Talisa had wandered a vast majority of the upper northwest of Amaryllis the last two weeks, anxiously hoping to run into strangers while also looking to stay close to home. Now that her older sister had appointed her as a Noble, she felt it only fair that she travel and see to more affairs of their new neighbors. Talisa hadn't quite expected such a leap but she trusted in Nymeria's belief that it was where she was best put.

The Grove to the Brook's east was unusually quiet this morning, the bugs still buzzing around from flower to flower and the occasionally dragonfly that screamed past. Talisa stood in the midst of the Grove, taking in the scent with each inhale and following it with a slow exhale. A quiet but strong reminder that life was precious not just to the Natives but to those that had come here looking for something better. There were no doubt folks that would want to turn Amaryllis upside down but she also knew, from her own findings, that there were plenty of strangers with a bright heart. It was those individuals that she wanted to find so that when her family found the bad, she could show them the good.

talisa valour

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@Ruslan

As the tall Guardian continued to heal, he found himself wandering farther and farther from the grotto in the mountains that he had come to call a shelter. He supposed it was no longer really appropriate to say that he belonged anywhere, which brought some sense of longing to him. At least when he was comfortable in the small valley surrounding the grotto, he was in a "set" phase in his life. A phase of healing, a decided goal, which was to recover.

Now he wandered.

Silent pawsteps carried the mountainous creature through the soft forest undergrowth, sunlight dappling through the trees onto his rich clay fur. He posed a threatening figure, all sinew and muscle that showed he hadn't gone a day without working in his life. Grey eyes, unintentionally haunted and sad, scanned his surroundings for sign of danger - or friends.

Attentive as he was, he almost missed her. She blended in so well that she nearly went unnoticed, but Ruslan saw her and slowed his walk, curious. He chuffed in her direction with hardly a further thought as to friend or enemy, ears pricked forward curiously.

""

With the Grove being so close to home, it was a lot easier to feel the confines of safety hugging at her. If she felt in trouble, she was only a quick trip to the Brook where she would likely end up with a posse of her own family at her side rather than being targeted by herself. Though, Talisa wasn't a fearful sort but with the things she was hearing about some of the Natives she couldn't help but worry not for herself but for her friends and family. Every native she had seen thus far had been kind, thoughtful and very considerate of her as an individual so she didn't have anything to really compare it to aside from the stories she was told.

However, when she heard a chuff sound from nearby her head lifted and there was a very hopeful expression written across an otherwise boring face. Lilac eyes moving to find the visual of a large male with very dark, obsidian points and of course, very bear-like. Talisa being the social butterfly that she was moved towards him with energy in her step. Hello there, because if he called to her specifically then that must mean that he was interested in having a conversation and potentially being a friend, right? She had no real reason based on her own evidence to assume otherwise.

talisa valour

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@Ruslan

His voice caught her attention, and the young Guardian found himself faced with a beautiful pair of lilac eyes, bright and interested. She was quite small comparative to him, her pretty face spotted lightly in what he felt was an endearing arrangement. She greeted him without hesitation and his ears pricked forward, a barely visible smile crossing his black muzzle. "Hello," he rumbled, the faintest undeterminable accent on his lips. Dipping his head in a friendly greeting, Ruslan shifted towards her. "I don't suppose you're more familiar with these lands than I am, are you?" he queried, gazing intently down at her pretty face.

""

you don't know

you think you own whatever land you land on, the earth is just a dead thing you can claim. but i know every rock, and tree and creature, has a life, has a spirit, has a name

Oh, what a handsome lion she had found! If Maua had anything to do with coming across such a pretty bear, Talisa would surely thank them for such a gift! The rumble from his voice was just enough to really make the electricity buzz around her and she was set in the idea that she could make a new friend today. I am a Native to Amaryllis. I have lived here my entire life, which is a bare two years but my family dates back generations here. Whenever she would tell people that she was a Native, she could almost feel a few of the Vermeda's voices in her ear telling her that she was too forthcoming with her information. That she gave too much away without truly knowing someone. Talisa didn't seem to listen, obviously, as everyone would be given reserved judgment until it was deemed caput. Talisa Valour, of Amaryllis' original pride - Vermeda Brook.

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@Ruslan

now we are free

walk with me through the golden fields so lovely; we regret our sins but we sow our own fate. under my face I remain feeble, under my face i smile. imagine, free with peace at last.

Perhaps it was the loneliness of the last few weeks living alone that were catching up to him, but Ruslan felt himself increasingly grateful to have found friendly company. He'd met a few others here and there, but there were a good deal more that slinked off into the undergrowth at first sight of him, or growled their warnings from a distance. He could hardly blame them, although he was starting to feel uncertain about the prospects of planting Rurik roots here despite the beauty and fruitfulness of the land itself.

