𝓐𝓷𝓲𝓶𝓾𝓼

As you converse with Animus, you find her personality is quite bubbly. Maybe a bit too upbeat. At the moment she is talking about "Working with some demons to defeat heaven (October reference! :>)" but who would believe such things? But just then you think you spot a shadowy figure in the corner of your eye (the shadow lion in Animus's decor) but when you whip your head around, it's gone. Animus looks puzzled and asks if you're okay. You respond with a nod, and she continues rambling on about random nonsense. Maybe you just had too many fermented Marula fruits...

You drop 150 silver beetles before the scrying stone.. And the markings are revealed to be... Cimmerian Wisp (Slot 12), Cimmerian Crackle (Slot 13), Cimmerian Face (Slot 14), Tail Banding Cimmerian (Slot 15).


RMA record

Slot 3: Henna Zebra, gold blaze, cream side band, coral belly, under silky 6, classic coral front, under golden 4, chert cover, golden crumbling, leg stripes, brown vesture, heather low cover, red skull, Pistachio Luster, under silky, leg spotting fading brown, fallow vestures, dark brown half, pistachio dilution, gold back, under golden 8, noctis saddle, white collar

You've been traveling through the savannah for days with no end in sight. You were trying to make your way to the trading plaza but you must've gotten lost somewhere, because now all you can see is dunes for miles. Your paws, the pads burned quite badly from the suns heat, sink into the sand and drag with each step. You're exhausted. but then you see something in the far distance...

You quicken your pace, which is quite hard to do after wandering for days, and you can make out what is in the distance. It's an oasis. A small, crystal clear pool of water in the middle of lush greens and trees. Just the sight of it makes your mouth, as dry as the sands themselves, almost itch in a way. You immediately break into a dash. It isn't a mirage. No. You can tell it's real because the coolness of the water on your tongue as you lap it up is heavenly. You leap into the water, letting the coolness seep into your fur and skin. You haven't had the chance to notice how hot the sun has made you.

In your glee, you don't notice the rustling of the leaves in the bushes. The cub that's turned and run away. After soaking in the water for a few minutes, you hear someone clear their throat from behind you. "You do know that is our drinking water, right?" She tries to sound cocky yet fails miserably. You immediately turn around, the movement creating a splash of water that soaks the queen behind you. She looks at you like you're a cub that just made a mistake and needs a lecture. You sheepishly climb out of the water.

"Anyways, my name is Animus. Though I'm not sure you wanted to know that after you so rudely interrupted me." She scoops up a pawful of the crystalline water and splashes it in your face in retaliation, accidentally making you choke a bit when you inhale some of the water. "So, why are you here, on my territory?" Animus asks almost passive aggressively. You explain how you got lost for days on end and almost died until you found this oasis. There's what you think is a flash of pity in her eyes. "Wait one moment." Is all she says before turning around and disappearing into the undergrowth.

Only a minute later Animus comes back dragging a warthog carcass, which is clearly freshly killed by the blood dripping from her muzzle. "I would have gotten more but sadly food is running low and we can't spare much." You eagerly take the carcass and start ripping into it, not caring if you look embarrassing. You're famished and you want to finish this carcass before anything can stop you or take this feast away from you. But as you calm down slightly from your high, you finally take in what this queen said. Does she really think a warthog carcass isn't much? Back in your pride this feast could feed a whole den of lionesses. Perhaps she has a large pride, or the pride and her are spoiled and don't know what real starvation feels like. Never mind that, you just want to gorge in this banquet in peace.

You finish the carcass in no time. Well you don't actually finish it since it's too big but you ate around half the warthog remains, which almost makes you feel like you're about to hurl. You've never been so starved and then eaten so much at once. Animus looks at you like some crazy person, probably baffled that you didn't finish the carcass completely. How can she eat so much and not gain fat? Maybe she does a whole lot of work and burns those extra calories? The world will never know...

The look on Animus's face quickly disappears though as she begins talking about some random thing. But you don't listen because you think you see a dark figure in the bushes around where that cub was once before earlier... The longer you stare at the figure the more entranced you become. Your mind becomes fuzzy, you can't tear your eyes away. It's almost like the things glowing white eyes are enchanting you. "Hey, are you okay?" Animus's voice snaps you out of the trance and you whip your head towards her in surprise. You quickly make some excuse about possibly having heat stroke and you just felt a little tired. And you believe that lie. Maybe being stuck out in the sun for days on end did something with your mind. The figure is gone, having disappeared when you looked away.

Animus, probably not caring much about your possible illness, just goes right back to yapping. Something about working with the devils to defeat the angels? You start to think Animus may be the crazy one and not you. But then again you see that pitch black, shadowy figure. And this time it's right behind Animus. You can get a better look at it now that the creature is closer. The thing seems to be emanating some sort of fog that pools around its feet, or paws. This entity is shaped almost like the pets that the two legged beasts have, "dogs" you think they call them. The beast is completely jet black, the thing seeming to absorb all light around it It has no facial features except for those alluring, bring white luminous eyes...You blink, and it's gone.

You must have looked very freaked out because Animus has finally stopped talking, noting the expression on your face and the way your fur stands on end. Before she can say anything though you excuse yourself, saying you want to get back to your pride as soon as possible. You also ask for directions. "Alright... I'll be back, one second." Animus says and disappears into the bushes once more. You're on edge, expecting the shadowy figure to come back, but it doesn't. Animus comes back with something that resembles a water skin made of aloe leaves. She dips it into the glistening water and fills it up, turning back to you and letting you grab its handle between your fangs. You two give a hurried goodbye before you quickly trot away, mentally noting never to come this way again...