Though Itiri had not lit a fire in her soul - he had stoked the embers. The cream female had, for the first time since the landslide, wandered away from her home. Her depression had loosened its grip on her soul - and though it would be a very long time until she regained her smile, she found going about her day was becoming easier. A change that she owed in her pursuit of becoming Di-anyi; her studies had given her purpose in a time were she had none. A distraction from her thoughts when they became dark and heavy. A reason to get out of bed in the morning.
She had not been an apprentice for very long - so new to the profession that she had not even mentioned it to Afya, nor her brother. In all honestly, she was not ready to face her loved ones just yet - she did not want them to worry like she knew they would if they saw her now. She had lost weight and her eyes were tired, lacking their usual sparkle. Though her strength was returning - she was all too aware that she was not yet fully herself. The pale lioness was beginning to wonder if this cloud would ever leave her, if she would ever find who she once was - or if like she Pride, she was forever changed.
One day at a time. She reminded herself, brushing off her anxiety to focus on the plants she had been sent in search for. The trainee had found herself beyond their hunting grounds, further out than she usually ever ventured. It was a part of the pridelands that only the N’echebe had reason to venture, it was quiet and isolated - everything she needed right now.
Nyarai lowered her head and sniffed around the bushes at her feet, leaning to pull mouthfuls of purple berries from the branches before placing them gently in the rag she had brought with her. She was sure these were the ones her teacher had asked for-
Another mouthful - this time the juice leaked over her tongue and it was ever so sour! "Ew! That's so gross! Yuck." She complained - running her tongue against the fur on her shoulder to try and remove the taste. These most certainly were the right ones!