[Lotus]

T E S S A

Too busy making jokes about the other girl’s weight, the actual cause of her sister’s new, rotund body, the fact that she was about to be an aunt, was more of an afterthought than anything else. In her mind the children growing inside her sister's belly - leeching away valuable nourishment and shifting her vital organs around as they developed - were little different from hookworms. A terrible affliction she was glad to say she’d never experienced. 

It was safe to say her opinion hadn’t changed much now that Hanna had fired them out of her clown cannon and they had developed motor skills and distinct personalities. And could you really blame her? She couldn't walk two steps without bumping into one of the little shits begging, pleading for her to stop and talk to her, at one point almost tripping over the brat as she bounded through her legs. 

Eventually, the girl's persistence payed off and Tessa did indeed stop. Though probably not like she'd hoped. Abruptly wheeling around she dove upon the baby girl in a flurry of teeth, managing to land a solid bite across her back if Lotus wasn’t quick enough to evade her. Nothing her caregivers would notice and ask about when she came home, but definitely more than just a warning. Standing over the girl, Tessa curled her back in a snarl. “Learn to take a hint next time, little shit.” Seriously, she had been at this all morning, how much would it take for her to get that she wanted nothing to do with her or her siblings? Hanna had raised an annoying little shit. On that thought, the blonde wondered what the brat was doing tailing her in the first place. Hanna hadn't even been the one to tell her about her pregnancy, she only knew thanks to the local rumor mill. Absent, Dora the explorer parents™ were the norm in Oukoku, but it didn't seem like her sister to authorize surprise visits. “Shouldn't you be with your mother?”

L O T U S

The young girl was filled to the brim with a creative energy that she could not contain. She was constantly sticking flowers in her fur or behind her ear and she loved to try to make things with her clumsy baby paws. They never worked out right and always fell apart between her paws no matter how hard she tried to get it to work. So of course Lotus had sought out the guidance of her guardian, the White Seour. 

Her answer was a venomous as she gave her the blondes description and sent her away. The little girl hoped she could find her.  Lotus had heard all about the tactician and felt a great deal of respect for the blonde already. But she didn't know she was her aunt. The child walked around the valley all morning looking for Tessa, calling out for her until finally she spotted the golden pelt in the distance and steadily made her way towards the figure. 

"Tessa! Tessa!." She didn't seem to hear her but Lotus would not be so easily ignored. "Tessa! Tessa! TessaTessaTessaTessa." Lotus didn't expect Tessa to stop suddenly and spring an attack, saliva glistening in ropes between sharp canines as they flashed in the sunlight. The bite landed across her back brought a yelp of pain and surprise from her. Was this her first taste of Anytime-Anywhere? How great was that! 

"Thank you, Miss Tessa." Lotus said with a wince and sat back up, shaking out her pelt as the bite began to ache and made herself comfortable as she ignored the pain. “Shouldn't you be with your mother?” Lotus's ears went back but otherwise she didn't react to Tessa's hurtful words. Not on the outside at least. 

On the inside she was crying tears of anguish. Yes, yes, she should be with her mama but she couldn't because she was destined for other things. She was a gift for Mistress Gigantea and reminded herself what an honor it was everyday over and over least she forget. She had a purpose. At least for now. "I don't have a mother anymore." She said meekly, "Just Mistress Gigantea and her White Seour." She shuffled her paws infront of her, looking at her toes as she mumbled, "White Seour said I should come learn art from you."