Vast's head tilted slightly sideways, though now his gaze didn't stray away from Astraea, rather than follow her glance upwards towards the Sun. Her concern was justified, regardless of what it referred to. Even so, he could not imagine she would be any safer somewhere else. Danger was never completely absent. Here was as safe as anywhere else.

He blinked at her introduction, bobbing his head in a birdlike fashion in response. "Astraea," he repeated in acknowledgement. Names, he found, were still an unusual thing. Introductions were never a priority. A lion's life, actions, words, circumstances, all preceded something like what they called themselves. Calling oneself something at all still struck him as odd, from time to time. "I am Vast," he offered in return.

He nodded again, repeating the same birdlike gesture, and rose to his paws, looking out towards the central area of the pride's territory again. "Yes, there are rocks. Overhangs," he said haltingly. He began to walk, paying no heed to the burnt grass crunching beneath his paws, or the soot and ash that got stuck in his fur. "Our pride will be well. Stay until you go." He led the way across the burnt land without glancing backwards to see if the larger lion was following or not.



(Alright! My next post will introduce one or two of the others then.)

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Astraea's eyes narrowed slightly at the lion's name. Vast. Vast what? She doubted his name was just that, but then again she was in a different world altogether. Perhaps they had a specific naming system just like he did before she took over. She decided not to ask any questions about that, however.

She was slightly stunned at his manner of speaking, yes, but she assumed this is how lions in this world speak. Good that as a spirit she could understand any language she came in contact with. She followed Vast through the fire-stricken territory, her mind tittering on the edge of sleep. She really was tired. It was all a part of having a semi-mortal body, she assumed.



(Awesome! I'm really interested in reading who you want to introduce to Astraea )

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The fire damage to the territory slowly lessened the further they moved from where Astraea had first fallen. Vast's pace remained unchanged and unbothered throughout the journey, even when passing through areas where the smoke lying over the ground was thick, or where the fires burned close by, not yet extinguished. The unconcerned confidence of his movements led the pair all the way towards the fringes of the partly scorched lands, where some undergrowth was still growing and scraggly trees still stood, amidst other large rock formations. Before long, a throng of colorful pelts came into view, and a distant shout was raised – a lookout, noting the return of the pride's king.

From the crowd, a dark, thin lioness swiftly broke away from the crowd, approaching rapidly with her narrow face twisted into a worried scowl. "Where have you been?" she trotted right up to Vast to demand, words that might have sounded mulish or accusatory, if not for the slight tremble in them. She butted her head fiercely against his shoulder before he could quite manage to lean his head down to nuzzle a greeting.

Another lioness, similarly bearing a reddish coat, though lighter on the underside and speckled, trailed behind with a relieved smile, and was the first to take notice of Astraea. "Oh! Oh, someone was –? Oh, are you alright, that must have been frightening," she was quick to talk, slipping past Vast and the other lioness to blink up at Astraea with wide, worried glass-hued eyes. "Are you injured at all?"


(Sorry for the wait, been busy the past few days!)

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Astraea's pace remained equally steady, although her eyes darted from side to side, taking in her surroundings. Once what she assumed was Vast's pride came into view, she attempted to make herself slightly smaller, so as not to draw any unwanted attention to herself. Her eyes began involuntarily scanning the area for any place where she could settle without being an unwanted bother to the natives. She didn't want to cause any harm or trouble. She wasn't sure if she was entirely welcome here, and she did not want to have to fight to defend herself. Casualties were out of the question for her.

Her fur slightly stood on edge when she was noticed by one of the lionesses. She kept her composure calm and collected, however, and simply smiled warmly at the worried lioness, looking down on her, but not in a disrespectful manner.

"No need to worry, I'm alright" She answered in a gentle tone, her dawn eyes seemingly glowing for a second. "Thankfully, your King saved me before I could take any severe damage."

