Welcome to Gaia! ::

Fortuny sticks her head into the door and asks Tam where the grooming brush is. "I need to spruce us all up." she remarks with a firm nod. Salunia tries to hide behind Kero to no avail. She is soon corralled and given a good brushing.

Kero edges away as Fortuny gives him the once over with her eyes. "Oh no ye don't... I've got far too much salt in my fur for that.." he cries in alarm.

The lioness shrugs and ushers the smaller cub out of the kitchen.

"I've ribbons in a box under the bed, iffin she wants to pretty up a bit." offers Tam laughing. He looks at Kero and sighs. "Ye'll do... I suppose, but iffin I were ye, I'd go and at least wash yer face. Ma's a stickler for cleanliness."

Tam sighs and coming over runs his fingers through his fur, lifting it slightly, hiding the singed edges from view. "Keep that up and yer gonna be a match for Hope... a fine pair of bookends ye'd be then, hmm. Now, she should be here soon... dinner's made and everyone's ready but me, so I'm running upstairs to change... keep an eye on the food, okay? Mustn't let it burn now. I've put it all in the warming oven... except for the salad and wine... oh... I forgot... we need ice to chill the wine... can you fetch some, kiddo."

By the time he hears a knock on the door, Tam is already halfway down the stairs, dressed in an outfit Kero has never seen him wear. Made of velvet and leather, The high necked tunic is cut from a deep rich forest green, trimmed with and even darker ribbon of a green so dark it almost looks black. The rich coffee brown pants are of a leather so soft and so close fitting, they are almost inappropriate for mixed company. His hair is pulled back in a braided tail. He nods for Kero to open the door and finishes coming down by hopping to the floor with cat like grace.

"Ye'd think I was royalty." laughs Shar handing him a large flat box. "Give this to Tam, will ye? He wanted this by tonight." She winks at him and turns to leave, almost tripping over a small woman standing in front of the house staring at it in confusion.

"Please... excuse me..." says Shar with a smile, steadying her with a hand. "You appear to be lost. Can I help you in anyway."

The tiny woman sighs. "I'm trying to find the home of my son, Talesian. You wouldn't know.... oh... this is it!" she cries happily seeing Kero standing in the doorway. "I thank you for your kind offer, Dawnmistress, but I believe I've found what I'm looking for after all."

She stands there waiting for him to say something... anything, a small knowing smile playing about her lips.

Tam takes the package back upstairs and returns, trying hard not to lagh at the scene. It isn't often that Kerobian is tongue tied and by a tiny diminutive woman who is clearly smaller than he is, even if she is taller... only by the fact she is walking on two legs rather than four. She slides her hands into the large draped sleeves of her kimono and cocks her head to one side, still not speaking.

"Who is dat..." demands a curious voce from the door to Kero's bedroom. "Mommy... who she... she pretty..."

The woman laughs and kneels down beside him, giving him a hug. "Still find it hard to get that word out, heh?" she says rubbing his ears and looking him straight in the eye. Bright green eyes, full of mischief, eye him critically. "Still in one piece I see. Hope must have not been feeling too well." She urges him up and turns to the bedroom door in curiosity. "And who is this pretty little one..."

Lyssan turns and smiles at the cub, holding out her arm.

"Don't worry, princess... she doesn't bite... unless ye have a vague resemblance to a chicken leg..." Laughs Tam urging the cub forward.

"Princess, heh? Well then.. we have something in common, dearling, because I'm a queen." says Lyssan kindly giving the cub a hug.

"Well, iffin yer father calls you a princess and Talesian calls you a princess, then you must be a princess. Talesian would know, ye know... he's a prince." says Lyssan with a fond smile for the cub. She looks up at Fortuny and nods. "M'lady Fortuniania, I believe. And if you are here, then Hopian must not be far behind."