P ready as i'll ever be

Kilian,

Lion of Junior Member

Played by vae

---

Here he was, standing on the threshold. He stared straight ahead, bright eyes embarking on the horizon to drink in what laid beyond. This landscape was entirely new to him. It was as awe-inspiring as it was terrifying. Though he wasn't alone in this venture, he no longer had his mothers to guide him. A dull ache in his chest reminded him just how much he missed them and his sisters. He had no solid belief in any gods, but he genuinely hoped that whatever existed beyond his understanding would watch over his family in Italia. He also hoped that his mothers were proud of him and Enzo. The feeling of warmth that settled in his belly told him that they were, and that gave him all the motivation he needed.

Kilian exhaled the tension that he held so tightly in his chest. He was in a new place, but he was not alone. Lorenzo and his wife were on their way, and Harper was not far behind him. He had only chosen to scout ahead to make sure that everything was safe for his family (and all three of them were family). Now that the path seemed clear of initial obstacles, he felt confident in leading his companions here.

@Harper

Harper,

Lioness of Junior Member

Played by Nova

---

Traveling with a new group was terrifying, despite knowing that they had been nothing short of welcoming and kind to her when she did. Perhaps it was simply because she felt so much pressured (from herself) put on herself knowing that this was who she had been meant to marry years ago. A boy that she'd known for such a short while before everything had been ripped away. It would've been nice to be around them when she was younger if only for the sake that she'd never really grown up with anyone her age. She didn't have that social capability that the three of them had together.
So while Kilian went ahead - she was reluctant to be left behind, but she didn't fear at least - she kept silent and close to Lorenzo and his wife. Occasionally attempting to get a feel for their relationship and figure out how she was supposed to act. This wasn't really about being betrothed anymore at this age - at least, not to Harper. She doubted Kilian would keep her if she didn't want to be but they were such nice folks that she had no reason to not want to be here. Love might not be the word she'd use currently - nor had she ever - but they did make her feel safe.
So when the group finally caught up and she could see Kilian up ahead, Harper did a small little dash forward so that she could smash that distance. H-how's it look? she asked tentatively, uncertain of what was before them when they only place she'd known was quite far away. Travelling seemed to be a good portion of her life now but it would be nice to settle down somewhere. Harper would love a non-Jungle'y place but truthfully she'd go wherever they went without struggle.

TABLE BY NESLA/RABBIT

@Kilian

Kilian,

Lion of Junior Member

Played by vae

---

One of his ears twitched as he heard footsteps rapidly approaching. He had traveled with all of his companions long enough to know their footfalls, and Kilian knew that this was Harper. As she joined him at his side, he leaned over to give her an affectionate lick on her shoulder. Despite all the time that had passed since he first saw her again, every time he looked at her, he was overwhelmed with the reality that she was alive (and well). For so many months, he was resigned to assume the worst. After all, he had no doubt that many lions died in the cataclysmic event that drove his mothers and siblings from their pridelands. But had Harper survived; she survived, and so did her mother. He had always thought fondly of the lioness who would have been his mother-in-law, had all of their fates not been so brutally turned on their heads.

None of that matter now, though. They were in a new place, and he hoped that they would be able to ultimately call this location 'home.'

"So far, so good," he answered enthusiastically. "I can scent other lions here, which hopefully means there are prides. I suppose we will all have to do a bit of scouting to get a better picture of what lies ahead." Kilian didn't sound at all bothered by this inevitability. On the contrary, he had thoroughly enjoyed the journey Lorenzo and he had taken together with his brother's wife and Harper. That said, he was certainly glad to at last have a potential territory that they could find a more permanent home. As exciting as traveling was, his paws were itching to plant roots, just as his mothers had over two years ago.

"How are you holding up? Is everything alright?" his attention turned away from the landscape and onto Harper. He worried about her. She was quieter these days and more withdrawn. Kilian did everything in his power to make sure she had what she needed and to make her feel included, but he was concerned that maybe that wasn't all she wanted.

