thalia

thalia spent all her life in one specific pride, where she was held up with joy and possibly thoughts of selling her. she wasn't sold though; the king of the pride couldn't bring themselves to.
she was a triple rosette, 16 marked leopon. pretty, most were envious. she got frequent compliments that made her peek up in confidence, cosmic eyes bright as she fed on the words. "so gorgeous!", "she's an absolute baby,,", "so pretty. i love her so much.". they didn't stop, and she eventually grew very dependent on it.

when she died, she stayed in the dynasty with the rest of her pride. honestly, she was glad that she wasn't frozen, like most hybrids. she wasn't sure how she'd be able to live on, past her friends, only to make new friends to soon pass on as well.
she lived there up until very recently. she heard some brief talks on the topic, but none were directly spoken to her until she went to the king dynasty. the male that stood before her, her first king, smiled. it was bittersweet.
"what's happening?" she'd ask, tail curling in distaste against the ground.
he shook his head. "i'm unsure. hard to hear sometimes."
she frowned, looking away. "they're talking about me, aren't they? what are they saying?"
he pursed his lips together, clearly not wanting to speak of it. "it's hard to explain, and you're not going to like it."
"oh, perfect," she groaned, looking back to him fiercely. "it's about me, obviously."
"yes." he nodded grimly, seemingly uncomfortable now. "i don't know if you want to hear it. it's something big."
"if it's about me and it's something big, i'd rather hear it," she mrowed, growing annoyed. "just spit it out already."
he opened his maw a few times, trying to find the right words, before eventually saying, "the current king now has decided to bring you back to life, freeze you--"
"what?!" she hissed, sitting up. "he can't actually do that, can he? i love it here in the dynasty! why would he even want to?"
"..it's for a trade," he explained in a gentle murmur. "meaning you will be leaving to another pride to stay in."
she didn't know how to react, staring up at him with a now terrified gaze. she was angry, saddened, confused. her emotions began to overwhelm her.

when she moved to the pride, everything changed then. the body she knew now wasn't her own; instead of a murk base, she now had a kunzite base. instead of 16 marks, she now only had 7 markings. skin now a dusky purple, and it didn't stop there. she moved to the most prized lions, next to another frozen leopon and a frozen felis.
she got the choice of choosing some decor, almost like a "welcome to our pride!" present. she didn't like the pride too much at the moment, missing her friends back at the dynasty.
but there was nothing she could do. just suck it up and go.

she grew rather friendly with the frozen lions overtime, finding out they were actually in a relationship with one another. it was kind of obvious, with them being extremely close, but she didn't want to assume anything. she was happy that they felt comfortable enough to tell her.
she branched out to other lions; even going as far as to talking to some of the lionesses in the other dens, the mutations or the non-mutated lions. most of them looked the same, the non-mutated ones-- not in a bad way! they just had the same fur coat, and they explained that they were bought together to participate in some combo breeding. ah. what a weird thing.

she caught glimpses of aphrodite, the youngest tigon in the pride at the moment. alabaster base, sunglow eyes, distrustful. she even hissed, snarled over, to nakira, the queen! it was surprising to the leopon; she never interacted with nakira too often, but knew that the queen was kind to each and every one of her lions, taking care of them. she didn't deserve the treatment.
she was annoyed with the tigon. didn't want to necessarily interact with her, but she had to admit, she was curious. the hybrid just stayed in the unsorted den most of the time, and grew up there. watched lions leave and come into the unsorted, only to stay there. sitting. waiting. no lion to talk to.
thalia felt kind of.. bad for her, honestly. and kind of confused to why nakira insisted on keeping her in there. there was no point to isolate a lion like that..

when aphrodite was moved to the same den, every lion paid attention. mars and fern watched from a distance, murmuring to themselves. thalia was on her own, in the shade, lapping at her pelt. she noticed that the tigon carried two dark-based cubs into the den with her.
they were rather young; she briefly wondered if the hybrid had just given birth not too long ago. nakira had followed her, making sure her nest was right or something before dipping her head and leaving.

