-seeking comfort-

taking deep breaths the cub got shakily to her paws and looked around the den, usually after a nightmare she'd run to her sister who would then tell her a story to comfort her...but Ty couldn't do that anymore...

with a quiet whimper she slowly padded over to Ti, the gray lioness had been looking after her since the day her sister had been killed but Beth knew how grumpy she could be and was reluctant to wake her. but she wanted desperately for someone to comfort her, tell her everything would be okay. she carefully prodded the older lionesses shoulder.

"Ti?...a-are you awake?..."

Beth jumped back as the gray lioness grumbled and opened one eye to look at her

"...I am now..." she huffed "what is it Beth?"

Beth sat down and flattened her ears

"I-I had a nightmare...can I sleep with you?..."

Ti looked at her before softening, how could she say no?...

"of course..." she smiled pulling the cub close.

closing her eyes she was about to drift off to sleep again when she heard soft sniffling coming from the ball of fur nestled into her side.

"hey...it was only a nightmare, it can't hurt you..." she smiled giving Beth's ear a quick lick.

"n-no!...it was m-my fault! Ty's dead b-because of me!..." Beth sobbed.

Ti froze, she had tried her best to avoid talking about her best friends death but how could she have expected that Beth would accept it and move on?...taking a deep breath she spoke In the softest voice she could.

"don't be silly...it wasn't your fault at all, Koda murdered her, it had nothing to do with you..."

truth was, Ti secretly blamed herself, Ty had invited her to stay the night of the murder but she had politely declined, saying that she had to lead the evening hunt, if she had stayed she would have been able to fight off Koda...

fighting back tears she nuzzled the cub

"Now...why don't I tell you a story?..."