@Harper

Harper,

Lioness of Junior Member

Played by Nova

---

No matter where she went or who she surrounded herself with, she could always find a seed of doubt. That unruly possibility that she wasn't worthy enough to be close with others. That once they got close enough they saw just how weak she was and how fragile. In a way, she felt that eventually Kilian would see that too. Years ago, things might've been different. She might've held onto that excitable, adventurous and chaos-controlling personality but trauma and loss had led her here to who she was now.
The Makalo did his very best to always include her and at times, she did feel that they adored her. She could feel as though she were one of them but then that ugly doubt raised his head and reminded her of who she was. The affectionate lick that he gave her made her eyes squint as she relished in its simple yet energized reaction. Yearning for the touch and forcing it to build the emotion that she longed for right beneath her surface. She was all for following him in his scouting missions if he'd allow her too. After all, they were a team - betrotheds, was the word - and she should be there to help guide them.
Yeah. I'm - I'm okay. Close to a lie, really. She was okay but she didn't exactly know how best to explain that she hated who she was. Harper had never felt like she knew who she was. Like she'd always been looking at the world from the outside and never the inside. While her mother exuded confidence and intricate social skills, Harper hadn't quite harnessed those abilities for herself. Ready to settle, I guess. Would he accept this as her reason for things being off about her? She hoped so. At least long enough for her to figure out what she could do to ease this struggle.

TABLE BY NESLA/RABBIT

@Kilian

Kilian,

Lion of Junior Member

Played by vae

---

It went without saying that her response wasn't at all reassuring. The only purpose it served was increasing his worries tenfold. Kilian's problem was that he didn't know how to talk about this with her. They were close, sure. He thought, maybe, they were still supposed to be married, but he had no clue what all of that entailed. Even married lions had this issue, right? The one where party A was having problems and party B waffled between fear and uncertainty trying to figure out if they even want to discuss it. Boy, did he ever wish one of his mothers was here. Never mind that he was allegedly said to be 'good' at this sort of practice, too. Kilian surmised that, at least, he knew for sure she wasn't okay? It could be worse. He could just be charging forward at full speed, completely ignorant of whatever inner turmoil she was facing.

"Me too," he chuckled, hoping that his laughter didn't come off as awkward as it sounded in his head. With virtually every lion, except for Harper, he was an experienced diplomat. Put him in a situation where his not-but-maybe wife (fiancée?) was having emotional troubles, and suddenly, he forgot how to navigate even the simplest of conversations. "We could rest for a bit here," Kilian suggested on a whim. "I feel like we haven't had a chance to really talk -- just you and me -- since you joined us. " That wasn't entirely true, but even when they shared a bed (strictly to sleep, of course), Lorenzo and his wife were never far away. There were also times that the two of them were left alone, but he couldn't remember the last time that was.

"If we are lucky, there may be some food around."

@Harper

Harper,

Lioness of Junior Member

Played by Nova

---

The woman could've hoped that he would simply allow her response to be as it was. That he could see she didn't know how to appropriately express her worries, fears or concerns with him, let alone anyone else including herself. She just had an irrational anxiety that sometimes seemed quite rational in her head. Anxiety that crushed everything in her that might be good and strong. Again, that trauma just always came to bite her in the ass - waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak.
The laugh he gave was almost comforting to her. Feeling as though she wasn't the only way that just didn't know how the betrothed thing worked. Years ago it had been set up for them by their parents but after having only met once it was taken away from them. Mother had told her a few times about Cadenza and Kilian, but as the years went on the stories seemed to fade. As it seemed more and more less likely that they'd ever see them again. Surprise! I've never been very good at talking, or anything, really, but she wasn't about to say that out loud. Harper had never been given much of a chance to figure out the things that she enjoyed most in the world.
She'd always been a decent listener and had enjoyed the company of spirits and the knowledge that came with them, but that had been few and far between. Her cousin, Glacier, suddenly creeping into her mind and she felt a cold chill rush through her. Realizing suddenly that he was back there - where chaos had struck and they'd been forced from their home but where did he go? Quickly her brain zipped away from that, hoping her expression hadn't shown that she'd disappeared for a second. Quite a possibility, she imagined a hare was around here somewhere given their location. Perhaps a doe but without a substantial food source in the desert she doubted they'd cross here where their view of two lions wasn't blanketed.

