Ecko, it turned out, had a small family. He was of the lake himself- the first of their kind to walk out of the deal waters- but not that last. Still, despite the hardships of being different he had found a mate and a place in the pride.
She, it turned out, was also from the lake. There were a number of them that had been found. The reports said they were spit from the lake as the waters raged with the storms.
No one quite knows why, but it's unsettling for sure. Many of them don't seem to take kindly to the lake lions- but it makes their kinsmen ship stronger.
From the lake, she had quickly met Phycodurus, another of the cubs spit from the lake, as well as Xochipili. She also was quick to realize that the lake had changed them all quite drastically, giving fish like qualities to each of them.
To her, it was easy to look at it with an air of unattatchment. Few of the lake cubs remembered their pasts, and she took that as sign that it best to leave it. Seemingly they had been blessed with new lives and they were fit to live them, fishy or not.
With this, she allowed herself to give up any memories she had. A new life, beginning with a new name given by Ecko; Tuuli.
-
Despite her conscious decision to give up on the past, her nightmares plagued her with flashes of incoherent memories, days with glowing figures she assumed to be her parents, screams of terror as she presumably died, a loud booming voice of an alpha long dead.
Each morning she'd wake with a start, and incidentally wake her adoptive sister as well. Due to Phys long kelpie stems that grew from her pelt, Tuuli's rude awakenings would rouse Phyocodurus as well. However, rather than growing annoyed with it, it allowed the two girls to grow closer.
-
Eventually time took its toll and she no longer was bothered by them. .
That was when Tuuli opened up. Her mornings were spent playing with other Cubs, occasionally finding herself in the lessons that the educators lead, learning new things.
Her control over her elements were unpredictable- wild. The air would dance around her moments only to disperse and leave them breathless.
Her electricity was even more wild, it crackling across her form each time she tried calling on it. She could use it defensively, but anything more was a challenge.
Even still, life in the pride is kind to Tuuli. She enjoys her time as a cub, an opportunity she didn't have in the past. She spends most her time loitering around the training grounds, participating in various regimes, listening to stories, and practicing her elements. When shes not at the training grounds, she could be found exploring the pride lands. Strangely, the one place Tuuli is deadly terrified of is the lake of eternity itself.
The shadows of the night had long ago fallen and most of the pride had fallen into sleep or their dens to enjoy down time. Tuuli however, had a different idea. It wasnt long since she had joined the pride officially. Ecko and Aylin had tried their hardest to catch she and Phy up on what life was like, explaining the pride and its various ranks and roles. Still, it hadn't truly sunk in- she didn't know enough of the area!
The young cub had wandered to and fro various areas of the prides great mountain- checking out where the trainings were to be held, exploring the den caverns, playing in the forge with several of the forgers while they showed off skills, she even had scoped out the healers den. It was amazing to the young cub, nothing like she'd ever seen before.... At least.. she thinks so? Memory wasn't her strong suit when it came to the past. But the lions here were so friendly, each pointing out a new location for the inspect or leading her to them themselves.
The last one had dropped her off near the Lake of Eternities shores, the water lapped calmly, a small sway in its waves as it moved. She couldn't help but to be entranced by the movements. She watched it for what seemed like ages, settled quietly by the shore, watching as the skies lights faded into the darker colors of the night and the stars glimmered off the waters sea front. It was then it caught her eye.
Hauntingly, she stepped away from the waters edge, her mind troubled and eyes wide in terror. She didn't mean to bump into him, she hadn't even known he was there, but the rough feeling of the coral from Xochis pelt brushed against a fin and suddenly it was like she was back from another time.
She drew in a ragged breath, starring at him.
"Are you okay?" He whispered, sincerity dripping from his tone as he watched her.
"I-i.. I thought I saw myself in it. That cant be right though! Right?" Her words were fast, stumbling over herself as she tried to elaborate on what she saw. The image was still fresh in her mind- a ghostly pale version of herself shined on the surface of the lake, shimmering with the stars as it starred back at her. She tried to explain it to Xochi, but instead got a sympathetic look and whisked away from the lake.
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