Alva had called the lookout home once- not too long ago actually. But now she belongs to the obsidian hollows- and to her beloved bear. She had decided to go on a walk to clear her head a little and her legs had somehow brought her back here- to the first safe place she ever knew.

Perhaps her sister would be around although she doubted it- Thana was probably off somewhere, perhaps with that brilliant arachnae character she’d spoken of so highly to Alva. Arachnae- although Alva had never met her, seemed like a very kind and gentle lioness indeed.

She decided to continue her stroll, just for a while longer. For fun, after all.

@Asylum

Asylum was searching, a term both acceptable for things sought within herself and for the kin she couldn't find. Her family had dissolved, and with it, her sense of belonging and purpose. She had to believe they were all just off doing their part for the family, while she had yet to do hers. She recalled her father speaking of joining prides and obtaining information. An outsider wasn't prone to gain much, but if she could work her way into a family, she might gain more useful intelligence.

In the end, she had decided to make a potentially risky decision, one which might crumble with the slightest of applied pressure. She would pretend to be an orphan, looking to be adopted into a family with power. Being as she had only just turned one and was very small for her age, she thought perhaps it possible to pass herself off as some months younger.

Going without food or grooming for a few days was not easy, but it would only add to her performance and give her a better chance at being pitied. One might even overlook her subtle and dangerous scent if she looked in poor condition. The last family had taken her in after all, even though it would cost them a son months later. The filth would help to mask her scent anyway, flattening fur to flesh and making her appear even smaller. She was ready to try her luck, though hunger served as more of a distraction than she might like.

She would note a lioness nearby, but she would not approach her. Her hope was to be discovered while vulnerable. Laying some ways off she would curl up on the ground, in a bit of mud just to add to the pitiful look. She would wait then, like a paw grazing the top of water, just waiting for a fish, or in this case, a lion, to take the bait.

@Alva

image by moogle/code by saph

Alva could smell something..... strange? Perhaps sickly? She didn’t know. Still, she chose to follow her nose- just to check. After all if there was any danger it would be important she warn the obsidian hollows well liked and respectable high sovereign Ulla. Of course, she was Úlla’s future daughter in law- so she may be a bit biased.

Her eyes caught sight of a curled up cub, filthy and underfed looking. Delicate and frail- but not in any sort of good way. Perhaps it was dead. Poor mite! The cub only looked tiny, though she hadn’t met many cubs. “Are you alright, sweetheart?” She called out to the cub, apprehensive in case it was dead. “You don’t seem well, pet” she said softly. Alva was almost always soft- soft and gentle.

Others had used that against her before.

@Asylum

The lioness might have never noticed her and in so doing take no part in the potential drama the mauve girl might bring. Instead she would approach, perhaps drawn by a motherly instinct. She brought with her that tone of voice that Asylum was looking for, that tone that would suggest pity or worry.

Eyes would slowly travel upwards to meet the lioness's, making an effort to shiver as she lay there. Please.. can I have something to eat? I try but.. I don't know how to hunt. She murmured, drawing her words out. She would turn her gaze downwards as she spoke of her failings, knowing for experience and from watching others, that looking down and away often spoke to feeling ashamed of oneself.

She would note that this lioness carried a pride scent, but she had not spoken yet of her title or her name. Asylum needed more to go on, but she could wait it out.

@Alva

image by moogle/code by saph

“Of course, flower.” Alva said softly. “Don’t you fret, I’ll get you something to eat. Don’t you be worried about hunting , it shouldn’t be exapected of a little cub.” She said ever so gently, not daring to as so much breath of the child incase it made the poor thing more ill. The cub just shivered and looked away in a sort of shame.

Alva scanned the area until she saw a hare, she grinned in relief, running at the small beast before pouncing. She made quick work of biting its neck and dragging it to the frail definitely not dead cub. She nudged the cubs cheek gently. “Here you go, sweetheart, eat up.” She whispered softly.

Where were the childs parents? Probably dead if the poor thing is in such a state. “What’s your name?”

@Asylum

It was fortunate that Asylum was starving, it would make it all that much more believable when food was put in front of her. She would take the food eagerly, devouring a good quarter of it in just a few bites. She would force herself to slow down then, though it took a considerable amount of self-restraint not to eat the whole thing. After a third of it had been eaten, she would push the rest away under the guise of being full.

Mom called me Violet. She said I should stay here and then.. she left with my younger brother. She said, spinning the beginnings of her web of lies. Would Alva think her abandoned? Saying that the lioness had taken one of her children and left the other would surely suggest foul intent. Had it only been Asylum, perhaps @Alva would just assume she was off hunting somewhere? I stayed.. I want to do what I'm told but I don't want to keep staying here. It was a pretty exposed place, perhaps even dangerous.

Her tone was soft and tinged with what she hoped was a child's naive and trusting nature. A child wasn't supposed to know of the evils in the world and in other lions, though Asylum herself had already witnessed all of that in her real life. In the real world, some lions had no regrets about abandoning children they didn't want.

image by moogle/code by saph

Alva was worried: perhaps the cubs mother was simply off hunting and the child had wandered off- yet little violet claimed to have not moved. “Okay Violet, I’m Alva. Do you know how long it’s been since your mum left? Did she say we’re she was going? Anything?” She coaxed the cub softly pitying her.

Alva’s mother had left her when she was a newborn cub, her eyes yet to have opened. Yet that seemed so long ago now. Far off and distant. She wasn’t a cub anymore- she was grown. She’s already achieved her 3rd birthday. But Violet was a cub, likely scared and alone who needed help.

“I promise that you won’t have to stay, if we can’t find her I’ll bring you to the hollows with me. You shall be safe there.”

She gently smiled at the cub. “Don’t worry Violet flower.”

Asylum would listen as the lioness fretted over her, a feeling of frustration in her as she failed to give up anything useful, such as her position within the pride. To ask would be suspicious though. She had provided her with a name, @Alva, but thus far that was the extent of it.

She said.. she said she was leaving and that I had to stay. She explained, guessing she needed to be more straightforward with this lioness, as she hadn't come to the conclusion of abandonment, even with some small hint of suggestion. It was a long time I think.. A child likely wouldn't have a great sense of time, even if she was playing at being one not to many months younger than she actually was.

image by moogle/code by saph

Alva was very conserned as she thought about it. The child seemed to have failed to realise that her mother had abandoned her. And Alva was worried that the cub wouldn’t last long to the elements. “I think that it’s best you come back to the hollows with me, little Violet. Just until we can find your mother or someone to care for you.” It was a difficult world for an abandoned cub. “You tell me about yourself child, and I’ll tell you about the hollows.” She looked up at the sky. “Though I dare say we should be going soon, pet.”

The lioness didn't voice a desire to adopt her, which Asylum didn't much care about just yet. It would be better to go to a pride and see what sort of lions she was dealing with. Best case, she got adopted by the pride leaders, or at least those of royalty. The best way to know of a pride's intimate details and plans was to be close to the ones that made the plans in the first place.

She would not her head slowly, being a bit dramatic about getting up to follow. It was slow, lethargic and was even complimented by her pretending to wince, as if her whole body was sore. She considered limping, but it was a lot of unessecary work on her part. Better to keep it all quite simple else potentially favor the wrong leg one of these days.

-exit Asylum-

@Alva

image by moogle/code by saph