To some it wouldn't be much of a surprise that she was so timid around those she didn't know. She'd spent the majority of her life swaddled in the comfort of her family and hadn't ever broken free of them. That was until she had become too frightened to return home. Not that she thought they would be angry with her for having left, but more so that she did want to be off on her own.

Being surrounded by new people was h e l l a scary but she was quickly reminded by those that approached her that they didn't have to be. @Avana was one of the first to remind Juliette that it was alright, that she could warn someone and not have to feel bad about butting into other's people bubbly space. Uhh thanks, I'm Juliette. She responded, introducing herself not only to Avana but to Hiccup and anyone else that was standing around that cared to know.

The scorched red yearling that she had warned certainly did seem to have a very understandable fear of snakes. Instantly believing that what she had warned him about had been a snake. She'd want to be warned about them too, to be fair. She hoped that her new pride mates would do her the honor if the situation occurred. Yeah, no -- no problem, she was happy to lend some extra aid. Learning about the properties of plants growing up had been one of the few things that she had really enjoyed. Aside from her family and her siblings, being a healer made her feel a lot better about herself.

With that she listened to what the boy had to say and was so flattered to be a part of this. To be engaging with her others her own age and those that were just as kind as Vermeda lions. Instinctively she cast her gaze to @Roan, almost hopeful that he was seeing her willingness to help out and be a true team player. Luckily for the gathered group, the rhino calf went down splendidly and even though she hadn't heard anything go wrong she looked to each and everyone to make sure no one was wincing or down on the ground. Everyone seemed relatively calm, catching their breath as pride was sure to be seen as the victory settled in.

As she moved to help with the carrying, as she'd seen pride mates do before to help, she made sure to approach @Hiccup by easy selection. Good job. You did good, after all leading a lot of lions must be a hard job. Especially with something as dangerous as a hunt when there is a lot of weight and trouble involved. He had succeeded in rounding his pride up and giving them a clear plan of action. So Juliette gave an earnest smile and a polite bow of her head before excusing herself to help with the storing. Even if she was new to the pride, she felt like she had been here for a long time. That was how cozy it felt. exit juliette.

+5 - Warn someone about a poisonous plant

^{ART BY AURORA, CODE BY LARS}

Having grown up as a fairly privileged princess, Avana didn't think much about butting into things when she felt strongly about something. Luckily, it wouldn't backfire on her today when @Juliette went as far as to thank the strawberry pixie for her encouragement before offering her name in return. "Nice to meet you," the maned girl returned with a quick glimmer of a smile. Though the striped lioness still seemed a little shy -- which was understandable considering how new she was to them -- Avana hoped that she might at least feel more comfortable around the pride now, knowing that she wouldn't be ignored or shunned if she had something to say.

As for @Toblerone suggesting that @Hiccup had just walked through more thimbleweed, Avana wasn't too sure about that. She hadn't been here the whole time either, but she'd arrived before the teenager and hadn't seen the maned male walk through any. Roan seemed to just shrug it off, so the younger Hodari didn't say anything either, fairly certain that Hiccup would be just fine. It wasn't like thimbleweed was going to kill anyone just from touching it, but it wouldn't be a pleasant experience if it got on one's skin either. Luckily, maybe their fur would help protect them anyway, but then @Faelyn suggested antidotes if anything would help. "Frankincense would probably work. Combat one sap with another," she offered with a brief chuckle.

Irritating plants aside, though, they were here for a reason and that reason was to hunt!. Their pride was growing and that meant more mouths to feed. Whatever Hiccup had planned for them, Avana was rearing and ready to go. As he got started with instructions, the maned Hodari was impressed that he had put a plan together, even mentioning the weather conditions as a benefit to their hunt. She knew that tactic well, often using the muck of the Mire to slow down her prey when she used to live there. A mischievous grin took over her features, more than happy to find out what was lurking behind the fog.

In the end, it would be rhinoceros calves that they would take down. So long as no one appeared injured, Avana was happy with their progress. Just a few weeks ago, they had let hippos slip by, but now, they were good enough to take down rhinos, even if they were just baby rhinos. Food was food, and the Hodari was not one to pass it by. "Great job, everyone! And great job, Hiccup!" Avana made sure to compliment the one who had been leading the charge, knowing what it had meant when Kiton had complimented her hunt before. She'd move towards the red male, aiming to pat a paw on his shoulder briefly with a smile. "See, I told you if you don't mind getting dirty, hunting is easy." A cheeky grin replaced her look of mischief as she stepped back while watching some of their hunting party depart already.

