Trying for the Stormborn gal <3
Aphria was born a thrall- she knew her place and knew her destiny, too meek and too mild to be any more use than a servant. She was only an adolescent when she was given to
Inanyesha, who was only a little cub at the time. The whys and hows she had not concerned herself with- she was born to be owned and had no ambition to earn anything different for herself, but Inanyesha inspired something simple, and yet great in the little thrall.
Perhaps it was that Aphria saw herself in the cub- a smiliar pelt, though Inanyesha's mane was white where her own was black, had one not known better, they might have been true siblings. Even moreso than that was the shyness betrayed by the freeborn's eyes- Aphria was smitten the moment she found her little sibling, and that was the moment the lioness in her was born.
She was no different than she had ever been- still meek and mild, and still had no ambition to speak of, no desire to ever be anything more than Inanyesha's loyal thrall, her ever-present shadow. She loved her from the moment she met her and through every step as they grew, though she didn't dare speak of how she cared- it was improper to ever think, but Inanyesha was certainly meant to be her sister, of bond, if not blood, and as the freeborn grew, Aphria gladly became whatever the lioness required of her.
A confidant, a caregiver, a guardian to chase the shadows away, forever and for always. Anything for her secret little bond-sister.
(As a note, I did in fact get the OK from Daffu to write up a plot for Inanyesha to use as a try out, and if I am picked then they will take this base plot and we shall see where they travel from there!)
Edit- Since there was an extension, I wrote a little drabble! Again, with permission from Daffupanda for use of Inanyesha <3
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Ada watched her little charge running about with the other freeborn cubs just coming into their own- Aphria admired the activities from her place in the shade, one eye always cracked and trained on Ina though she daren't join. She was here to watch, and to be watched, and she had no complaint in that. She had always found much more comfort as a fly on the wall, watching her mistress grow with great satisfaction. She was becoming a splendid lioness, and watching Inanyesha bowl another young lion over, Aphria's heart swelled with pride, though to all accounts she lazed borishly still.
And there she stayed, watching the younger lions play until the sun sunk low over the horizon and slowly, each cub bounded- or hobbled, really, in some cases- home. Ina herself bounded back to where her thrall lay, and for the first time since they arrived that afternoon, Aphria moved, pushing herself up to stand attentively as her mistress- already the size of her small thrall and growing bigger every day- skid to a halt before her.
"Did you see me, Aphie, didja? You did, you can't fool meee~" The younger liones sang, bouncing on her paws in glee,
"I'm getting better, I am, I only fell twelve times today, I did- Tomorrow let's make it eleven- Ooooh, or ten!" Inanyesha twittered on, and Aphria fell in quietly beside her, ghost of a smile gracing her maw.
"I have the upmost faith in you, my lady.""Good, because I will! Did you see those red lionesses today, Aphie? Because I'm going to join their band, Aphie, you bet I will. I've never seen any bigger- and did you get a load of their scars? they'll be freeborn in no time, I'm sure- no offense, Aphie, they're of a different breed... I heard that they're from a line of fire-gods! And..." Ina may have rambled on, but Aphria's throat swelled with a sudden fear- aye, she had seen the red lionesses and their group besides, and she was just as sure that they would not be content living their lives as Thrall.
She hadn't missed the scars, either, or the crocodile skulls that adorned the new one, or her loud bragging of killing the creatures- she was not half so dim and dumb as her quiet nature led to believe, but each time she opened her mouth with the thought to dissuade her mistress, she could not find the words.
"... Aphie? What do you think?" The young lioness stared, excited and wide-eyed at her thrall, and any will to speak against her Aphria lost in an instant.
"I think they'd be mad to refuse you, once the time comes, my lady," the response was welcomed- Inanyesha lit up the moment Aphria spoke,
"I knew it- you're smart, Aphria, if you say so than it will definitely be true! I can't wait- c'mon, I bet I'll beat you home!"And with that, Ina was gone, darting and weaving through what lions were left, leaving Aphria with the worry- war was in the blood, yes- Inayesha was not like her, she was born to the tempest, but she could not help the worry. The mirror she saw in Ina's eyes had long since been muddled, once the cub was encouraged and praised there was no stopping her growth and ambition, but the likeness was still there, and for the first time in Aphria's life, a shadow of doubt creeped in.
If Aphria was set on sinking in with these deadly lionesses... Would it truly be best to content herself to take care of her secret sister? Or... Would it be better to fight for the right to protect her?
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