Synapse jolted up, looking around wildly at her surroundings. She wasn’t surrounded by the comfort of her pridemates, but rather, she was surrounded by the cold expanse of space. She could make out translucent figures in the distance. One of them approached her, a kind expression on the spirit’s face. “So you’ve finally made it. Welcome, Synapse, to the afterlife. My name is Steorra.”
The afterlife? She thought, with a horrified expression. “Am I dead?” Synapse asked. “Close. You would have died in your sleep, in that very cave, but your ancestors have grander plans for you. Of course, you could decline and stay here with us, but I’m sure you’d like the option.”
She froze, discomfort prickling in her pelt. She was supposed to be dead right now? Synapse couldn’t die, not yet. She had so much of her life left to live, she hadn’t even turned 2 yet! “Yes to whatever you want me to do! Just keep me alive, and in my pride.” She begged. “Very well.” Steorra said with a nod, flicking her tail in a gesture for Synapse to follow.
---
It had been months since Synapse had started meeting with Steorra in her dreams. She was being trained to lead animals to their respective groups, and help them have peaceful deaths. It was comforting to know even animals got treated with such high regard. Maybe one day, she could even lead her pridemates through the afterlife.
One particular day, while she was bringing a catch back from a successful hunt, she got knocked to the ground by a flash of fur. “Oops! Sorry, let me help with that.” The young lioness locked eyes with her, and Synapse gawked for a moment, before taking the prey back with a nod of thanks. “No problem.” She smiled, and they walked back to the rest of the pride together while exchanging conversation.
Ever since she met the young lioness, who’d she learned was named Naya, she felt herself becoming more cheerful and productive. She’d quickly been regarded as one of the best hunters in the pride. They were extremely close, and you could never catch one without the other.
One night, before Synapse fell asleep, she called Naya over to talk in private. Disclosing the fact she’d been meeting with Steorra in her sleep for about a year now, she looked up expecting judgement in Naya’s face, but only found awe. “You’re working with our ancestors to help ghosts?!?! I thought that stuff was a myth! You gotta let me help one day!”
12600sb For mark opacity
4gb to replace onyx face carving with cimmerian face carving
400(?)sb to change skin
You watch a bit disturbedly as Synapse rolls around, gnawing on a smooth piece of rock and slobbering all over.
