a stark cry from the whirlwind of emotions she was just a short while before.

Cassandra kept herself pressed against Talisa’s chest for as long as she could, wishing for a few moments that she was a young cub again, without the worries and fears she had looming over her these days. The world had seemed like a perfect place when she was a young cub, and she had felt like nothing could go wrong. But then, her perfect world started to get a few cracks in it, and lately it had felt like it had started to completely break about. "“I should also mention… I met Valhalla at the Grotto once… He told me how close Uncle Aquila came to losing his life, and explained to me what had happened in the Rainforest. He also told me you helped bring him back to life as a Guardian…?”" Cassandra said, pulling back slightly to look at her mother, cheeks still tear-stained from her crying. The tears had mostly dried up now, but she still sniffled occasionally and the evidence of her crying were plain to see by anyone who looked at the Valour girl.

"“How’d you bring him back from the dead? He explained you have a close connection with Maua…?”" She asked. It might seem odd to anyone else who didn’t know the girl, the way she had suddenly swapped directions on her emotions. But this was her way of calming down. Her way of bringing her emotions back under her control, though not buried again quite yet.

actions. "speech."

Art by Swan | Table code by Zodiac

All she had ever wanted was for her own children to be as happy as they possibly could be and to experience everything they wanted. To live a happy and healthy life, even if it might not be by her side. Talisa knew that eventually some children left the nest and that was fine; though, she hadn't expected her children to grow into adults so quickly nor had she expected to have to let them fly any time soon either. Continue to listen and see the world around you. One day, They will come. She paused if only to take a gentle breath of air. It wasn't until I called upon Maua for my own children that I saw Them. They don't often appear in the way that one expects Them to. For example, Maua could be the butterfly that perched on a nearby leaf. Or a frog that hopped across your path. They could be anything they so desired.

That is alright. Perhaps time will reveal an interest in getting to know him and perhaps not. I won't fault you for that, and neither will Mummy or Farrow. It's alright not to love everyone. @Cassandra didn't have to be like her Mama or like Mummy, she just needed to be herself in whatever form that took. Time, as well, would help to heal the way she saw her younger siblings and Talisa hoped that one day she would see the potential of kindness and love to share with them. After all, Talisa was a year younger than her older siblings and yet Nymeria was her best friend next to Morrigan. A sister that was so much more than just that and Talisa wouldn't change it for the world.

You may have the name of Valour, but you are so much more than that. Talisa rubbed her chin on the top of her daughter's head. You are a Greyflood-Tollaire, too. You have a fire in you from Mummy's side. A great passion in your heart. A litter born of two very different worlds. Embrace both sides. Of course, this had taken Talisa a while to truly come to terms with the changes of her homeland. She had always known that Khal, Ori and Cassandra were the link between native and non-native, but she was beginning to see the bigger picture now that they were older.

A deep inhale as Cassandra seemed to know a lot more than she let on. Information that Talisa had been holding onto not in an effort to keep her children out of it, but in the effort of keeping it because she didn't have all the answers to what had happened. I did, yes. Confirming that what Valhalla had said was true. She had made sure that he would have a place in the spirit world as something more than what he was. That he had a place where he could live comfortably and be more present for the family that he had left behind. I've been a faithful follower ever since I was little. Time that most children spent playing, exploring and enjoying things -- I spent that time worshipping Maua and learning what I could. That still didn't explain much but she didn't know what to say. I make prayers to Maua after every successful hunt. I pray and meditate every morning when I wake up and before I go to bed. Talisa paused and made some distance between herself and Cass, wishing to look her daughter in the eyes. There are many different ways to worship a God. Everyone's way is different. So find what best suits you.

manip & table code by k'sariya

Her mother's words would soothe the young girl's heart. She was nearing her first year, and as much as it would hurt to leave @Talisa in the Brook, perhaps it would be for the best. She could stretch her own wings, find herself perhaps, in the Cove with Morrigan and her aunt. Talisa would speak about how she didn't see Maua themselves until she called upon them for her own children. Her and her brothers. She could gather that at least. From a young age they'd always been told of what Maua had done to help their mothers bring cubs into the world that held traces of both of them without any help otherwise. Her brothers both took very much after Talisa in appearance and mannerisms, but she had the fire of Morrigan that burned brightly beneath the surface. She was the eldest daughter, but was a near perfect mix of Talisa and Morrigan both in her appearance. One look at her standing between Morrigan and Talisa would solidify that she was the product of both lionesses.

A slight nod would be given to her mother as she explained everything, and assured her that it was okay that she wasn't able to get to know Farrow. That she wouldn't fault her for that. ""Maybe some time away from the Brook can help remove whatever 'block' is keeping me from getting to know both Farrow and my younger siblings better.."" Cassandra said softly, speaking of the block she'd felt that was keeping her from getting to know Farrow better. From loving her younger siblings more than she did. A soft rumble escaped Cassandra as her mother rubbed her chin on her head. As Talisa spoke of embracing both sides, it made it more solid in her mind to leave to the Cove for awhile. She'd seen the Valour side, and learned what being a Valour meant. But she'd not gotten the chance to learn about the other side of her family yet. ""Could we maybe go to the Cove and talk to Mummy and Aunt Ava about me joining the Cove after my first birthday? That way I'll have a chance to say goodbye to everyone before I leave..."" She asked, looking at her mother as she spoke.

