It had been a dull, cool day as the horned feline scampered from across the swamp, a bundle of cloth dangling from her mouth. Eyes were wide open, aware, staring, watching everything around her. The scent of fear was still heavy on her body, the scent of blood a simple afterthought. She had to save her child, by any means necessary. Even if that meant leaving her in a swamp. Anything was better than burning to death.

The feline dragged herself deeper into the swamp, making to drier ground before tentatively placing the cloth bundle down, supressing a cry as she heard the mewling. She pressed her nose against the golden cloth, running her raspy tongue over the embroidered name, ARES, that was on it. Quickly, though, she turned and ran from the territory.

From that golden cloth bundle, a little feline squeaked and squabbled, weak "mama.." leaving her little jaws.

The strange scent of other feline roused the tiny child of war, raising her head above the golden blanket. Eyes blurry with tears from unknown pasts, she squeaked at Elsweyr, scared and terrified. Where was her mother? But the cheetah's gentle voice soon soothed the girl, and she fumbled out of the golden bundle, brilliant splash of crimson fur spreading across her chest the most prominent feature of her. Help and food.

The tiny thing began to move, but moved back to tug at her cloth covering; the only thing that kept her and her past connected, the only thing that she would ever remember of her mother.

Limited the instances the perimeter enclosing central town breached in wake of prior instances, once delicate and pliable heart grown sullen, sheltered once and now tarnished by the war drums that beat at the door with fervour. Escape needed, and thus taken, self imposed shackles discarded for moment, uneasy the vision that perceived clustered environment. Slow the transition, even as quickened steps grown hasty by desire to leave the constricting boughs, impeded this even as moisture begun to soften soil. Edges poor in definition, a change staged between the woodlet and swamp one noticed only by the observant, all he may focus upon when his momentum slowed on that edge.

"Is that…"

Words died on tied tongue, swallowed as mind caught up. Easy to determine the differences present, species by far that which was most apparent, manner Elsweyr spoke enough confirmation. Unease made his steps closer difficult, between the two looking as though for permission, mouth parting yet silent. Attached seemed the kitten to th golden cloth, matched Elsweyr and Salvia where their skill in reading was concerned, though for rather different reasons, over the lettering his eyes sliding without taking anything from it. Slowly he reached forth, allowed the child to disturbed the folded bundle, finally speaking only once she seemed still.

"We won't leave it behind." Had she understood his words was not a thought that crossed the mind of the cub, perplexed and beyond frightened, looking again to the cheetah as if she may have an answer for this.

Child of war turned her head toward Salvia, little body hunched over her blanket, protecting it. But as she turned to look at Elsweyr, she gently backed up. Shocked at the motion of being lifted, but with the feeling being so familiar to her, she relaxed. She felt safe, even though her life was at peril only mere moments before. Being carried was normal for the child, and when she was dropped gently, she longed for the security again.

The scent of fish brought hunger from the depths of Ares' stomach, and when Elsweyr dropped the piece before the child she ate ravenously, little noises coming from her as she ate as a way to deter anyone else from trying to eat her food. But, like, this is a small child. Hardly threatening at all.

She kept making little noises as she munched on a bit of fish. As Aurum approached, though, the kitten let out a very audiable hiss, letting out her displeasure in something so big getting closer to her. Hearing her name she gently lifted her head, then hissed again at Aurum. Tiny tail puffed out, fur sticking up on her back and haunches as if to make herself seem bigger. Of course, baby is literal baby, so this is just funny to see.

Brief the relief that seeped through gentle sigh passing betwixt closed teeth, response enough to quell the doubt arising in his throat, relaxing to a slight degree. Attention turned with her words, regarded once more the blanket in which located the kitten, halted before he may take the golden fabric. Stance over top one familiar, adopted in times terror overwhelmed, gentle the smile he offered child as he spoke hushed words. "I won't take it from you."

Rather than admittance the presence of Elsweyr seemed enough to diffuse the situation, back child stepping before departure from ground was conducted, a limp little thing aloft held in careful hold. Short the laughter that escaped, taken up the blanket, checked for any soil that may muddy it. None located departure was conducted a few steps behind the other, quickened his steps to close the distance, behind trailing, at times halted by the look Elsweyr cast over her shoulder. Purpose easily detected, respond immediate each time, however, even as the town nestled within the heart of the sodden terrain grew visible.

Alone were the two left for a moment, rather clueless as how to proceed as he gently rested the fabric near the child, watching in silence the movement the cheetah conducted. Her arrival was quick and deposited a morsel seemingly befitting the tiny thing, ravenous in the quick feast she settled into. Disturbance of quiet scene expected, forth ears drawn, about lips drawn a tentative smile. It indeed seemed an odd situation, the cheetah arriving with customs she had acquired from a tribe supposedly not settled on these shores, and the lion that was little more than a child himself, both now tending a kitten that seeming too young to be alone.

"Oh uh, Elsweyr found her," hurried the words Salvia spoke to fill the silence left in wake of query, fallen silent as kitten — Ares briefly halted to voice her anger. The display was not terrifying, far from it, but Salvia still treated it as though it were something of more substance than a disgruntled kitten voicing her rage. Chin rested atop the earth and he made himself as small as was possible, once more adopting a soft tone. "Is okay, this is my dad, he won't hurt you or steal your fish."