ORIGIN - 200 Years Too Late

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”They come in different colors...”, she said in amazement, in awe of Vicktor's massive canines.

Just like a human toddler would pick up things to shove them into their mouths to inspect, she bumped her nose against the massive fangs, though she refrained from gnawing on them like she wanted. Her sense of smell and taste were what guided her in the world, giving her multiple levels of perception.

”They're sort of like mine,” she noticed, ”Do everyone's stones look like ours?”

Did they come in different colors? Did they all shimmer and shine? She was so curious and she wanted to learn it all.

Unfortunately such things would have to wait, for her stomach growled loudly, reminding her of the gnawing hunger in her stomach. It had remained empty for years and it would not stand another moment of being so.

”Can we get food now?”, she asked meekly, ears pressing back in embarrassment as her tail wagged sheepishly, ”I'm really really hungry...”

Juniper thought for just a moment that her stomach might eat itself, but she pushed that thought away before it could scare her. She didn't want to go into detail about how it might just fall out of her belly- oh no, she was going into it!!

@Vicktor

Juniper was amazed, staring wide-eyed and bumping the tip of her snout against his sabers. He could only smile, that purr evident as it rattled through his chest still. He waited till she was done poking and prodding around before speaking, not wanting to catch her snout in between his teeth. It wouldn't hurt but it was something he didn't want to startle her with either. She should hold no fear with him. Vicktor afterall would chase anything away that caused her to feel such emotion. He already was quite protective over his pup.

"They come in many different colors yes, each one is unique to the bearer."

With a smile and half-lidded eyes he took a moment to ponder his words, she was very curious and there was plenty of answers he wanted to give her-But, her stomach growled. And it seemed curiosity would have to wait a moment or two. She looked up at him and asked for food, and while he wanted nothing better than to go out and secure a meal he didn't want to leave her unattended. If she was so hungry that she was already so malnourished- well maybe she wouldn't have the energy to keep up in a chase or two.

He hummed. Ah yes, there was this trick he had picked up in his recent age. While he didn't prefer to eat such items on the regular they did provide nutrients. And would give her what she needed for now before something more adequate was provided. He could recall how Kibou seemed to enjoy the magical bananas enough to request them quite often- more so than mice even-anytime they visited.

"Of course little Juniper, but before we get onto the main meal- how about you try this? Having something in your stomach will help you focus and make you strong. You are so terribly hungry after all."

It was rather unusual, first, there was nothing between his teeth as he opened his jaws just ever so slightly, and then there was! It was but a quick moment of shimmering as he opened his mouth, his fangs seemingly coming alive as he pulled from his magic. Between his teeth there now was a banana, rather interesting and somewhat of a party trick from his experience. But, it was good to eat and well the young ones would eat it rather happily and readily whenever it was offered.

He held it out to her gently.

"Eat this first, but do not eat it so hastily as this is your first meal after so very long."

She would be starving he was sure of it, and the last thing she needed was a stomach ache so soon after their joyous first meal.

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Juniper

Juniper was amazed. Where Vicktor's mouth was empty one moment, it was full the next, a strange yellow fruit held between his teeth.

”Woah!”, she exclaimed, eyes wide, ”That's... amazing!! How did you do that?”

She took it gently and heeded his warning, sniffing it gently and gnawing at the peel on the outside. It wasn't the best tasting, but she ripped it off and snapped it down anyway, her hunger apparent. The moment she touched the soft fruit within she paused, surprised. It was sweet and starchy and wonderful.

Juniper wolfed (ha) it down, forgetting Vicktor's warning as she demolished the banana and left not even a scrap remaining. She licked at the ground and sniffed around for a piece she missed, whining when there was nothing. She was still very very hungry.

”That was good; what was that?”, she said, looking up at the leopard with her soft pink eyes.

Her head whipped to the side as a rabbit hopped out from behind a rock, its ears raised attentively. Her eyes widened and drool started to gather in her mouth, making her swallow. That was food.

Juniper scrabbled to her feet and barked, spooking the rabbit into a run. She'd never actually run before, but it was easy, her feet leading the way as she took chase across the flat ground of Orion. The rabbit was fast but she was starving and that gave her speed.

She snapped her jaws around a leg and stumbled, her and the rabbit tumbling across the ground. She bit after it as it managed to jump away, a whine leaving her throat. It was injured, though, which was better than nothing. She was so hungry.

@Vicktor

Juniper was surprised, happily so it seemed! If he was a canine his tail would be wagging up a tornado behind himself. Instead, he let himself purr, a happy and warm sound that found itself nestled in his throat. Though when she gently took the fruit he hardly had time to explain to her what it was before she wolfed it down. Pun intended haha.

