Bastet kept on smiling, but inside she wanted to scream. If only Horizon knew. She would've given everything up, just to change her and her pride's fate.

Mira smiled in turn toward Prairie, before turning her gaze to Bastet and Horizon.
"Perhaps we should be going." She remarked standing up, making Jewel wake up instantly. She nudged Zikoni with her muzzle to get up, before looking around again.
"Where is Luna?" She asked, looking around nervously.

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Horizon turned as she saw that the others were awake. She motioned to Bastet and moved a bit closer to the others, just into earshot. Prairie nodded agreeably as Mira suggested that it was time for them to leave. "Turquoise," she said, gently shaking the green lioness, "get up and say goodbye."

Turquoise yawned and stretched, getting to her feet. "Heading out so soon?" she saked, looking genuinely disappointed.

As Mira asked where Luna had gone, both lioness looked around as though Luna would just pop up. "Maybe she's already up," Turquoise suggested. "Could've gone to use the bathroom, or get a bite to eat."

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"Are we heading back?" As if on call, the monotone and chilling voice sounded right behind Turquoise.

The achromia lioness stepped from behind the green-pelted lioness, her expression as stone cold as ever. She took one glance at Bastet, although she didn't seem to really acknowledge her.

"Oh, there you are" Mira sighed with relief. "We should be getting back. Chara is probably worried about us."

"Unless you want to stay," Zikoni growled, getting up from the ground.

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Turquoise gave a start and spun around, laughing rather anxiously when she saw it was Luna. She took a step back so she didn't have to be right next to the lioness. Prairie, on the other hand, turned calmly and looked at Luna with an impassive face.

"I hope your pride isn't worrying over you," Prairie said, looking at Luna specifically when she said this. "I guess you'd better hurry back."

"Shame about leaving so soon, though," Turquoise said with a complete lack of subtlety. "Could use some breakfast, couldn't you?"

"They can probably eat there," said Prairie, smiling at the lionesses quite charmingly. "I'm sure they're well-missed at home. I miss them already, and they're still standing here in front of me."

(Ask, side account! I hate when I do that!)

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Luna felt a sudden shiver run down her spine as Prairie looked at her. It was the strangest feeling, that she never thought she would experience. Perhaps it would be better to keep away from her for now.

She raised an eyebrow at Turquoise's reaction and completely ignored Zikoni's snarky remark. She turned her gaze towards where William lay, scanning him with her eyes to see if he was still breathing.

(It's fine. I didn't even notice it was your side account XD)

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Prairie and Turquoise continued a bit of banter about the group staying for breakfast versus them leaving before their pride started looking for them. Prairie hardly seemed to take any notice of Luna once she had turned her attention from her, but there was a sort of knowing about her that lingered about her even if she didn't show it on her face.

Will's breathing was steady as Luna approached, and he seemed to be sleeping peacefully. He gave an involuntary shudder as Luna approached, and his brows knitted together with worry, as though he were having some sort of bad dream.

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Luna scrunched up her nose at Will, before returning to the rest of the lions.

"Make sure he doesn't eat anything heavy for at least three days" She said to Prairie and Turquoise as she approached them. "He should be fine otherwise." She turned her head towards Mira and Zawadi who were now standing upright and were ready to leave.
"Should we be going?" She asked.

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Turquoise nodded, looking at Will. Prairie followed her gaze thoughtfully. Horizon moved forward so Bastet and Sekhmet could join their pridemates. "Come back soon," she said to Bastet. "Or we'll come visit you soon." She didn't get the feeling that Bastet had very much liked Monarch of the Veldt. "Stay safe on your way there." Turquoise waved at them with her tail and Prarie gave a simple, "Goodbye."

(I just assumed they were leaving :) I suppose at this point we'll want to timeskip forward. Do you have anything planned before Wine and Luna's ritual?)

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(I think we could time skip now. Unless you'd like to add anything yourself. Feel free to continue btw. I'll respond when I can, since I should rest right now)

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(Alright, we'll move on forward! I actually have to do schoolwork, so I guess whichever of us can will just go first.)

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There was a slight chill in the air, as the pride of The Peaceful Spring began to wake up. The day was supposed to be uneventful, just like any other.

Bastet headed towards the nursery, where the other nursing lionesses adored her cub and helped her with her daily tasks as a mother.

The Healers returned triumphantly to the Herb Grove, going back to their daily tasks. Only Luna had disappeared somewhere, which raised Zikoni's concern and suspicion.

It wasn't long before nighttime had fallen again...

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The Ikogosi pride woke slightly behind the sun, and they fell into habitual routines, each settling into the tasks of hunting, or watching cubs, or gathering items to take down to the marketplace, or mixing plant dyes. Will sat quietly, giving advice where it was asked for. Monarch made a brief appearance as he swept past the lionesses on his way to the violet tree. He was unusually still and ponderous today, but none of them said anything.

Nobody figured it would be any sort of special day, but Wine knew different. She didn't act any differently than she normally would, and she went about her business mixing poultices and gathering herbs and tending to small hunting wounds. As the night fell, she slipped away by herself. She was quite sure none of them would miss her. She padded through the withering foliage and dried flowers and hid herself in the shadow near the place she was supposed to meet Luna. She didn't expect to be able to hide from Luna, but rather from any wandering lions who might come across her.

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"You're here" It was one of the first things Wine heard once she arrived at her destination.

Luna observed from her position on one of the tree branches nearby, as the young Healer came into view. A part of her hoped she wouldn't, but there she was just like she said she would be. With an almost effortless grace Luna jumped down from the branch, landing right before Wine. She wore a small herb bag around her waist, a golden bracelet shaped like a snake coiled around one of her front legs. Her gaze seemed more alive than usual, yet the tone of her voice was just as monotone and emotionless as it was before.

"Are you ready?" She asked, looking straight into Wine's eyes.

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Wine turned her head and nodded a greeting to Luna. Rather than being nervous, or even excited, she felt . . . nothing. She felt empty and emotionless, no matter how she tried to feel something about what she was about to do. She met Luna's gaze quietly, not in a challenging way, but in a steely way, to show the lioness had chosen well to let Wine help her. "I'm ready," she said.

(By the way, since Wine doesn't have her decor at this point in time, I think I'll link it to this ceremony somehow. In case that matters :)

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Luna only nodded in turn, before turning back and walking away deeper into the jungle. She didn't stop to make sure Wine was following her, trudging effortlessly through the more and more difficult terrain of The Primordial Jungle.


Bastet woke up. Just like the night before, it was a feeling that jolted her awake, rather than a nightmare. She looked around the cave of sleeping lions, most of them mothers with their own cubs. She looked down at Sekhmet, her precious little treasure who slept peacefully, cuddle at her side. Her heart sank as she realized what she had to do. Silently, she got up and put Sekhmet gently with Yakuti's cubs. She might've been slightly older than the Warrior, but she was sure Yakuti could take care of her daughter. At least until Bastet came back. She gently licked the cub's head one last time, before heading out of the nursery and into The Primordial Jungle.

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