𝚂𝚝𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝

♫ 𝐒𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟, 𝐛𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐝 ♫

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𝚂𝚝𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 gets a liiiiittle too close to your muzzle for comfort, so you give a warning snarl and she scurries away, no doubt to annoy another pride member.

FIRST HEAT: PASSEEDD!!

Second: No pass


Gift of love
Stumblingsight lay beneath the shade of the baobab, her thoughts heavy with memories of her daughter, Loud Flame. Though still an adolescent, Loud had decided to spend time with another pride—a step toward independence that filled Stumblingsight with pride but also left her feeling hollow. The absence of her daughter’s boundless energy and soft, affectionate nudges weighed on her more with each passing day.

Her ears twitched at the sound of approaching pawsteps, and the familiar, steady presence of Roughrider soon settled beside her. His mane brushed against her as he let out a soft huff, a mix of effort and reassurance.

"Stumblingsight," he began, his voice carrying a rare gentleness, "your daughter sent you something. Her new pride helped her make it."

Stumblingsight lifted her head, her ears perking at the news. "Loud Flame?" she murmured, her voice soft with longing. "She… she thought of me?"

"She always does," Roughrider assured her. With a careful paw, he set something before her. "It’s a painting. A gift, made by her and her new pride."

Her heart thudded with anticipation. "A painting?" she asked, tilting her head. "Of what?"

Roughrider’s voice warmed with a smile. "It’s of Loud Flame. She told them every detail—her pink-beige fur, the soft white markings, and the flowers she loves. They’re painted on her head, circling her neck, trailing down her tail, and blooming along her body. White flowers with vibrant green leaves, almost as if they grew straight from her. And her antlers… made of carved wood, perched proudly atop her head. She wanted them to show how strong she feels now."

His tone softened further. "She also made sure her eyeless face was painted just right—because, like you, she knows her strength isn’t in what she sees, but in who she is."

Stumblingsight reached out with her paws, trembling as they brushed the rough texture of the painted hide. The image she couldn’t see came alive in her mind as Roughrider described it: her beautiful, eyeless daughter, adorned with flowers and elegant antlers, her spirit captured in vibrant hues.

“She misses you too, Stumblingsight,” Roughrider added softly. “She made this so you wouldn’t forget she’s always thinking of you.”

Tears welled in Stumblingsight’s empty sockets, her voice breaking as she whispered, “As if I ever could.” She bowed her head, her heart swelling with a bittersweet mix of pride and longing. Though Loud Flame was far away, this gift made her feel closer, as if her daughter’s warmth and love were pressed against her once more.

For the first time in moons, Stumblingsight smiled—a true, radiant smile. She would treasure the painting, not for its image, but for the love it carried across the distance between them.