|| ๐ข๐ฒ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ป๐ฒ๐ด๐น๐๐
|| ๐๐๐ข๐ผ๐ โ ๐ต๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ ||| FEMALE | UNRANKED | THE NEW GUARD | MYSPOONS | As sweet and kind as the tigress is, Gwenhwyfar cannot allow even one individual to walk away with knowledge of her. She cannot chance it-- it is not safe.
"Astrona, dear, look at me." Gwenhwyfar's voice is beautiful, growing eerie as she enthralls the Guardian. Astrona's blue eyes turn black as her pupils widen. A hint of green smoke dances in the depths. It isn't fair to the friendly tigress-- but Gwenhwyfar must protect herself. Her heart must harden against such emotional responses.
"We did meet, and you were lovely. We chatted, exchanged pleasantries, just as you remember." Gwenhwyfar presses her nose to Astrona's, focusing hard. To alter memories is difficult, requiring her undivided attention.
"But I'm so sorry, I am quite shy. It didn't have anything to do with you, dear. I left after a short while, to find a secluded land far from the valley." Astrona's ears and tail droop. "I am sorry to see you leave, Yennifer." The tigress replies in the dream-like state Gwenhwyfar guides her into. "I wish you safe travels; may you find the peace you are searching for."
Yennifer. Jen. Gwen. All lies. Something to feed an unfortunate feline before she disappeared again.
Gwenhwyfar blinks back tears and takes a deep, shaking breath to steady herself. She has to-- no exceptions.
"After a while, you will forget about me. Perhaps you'll remember my soft voice, my green eyes. Nothing more than rather boring lioness wanting to escape her past." The tigress nods, perfectly charmed. "Of course, I never forget a face."
Gwenhwyfar steps back, waiting. Astrona's pupils remain dilated even as the green magic fades from them. The tigress looks around, searching for the lioness. Blind to Gwenhwyfar standing in front of her.
Astrona is not distressed as she glances at her surroundings one last time but she appears sad. Some of Gwenhwyfar's melancholy must have gotten to her. Gwenhwyfar remains still, ready to pounce and try again if her charm doesn't hold. It has been a long, long time since she's had to redo a spell-- but she always checks.
After Astrona leaves, Gwenhwyfar sighs in relief and shakes the tension from her fur. She starts to walk, slowly, until she is more than a dozen lengths away. Her walk turns into a trot, into a run, then a sprint. Tears splatter the ground behind her as Gwenhwyfar flees.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I have to." She whispers to the trees, wishing her paws to carry her far away from here.
It is a lonely life to live-- but a safe one. Away from politics and schemes and rulers seeking to use her magic. Gwenhwyfar lived that life once, cowering in fear from plots against her, unable to dispell the suspicion from her king.
Everyone hated her-- she was a threat. To her pridemates, her guard, the royalty. To the rival prides she charmed, the lies she could spin into truth. The minds she could bend to her will. Even though she was given luxury and protection, it was a gilded prison.
Never again, never again!
She will not live as a pawn, something to use before being stored away like a tool. Only brought out to tip the scale in her pride's favor, unable to live the normal life as a pride member. It took all she had to escape-- Morgana, the power she had! It frightened her...
No, she had too much blood on her paws already. It was better, for everyone, if Gwenhwyfar stayed far away from everyone.
As much as it broke her heart.
[596/600 words]