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by Kite | Background from unsplash

Holy shit was this boy terrified of snakes and holy shit was she going to bring this up at a later date? Absolutely. She smirked, lacing dark lips through her pale markings and letting her judgment be in silence. It would be easier to carry a snake without harming herself than it would be for him to accidentally find more thimbleweed in his den. One of the others reassured him and her expression smoothly to one of even amusement. She wasn't going to admit to the lie. Why? She could just say she didn't know all that much about herbs, if someone tried to call her out. But that was worth it, A+ entertainment value. Frankincense seemed to be in stock at the white lady's den and it sounded like it was some kind of sap. She squinted, thinking. Maybe it worked like mud? Medical mud? And maybe she could borrow some to experiment later? Possibly without asking?

"Best wash it off with a lot of mud," she offered, "to be safe," and also give her another amusing sight. Fortunately they started off on the hunt before Toblerone's story could be investigated too much. Two rhino calves? She hung back, considering. Although she was big-boned, she had weak and puny muscles that she hadn't grown into at all, and she knew a push from one of those things would have her taking an undignified sprawl. Had to keep her dignity. She veered in once they were downed and ate greedily, her ears laid back, tuning out the world. She grabbed another bite to go under the guise of bringing a limb back to the pride stores, though more of it would end up in her belly than not by the time she got there.

-exit

+5 Tell a lie without getting caught
+5 Learn something from another about your trade

+5 Learn something from another about your trade
+5 participate in a hunt using the rolled dice system

Faelyn honestly expected that Avana would be the one to answer her if any of them did, and sure enough she was. She was pleased that one of her suggestions was solid, and she agreed that putting sap over sap was probably a good idea. Although, she wondered if there was anything that could make sap less sticky. If there was, she'd never seen it. She would have to think about that.

"Well, if you start to feel something later just come and find me," she said to Hiccup. Now that she'd established that she did in fact know what she was talking about she could leave, though first she'd stick around to share a bite to eat with the others and help them haul whatever small piece she could carry back.

-exit faelyn-

Hiccup was relieved he had such supportive companions, even the ones who poked fun over his dislike of snakes — @Roan. “Not particularly,” he laughed as he overcame the scare. “Can never tell which ones are venomous.” Except, of course, for the hooded cobras.

@Faelyn offered him several remedies should he need them. @Avana agreed that frankincense would probably work, to which Hiccup nodded — though @Toblerone suggested mud. “Guess it’s a good thing we’ll be out in the mud today,” he snorted. “But if that doesn’t work, I’ll try the frankincense. Thank you.” Hopefully, though, there’d be no need, especially since Roan said he was okay. Hiccup trusted the older male’s judgment.

The yearling’s own judgment calls — such as who should be paired together — brought them success. @Juliette complimented him, making him beam with pride. “Thanks! You did great too!” he chimed back. @Avana praised his effort too, touching her paw to his shoulder and remarking on how easy hunting was, if one didn’t mind getting a little dirty. “I think I’m going to need to stop by the underground lake to get all this off,” the boy chuckled. The Hollow had many secret tunnels and passages, including one that led to the Moonlit Chasm and its lake. It’d be much easier to soak there than wash away the mud with his tongue, and risk getting grit in his teeth.

While Toblerone and Faeylyn left — the former receiving a grateful nod from the yearling over her offer — Hiccup looked back to Avana. “Help me get the rest of this inside?” he asked and moved to help drag the food to the cache.

Exit

coded by flea | artwork by ale-tie

Avana would chuckle when @Hiccup decided he needed a bath after the hunt. The underground lake was very convenient, though, when one didn't want to leave the caves just for a quick drink or a soak. With Roan's suggestion and everyone else taking what they could, the maned girl nodded to the cherry yearling when he asked for her assistance. "Yeah. Sure," the Hodari nodded with a casual grin before happily moving back towards the carcasses and dragging back as much food as she could. The mud wasn't easy to navigate, and even though they were calves, the rhinos were still quite large for the lions to move without struggle. In the end, some of it would probably have to be cut into smaller pieces if the Obsidian lions were to get the most out of their fresh kill. Avana would even go so far as to take multiple trips if necessary to get as much of the food stored for the pride.

exit Avana

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by Kite | Background from unsplash