He blinked for a moment, slowly watching her...well...it was a good thing it was a tiny meal, he only hoped it wouldn't upset her stomach too much. Though now that he thought about it, Kibou ate those bananas like they were a Burmese python and they never once had a stomach ache...perhaps it was the nature of the magical fruit?

"It was magic, a very useful ability too- and I think that its called a banana. I am glad you liked it-"

His ears flickered and Juniper was already was attempting to scramble after the rabbit that made itself visually known. He watched for a moment, Juniper was fast, rapidly scrambling over the flat surface Orion offered- only to snap her jaws around a leg. He was proud of her! Only as soon as she had gotten a taste of victory, she stumbled. Sending both herself and the rabbit tumbling across the ground- and it hastily hopped away from her pitiful attempts to grab it a second time. His heart ached and he felt a bit frustrated at the rabbit causing his pup to stumble over herself.

...Though while he knew he couldn't really blame the rabbit for just trying to live...he did anyway. His fur bristling along his back as he made his way to Juniper's side to look her over for any sort of injury. All the while he called upon his magic so naturally to strike it down. The sound of a pitiful squeak and a rapidly dying sizzle was all that followed when a bolt danced from Vicktor's pelt and off towards the rabbit. It ceased its movement almost immediately and slide across the Orion floor lifeless with a light and lifeless thump.

"Are you alright my little Juniper? You did well, I was surprised when you took off after it."

He nosed her gently, checking her over himself to ensure nothing was broken. She was so thin and malnourished, one couldn't be too careful.

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Juniper

Juniper slowly picked herself up and sniffed, looking over to Vicktor with an unsure expression. Should she cry? Was she okay? Judging by Vicktor's calm, soothing demeanor, she was.

”I'm okay,” she said, pressing her head against him and missing the lightning bolt as it flashed. Instead she sat down and pressed into his side, her stomach growling loudly.

She looked up and saw the rabbit, her ears perking up. Cautiously she made her way towards it, smelling ozone in the air, her brows furrowing.

”What happened to it?”, she asked, looking over at Vicktor before snatching it up and tearing into it ravenously.

Sorry, cute little rabbit, but she was starving and rabbits breed like... well, rabbit anyway.

”I feel so bad,” she said suddenly, blood staining her pretty white fur, ”It was just... there, I don't... I feel...”

She felt kind of awful about it.

@Vicktor

From what he could see and from Juniper's own reactions she was perfectly fine after her previous tumble. Evidently, she missed the bolt of lightning that danced and lurched from his pelt; or else he was sure she'd be asking all about it. But there would be another time to show her a magic show of sorts. He was just pleased she was doing well after all that. Even if it was such a small tumble. He was a bit of a worried guardian it seemed. Knowing how easily things could go array without meaning to.

He breathed, slowly, rubbing his head against her own. Only to smile at the rumble of her stomach that made itself know yet again. Pale gaze flickered to the rabbit, watching as Juniper made her way cautiously towards it. She was sniffing it curiously, seeming confused as to what transpired. He could only hum, opening his maw for a moment- but not before she began to ravenously tear the lesser gembound apart.

He watched, patiently. Happy to see her with such a happy appetite and now the means the satiate it. He was unsure if she'd be able to well, hear him over the sounds of her own eating. With the crouching of bone and sinew and what not. So he elected to wait, opening his maw just for a moment, till she spoke up again.

”I feel so bad,”

Oh. Oh poor little Juniper. His heart sank, he knew that sensation- that emotion raw and unknown. And he would be damned if he let her continue to feel it.

He exhaled softly, his tone calm and reassuring.

"Do you feel bad because it is gone, or that it had to die?"

He paused for the briefest of seconds, giving her time to focus on his words.

"Regardless of the reason, and how you may feel right now. Know it is not bad. You do not need to feel sorrow for the lesser. It must be done, it is only natural. It is life."

He sat beside her now, taking it upon himself to attempt to clean the pink from her once white fur.

"I was made to feel bad for what I needed to survive when I was a cub. Nothing good comes of it. There is nothing wrong in the eating of lessers, so long as we understand their sacrifice and give them respect in kind. A death that is as swift as we can manage so they do not suffer."

Vicktor stops again, meeting her gaze now.

"That is why I used my magic, to ensure it's passing without it having to suffer in its attempt of escape. It is not anybody's fault. You needed to eat. It needed to die. This is our circle of life. Do you understand?"

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Juniper

Juniper stared down at what was left of the rabbit. It's skull, a few bones, the rest either eaten or crushed into a bloody pulp. Her mouth and neck were covered in gore, and she felt it drip down thickly.

”... Because it died,” she said softly, shoulders sagging, ”Why should I get to decide what lives and dies? Why should it have to be food just so it can feed me?”

Tears welled up and she felt sick, her sniffles audible. She turned and buried herself in Vicktor's side, sobbing into his soft fur as he groomed her clean again.