TABLE BY NESLA/RABBIT

@Kilian

Kilian,

Lion of Junior Member

Played by vae

---

Though he had grown accustomed to her short responses, he did sometimes wish he could pull just a little more out of her. His memories of his childhood were vague now, but he recalled leaving a much different betrothed behind after the calamity. Kilian wondered what had happened, if anything, to cause her to recede into herself like this. Then, he considered that maybe he was wrong and that he was making a mountain of a molehill. It was so easy to get lost in his own head. Cadenza had often worked with him to be more mindful and to stay in the moment; however, it had always been a challenge for him. As a cub, it was virtually impossible, but at least as an adult, he felt as though he had made considerable strides.

"I don't think that is true," he responded to her assertion with an affectionate 'huff' of laughter. "You should go a little easier on yourself, Harper. You have so much to offer," His tone lowered to a more intimate one - the voice of a lion trying desperately to get someone he cared deeply about to see in herself what he saw in her. "I am guilty of it, too, but... on my watch, you are not allowed to be so harsh on yourself." His voice shifted back to a more playful tone as he moved to headbutt gently against her closest shoulder.

"So, what do you say? Want me to hunt for us? Or would you like to join me?" Kilian's eyes sparkled with but a glimmer of mischief. "I could show you my skills either way."

@Harper

Harper,

Lioness of Junior Member

Played by Nova

---

Somewhere down the line of thinking, it became obvious of why this felt so foreign to her. Harper wanted to impress Kilian but she didn't know the first thing of how to do that. She wasn't that familiar with love and the only guy that had ever shown her that kind of interest had only stuck around for a month at most. He'd been a nice guy but Harper knew that she didn't do well with abandonment. That was what he'd done and second chances weren't so easy for her - something serious would've had to happen to him to be forgiven. Kilian she could forgive because he'd been a child just as she had been. There'd been no choice in their separation.
So for the Makalo to address that she needed to be a little easier on herself she gave a sheepish, embarrassed pout. The compliment he gave to her was gentle, not commanding. His voice eager to express that she was more than she thought possible. It would take a lot more than a couple nice words to really work it out but she wanted to be better. She did! After years of training herself to be in the background, it was difficult to put herself in the foreground. So Harper gave a half decent smile and a large inhale, I'll join you. Because she wasn't a free-loader and wasn't going to make him do all the work for him to share with her who had done nothing. They should share in the work if they were both going to eat.

TABLE BY NESLA/RABBIT

@Kilian

Kilian,

Lion of Junior Member

Played by vae

---

Harper's response to his comment wasn't as negative as he, perhaps, expected. She seemed somewhat embarrassed, but he hoped the soft smile he offered would help alleviate that. He didn't blame her. Whatever she had gone through had happened, and there was no changing that. If this was a reaction to that trauma, it was going to more than a year or so of traveling together. He reminded himself to be patient and not to push her. Kilian focused on the fact that she wanted to hunt with him, which meant that he was going to have to come off as impressive as he could. Hunting wasn't a strong suit of his, yet he could do it. His mothers had taught him and all of his siblings to hunt, and this practice continued into their adolescence.

"Great!" he tilted his head a little and flashed some teeth in his smile. Shifting gears, he turned to scent the air. His jaws parted to get a better idea of what was around them, and almost straight away he was struck by the smell of warthog. Kilian glanced to Harper, lowering his voice, "Warthog, this way. Do you want to chase or cut it off?"

@Harper

Harper,

Lioness of Junior Member

Played by Nova

---

Life always seemed a lot scarier than what it actually was. It just didn't help that she didn't have a whole lot of really great memories growing up. Likely the reason why her mother seemed so very keen on her traveling with the Makalo boys. It meant that she'd experience more things that those her own age were supposed to be doing. Make her open up a little bit and explore the vast world in front of her. So she was going to try... as hard as she could and maybe harder. So with a hard swallow and an awkward cough, she followed at Kilian's beckon. Chase.. that's easier, right? Kilian was a bit larger than her and likely would do better with the actual job of taking it down whereas she was happy to take the easier, less scary job.

TABLE BY NESLA/RABBIT

@Kilian