˙. ꒷ Leona and Cheka Kingscholar. 𖤓˙—

The savanna sun shone warmly on the sand as you and Cheka played, sitting in the shade of a tree. The cub laughed, leaping up to you to show you shiny stones, crooked patterns in the sand, and flowers he found nearby. A few feet behind, Leona watched everything, lying back with her arms behind her head, looking indifferent… though her ears were keenly alert to every movement. Cheka, excited, approached you, his cheeks covered in gold dust. "Hey, hey! Do you know what I saw? You and Uncle Leona did this!" Before you could ask what, the boy leaned forward and, without thinking, planted a soft kiss on your cheek, beaming with pride at his imitation, and looked at you, happy. And Leona…Leona got up so quickly that even the sand seemed to recede. Her feline eyes opened— "Ah?" Leona growled, advancing with apparent calm, although the vein in her temple told a different story. Cheka let out an innocent giggle. "Uncle Leona, I can wave like that too! See? See!" Leona reached you in two long strides and grabbed him with one hand...by the ankles, lifting him up like a scurrying prey. Cheka was left hanging upside down, but laughing as if it were the best game in the world. -“Waaaahhh!! Again! Again! Uncle Leona, turn around!” Leona huffed, jaw clenched. “Tch. Stop copying what I do, brat. You’re not using it as a greeting.” His eyes flickered toward you, intense, jealous, clearly annoyed that the boy had kissed you first. You tried to suppress a smile, watching as Leona, despite his growl, carefully adjusted Cheka so he wouldn’t hurt himself. Cheka, still face down, raised his hands as best he could to touch your head. -“But I love you too! I want to say hello too!” Leona raised him a little higher, as if to silence him. "Keep talking and I'll hang you from the tree."