(1/2) +10 Mark a trail through a territory (double exp from site-wide boost)
(1/2) +10 Cover your tracks (double exp from site-wide boost)
(1/2) +10 Study a dangerous animal - elephant (double exp from site-wide boost)
ooc; pls no claiming!
If Leilani knew the dangers that were out in the world and the reasoning behind why her mom was so protective over her then maybe she wouldn't have wondered off when she were sleeping. But the growing child was bored, having nobody else to talk to or play with except Laraila. She loved her mom and always loved playing with her, but the abyss cub felt like she needed to meet others and play with others. It was how she found her way to the fields, clumsy paws carrying her through the grass. She would find herself walking back and forth the trial every couple of feet, wanting to stomp down the grass so that she had a trail to follow back home. She didn't need to get lost out here; surely her mom would kill her for it.

As she finally emerged from the makeshift trail would paws touch harder ground, pink eyes now observing her surroundings. It was a small clearing void of the growth of plants or grass, and the girl wondered why only here had nothing and everywhere had something. Walking in a wide circle would she then examine her paw prints in the ground, noticeable but also something she could toy with. Using her paws then would the girl practice wiping away her tracks while slowly walking backward, doing this for several moments until she heard a loud trumpet not far from her. It would cause for her hackles to rise and for the girl to jump into the air slightly, her eyes now widened with curiosity and terror. What WAS that??

Stiffened body would stare around rather frantically, trying to pinpoint where the noise had come from. And soon enough would they land upon a gigantic grey animal, watching as it and several others moved from one area in the fields to another, unaware of the cub's presence but also far enough from Leilani that she may have a chance to run if need be.

ART BY GUNNER, CODE BY LARS

She had loosely been following the herd, eyes trained to their healthy number, skirting the undergrowth. She was somewhat surprised when the elephants veered off and started wandering through Celosia Fields. Given she had thought they were searching for water, Charax was left to reconsider the hulking creatures intentions.

The marbled lioness was keeping her distance, belly stalking low in the grasses. Unexpectedly however, she happens upon the scent of a child. Senses alert, she stalks the tall foliage in search of the stranger, and eventually happens upon her in a small, peculiar clearing. The clearing itself was odd, perhaps useful for respite from the dense vegetation whilst still remaining concealed.

Ears flickering, the woman obviously tense and alert for any company the child might have. “Are you alone?” Perhaps, from some such a question may have been threatening. From Charax, it is just a query.

@Leilani

+20 Explore a territory and find something useful in it
+20 Find a notable landmark in a territory
+10 Study a dangerous animal

_{art by aurora}

(1/2) +10 Mark a trail through a territory (double exp from site-wide boost)
(1/2) +10 Cover your tracks (double exp from site-wide boost)
(2/2) +10 Study a dangerous animal - elephant (double exp from site-wide boost)
Despite the sudden entrance of a large and rather dangerous animal to a cub like herself, Leilani found herself all the more curious. Her intrigue had her continue to watch the giant creatures, slowly creeping forward and watching what they were doing; or at least trying to over the tall grasses. But as a voice suddenly broke the otherwise silent air (the exception of the trumpets and snorts of other animals around them) it would cause for the cub to freeze in her tracks, little heart beginning to beat faster within her chest. Pink eyes would widen as her head turned in the direction the voice had come from, landing upon the splotchy patterned woman.

From there would she continue to stare at her in silence, trying to figure out just what she should say or do. She could feel anxiety begin to slowly bubble up inside of her, but after a few moments would she take a rather big gulp and try her best to relax her expression. "No." The singular word would be spoken in a voice that quivered only slightly, Leilani wanting to appear as though she weren't scared of afraid (if only she knew her prior features already gave that away).

@Charax

ART BY GUNNER, CODE BY LARS

The dark child lurches, her small bodice tense, cub-fluff doing little to hide the unease that coursed her dainty figure. In every sense she seemed alone, given her fearful response and the lack of accompanied scent. However, her response, as she turned to face Charax, pleads otherwise.

The woman crawls cautiously around one side of the dirt-laden clearing, opposite to the cub. It’s edges were dense with grasses, clouding vision but providing good cover. It was a strange occurrence. “Where are they?” Hey eyes, intense, wander from elephants, back to cub. The herd still continued their noisy traipse.