Her statement of knowing what had happened with Valhalla seemed to surprise her mother. ""I didn't mean to pry into anything I wasn't supposed to... I was just so eager to meet a Guardian for the first time and learn about how he'd become one and one thing led to another and he told me about what happened."" Cassandra said, hoping her mother wasn't disappointed in her for trying to learn about Guardians and stuff when it led to what it had. Talisa would confirm that she had helped Valhalla become a Guardian, and would explain how she worshipped Maua. ""I've been leaving offerings of wildflowers and beautiful river stones at the Grotto for Maua.. Maybe when I come back to visit the Brook you can teach me more about the different ways to worship Maua?"" She asked, pushing her head against her mother's chest once again. It would hurt to leave her mother and siblings... But she always was welcome to come home and visit whenever she wanted to. It wasn't like she was leaving Vermeda and never ever gonna be able to return to the other side of her family.

actions. "speech."

Art by Swan | Table code by Zodiac

Even though it was damn near breaking her heart that her first daughter would be leaving her, Talisa had to hold on. At least hold on long enough to let the bird fly on her own for once instead of be swallowed by the same place. When she had been younger, Amaryllis had been her oyster and she had seen everywhere and everything that it had to offer. Now that more lions had come and more prides had popped up, it made being able to be more independent that much harder. @Cassandra needed this and the more Mama thought about it the easier it became to let her baby bird fly.

She hummed gently in an effort to soothe her daughter and the words that followed. Constantly giving a soft reassuring purr as she knew that time away would be good for both of them, for every party involved. Whatever you would like, as she wasn't in a hurry to rush her daughter off but knew that Morrigan would be happy to have a daughter there. It might be good for the both of them, really, to know that their bond could continue with a child in the Cove. That it wouldn't just feel like Morrigan was halfway across the world but that they were building an empire. A future. Together, while also apart.

I'm glad that you met Valhalla. She smiled, thankful for the colossal native to have been in their lives and to continue to do so. He has been a family friend for many years. And he deserved a place in the afterlife and Guardian suited him. I would love nothing more than to share with you many ways to reach out to them. Maua was certainly watching them now -- Talisa swore she could feel their eyes upon her -- and knowing that this wasn't about not appearing for Cassandra but rather a moment where she could teach her daughter patience. That learning and finding your own pace in life was important, especially when it came to the afterlife.

manip & table code by k'sariya

She might be but a child still (albeit a rapidly growing one), but she could tell that her leaving the Brook made her Mama sad. As much as she didn't want to leave, she also felt like she needed to do this. Needed to find herself outside of the Brook. She and her siblings hadn't been able to really explore outside of Vermeda, especially not in the more recent months. She felt cramped in the Brook, as much as she hated to admit that. Not really being able to explore freely outside of the brook without worrying her mother or having an escort... She'd basically been stuck in the pride territory, save for her unsolicited trip to the Cove, or her trips over to the grotto for her prayers and offerings to Maua.

""I promise I'll come visit as often as I can Mama."" Cassandra promised, wanting to help soothe her mother's sadness at her leaving for the Cove. ""Mummy and Aunt Ava won't keep me from coming to visit you, that much I know for sure. I can come for lessons about Maua. And maybe when I come visit, I can bring things from the Cove, like seashells and stuff that my younger siblings might not get to experience while they're still young."" She said, wanting to try to brighten her mother's spirits about her leaving at her year mark.

""He mentioned having known the Valours for years. I'd asked him if he was Aunt Ava's husband and my uncle, and he said he wasn't - but that him being so close with my family he could technically be considered an uncle."" Cassandra said with a chuckle, remembering that conversation. She liked Valhalla, thought he was nice. It made her wish she could've met him before he became a Guardian though... Glancing up at the sky and realizing how much time had passed, the fluffy girl looked to @Talisa before speaking. ""I'm sure my younger siblings are causing quite the ruckus looking for you. We should probably head back towards the den before they come looking for us. I'd rather them not find my favorite perch just yet."" Cassandra said, a soft smile on her face.

For the first time in quite some time, Cassandra felt like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders and that she could somewhat breathe easy once again. Her paws turned towards the direction of the den, starting to walk in that direction. Bi-colored gaze would look back at her mother, waiting for her to come with her, before continuing to move towards the den.

-Exit Cassandra if not stopped-

actions. "speech."

Art by Swan | Table code by Zodiac

Sadness was a hard emotion to hide and she had never been good at simmering any of her emotions down even when she tried. @Cassandra was such a blessing and did and said all that she could to persuade Mama to not be sad yet there was a great moment where pride came into play. A moment where she was so thankful for her daughter's spirit even if Talisa wished she had all the answers. At the end of the day she was still just one lioness and couldn't have the appropriate answer to all. Another great reason that her going to Caladan would be good. To see more than what she had seen now -- though, she didn't think she would be prepared for another to leave the nest. Mentally grappling onto Ori and Khal in the hopes that they'd continue to be her little birdies for a little while longer.

I know they won't. Nor will they keep me from seeing you, she snickered and sasses knowing that she wasn't about to let Cass go and never see her. It just meant that more trips would have to be made. I'd say he is definitely family regardless of who he is or isn't mated to. He has always protected our way of life and fought to protect it. In doing so, he had risked his life and lost but the honor was still present each and every day. She couldn't bring him back to life but she was thankful that she could at least give him a little more room to be able to bear witness to the lives of his children.

Right, she thought idly as she had left Farrow in charge of the kids. They had been sleeping when she had left but by now she was certain they would be climbing up the walls and Farrow's hair had likely turned gray whilst not knowing what to do. Fair enough, she chuckled knowing that a precious spot could very easily be ruined by the arrival of others and thus knew that for a little while longer she could keep the sanctity of her perch in tact. Leaving Cassandra to move off and away while Talisa held back just for a minute to admire just how grown her daughter was. How far they had come from the squealing and adventurous little sprites to the yearlings that they were not far from becoming.

With a long but calming sigh, Talisa wandered forward hoping for the best for her little girl.

-- exit talisa. --

manip & table code by k'sariya