Lucina proceeded to scoop her gingerly out of the cocoon, cradling her in her paws. She sighed.
"Little one, you are very late. I've been worried about you." nuzzling the soft downy fur, she pulled the cub closer to her for warmth. Atienza was not made to be smothered however. She was meant to be alone, always wanting to be away and isolated. Even as a cub she displayed these same characteristics. She crept slowly away from Lucina as she dozed off and went to hide in the underbrush, not noticing the boy who stood in the same vicinity.
Beven stared curiously at the cub who he considered "a little lost soul". She was so little, yet already she preferred to be away from civilization. She was so contrary to her appearance, that it made him smile. Stooping, he held out a hand to the little cub.
"Atienza, I'll not hurt you. Come here," he said softly. She glanced back and forth between his hand and his face, and approached cautiously, one careful step at a time. Sniffing his hand, she looked as if she weren't sure whether or not to approach him. Finally deciding for it, she stepped forward and rubbed her head against his hand, glancing every now and then up at him, eyes full of questions. Beven tried to supress a laugh. "See? We're not as dangerous as we look." Scooping Atienza up into his arms, he looked at her sternly. "Now, I have to take you back to Lucina, or she'll be absolutely beside herself with worry."
Over the next few days, the bond between the two flourished, and Beven became more and more concerned about what might happen to the little cub when he and Miasmic left. Not only was he taking away her brother, but he was also leaving as well, and lately, she had really come to depend on him for companionship, and seemed reluctant to leave his side to be with the other cubs.
He decided to talk to Nyxa and Vulcan about it and ask them. Grabbing Atienza, he tickled her stomach, making her wiggle about. She was so ticklish! Approaching the cavern that Nyxa and Vulcan had taken up residence in, Atienza began to squirm anxiously.
"I know little one. Here, how about you go off for awhile," he said, setting her down lightly. She looked up gratefully and bounded off, passing all the cubs on her way to who knows where. He smiled sadly and entered the cavern. Nyxa and Vulcan looked up at him questioningly from a game of chess.
"Is there something you need Beven? Or did you want to join us?" asked Nyxa, grinning. He shook his head.
"No, actually I'm okay outside playing with the Egyptans. I am concerned about one however," he said. Vulcan looked at Nyxa in concern.
"What troubles you Beven?" he asked, eyes all seriousness now.
"It's Atienza. You probably have noticed, but she's a little antisocial," he replied. "I'm afraid that when Miasmic and I leave, she'll go into some sort of depression. Miasmic and I are the only ones that she's really taken a liking to." Vulcan nodded.
"I hadn't taken that into consideration, sadly enough. I don't know why. The answer is quite obvious though," he said, eyes smiling. Beven seemed perplexed.
"And what is that?" he asked.
"Well," replied Nyxa, "If you would like, we'd be more than willing to let you be Atienza's bondmate, and take her with you when you go. It'll be hard on Lucina of course, but she has others to worry about now," she said.
"Then it's all settled!" he exclaimed happily. "I'll be sure to let her know right away!"
Atienza
*page one (cocoon)*
*page three (teen)-coming soon*
*page four (adult)-coming soon*
Tribe: Mountain Sunset
Gender: Female
Stage: Cocoon
Bondmate: Beven
Mate: none
Parents: unknown
*custom made by Brittany*
