Heartwarming / I Hope So

• Hopeful and Storm's relationship. They're Childhood Friends to lovers and it's clear their love for each other is through and through.
  • Their reunion when they're older in Chapter 6, during which both are ecstatic to see each other.
    • Hope complimenting Storm's mane (making the other lioness particularly flattered), followed by Storm encouraging Hope on her hunting abilities and offering her to show her the ropes.
  • The two lionesses hunting together in Chapter 10.
    Storm: All totally a part of my plan!
    Hopeful: [laughs] Sure, Storm.
    
  • The girls talking about the Traveller. Storm apologises for "getting carried away and talking to much." And what does Hope reply to this?
    Hopeful: Don't be sorry! I like listening to you.
    
  • Both are generally very affectionate with one another, occasionally bumping heads, nuzzling, and giving each other "kisses".
  • Chapter 12 specifically showcases Storm's protectiveness for Hope;
    • The moment she sees Hopeful's scarred eye, she immediately goes to lick her wounds.
    • When she thinks Jasper did it, Storm's first instinct is to march up to him and "make him eat dirt." When she learns that it was actually Vicious, Hope's mother that gave her those scars, Storm's first thought is to go up to her and claw her face off!
    • Storm jumping into defense and ushering Hope (and Adamant) to go hide when she senses danger.

  • Both times Storm comforts Hope about Clever's death.
    • In Chapter 14, when Hope laments about how she feels like she abandoned her aunt, Storm objects that she told her to run. She then gives her a lick on the cheek in comfort, silently reassuring her that she did all dhe could.
    • In Chapter 16, Storm comforts Hope that Clever will always be with her and that she's not a bad person if she eventually moves on.
    Storm: You'll always miss her. And that's okay.
    
  • Storm naming the hyena cub "Storm Jr.", claiming that "Hope will love it because she loves her!" Hopeful admits she's not wrong.

  • In Chapter 19, after ensuring that Hopeful and Adamant are safely ahead of her in the Stone Forest, Storm stays behind to hold back the "gutters".

• Hopeful's relationship with her sisters has its own fair of sweetness.
  • After an almost fatal zebra hunting event, Adamant and Quiet show her admiration for pulling it off and share a good laugh with her, even inviting her to the next hunt as "it's more fun competing with someone."
  • A subtle but present example shown earlier in the chapter, there's Adamant and Quiet's bragging to Hopeful about their skills and partaking in tonight's hunt (unlike Hope, at least initially). If you have a sibling, you'll most likely recognise this as simple ribbing. It's pretty clear the girls aren't actually trying to ridicule or insult Hopeful and that their behaviour is mostly just them being Annoying Younger Siblings rather than anything malicious. Adamant even has a brief affectionate look on her face and tells Hopeful not to feel bad about it. There's still a bond there.
  • Hopeful and Adamant reminiscing about their times with Quiet. Looks like the three bonded after the hunt!
  • Hopeful and Adamant also grow closer with each other, especially after becoming Travellers alongside Storm.

• Clever's relationship with her nieces and niblings is overall adorable. Not only is she the one who gives her niece the name "Hope" after she was cruelly named "Hopeless", but she's also the one to stand up for her to Jasper and Vicious.
  • Even sweeter when Hope insists on keeping the Affectionate Nickname her aunt gave her in remembrance, feeling like she's a part of her that way, thus choosing the name "Hopeful".

• A brief moment, but worth noting. When Hopeful runs to warn the pride about Clever's murder from Jasper and Edge, her aunt Careful immediately rushes to check on her wounded niece.

• Hopeful, Storm, and Adamant spending time with Storm Jr. Even more when they say their farewell to the cub, complete with Storm crying Tears of Joy.