”I-if it is so natural then why do I feel this way?”, she asked past her cries, ”I don't want to... I just want to eat without feeling guilty, like I've done something unspeakable.”

She didn't understand. She wished she'd never killed it, that it wasn't sitting in her belly providing nourishment while it would never take a breath again. Juniper wept for it as she pressed into Vicktor, seeking comfort and guidance from the leopard in lieu of her real parents. (Though at this point, he was her real parent.)

@Vicktor

Vicktor felt it was natural for predators to feel perhaps an ounce of regret in claiming their first few meals. The lessers were after all living things too, their lives brought to an end just so another could carry on. Juniper was so young and already feeling a great deal of emotions. And all over something he felt she had no reason to regret.

He continued to clean her pelt, she was quite the mess even with a prey item so small- she was rather enthusiastic in her eating of it though, so it was understandable. When she turned herself and attempted to bury herself into his side he could only frown- just for a moment. Oh, how her small heart must ache...she was so young. He could only hope his words of encouragement could help her through this. Vicktor after all had been through similar- though back then there were also herbivores who sought to find an end to all predators due to this 'issue'- but that was enough thought on those memories for now.

He hummed softly, licking over the back of her ears and nuzzling her in turn trying to chase away the cries that left her maw.

"It hurts, but that itself is natural my little Juniper...You have a heart, a good one at that. And this- I feel many others like us, carnivores, have this lesson. It is one that humbles us to understand. To be thankful. It is okay to weep for the rabbit, process it and to understand your emotions as to why."

He pauses for a moment, a purr idling in his chest in an attempt to offer even more reassurance to his pup.

"And it is your ability and right to decide what lives- and dies for your meal-within reason. Just as all gembounds do. Even lessers feed upon each other. There are a great many of them, those that are dangerous even to us and those that are not. It is the circle of life, it is natural."

He stops for a moment more, his ears flickering to the sounds of other lessers that roamed nearby. There were other lessers, a great variety for her to try in her time. Fish, frog and newt, deer and everything in between. Vegetation even! Though that itself might require magic to aid with if she were to go entirely vegetarian- he wasn't entirely sure. He would make a note to bring her to Diot in time. That small primate ate many things, flesh and fruit and even greens.

Vicktor breathed.

"Though my little one, perhaps rabbits are not your preferred meal- some favor fish, others birds. Some hurt to think about eating deer, others relish the idea. Do you understand? You can choose. Give it time and we will find you what works best. But for now, breathe and know it is all right. You did nothing wrong, even if it feels like you did. Trust me my Juniper, you did things perfectly and I am proud."

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Juniper

He was proud of her. Vicktor was proud of her emotions, of her heart. For a moment she didn't feel as bad, and turned towards the rabbit, swallowing.

Juniper inched towards it and set a paw on top of what was its throat, looking into its lifeless eyes. It gave its life for her to strengthen and grow, and she was thankful.

”I like rabbit,” she mumbled softly, ”Sort of sweet? It's good.”

She shook herself off and licked at her front, cleaning herself until she turned white again. Instinct told her to bury the remains so scavengers weren't attracted to her so she did, pushing the carcass under a rock and leaving it there to decompose.

”I'm tired,” she said suddenly, her emotions all over the place.

Juniper looked to Vicktor and shuffled nervously, ears lowering in a display of unsureness, ”Um... c-can I call you dad? A-are you my dad?”

This was another thing she was unsure of. She didn't want to overstep so she was asking, but she so desperately wanted him to say yes and take her as his own pup. She was unaware that he had already.

@Vicktor

She liked rabbit, he would remember that, making a note to catch her any of the variants that ran through the caves; some had a different taste. It would be good for her to know her favorite amongst them.

"Rabbit is very sweet, some even sweeter. You will learn in time."

He watched her with soft eyes, half-lidded and content with a purr in his throat. She moved to bury the remains, an interesting choice but one many carnivores did from his experience. Vicktor did not do it often himself as he often ate the bones, crunch them between his ravenous jaws, eating every last drop his kills had to offer. Wolves he noticed tended to chew on most of the bones, eat them whole not so much.

Vicktor hummed only to raise a brow in curiosity as Juniper was shuffling nervously. What was wrong? Had she heard something he hadn't? Was something nearby making her anxious? He was about to rise to his feet, patrol and protect. Though when she spoke he was caught off guard, his eyes widened for a moment only to soften- a soft shimmer of emotions clinging to his eyes- a threat of tears but they subsided before any could spill. He collected himself, inhaling deeply with a soft smile. Happiness dripping from his words he approached her with surefire eagerness.

"Yes- you may call me dad. I may not of made your chrysalis my little Juniper. But you are my pup."

He went to nuzzle her. She was his pup and he'd fight the very caves for her. He would do anything for her, even fight death itself.

She was his light.

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Juniper

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