Every part of her wanted to move on in that moment, in case of a reaction from the child’s family. Regardless, perhaps Charax is too curious.

@Leilani

+20 Explore a territory and find something useful in it
+20 Find a notable landmark in a territory
+10 Study a dangerous animal

_{art by aurora}

As the swirly patterned woman grew closer would Leilani find herself inching backward, taking cautious steps as she did not know what exactly was behind her. Her gaze wouldn't leave the lioness, feeling her anxiety begin to rise more when she were asked where the others were. "They're... they're around." Another attempt to make herself seem as if she weren't in fact alone. With a sharp inhale of breath would the girl force herself to stand taller and appear more confident, her tail tip twitching behind her. "If you try to hurt me I'll scream and they'll come to protect me!" Another way to attempt to make herself seem that she weren't alone, giving a rather exaggerated nod of her head with her words. Maybe this would cause for the woman to rethink whatever it is she may be thinking... Leilani could only hope.

@Charax

ART BY GUNNER, CODE BY LARS

The dark-coated girl seemed afraid, perhaps as she should be. Her frame, though sizable and healthy for her age, slowly inched towards the rim of the clearing with a palpable meekness. Given that the child had yet to wail for company, as she so threatened to do, Charax soon decided she was most likely alone after all.

"I will not hurt you," she reassured, however stiffly, pausing mid-stride, nose low to the earth as she continued to examine the hardened ground. "It is not safe for you to be alone, I have seen hyena's here," it was true, she had. A 6 month old kid could put up a fight against a couple, but her fate against a pack was grim.

@Leilani

_{art by aurora}

She was told that the other wasn't trying to harm her, and Leilani could only take that with a grain of salt. But as the other continued, saying that she shouldn't be around here because she saw something called a 'hyena,' the cub would simply tilt her head to the side slightly. "I was wantin' to explore and then I found those giant creatures over there." Her tail would flick as she spoke, but as soon as she was finished would she start up again. "What's a hyena?" Pink eyes would look over at the woman with curiosity and intrigue, taking a small step toward her. If she had seen what the lioness was talking about, surely mom would have told her what they were and to avoid them if they were dangerous, right?

@Charax

ART BY GUNNER, CODE BY LARS

Quietly she watches the child, all dark in flesh but innocent of mind. Fleetingly Charax's mind is spared to Hyenas, their ruthless cunning and scavenger ways. If a group happened upon the girl she would be doomed, unless able to outsmart them.

"They are a lions historical enemy," the marbled woman eases slightly, but it is still taut, ready to move if the cubs family arrived after all. "They have many teeth behind wicked grins and sinister cackles. They look partially as a dog and partially as a pig," Charax was not trying to scared the child per say, but speaking what she knew. "They are dangerous to the young or old," orange gaze intent upon @Leilani.

_{art by aurora}

She would stare up at the orange eyed woman as she explained what hyenas were. Eyes would widen with slight fear as she drank in the words, feeling her muscles still continue to tighten and now feeling the hairs along the back of her neck to stand on end. These hyenas did not sound good at all, and Leilani wondered if maybe she should make her way back to her mother after all.

Sucking in a breath would the cub try to let her facial expression loosen up but failing. "Why are they like that?" She would finally ask, her voice sounding nothing more than a squeak now. Boy did she look less intimidating now than when she had first encountered the lioness (as if she actually did look intimidating at all).

@Charax

ART BY GUNNER, CODE BY LARS

She watches as the girl grows tense upon her words, child eyes opening with the eager absorption of terror. And she shriveled into something less of the confident child, fueled by what seemed most likely to be lies. Charax pondered her a moment, considering if perhaps she would need help to return home, but eventually deciding it was probably in her own best interest not to know what pride the child was from - if any.

Amara's enemies were her enemies, but only by expectation. At this point, the marbled vixen would not seek to harm any lion of so-called war status unless directly told to do so.

"We compete with them for food, for land, for safety, we always have," she stood taller, glancing out across the landscape as the elephants started to disappear in the distance, "They will kill lion cubs for sport." She returned her gaze to the child once more, "Return to your parents, let them teach you more."

And with that she would take her leave, but not without offering her name, "Charax." She hoped the child would find safety, she had not senses any sign of their enemies today.

-- exit unless stopped
@Leilani

_{art by aurora}