ᑕᗩᖇᑎᗩTIOᑎ

Carnation snorts a greeting as you pass, then returns to grumbling over some tweeting birds nearby.

The old lioness gazes thoughtfully at you, then back at some cubs desperate for attention. "Can you tell us a story, Carnation?" One squealed, others begging or squabbling over what story she might spill.
"Tell us a story!"
"Please?"
Carnation chuckled and stretched her brindled paws in front of her. "Alright, that's enough, Tigress." She shuffled into a more comfortable position. "What about.. Nixious? When he threw Zetaro into the Moonpool?"
"Yeah! I love that story!" yelped a stone-gray cub with vivid pink eyes.
"Okay, okay, Pink. Do you all want that story?"
"Yeah!!" They all squealed in unison. The rest of the cubs tackled each other in small, playful skirmishes, unable to contain their brimming excitement. Carnation began speaking; her rusty voice portraying the story in an ominous yet vivid and clear tone. The cub's eyes were glittering, hanging on every word and gasping as Carnation told stories of the coldly glittering Moonpool and Nixious' cruel, headstrong leadership. As soon as the old story came to a close, Tigress jumped to her paws. "Dibs on being Nixious!"
"I wanna be Carnation!" Squealed a young, bright orange blind cub.
"Oh come on! I wanted to be Carnation, Eeoa! Now I have to be Zetaro." Pink sighed, though his eyes were gleaming with excitement.
"You guys are all stupid." A younger, sassy maroon colored cub commented. "The best one is obviously Lilac. She has my name!"
"There's a puddle over there," Carnation gestured with her tail over to a large pool as the sun began to set and pale pink streaked the sky. The puddle was washed in a blood-like, firey light, like the Moonpool used to get before a sacrifice. 'Nixious' puffed out her chest and strut across the clearing. 'Zetaro' waited by the pool, his ears flat. The 'lionesses' hurried around him and Tigress gave a sharp order.
They shoved him into the puddle and he wailed, splashing in the shallow water. "Noooo!" He cried. Carnation let a weary smile spread on her muzzle as the cubs played. Although the memories were dark and frightening, for she was much younger at the time, the cubs brightened her terrifying thoughts. Her crumply whiskers twitched and she rested her chin against her large paws, falling into a quiet slumber.

Carnation's peaceful body lay on the frosted ground. Frozen Mist whispered into the jellyfish. A whisper leapt out of the bowl as she opened it, skittering over gracefully and sinking into Carnation's body. Rising up, Carnation's fur became thick and full again. Her crumpled silver whiskers straightened and her eyes returned to their bright amber warmth. Frozen Mist watched in awe as she became herself again.

"Where's Brittle?" she queried.