Perhaps there was some hope after all?

Ruslan listened attentively as she explained; she had been born here. She was only a bit younger than he was, it sounded like, but had deep roots in this country. She introduced herself, a somewhat lengthy title by his definitions, and he regretted that he was not familiar with any of these names. "Amaryllis," he repeated, turning the name over in his mind. He wasn't aware this country had a name.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Talisa Valour," Ruslan returned, grey eyes intent. "I'm Ruslan, Guardian of the Rurik. I've traveled a long way to come here from my homeland," he introduced himself, feeling as though he also ought to provide some sort of title of equal length. It occurred to him that his being a Guardian would probably mean very little to her, as she was no doubt unfamiliar with his clan's customs. He felt it best to withhold his intentions for now, not knowing how a native of this country might react to the idea of another clan putting roots down here. "Do your family live...near here?" He inquired, his gaze flicking sideways. It would certainly be less than ideal if this was some sort of trap, and being in the clutches of the rogues had made him even more suspicious than usual.

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you don't know

you think you own whatever land you land on, the earth is just a dead thing you can claim. but i know every rock, and tree and creature, has a life, has a spirit, has a name

Loneliness had never been something that Talisa had experienced. After being surrounded by your sisters and a single brother throughout her life there had never been a moment where she felt at a distance. Though, she could easily say that it wasn't until the last month or two that she had begun to feel the tension rise in the breast of her kin. The unfamiliar territory that they were being forced to tread and she sympathized with her eldest sister for it did not seem like an easy task. It was why being promoted to Noble had meant so much because she felt like Nymeria had placed her there so that she wouldn't be quite so alone in making heads of the uncertainty.

So with the help of these neighbors, she was continuing to see the good in each of them. Every single stranger had proven good and this was seemed no different. While his eyes might have been unintentionally haunted and sad, she could see that there was hope within them, too! That she shared with him the small tidbit of her life that he was genuinely interested and glad for her thoughts. Just as she was delighted to hear him talk with that rumbling tone and eager eyes. If anything, she might've soothed his worries over not feeling like he had anything of equal length. Clearly, length meant very little in some scenarios.

You must be quite tired, then. Feel free to sit, or lie. She took a step back if only to offer him the floor between them for a chance to rest should he need it. Talisa wished to be humble and seeing as he was nothing except friendly she was more than happy to be accomodating. What is a Rurik? If you don't mind my asking? From the sound of it (to her), he was the guardian of something magical or spiritual. Just as the Grotto was the home of the Spirits in which she would count herself something of a Guardian of the Grotto but only to herself. She wouldn't ever give herself such a title without it being granted to her.

Again, such a large question that he might not have realized was such a big ask. The knowledge of the location of her family and while she knew she should bite her tongue, no alliances could be made with these folks if they regarded them with distaste at every corner. Right to the east, actually. Not far at all. The Grove just so happened to be one of the safest places for her and she was thankful that it didn't look to need to be safe today.

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@Ruslan

now we are free

walk with me through the golden fields so lovely; we regret our sins but we sow our own fate. under my face I remain feeble, under my face i smile. imagine, free with peace at last.

Having been very close to his siblings, Ruslan had also not known loneliness until leaving home. Had he not been separated from Soren by accident who knows where he'd be today? Ruslan knew at his core that he was grateful for being separated from Soren; had he not, Soren might have suffered the same woes that he himself at at the cruel hands of rogues. Ruslan knew Soren was made of the same salt as he, but he couldn't bear the thought of Soren suffering the way he did. It was not meant for Soren to go through. Ruslan felt somehow that this had been his burden to bear as the Guardian.

He thought about clarifying that while he had traveled a long way, he had shelter and rest, but he couldn't bear to correct her. After all, it was his own mistake of not being clearer, and then again...he had been walking all day, so it wasn't totally untrue. "I don't mind if I do," he murmured, shaking his thick mane before rolling down to the earth to lay on his stomach. Ruslan thought himself a decent judge of character, and her intentions didn't seem malicious in the least.

What is a Rurik? What a question. Ruslan wished his mother could be here for this, as he much rather loved to hear her interpretation of their people. "Well, we're a clan from the north," he explained. "We're people of the mountains..and we're excellent fishers." he added with a wink. "Above all we're warriors...there isn't a single one among us who couldn't fend for themselves or lead an attack to defend our own." He said more seriously. Deciding it wouldn't hurt too terribly to share his quest, he said a bit more vaguely, "Our ancestors sent me here on behalf of our clan." It went against his instinct to give any more information, so he chose his words carefully. Talisa seemed nice enough, although he didn't much fancy her telling the wrong sort of folk about him. It wouldn't do for those who bore ill will to know there were so few Rurik here.

