| Kavayla |

ONLY Velvet, Mottled Stripes and EHR Gon!

Next heat: 127002


LORE:

Ash thick air hung heavily over the remains of a charred forest. Dark paws padded lightly over the departed skeletons of ferns and nettles.

In the distance, through the ash, a circle of stones could be seen. They were set apart from the forest, and looked out of place compared to the scorched landscape. Trees and vines grew rampant in the circle, and the distant scent of small prey could be detected. This certain hollow was the subject of countless folk tales. It was said to house lions with immeasurable power.. some even say that they aren't lions at all.

The traveler entered the circle, and lightly leapt onto one of the stones. She settled, wrapping her tail neatly around her large paws. Her coat was mottled with both stripes, and leopard-like rosettes. She was an outcast from other lions, a reject of her pride.

The sounds of branches crunching met her ears, and she whipped her head around, staring towards the noise. A smaller, petite lion, who looked surprisingly like her ducked through the vines, and into the hollow. The lion's yellow eyes darted around the clearing until they landed on her own. The Traveller jumped down from the rock, and padded towards the cub. She bent down, nuzzling the smaller lion roughly. She chuffed, her voice raspy from ash, "Kigeni."

The smaller lion's eyes glistened, and she tried to stand taller to get better access to burying her muzzle in the larger lion's chest fur. "Kav!"

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Sun filtered down through the green canopy of the hollow. Kavayla paced to and fro, lashing her tail. The fur on the back of her neck stood, and her eyes were wide with fear. The only thought consuming her mind was her impending immortality. Kavayla couldn't admit it, but she was scared. She was more than scared, she was terrified. The thought suffocated her every thought, suppressing her normal fiery personality. Kavayla had heard Kigeni speak of how she gained her immortality, but that didnt help to soothe her. She continued to pace. Her eyes were glazed over almost as if she was in a trance.

"Kav..?" Kigeni looked down at the larger lion from atop a stone, distress flooding her face. She hopped down, taking some steps towards her. "Kav..? KAV." She tried. "What's gotten into you? You're scaring me..". Kigeni approached the lion's side. Kavayla was mumbling quietly, she was a mess. The smaller lion nudged the larger one gently, glancing back up at her. Kavayla suddenly jumped, and her dawn eyes met Kigeni's yellow ones. The smaller lion let out a sigh of relief, which was quickly cut off by a cuff across the face from Kavayla.

Kavayla suddenly snapped out of her trance. There was a presence next to her. She tensed, moving before she thought. Kavayla aimed a cuff at the presence, whirling around as she did so. Her unsheathed claws struck Kigeni's face. Immediately, the smaller lion recoiled, and flattened to the ground. She stared down at the small, huddled form. Blood pooled quietly from the scratches on her face. "Im-" She took a step forward, but was cut off by the smaller lion standing, and turning her back to Kavayla.

Kigeni turned her back on the larger lion, wincing slightly as she did. "You're not yourself." She said quietly, her voice trembling. She began to walk off, but paused before ducking into one of the dens nested within the tree roots. "Come find me once you swallow your pride, and tell me whatever is bothering you." Kigeni spoke, stronger this time. She ducked down into the den.

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Kavala stood for what felt like hours outside of Kigeni's den. She tried to think of what to say. Would she forgive her? Eventually, took a deep breath, and ducked into the cave.

Kigeni was curled in the far corner of the cave, nestled in a bed of moss. She wasn't sleeping, but waiting for Kavayla to finally come inside. Kigeni could tell she had been standing outside for a while, she wasn't exactly the most quiet of lions. From her position, she heard Kav enter the den, and settle down a few feet away from her. She felt her gaze on her back.

Kavayla let out a sigh, gazing down at the smaller lion. "I know you're awake, Kigeni. I came to talk." The larger lioness tensed a bit as Kigeni stirred, and stood, turning to lay facing her.

She stared up at Kavayla, face pensive. "Talk about what? This?" She turned, frowning, and showing the now scabbed over wound that Kav had caused. She flattened her ears, staring up at the lion. "What has gotten into you recently!" Kigeni hissed softly, lashing her tail. "You've never done anything like this! You can talk to me, you should know that!" She spoke, irritation rising in her voice.

Kavayla winced, dropping her head in shame. "I'm sorry.." She stared down at a stray ant meandering across the den's floor, as she tried to remember the words she practiced outside her den. She hesitated, before continuing, "I..wasn't myself. I was scared." She stuttered, reaching out and blocking the ant from crawling forward. She avoided eye contact with Kigeni.

Her gaze darted over the hunched figure. It was unlike Kavayla to let her walls down so easily. "Scared of what?" She asked gently, all irritation having melted from her voice, but she was met with only silence. "Kav..? I'm not mad at you anymore." she said, standing, and taking a step forward, so she was directly infront of Kavayla.

Her view of the ant was suddenly interrupted by a pair of snowy blue paws. Her gaze darted up, and met Kigeni's, who's was full of kindness. The larger lion suddenly broke under her gaze. She pressed her forehead against the shorter lion's, whispering, "I'm scared of our gift! I'm scared of dying, I'm.. I'm just scared..!" She spilled out all at once, pressing her eyes closed, as she rested her head against Kigeni's.

She listened quietly, taking in what Kavayla had to say. Kigeni stepped back, looking at the larger lion. "Open your eyes" She said softly, and Kav did so. "Look at me. I'm here. I promise you it's going to be ok." Kigeni stepped back, flopping down onto the bed of moss. "C'mon, Kav. Let's sleep. I can tell you about it in the morning." She said, before letting out a quiet yawn.

Kavayla gazed down at the smaller lion, already curled up in a ball in the nest. Maybe her Gift wouldn't be so bad if it meant they got to spend the rest of their lives together. Kavayla stepped over the smaller lion, and curled around her in the moss bed. She gently leaned forward, licking the wound she had left on her cheek, before drifting off soundlessly.


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Flavor text:

You find | Kavayla | splayed out near some water, panting heavily and looking generally miserable. she started to complain about how hot it was today, and how she wanted to go play in the snuh. You give her a weird look - it feels great today, and snuh is way too cold to do anything in!