The rescue wasn't needed, but still appreciated. If anything was to happen to her, she would discorporate, but her power and soul could survive without a mortal vessel. Still, it would've been a tedious task to find or make a new one, not to mention the difficulty of coming back to her pride in such a state. Therefore, gratefulness was an appropriate response, to say the least.



(No worries, I have the same problem )

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The glass-eyed lioness's worry eased at the assurance, and she was quick to return Astraea's smile. "Oh, that's good, that's good," she said with obvious relief. Seeming to remember herself a moment later, she turned back in Vast's direction, offering quickly, as if speaking fast enough would curb any worry he might have already been feeling, "Everyone is okay, here! Antumbra and her young ones helped to get everyone through safely, and Misty kept everyone calm and moving. We're okay."

She moved forward to receive a nuzzle from Vast as well, her smile widening when he gave her a small one of his own, murmuring, "That's good. Thank you."

The leaner, more waspish lioness took a step away from the others, turning a critical eye in Astraea's direction. She didn't try to straighten herself or make herself taller, but she tipped her chin up purposefully, not immediately friendly. "I am Red Dawn, priestess of the Sun. You stand in the presence of King Vast of the Endless Sun, and of Consort Morning Glory of the Sunrise Court." The introductions were spoken with a measured, matter-of-fact tone, as one might give directions to a lost traveler, but were elaborate and formal, notably in a way that neither of her companions had spoken. Red Dawn flicked one ear, gaze unflinching despite Astraea being a much, much larger lioness than her, in height and bulk. "And you are?"

"Dawnie," Morning Glory chided in an undertone, casting a slightly wide-eyed look Astraea's way. Red Dawn didn't answer, only flicking her ear in Morning Glory's direction without moving her eyes from Astraea.

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As Red Dawn's eyes shifted to Astraea, she didn't flinch. She did go on diplomatic missions since she became King. She was used to those stares by now, used to enough not to be intimidated by them.

Dawn's introduction did give her information about the pride she was in the presence of. Firstly, Vast did have a more complex name than just Vast. Secondly, this pride did have a naming system, considering every lion she was introduced to by now had something connected to the sun in some way. Thirdly, and most importantly, they worshipped their star or rather their sun. It didn't surprise her much. Most stars had their magic that most lions were unaware of. It is from these stars she drew her power, as she was their creator. This one however proved to be difficult. Perhaps she could learn something during her stay?

She dipped her head to the lioness respectfully, not wanting to seem rude. "I am glad to make your acquaintance, Red Dawn Priestess of the Sun, and your Highness, Morning Glory. My name is Astraea. I am simply a traveler from far away, looking for a place to rest and gather my strength before I move onward." She made her introduction, deciding to leave most things about herself out. There was no need to make it more complicated than that.

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Red Dawn’s sharp eyes appraised Astraea critically, the sharp look on her face not abating even when Astraea responded to her abrupt and challenging introduction politely. Still, something in her – not her stance or expression, exactly but something all the same – seemed to shift in her at the reply. If nothing else, she seemed to approve of the quick acknowledgment of every lion’s title and the apparent deference Astraea presented.

“Oh, Astraea is a lovely name,” Morning Glory piped up, smiling in her direction with only a slight glance in Red Dawn’s direction, somewhere between scolding and nervous. “As Dawnie said, I’m Morning Glory, but you can just call me Glory, if you like. I’m not from around these parts, either, but it’s nice here, isn’t it? Or, well, I - I suppose it’s nicer when it hasn’t been…”

“It will grow back,” Vast reassured simply, turning to nudge his nose against the top of Glory’s head. Then, he stepped back, staring mutely at Astraea for a moment, before he spoke again, slower, more to Red Dawn and Morning Glory than to her despite looking at Astraea as he spoke, “Misty and Antumbra will have reports. I should take them. Astraea can stay if she likes.”

Red Dawn cut him a sharp sideways glance, which he met placidly. The two seemed to have a silent conversation through their eye contact before Vast turned to move along at his usual sedate pace.