At her description, Ruslan's gaze flicked eastward instinctively, then drifted back to her. "I see," he remarked. "They're not going to come out and...drag me back to be their prisoner, are they?" he asked semi-jokingly, brow quirked. He'd already had this happen to him once and was not keen on it happening again.

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you don't know

you think you own whatever land you land on, the earth is just a dead thing you can claim. but i know every rock, and tree and creature, has a life, has a spirit, has a name

The Grove was a vast area that she supposed many would stumble upon, though she'd expected more to venture to it when the fog had initially lifted. To come here now, she supposed others might be drawn to the flowery scent of the flowers. The soothing scent of the forest was always at play and through the crunch of the leaves, the whistle of the wind and the occasional snap of the branches - this was as good a place as any to catch your breath. So to see him lay down and take to the rest warmed her, opening herself up to laying down a few feet in front of him with such comfort as those she lived with.

Even as she laid, she casually admired the long ombre mane of his that seemed so earthy in hue. Talisa becoming very aware of her attraction to the non-native male before her. While all of these neighbors she had met were wonderful and considerate, her mind racing with all kinds of interest in each of them.. she seemed to enjoy falling into the minds of the males. Easily listening to their voices and falling prey like a fly to a spider's web. The explanation of the Rurik immediately fascinating her and trapping her in, finding his description of his family invigorating. A likeness to her own but still very different; like the opposite end of what they were excellent at.

Your family - sorry, clan - sounds wonderful. Mountain folk, fishers and warriors. Like a long, winding tale told at bedtime to the young. Obviously, she was greatly interested in knowing that it meant that he was also not just an excellent fisher but a warrior. Vermeda had never really had a need for warriors as bloodshed had very rarely ever happened in the last few years (or more) but to know that there was a Clan full of them was magical. So, you came here on a quest? she asked, the thought simply burning in her mind as the excitement continued to grow. A man on a mission and she was playing a part in his story without realizing it!

The feather-laden woman wouldn't have been distraught if she'd known that saying much more was too much. That he'd already spoken quite a bit about his family when it wasn't natural to do so. Talisa understood that, more than she led on. No, we're not like that. As far as I know we've never held prisoners and we're not really... fighting sorts. Probably shouldn't have said that... but he's cool, right? There was a big drop in her stomach at that the thought of what could happen if Ruslan wasn't who he seemed to be. Perhaps she should warn her older sister that she'd told a stranger that they very well were ill-prepared for battle. Most of us are hunters and spiritualists, which was yet another conversation that she was itching to have with the bear-like male. Wondering if his clan followed any sort of God or believed in anything in particular.

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@Ruslan

now we are free

walk with me through the golden fields so lovely; we regret our sins but we sow our own fate. under my face I remain feeble, under my face i smile. imagine, free with peace at last.

He couldn't help smiling at her wonder as he spoke of his family. It was not uncommon so far for those who were unfamiliar with the Rurik to react wide-eyed at his tales, but even so he appreciated her intrigue. "Oh, our stories are hardly fit for the nursery," he said, eyeing her very seriously. "They are not for the faint at heart."

A quest? He hadn't thought of it that way, but he supposed in the mind of one who fantasized of adventures, battles and chivalry perhaps that was accurate. She said the word like a question, not so much looking for confirmation as a story. Details. Ruslan shrugged a bit, eyebrows lifted in a "well, I suppose" sort of manner. "It's a long story," He said, for what felt like the tenth time this week. Perhaps he should get around to telling the story, although he didn't even know where to begin anymore. This was the longest the Rurik clan had ever been without an augur, a spiritual leader, and times felt dark. Dark enough that he had been sent to find new roots to plant, so it seemed the spirits wanted to lead the entire clan on a spiritual journey rather than find a single augur to place the burden on. For the spirits to have been so quiet thus far and only spoken not to give an answer to the question they asked, but to give them a doomsday warning....things were rocky with the clan.

Talisa explained that her people were not so much the fighting sort, which Ruslan privately thought to be a a bit of a tactical error. He was not as strategically minded as his mother or the commander, but every Rurik had it drilled into them to give away no weaknesses. Then again, they had to live this way. Enemies were at every corner for a Rurik, and perhaps these valley folk of Talisa's had not known violence as he had. "Well that is good news," Ruslan said finally, his gaze meeting hers. "I'm hardly fit to fight off a whole army, though I might be more game tomorrow." He offered a wink.

Are you having a good time? a voice spoke in his head suddenly. Flirting about with random strangers when you have a mission to accomplish?

Ever unbidden, the voice of the war spirit echoed about in his head. Ruslan shook his head instinctively as though to dislodge it, frowning. It had not been his choice for the war goddess to take such a fancy to him, and still unsettling was it that she had chosen him, protector of the clan, rather than a more warlike relative. His mother. Avreya. Anyone.

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