the next day came, and aphrodite was staring emotionlessly down to a cub; a stiff one, who didn't move, not even when she prodded several times. thalia caught this, and sighed quietly do herself.
the frozen leopon watched as sunkissed approached the hybrid, nudging her up and talking to her. she didn't budge, and that was when the healer dipped her head away.
thalia took her moment, standing up and padding over to the mourning mother. aphrodite glared up at her harshly, sunglow eyes narrowed.
"can i sit here?" thalia asked anyways, despite the hostile stare.
"..." the tigon reared her head away stubbornly. ah. so it was like that.
thalia understood plenty though, and sat down next to the grieving lioness. "i know you've probably heard this, but i'm sorry for your loss. it isn't easy, ever."
the alabaster lion didn't reply, already expecting this.
"i know," thalia whispered. "i know."
aphrodite turned to her, murmuring back, "do you? do you really know?"
she smiled a little bitterly, replying back, "yes. but it's not my time to grieve anymore; it's your's."
the tigon turned her head into the leopon's pelt, and after a few moments, the purple lion could hear soft, broken sobs escaping from the younger lioness.
it absolutely broke her heart.

after that, the two were decently close. thalia didn't leave aphrodite's side, and aphrodite never left thalia's side. they spoke, joking around often or just enjoying the time together.

some cute lil scenes
"please, aphrodite!" thalia laughed, stomach hurting, "no more!"
"say it!" screeched the tigon, trying to bite back her own giggles as she continued to ruthlessly tickle the leopon. "say it, thalia!"
"uncle!! uncle, uncle, uncle," the frozen lioness sang, "i say uncle. i said it."
aphrodite slumped over on top of thalia after she cried that out, snickering. "i win. again."
"not fair," thalia murmured playfully, looking up at her lovely hybrid. "you attacked me."
"and i did a damn good job!" she laughed, nuzzling into her.
the two laid like that for a little while, before another tickle fight was started.. by thalia, wanting revenge.

"mmmph," aphrodite grumbled, rolling over right on top of thalia.
"hey!" she reared her head up against the other's back. "i'm right here, y'know."
"oh? didn't see you there," the tigon lied, grinning, knowing thalia couldn't see it.
"you most certainly did, you little fibber," the leopon mrowed, hearing the grin in her voice.
though neither made an attempt to move; it was oddly comfortable, as aphrodite wasn't that heavy.

"aphrodite?" thalia asked, softly. the two were just starting their cuddle fest that happened usually throughout the day, several times. she hated to interrupt it.
the tigon perked her ears curiously. "yes?" she had found comfort in this leopon, curled into her smaller figure almost protectively. their tails entwined, as per usual.
"what are we?" the purple lioness couldn't really word it any other way. she was often confused, trying to tell if she was mixing up platonic and romantic feelings. though deep inside, she knew she loved aphrodite much more than a friend, than a littermate. she's never felt this way before.
aphrodite tilted her head. "whaddya' mean?" her voice had a bit of a guard to it. she was unsure if she super wanted to dive into this sort of conversation; she liked thalia. a shy crush, where she could cuddle and snuggle up to her without any labels. she was comfortable with their relationship, and in fact, she preferred it this way; she bet she could lean forward to lap at thalia's cheek, and the other would just blush and curl back into her. and it wouldn't mean much.
thalia furrowed her brows, shrugging. "sometimes.. i can't tell what we are." she felt her cheeks heating up in a soft blush. hopefully the other wouldn't tell.
aphrodite stifled a snort when she felt the other flushing. it was so easy to read her, but she didn't want to be blunt like that. thalia had to admit this for herself.
of course the alabaster tigon has had feelings for thalia for a long while; she just didn't want to bare the burden of carrying a label, a title. why should they have to? they know what they are, or at least, aphrodite thought they did.. maybe thalia just found comfort in titles, in labels.. and suddenly, that's when the tigon realized.
she craved the label. the title of the leopon being her mate, her lover. not just an unlabeled thing..
"aphrodite?" thalia asked softly, looking up. "did i say something stupid?"
"no, never," she replied almost instantly, looking down at her. "i'm just trying to find out how to word something. i'm having a bit of troubles, though." she laughed a little awkwardly, which is something she wasn't used to; aphrodite is a very confident tigon. takes pride in just about everything she does.
"is there any way you could.. show me?"
"show you?" aphrodite deadpanned, rolling her eyes.
"show me," thalia repeated, a mischievous glint in her gaze.
the tigon chuckled, a deep purr under her breath. she leaned forward so then their foreheads were touching, and gave her muzzle a lap. "if you wanted me to do that, you should've just said."
the purple leopon let out a soft, breathy laugh, pelt prickling.
"this still never answered your question," the tigon rumbled, nuzzling against her. "what do you say we are?"
"t-together?" thalia stuttered, embarrassed that she was just answering her own question.
aphrodite chuckled again. "yea. together."
"for eternity?" she purred.
"for eternity."

