Having to bare the burden of watching cubs seemed to be all too common. With each thoughtful step Kunzite took the more her head throbbed and ached like a sore. Stay there? With them? Bah! If they knew better I wouldn't have to be such a stick in the mud. The lioness grumbles to herself, her train of thought breaking as she now tripped over a mossy rock. A shrill yelp escapes her lungs, the sudden shock only adding to her conflicting frustrations.

Great. Now her left paw hurt. Thankfully her claws were still intact but the paw itself was scuffed and raw from the tumble. No matter, Kumzite had to keep moving forward, anywhere that's far from her pride and her goody-two-shoes sisters the better.

The slight limp Kunzite had added the sound the soft grumbling.. From first glance you wouldn't think a timid looking lioness such as herself would have so many worries. If she was pretty she could simply leave her pride in search of a lone male, carry his offspring and be away from all her past worries! At least, that's what she's been told. Her looks don't matter to herself so why would they to a testosterone-filled male who's never even spoken to a lady before? It was...

Wait.

What is that? Who is that? Her tired eyes widen from seeing a small bundle of fur not too far ahead of her within the thicket and shrubbery surrounding them. Were they hurt? Did she travel into someone else's territory? Why are they hiding in such a spot? More questions rather than answers tugged at her fur, the urge to pad over to the stranger being a strong but most likely stupid idea. Kunzite's solution? Stare into space and overthink. Yeah. That's a good plan for sure!

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Mahika’s ears twitched, her fur standing on edge at the sound of paw steps, heavy and uneven, unsure. Her head lifted, nostrils flaring in an attempt to catch as scent, but her rains were unhelpful in such efforts. Her ears swiveled around to catch any sounds the new creature could make, but before she could make any move to step forward, smaller, quicker steps came barreling into her hideaway, knocking into her from the side.

The two bundles of fur, rolled around, Mahika in particular growling in aggravation. “Ahadi!” She hissed, digging her claws into the soft earth, baring her teeth up at the lankier, pearly colored leopon. Ahadi, pushed herself up from the dirt, and shook herself free of debris, sheepishly chuckling. “Visions had me come for you,” the leopon purred, taking no notice of the other lioness nearby.

But Mahika, more on edge than usual, was still unsure, her ears folding back to catch any sounds. With a huff, turned her back to Ahadi, sniffing around the edge of her hideaway, scenting for the newcomer.

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Under the foliage remains the lavender speckled lioness, the droplets of rain falling onto her muzzle to finally snap her back into reality. Kunzite's muzzle wrinkles hard from the cool water, her claws flexing out momentarily. Voices didn't seem to far away. What was I doing? Oh, right. Two leopons in the same area, possibly a pride was shocking to her. This was a chance of a lifetime; seeing these strangers, especially the smaller cub did put her on the edge.

With light, though uneasy steps the lioness made her way closer, the rain supporting her stealthy wobbles into a shrub.
She didn't want to leave now in case she risks being seen, but if Kunzite stayed she could be noticed sooner. Choices, choices, choices..

Studying Mahika first her observations were pretty set in stone; Trouble-minded, irritated, distant. At least her pelt looked nice? Seeing the younger leopon only reminded her of her own siblings. So... many siblings. Perhaps Kunzite wouldn't be harmed if she was found, as naive as the thought was.

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The two hybrids stilled, Ahadi having caught on to the unknown presence after Mahika’s silence had opened the door for her to hear the steps. Ahadi turned her gaze toward the wall of branch and leaf, sniffing slowly and stalking forward. Her eyes finally focused in on a pale purple lioness, and she hesitated in her next few steps, muscles taut and claws slowly unsheathing from her paw pads in defense.

“…Who are you?” She demanded, the thin mane around her neck puffing out as she spoke.

Behind her, the Jaglion stepped up, her claws more than ready and out, digging deep into the soft, muddy earth beneath her.

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(i just realized i might of said they were both leopons, thats my bad )

"Who are we all really-?" Her response being sheepish, haunches now raised as the lioness was now spotted.

Seconds drag on for what felt like centuries before Kunzite gave a real answer, standing up to her full height once more. "I-I'm from a neighboring pride, past the river near here. I didn't mean to trespass in any way, honestly," Dipping her head into submission her eyes glaze over, her muzzle wrinkling again. You idiot. You should of left sooner. With her damaged paw lifted slightly her balance was out of place almost; Kunzite's muscles remain tense to support her uneven weight.

"I'm sure you've wondered too far from home before, haven't we all?"

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The leopon seemed to relax at that, perhaps too easily, while the Jaglion’s guard remained unwavering. “Oh…” the pon muttered, stepping closer again before earning a rough nudge from her counterpart that stopped her. “Well…” she trailed off, seemingly unaware of how to continue. “I mean, I haven’t but—“ she was cut off again by a sharp nip on the rump. She turned back to Mahika, and the two squabbled a second, before seeming to decide the Jag would continue for the both of them.

“Does your nose not work? You should’ve scented the borders,” she hissed in a hoarse, unused sounding voice. Her nostrils flared a bit more and she wandered up closer to the side of her hybrid pride mate. She could smell the irony scent of blood, faint, perhaps not even there, but enough for her to notice. “I smell blood..yours?” She

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Their reactions were completely fair, Kunzite was barely capable of making sense when it came to communication with strangers. She was constantly around family to keep her company if not the troublesome cubs she nearly looses every day. "Blood? Blood, oh, everyone has-- Oh." That darn rock.. "Yes, yes it's only a scratch I think? I dunno, I never looked at it properly," Glancing back to the direction she came from only brings back her memory of how clumsy she was. The lioness looks back to the hyrbids with a pitiful smile, her body sheepish, uncomfortable.

