“My cub,” he starts, a low hum in his throat. “I think we’ve played this little game far longer than needed, hmm? Perhaps we should cut it short and do something else.”

The massive lion paces about the room, working overtime to fight back angry and panicked growls. You had slipped from his sight and vanished, leaving Azure frantic with worry. Still, he was trying to play it off as a game you had initiated- it would be easier to lure you out if he didn’t sound mad.

He couldn’t be mad if it was “just a game”, after all.

“Come on, cub. I’ve grown weary of waiting. Perhaps… perhaps we could play another game? Or just sit together for a while. Anything, really! There’s…”

A pause. He’s fighting hard to not lose control of himself. Glinting claws sound with repeating shinks, moving in and out of massive cyan paws as Azure tried to fight off inbound rage and worry.

Why couldn’t you just listen to him?

“There’s plenty of things we could do!” He offers up at last, forcing a fanged smile. The line he’s treading is thin. “Perhaps I could tell you another tale of the battles I shared with your uncles? We could read something…or maybe just take a nap! Come out, cub-“

“It’s time to stop hiding.”