sad scene :(
thalia stared down at aphrodite; the tigon had grew into her age, wrinkles around her eyes and joints cracking whenever she stood. her eyes growing milky, as she had cataracts; her hearing working sometimes, not all the time. tired almost the entire time, but never leaving thalia's side.
it was unfair. thalia would replace herself with aphrodite in a heartbeat. she shouldn't be sitting here, outliving her time, living for so long, while the only love in her love withers away.
"thalia," grumbled aphrodite, "my dear, you're thinking out loud." her voice was lightly rasped.
"sorry," the leopon whispered, turning her muzzle to press against the tigon's pelt. she inhaled the strange scent of her mate, the crystal-cove caves. that's what it reminded her of.
"i'll be back," she promised to the leopon, leaning her chin down on her head.
"how do you know? it took me years to be brought to back to life," thalia murmured up to her, hoping she heard. "did you hear me? i can repeat."
"no, no, you're close enough for me to hear." aphrodite cleared her throat. "i don't care if it takes me centuries. i'll see you. i'll be brought back; most hybrids are." the last part was said a little bitterly, and thalia caught it, though didn't say anything. it was a true statement.
thalia shook her head, trying to hide her tears and disguise the shakiness in her voice. "what if you don't? what if i never see you again?"
aphrodite didn't say anything for a moment, pulling away slightly so they could see each other eye-to-eye. although blurry, she could see the purple lioness in distress; she leaned forward to lap at her tears, whispering gently, "you will. i promise. and if i don't get brought back, just retire." she grinned to the side, pulling away. "okay?"
thalia nodded, sniffling as she leaned back into aphrodite, clung to her.

when she woke up to a cold, stiff body of her lover, she let out a screech. this day was coming anytime now, but she knew she'd never be prepared. she sobbed, absolutely destroyed. the only one who truly understood her, the only one who spent time with her, true, quality time. the only one she trusted with her immortal life. the only one.
she cried to fern and mars, trembling and shaking as sunkissed went over aphrodite's body carefully. thalia never remembered feeling this way; so distraught, unable to stop her gasping sobs. she thought she saw mars tearing up lightly, but couldn't tell.
she had a headache from crying so much, and was dehydrated. her eyes swollen, her nose stuffy. she felt detached, wrecked. she sat next to the body as sunkissed guided aphrodite up to the dynasty. when she looked up at the last time, she saw aphrodite staring so intensely at her; her spirit floating, her skin not wrinkly; she could actually see her. not the blurry version.
thalia thought she had no more tears left, but at that moment, seeing her truly gone, seeing her leave to the dynasty, it sent her through a whole new episode. she sobbed to herself, trying to keep aphrodite's scent around her as best as she could. it felt like she was already forgetting the great memories they made together.

reunited
thalia stood, frozen, as she caught sight of her lover that passed and went to the dynasty. her fur pricked up and her heart sank -- in both happiness and fear that maybe she finally started to hallucinate. she took a few feeble steps forward, blinking, trying to judge if this was real. it had been so long since she's seen her love. she sees her in her dreams, in her memories, in the nest they shared. she saw her in the sky, she saw her in everything.
the purple leopon had truly gotten used to aphrodite no longer being there, but that didn't mean she didn't miss her. she's missed her fiercely for 3 years. and, unfortunately, fern and mars always had to be there to hear it.
"aphrodite?" her voice croaked out. hesitant, scared. she hadn't said her name in a while -- not anything malicious, she just genuinely hadn't spoke of her for a while. at first, when aphrodite left the pride and went to the dynasty, thalia couldn't even think of her name without bursting into tears. eventually, it was just when she thought of specific memories, or how she smelt, or... thalia sniffled, realizing she was getting deep into the thoughts and memories.
when the tigon turned around, a smile broke across her face, eyes welling with tears. "my thalia," she meowed, taking large steps forward until they were face to face.
the purple hybrid let out a sob, and her entire body filled with relief. she leaned into her aphrodite, inhaling the scent of her fur. "i can't believe you're finally back," she whispered.
aphrodite felt herself crying as she tucked herself close to thalia, tail resting against her's. "i know, i know," she agreed, "you did warn me. you did say it was going to take years." she laughed, shaking her head as she leaned back. she began to lap at thalia's tears, much like she used to.
"i've missed you so, so much," thalia meows, voice still low. "i didn't know if you were ever coming back. hell, i don't even know if this is real." she snickered lightly.
aphrodite purred deeply, nuzzling underneath thalia's chin. "i promise you, it is. and i'm not going anywhere. not ever again."
"for eternity?" thalia asked, rasping her tongue across aphrodite's ear lovingly.
"for eternity," aphrodite confirmed, leaning up into her touch.