Darkness was slowly being washed away with the first peak of rays from the rising sun. The sky was lit with a variety of colors from pink to soft purple. It was truly a beautiful sight to withhold. Determined paws would bring the pink lioness closer to the peak. Step by step she would make the climb with familiar ease.

She had spent much time at the lookout and knew the path by heart. Claws dug into a ledge and she gave a huff as she pulled herself up the final length of the rock wall. The rocky ledge flattened out as she traveled forward to reach the edge. Her head tossed to the sky as warmth spread over her cheeks- kissed by the light of a new day. Lungs inhaled as deep as they could manage and let it out her parted mouth with a rush.

It felt good to be home.

Aarani didn't often leave the territory anymore. She hadn't decided if it was a symptom of depression or simply laziness, but she had certainly been lacking motivation lately. After being burned so many times and left to mother so many children on her own, Rani was simply burnt out. It was only now that Jiera was growing and gaining more independence that she was beginning to venture out a bit, but even then she just.. didn't know what to do with her time. Perhaps she could return to her old lifestyle of being a priestess? Maybe pick up being a medic again. Aarani didn't know, so she wandered, waiting for inspiration to strike.

It wasn't inspiration that greeted her, however, but a familiar pink woman with a sprawl of creamy mane. Rani blinked, almost certain she was mistaken, but the name "Sweet Pea?" left her lips before she could stop it.

@Sweet Pea

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While she knew she would seek out and come across those from her past eventually, what she did not expect was to have one find her on the very first day. Eyes burst open and her small cranium swung around to peer at the source of the voice that called out her name. From over her shoulder, she studied the other a moment. That was all she needed before her body twisted around and she bounced a few steps forward.

There was no denying the grin that had spread over her pale lips. Whatever it was that had kept them separated before was no longer a reason she wanted to keep. "Rani!" The one lioness that had been the nearest thing to a mother that the girl could recall since she lost her own. It was always her own wayward self that would stray away. But not Rani. She was always there.

She wanted to embrace her. To melt into the larger female's bulk. But she was unsure if Aarani held the same familial connection that the girl clung to.

@Aarani

Aarani felt the world shift beneath her paws. She felt unsteady and uncertain, but there was no doubt that she was staring at the grown form of the timid little girl she had once known. How long had it been? Sweet Pea was a grown woman now and it made Aarani feel ancient, but Sweet looked.. fantastic, really. Rani was speechless until the last moment, her eyes widened in surprise. "Sweetie," she murmured, her voice caught in her throat as she moved to embrace the smaller lioness. "I've missed you so much," she murmured, letting herself splinter only an inch. Fate had been cruel to her and she was afraid to let anyone in -- she couldn't be abandoned anymore. She couldn't let anyone get close enough to hurt her. Aarani simply couldn't handle it anymore.

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The word, an endearing gentle nickname, seemed to shake away any fear that had lingered in the pale babe. Eyes widened as they filled with love and she too rushed to close the distance that had still remained between them. She did not protest or stop Aarani as she embraced her. Sweet Pea relished in the warmth of another body. After she and keir had come back the last time- her place had not been found in Amaryllis. She had strayed back out and spent much of her time alone.

She didn't want to be alone anymore. Perhaps that is why she pressed just a tab bit harder into the chest of the woman as she declared how much she had been missed. "I won't leave again momma Rani. I promise." Words turned to sobs as shoulder shook just slightly. "I'm sorry I ever did. There's nothin' out there- no one for me." She had been so young when she had been brought to Ama and left that she hadn't a clue why she even thought she could ever go back.

There was no back.

@Aarani

Momma Rani.

Her heart broke for the young woman, but how could she ever hope to fix it? How could she convince the girl that there was something out there in the great big world when Aarani couldn't even find her own place? All she did was drift from place to place, love to love, never finding where she would truly be able to thrive. Time and time again, the same old story.

"You don't need to apologize, my sweet starling," she murmured softly, nuzzling into the girl's cheek. "And you don't need to promise me anything. You're a grown woman, you don't owe me anything." Her voice was soft, reassuring as she held the girl close, more than happy to play the role she was assigned. "I'm here for you, okay? I always will be."

@Sweet Pea

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Words of promise and the feel of safety as Aarani held her a bit tighter only allowed for the release. A release of all emotions that seemed to pile the weight of a thousand buffalos on her shoulders. To know she wasn't alone anymore was the biggest relief the girl could receive. And though she is a fully grown lioness, she felt nothing more than like a helpless babe in the embrace of her mother. A mother she always needed, even when she tried to deny it to herself.

After what felt like an eternity her feelings were under control once more and she managed to pull away- to finally look Aarani over as someone who had been gone for far too long. "Where are you staying? I want to stay there too." Whatever pride it may be (or lack of ) Sweet Pea no longer wanted to be elsewhere.

@Aarani

Although Aarani was not often a selfish woman, she couldn't help but simply be happy the rosé girl had returned. It broke her heart to hear it was on such upsetting terms, but there was that selfish part that was glad for it. It wasn't an arrogant "I told you so" sort of way, of course! It was simply that she felt happiest when her children were around -- biological or not -- and Sweet Pea was among those whether she liked it or not.

The question of where she lived was quite a bit tricky, though.

"Nowhere," she said with a sigh. "The pride I was with was recently overthrown by a man I will never live beneath, so for now I'm simply nomadic. I'm not sure I'll ever join another pride, to be quite honest. They seem to fall as quickly as they come." Rani frowned, wishing it were possible that the spirits would provide her with some stability for once.

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Pea hadn't expected the answer that Aarani gave to her. Even though she had already noticed the distinct lack of scent upon her hide that would point to an obvious pride- she just assumed that perhaps she had washed recently. Eyes widened a fraction while she listened to the words that her adopted more gave her. "That's horrible!" She wasn't sure why lions needed to take from others instead of finding their own. Land was everywhere! Even where they stood right now.

She let her shoulders sag in her own inward disappointment to learn that Aarani planned to not go to any of the others. She had somewhat hoped to have a home, with someone she cared about, once again. It would seem she was doomed to wander as a rogue for a while longer. "Oh..." As if she thought of something perfect just now she bounced forward a step. "We can just stay here together!"

@Aarani

Aarani wished more than anything that she had better news to deliver. Sweet Pea deserved the moon, and she felt horrible that the only thingshe would ever be able to give was the occasional hug and stress. A young woman like the rosè girl should be in a pride for protection, but she didn't know where would be a good fit. It certainly wasn't Firnen or Andal, that was for sure, and she wasn't about to suggest Sweet Pea go somewhere that Aarani wasn't familiar with. Maybe sticking together as rogues would be the best idea, as @Sweet Pea suggested. There was one issue, however.

"I do have two children still with me. They're yearlings, Jiera and Indra." She tilted her head. "Would you mind if they came as well? Jiera could use an older sister to show her the ropes, timid thing as she is." Jiera had an older sister in the valley, of course, but Sana was spreading her wings. Her very anxious, hummingbird wings.

table by ferus, artwork by grav3wolf