She was especially nervous around the Jag; Sticking around in someone else's territory? Kunzite's sisters would have a ball if they knew.

"I can leave now, truly, I don't think I really want to be here. Not that your territory is bad! Uh, well, being cooped up in your pride sure does drive a lion crazy, doesn't it?"

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Varshini's ear twitched at that, her muzzle clamping shut, and her muscles losing their tension. A thick silence surrounded them like a brooding mist, and for a moment the rain seemed to come down harder.

“If you can’t walk on it, you can stay for the night, but no longer. Visions won’t appreciate strangers on her land, harmless or not.” She flicked her tail as she turned, stalking off to a corner of her hideaway and kicking up what looked to be a makeshift nest.

Ahadi on the other hand was thrilled, she bounded over to Kunzites side, a wide grin on her muzzle as she came to inspect her injustice foot, leaning against the more unsteady lioness to try and walk her forward. “We never get visitors you know, actually, I’ve never seen a lion from another pride, not really—“ she rambled, leaning in and then out, sounding more exasperatedly excited than anything.

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"Thank you, one night is all I need," Kunzite's voice falters just as Varshini turns away, waves of guilt flooding the poor lionesses mind. Now she felt even more like a burden, and it wasn't for her pride this time.

At least with rain comes the sunshine, Ahadi being just that! It was a breath of fresh air having someone be kind to her. The added balance from her only improves Kunzite's mood, the rain trickling down the vegetation harder and harder. "I don't see many myself either; My father doesn't like me going off on my own like this," Her muzzle growing a smile, licking some rain drops off her nose. "Oh well. I hope you're not too upset I'm here. Who is this 'Visions' the other spoke of?" She pauses, catching her breath. "Is that your pride's king?"

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While Varshini pushed together a large pile of leaves and feather, Ahadi helped bring the lioness beneath the canopy, hurrying back to the border of her pride. “Ramla, Visions of Circinus,” she corrected, “our queen,” she added with a touch of pride. “It’s her title, we all have one outside of our roles. They don’t mean much, just for show, Ramla likes getting fancy,” she laughed.

“My name’s Ahadi, my title’s Tears of Venus,” she continued, stepping aside and plopping down on the soft grass. “That’s Mahika,” she gestured to the second hybrid with a quick nod of her head, “Or, Varshini’s Cries, she doesn’t really like to be called either though,” she rolled her eyes, huffing, “she doesn’t like much of anything to be honest.”

Mahika, didn’t seem amused by the playful jab however, and growled bitterly at the leopon, her tail twitching against the air in aggravation.

Ahadi glared over at Varshini for a moment, before looking back to Kunzite with a grin, “well, what about you? What’s your name? Do you have ‘Titles’ in your pride too?”

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The thought of having fancy titles sure seemed interesting, though it would only lead to bickering and nonsense fights.. The thought sent a shiver down Kunzite's spine, already having enough arguments for a lifetime.

"I'm Kunzite," she coos, "Like the gem! It's basic but fitting, my fur looks exactly like it." Lowering herself onto the freshly made nest the lioness felt content. "My pride doesn't have titles or a queen. That sounds so unique! I bet she's lovely."

Curiosity gets the better of Kunzite as the thought of the other hybrid came to mind again. The bitter growl towards Ahadi further proves her mindset: Be careful around her!

"If I had a fancy title I'm not sure what it would really be. I'm not very useful back home. Not as much as some of the other lionesses anyway."

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“Oh, well a title has nothing to do with your role silly!” Ahadi laughed, stretching out to lay beside Kunzite and rolling onto her back, “It had to do with you!” But that was a rather vague explanation she figured, “You see my fur? That creamy white color? Looks like pearls right? That’s what my title comes from! Venus was said to have cried pearls when overjoyed, and Ramla seems to find that fitting for me. It’s who I am , not what I do.” She said, trying to explain more clearly.

“But having just a name is fine too, I like it, fits you,” Ahadi purred, “What’s your pride like? Are there a lot of broodmothers? Hunters? Are there others? We have an herbalist, but she’s kind of crude, her and Mahika get along because of it I think.” Moved her paws this way and that as she spoke, curling her muzzle in exaggerated ways and flipping her tail, rather boisterous, which seemed to tick off Mahika.

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The contrast between these two was still mind blowing to Kunzite. Rubbing her paw with her nose she'd continue smiling, warmth bubbling in her chest. "Venus," She echoes, glancing into the rainy sky. "My pride has everything you do. Maybe not a herbalist, but one of the male's helps with our physical problems. Illness, wounds, you name it. Koa. He's very sweet. He's my brother, though he doesn't share my parents."

Craning her head back to see where Mahika was, Kunzite pawing at the idea of someone truly being so negative. Well, at least more than she knows her pride members could be. Geez, maybe she should get out more often...

"But my pride has plenty of huntresses and broodmothers. My father, Sweeney, really does encourage all of us to do our best! I think he just wants me to live as peacefully as I can. I'm a but of a klutz you know."

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