“We’ll take care of her, Vast!” Glory called after him to promise. She turned back to Astraea with a smile equal parts determined and embarrassed. “We’ll take care of you! Get you settled. Do you have any idea how long you’re staying?”

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The Star Maiden kept her head bowed for as long as Dawn was staring at her, lifting it only when Morning Glory addressed her.

"Thank you. Your name is very pretty as well." She said, although compliments were never her strong point. It was more of her brother's job.

Her gaze shifted to the side once Glory mentioned their surroundings. Vast was right, it will grow back. But still, it would be a long while before that happens.
When Vast was looking at her, she only spared him a sideways glance. She was wondering if he knew something about her that she didn't tell him. This lion seemed to be more aware than others.

She smiled at Glory's enthusiasm.
"As long as I'm needed to stay..." She trailed off while answering Morning Glory's question, looking up at the sky where the sun still hung. There must've been a reason why she wasn't allowed access to its power. Did it want something from her? Did she need to stay here for a longer while? Well, if that was what it wanted, she'd comply, at least for now.

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The compliment was received with a warm smile and a happy twitch of Glory's ears, followed by a sincere, "Thank you!" Her name was fairly straightforward compared to some of the more complicated or poetic ones that had arisen in the pride since its beginning, but she still liked it quite well enough. The way it bridged the gap between the pride she was born into and the one she had now made her home since her marriage was something that would always be comforting to her.

Red Dawn continued to scrutinize Astraea at her response, but ultimately flicked her tail with a huff without further criticism or silent challenge. Instead, she turned away, summoning curtly, "Come along, then. If you've no real idea how long you're staying, you at least shouldn't be in the way." Vast and the others had things to do, and a stranger standing around in the midst of their group unoccupied and unattended would only distract from that.

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Astraea did not utter another word, simply following whenever those strangers would lead her. Starting a fight wasn't something she wanted to achieve. She lowered her head slightly, aware of every lion that passed by her.

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Moving about the unfamiliar pride – unfamiliar to Astraea, but more than familiar to the other two – took some time, lions stopping Morning Glory and Red Dawn along the way to ask questions, or to share words, or just to offer the occasional amicable head-bump or nuzzle. One such lion to approach the trio, a brown-and-gold-furred lioness with a mottled nose and a near-lazy smirk on her muzzle, eventually drew Red Dawn away. The priestess cast a glance over her shoulder as she went, a hard, piercing look aimed first in Astraea's direction, then in Morning Glory's. On the latter, that gaze softened to something still piercing, but gentler for a few heartbeats. Then she had turned away and disappeared back into the throng of lions milling about, leaving just Morning Glory and Astraea to continue on.

Morning Glory waved and called a farewell after Red Dawn, before she led Astraea the rest of the way to a rocky outcropping that provided some shade. The earth beneath was cool and smooth. Not soft, like grass would have been to lay on, but not the unpleasant, prickly, clinging blackness of scorched earth that covered a lot of the pride's territory at the moment.

"You can rest here for a while!" she made sure to verbally confirm to Astraea, offering her a smile. "Red Dawn probably doesn't want you underpaw, but if you prefer somewhere else, I can still take you there. Sorry I don't think anyone can offer you something to eat, just yet. We're still working out hunting with all this going on."

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On their way, Astraea made sure to look at the faces of other lions in this pride. They were just like regular lions in her own pride. Nothing out of the ordinary. It pleased her to see some familiarity in the faces she saw, a little breath of home that she had already begun to miss.

As both she and Glory reached their destination, Astraea inspected the outcropping carefully.
"Thank you," She responded with gratitude to Morning Glory. "Don't worry about food. I can survive quite a long time without it." She smiled reassuringly at the friendly, speckled lioness.

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( Hello! I'm not sure if you forgot about this thread or simply don't have time for it, but I'm writing to remind you that it exists, and I'm awaiting your response )

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(Hey! I haven't forgotten, sorry for the late response. Life's just a bit too busy right now, I'll get back to this in the New Year. Thanks for the patience!)

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