When you come near, resting Xiomara makes a little coo in her throat, then rolls over to show her belly. She blinks slowly at you and coos again when you groom her.
Xiomara rests in a very adorable looking pose and lets out a purr-like sound when you approach.
[Sept. 26, 17]
With squeals of delight, the cubs wrestled and pounced on one another. Xiomara watched this with excitement, her nub tail wagging back and forth. The older cubs seemed to be having plenty of fun. She definitely wanted in.
Shrieking with glee, the little blue cub barreled towards one of the other cubs. The other cub immediately stopped playing and let out a terrified squeak. Xiomara was about to pounce when the cub squealed in fear and nearly fell over trying to escape.
The blue cub let out a laugh. "Am I really that scary?" she joked, looking at the rest of the cubs.
"Yes," one of the other cubs hissed. "Your eyes are too dark."
"My mama says you can see ghosts," another cub piped in.
Xiomara stared at them, horrified. There was something wrong with her eyes? Downcast, she turned and fled from the cubs, running deeper into the caves. She stopped when she was out of breath. It was then that she realized that she had no idea where she was or where she was going.
"Lost, little one?" came a deep voice.
Xiomara spun around, alarmed. "Oh, no, Father," she responded as she saw Lamarion. "I was just exploring."
Lamarion let out a rumble that resembled a purr. "I was just going to organize the hoard. You can come with me if you like," the king offered.
Xiomara's bob tail began to wag again, displaying her excitement. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed, her former sadness forgotten for the moment.
Lamarion let out a huff of acknowledgement and led the way. Xiomara followed as quickly as her small legs would allow. Once they reached she hoard, she was amazed by all the things. "Wow, there's so much stuff in here!" she squeaked.
"Indeed. This is the accumulation of many years worth of exploring and trading by many different kings. Everything my father and my father's father collected is in here," Lamarion explained.
"Wow . . . things that Heshima Korvo collected are in here?" Xiomara murmured in wonder.
Lamarion glanced at her, although he didn't show his surprise. "You know of Heshima Korvo? He died long before I was born," Lamarion said gently.
"Of course! Mama told me how to visit him. He's really nice!"
"Of course . . ." Lamarion trailed off, deep in thought.
Xiomara ignored the perplexed look on her father's face and began rummaging through the hoard. She paused when she found a strange skin. "What's this, Father?" she asked, snapping Lamarion out of his daze.
"That? It's a mask of sorts. My father got it from the Sangoma," he uttered.
Xiomara, puzzled, put the skin on her head. It draped down to cover her eyes and the back of her neck. She couldn't see, but she remembered what the other cubs had said about her eyes. They can't see my eyes while I'm wearing this! she realized.
"Can I have this, Father?"
"Oh? Of course, dear."
[Born 9/24/17]
Xaemeira gazed down at her young one with concern. It was only her first litter, but she knew that something was wrong. The little blue cub had only half a tail! The black and silver lioness tried not to panic, but a small rumble of distress left her throat, which prompted the arrival of Lamarion.
The king was still a young father and feared for all of his children. It alarmed him that one of his first litters should be odd. The king stooped low to get a better view of the newborns. Indeed, the small blue cub had a tiny tail, though it was not one that had his primal gene.
Suddenly, as Xaemeira and Lamarion both gazed at the strange cub, the tiny thing opened its eyes. The grown lions both let out a gasp as they stared into the cub's eyes, which were as dark as pitch. Then, as if nothing had happened, the cub's eyes closed again. Xaemeira and Lamarion were both rather shocked and left wondering if what they had seen was real or a dream.
Lamarion's fur had bristled, but he forced it to lie flat again. "There is no doubt that she is a Void Walker. I wonder what the meaning of this is . . . Your mother had you in her last days, but you've given birth to a Void Walker your very first try, but she is also mutated," Lamarion rambled, trying to wrap his mind around everything.
Xaemeira let out an incredulous snort and gave both of her cubs a lick. "If you've forgotten, some of the best of us were mutated. I declare that my daughter will be the most powerful of void walkers!"
Lamarion let out a small huff, but he silently agreed with his mate. "Our daughter is quite special, indeed. I hope that she is as powerful as you say," the male conceded, giving the lioness a lick on the head. He then licked the two cubs, ruffling their thin fur.
He gazed down at the blue cub one more time, affection entering his expression. "Name her Xiomara."
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