So young...Heart-squeezing innocence.

[Vox]

X.x You Have No Idea x.X
What I go through
The Pain
The Torture
Life Has Just Started
And Yet It's Already Filled With Agony
It's Hardly Worth Staying Alive
X.x This Is As Good As it Gets x.X

Wheezing a little, chocolate body moving slowly and in a calculating fashion. Paws that were, strangely, the correct size for his thin legs moved quickly as the small cub dashed across the oasis. He was serious, he never laughed. Not since he was born anyway, solemn and serious. Faunus was his name and he was the exact average size of any cub his age. He was about a month old and his muscles were thin and stringy but definetly forming. No trace of the mane that would soon grow there was shown, but he wasn't bothered for he knew it would come all in good time. Patient and tolerating, he had no idea that Truth was no his father. He looked up to the majestic leader and always pointed out that the big tawny lion was his father and that Truth was teaching Faunus how to be a great king like he was. A cough shook the little cub's body and he choked as blood came up, he had an upper respiratory infection. Spitting out the blood angrily, Faunus went toward some water and drank it to cool down his throat.

[/blockquote]

[kgosi]

<sup>Tamiko padded into Suali lands when she heard hacking noises. She had been accepted by Truth a while ago and was wandering around the new lands on her own. The lioness flicked her tail gently and watched the adolescent from afar. She flinched slightly when she saw him throw up something.

But, realize Tamiko is a very compassionate figure. She likes investigating things and helping out others when they needed a shoulder to lean on. The lioness silently took a seat and began preeing her paw, as usual, and her golden eyes set on her task before her. So, maybe Tamiko was a tad bit obsessed with cleaning her paw, but it never payed to be clean or looking presentable. Finishing her task, the lioness then padded over to Faunus and in a incredibly peppy voice greeted him.

"Hello there!" she said, very cheerily. Her muzzle held a smile and Tamiko radiated happiness. She was the epitome of a four year old's happiness when they watch Barney on television. She just made you happy to see her, and it was liking reuniting old friends. "I'm Tamiko."</sup>

[Vox]

Jumping at the sound of a voice, Faunus coughing again but a softer one. Squinting up at her, he coughed again but then said in a husky voice that was dry and a little wheezy,

Hullo...I'm Faunus.

Tripping as he attempted to bow, the little cub fell flat on his face and spat out some dirt. Shaking his small body he did not smile at his clumsiness but recovered his posture adn stared unflatteringly at Tamiko. This must be one of the lioness of his father's pride. Yes...She had the look of a trained hunter as well. Eyeying her with mild interest, still unsmiling, Faunus remarked dryly,

Nice day. Very fresh. Not that I care about the weather.

His sentences were clipped but certainly complete ones, not babyish. Boredom seeped in, as with all cubs he was an active one. Less so than others, and not hyper, but he was reasonably so. A butterfly fluttered by and he darted his paw out for it. He caught it and pinned it the ground. Faunus sighed and let it go, it flew away in a limping way. It was like him, staying alive and afloat...But just barely. Launching into a lungbusting solo, Faunus hacked and coughed as the powerful emotion took over his body.

[/blockquote]

[kgosi]

^{Tamiko nodded gently and watched the cub's actions. He seemed like he was trying to have fun, but from the looks of it, he had to grow up much faster than other cubs. That nasty cough didn't seem to do too much for him either. "Yeah." Tamiko said,"Are you, alright Faunus?" she questioned, and sat on her haunches, helpless. There was really nothing she could do but try to remain cheery. She wanted to help, but couldn't.}

[Vox]

Grimacing, he swallowed the blood and shook his head.

"Nah...It happens sometimes. Dad says I'll get over it...But the outlook is bleak for me."

Giving a dry smile, Faunus yawned a little, showing his little teeth. Lieing down so as not to over exert himself, the little cub sighed. Truth was being challenged for his position by some lion or other, Narati was busy with Rhian, Jenna, and the blind Silke and he, Faunus, was let in the dark. That was the way things were he supposed...But sometimes, Faunus wished it weren't so. He dreamt sometimes, of himself. But withouth his foul lungs. He was happy, he could run, he could play and he could be happy without choking on the air. He would rule Alethea one day, but he wished he didn't have to. Something was...Off. Truth was gold, pure gold, and Faunus was almost the color of dark chocolate. Narati was yellowish tan, so it couldn't be her influence.

Could it? Why was he this color? Truth and Narati both had broad faces, heart-shaped. But Faunus had a gaunter one, like a fox. It was thinner than their's. How was that possible? Weren't cubs supposed to look like their parents? He supposed so, but he had only ever seen the Aletheans and never saw any other cubs other than the ones in his little. Faunus decided to keep a much closer eye on his development from now on, because now he was certain that something was not right. Innocence had left him in those short minutes.

[/blockquote]

[kgosi]

^{Tamiko watched Faunus quietly just listening to his words and soaking them up. The lioness gave an optomistic smile and flicked her tail. Her nose twitched and the female lion sat contentedly. She blinked simply. "I sure hope that he is right," she said calmly. Tamiko stood to her paws and walked in a circle before plopping down on her stomach. Her forepaws crossed and Tamiko arched her neck. She slightly withdrew from the conversation as her own thoughts consumed her. Tamiko felt something. Was it pity? No, Tamiko knew that he had the best life that his parents could provide. She just hoped that one day this cub would be a strong and powerful leader.}

{Ack, severe writer's block...}