Epyon's paws made heavy steps as she moved for the borders of the mainland and the pride, eyes ahead. She wasn't filled with trepidation or fear as most would, but rather excitement. A journey would be nice-- perhaps to visit home, or to make friends-- who knew?
The magenta, gold, and black female stood on a ledge overlooking the roguelands at the border, full of excitement and curiousity. It was so new. So different. She beamed a bit. Maybe fate and hope were outside, her smile was broad as she looked, tail swaying.
So much joy.
Cacao was rarely alone, but when she was, she soaked in the experiance like a small sponge, thje dainty brouwn lioness looking about. Her mother always told her the Outside was dangerous. But then she wouldn't know. Her ears pricked and she looked up to spy the figur of Epyon looking out, and woindered what the female was thinking, the reincarnation of the Gundam's soul rarely alone herself. She decided to find out and shyly crept towards her, looking up, wincing as a few rolling rocks announced her presence.
Epyon blinked, hearing rolling pebbles, and looked, smiling kindly on the shy duchess trying to approach and nodded.
"Hello there!" She greeted her warmly./ Cacao blinked.
"Oh, hullo m=y lady Epyon. What are you doing out here so far?" Cacao smiled her shy smile. Epyon chuckled.
"Me? i'm running away. Going on a journey."
"A journey my lady?" Cacao tilted her head, reaching the other aristocrat. Epyon nodded, looking out to the rogueland.
"Yes. I want to find a way to calm to tension in-pride, somehow."
?Cacao perked.
"May... I help and accompany?"
Epyon blinked in surprise, blinking to her.
"Lady Verdah?"
"I want to go with you. I want to know what's outside so terrible mother and qaunt Meleth don't let me see." She frowned.
"I don't want to live in shadow all of my life. Even you come from outside the boundries. But I came here young and early. I want to know, I want to see, I want to experiance the world myself and see what mother is hiding from me."
Epyon was quiet, blinking, and nodded.
"Okay. Yeah. I can understand." She smiled softly.
"Mother was afraid of outside herself, but father lives out there. So, I knowe it's not all bad, or all good. The roguelands are my father's home and yet how my mother died." She rose. "So I guess sure, you can come."
And it WOULD be good for the shy, timid lioness to learn what life was like.
Gratitude flashed on Cacao's face as Epyon consented, the brown female wriggling joyfully. A way to see the world! Then she looked surprised at Epyon's words.
"But I thought you were born like anyone else."
Epyon blinked, looking to her.
"I was. I'm not-- what do you think I aqm? Only the true gods can be born of void. I'm just a mortal, despite what the others say. I know this because Sere and mother said so."
"Sere?"
"Priest G. He helped raise my aunt... And uncle."
"Who are they?"
Epyon opened her mouth to answer when another answered for her.
"The Gods of Death, dork. Well, the old ones!"
Both turned to see a black and grey lioness stretch, looking up calmly.
"Name's Rhine. Daughter 'o' Deathscythe. Couldn't help overhearing you hoity toity types. What dso you meant your aunt and uncle, Epyon?"
Holyshitshehadacousin. Epyon stared.
"My mother was your mother's Sister.,"
Rhine blinked.
"Well! Ma never mentions family besides uncle Duo., So where you two going?" The colonist groomed a paw, Cacao answering excitedly.
"Outside. To see the world. Want to come?" Cacao smiled kindly. Rhine looked surprised, blinking and thinking about it. Epyon was surprised at5 Cacao's rather forward question herself. Cacao merely smiled kindly.
"An Angel of Death would be welcome company if we encounter a force outside our ability. Especially if said force is, say, strongger. I can't fight well and Epyon is only one mortal."
Rhine's ego perked at the subtle compliments and she beamed.,
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm the strongest but, I might be able to lend a paw..." She smirked, flexing her claws daintily. Cacao smiled calmly.
"And think of the adventures you'd have, and how much help to the pride you'd be."
"Wow, for a Duchess, you seem interested in everyonme, huh?"
Cacao blinked, Epyon blinking before speaking.
"A pride has to work together to thrive. Subjegation is the wrong way. One has to love and be willing to love, with your whole heart,m to survive. My mother Elua told me that."
Rhine was surprised at Epyon's words, Cacao blinking as well.
"What about purity of the species?"
"Lies. A soul born in love is stronger than one born of duty. There's so little love in the pride now that everyone is sick and angry. They can't see the beauty in one another. The best example I ever saw is the Sanc. They don't care. They merely love as they whillst. And if I were to stand for aqnyone... I'd rather be thought of as the guardian of thet principle."
"And surrogates.... Wait, MKommy Elua?" Rhine looked baffled, the three slowly moving to exit. Epyon laughed softly.
"I have many fathers and mothers. My mother who birthed me was a kind and gentle female. and my father spent a long time learning to love all with his whole heart because he fell for Elusa-mommy. Elua-Mommy, meanwhile, is a cheetah." She smiled as they walked. Rhine blinked, musing. Cacao was quiet and smiled sadly.
"I never knew who my father was. UI'm a b*****d."
"Maybe we can find my father and Elua-mommy. It would do both of you good to meet them, and I know, Cacao, they'd love you gladly."
Cacao blinked, and smiled gratefully.
"Thank you."
Rhine trailed a bit, blinking. She didn't understand, the two aristocrats walking before her. So kind. So... Open.
"I never knew my father either, Duchess." Rhine spoke softly. Rhine looked to Rhine, slowing and nuzzling her gently.
"Maybe we're sisters. We never know."
Rhine blinked at the thought, surprised.
"The odds are against that, you know."
Cacao nodded.
"Yes, but there's the possibility."
"Maybe..." She blinked when Cacao rubbed her gently. Epyon smiled, before Rhine tentatively rubbed back, curious.
"It'll be fine Rhine. We're a family, and if Cacvao is to be my sister, then we'll be family together."
Silence, and Rhine seemed to think before nodding.
"Okay. Okay, thwt's fair." Rhine confised. Epyon smiled, motioning forward before jumping down. Rhine followed, Cacao bringing the rear up.'
The journey had begun.
