Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

The ivory lioness's gaze was turned upward. A cascade of water fell down the chamber, glistening in the light and casting a rainbow in the fine spray that pirouetted away in a dazzling display. She was a little awed. The walls of the cavern glistened in the light, the wetness gathering into droplets that slipped down the uneven walls until they escaped the confines of the stone to fall freely to the cavern's floor.

The falls ended in a pool, whose surface writhed with life. Kimagure could see the minnows flickering under the surface. Their silvery bodies caught the light and cast glimmers throughout the pool and gave it an ethereal quality. She stepped further in, feeling the damp sand slip between her toes. It was soft and cool, soothing.

@Magnus

She watches. | "She speaks." | 'She broods.'

Art by Luyene

The route from the Hollows, through the Labyrinth and then Northeast toward Freyr Peaks was a journey that Magnus took often. He could not spend all his time cooped up in Obsidian, after all. While he may have the responsibilities of a King to tend to, he also had to tend to his wanderlust. His circumstances had changed, but such an element of his nature never would. Besides, with not one but two Noblewomen in his employ, he felt he could afford himself a trip or two away. Today's venture would not be a waste, it would seem, as @Kimagure quickly caught his attention. Her tall, white frame stood out blatantly against the wall of water, and - as he would be coming up behind her - he would chuff to alert her to his presence. Spooking the warrior woman would only end poorly for a variety of reasons. Kimagure, Magnus greeted, drawing to a halt several feet away. Would his fellow Sovereign object to her serenity being intruded upon?

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus

Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

She was not so entranced that she was not paying attention, but the roar of the water made the soft steps of the other feline unnoticeable to her. A soft sound drew her attention and she peered over her shoulder at him, her sharp gaze seeking the dark eye of the other leader. He greeted her simply, and her ears flicked. She had not necessarily been looking to avoid encountering anyone else, but she had not expected it either.

"Greetings, Magnus. This land continues to impress," she returned, voice even as she tilted her head towards the waterfall. Her pink orbs drifted towards it slowly. The rainforest was blessed with more than one beautiful fall. She was again struck by how lucky she was to live within the rainforest, full of natural beauty and ripe with bountiful resources.

The white queen turned slightly to face him, her eyes coming back to rest on him. "It's not often I meet someone as scarred as I am. Seems there are a lot of unmarked lions here," she remarked to him, ears flicking backward.

@Magnus

She watches. | "She speaks." | 'She broods.'

Art by Luyene

She would turn to regard him, and - judging by her initial reaction - she was content enough to pass the time of day. And so he would remain, mismatched gaze raking over her scarred visage. It does indeed. He'd been here before, a fair few times, but clearly it was the first time that @Kimagure had been to the Falls. I meant to ask you, Kimagure - how long have you been here? In Amaryllis? She was not a native, he knew that much; it had been clear by the way she'd addressed the crowd at her challenge. At her own line of questioning, he would crack a smirk. That doesn't surprise me. Her observation was a valid one; most of the lions he'd encountered also had notably immaculate flanks and faces. To me, it says a lot. That they're weak. That they are not of our calibre. He saw a kindred spirit in Kimagure, truth be told - he could only wonder where that would take them.

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus

Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

His question hit her ears and she kept her gaze on him for a moment. “I entered after the first claiming of the Hollow, the Cove, and the Lagoon, but before the Oasis was claimed,” she explained,“And you?” Kimagure could not help but wonder why he wanted to know. The only time that was really of relevance in her eyes, for at least the time being, was when determining whether or not one was a native... and she most certainly wasn’t.

Then he continued, commenting on the weakness of others. “Inexperienced, maybe. Everyone begins unmarked, it’s what we survive that defines who and what we will be,” she replied, her own mind turning back the clock even as she spoke. If Kimagure had herself been unmarked, it had been when she was so small she could not remember it. Some of her first memories were of the fights she and her sister had become entangled in even then.

@Magnus

She watches. | "She speaks." | 'She broods.'

Art by Luyene

Really, the information would only be used for a frame of reference. The more he knew about her the better, and vice versa, especially if his end goals came to fruition. While he did not expect her to be an open book, this was a start. Conversation - alas, something he was not the best at - would serve well to build bridges. So, with that spirit in mind, he would offer the same in turn. With the first wave of newcomers, I think - everyone seemed lost or angry, or both. He chuckled; a deep and raspy noise in the back of his throat. When I came there were only two prides that I knew of. I was a rogue for a while, and then I got bored. That was when I took Obsidian Hollow from.... Drakon, did you say his name was? In reference to his opponent, Magnus would seek to refer back to their first conversation when @Kimagure had offered the information freely. Perhaps your description is more accurate. Kinder. Dark limbs would carry him forward, seeking to join the alabaster woman's side. Attention would shift upward, watching the way the water gathered at the top of the cusp and following the cascade back down. It is not what I'm used to. Scars are commonplace in the homeland. He would turn to Kimagure then, studying her face. Attention would linger on the scar around her eye, but he would not ask her about it - not yet. They are worn like badges of honour.

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus

Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

She held steady as he came to stand beside her, though she had mixed feelings about it. Kimagure had so often found punishment in physical closeness, either immediate or later. She did not hint at it, however, remaining stoic. She listened to his assessment of the other lions. Perhaps he was right. But instability and fear bred most strife, so it was not unexpected.

“Yes, Drakon,” she returned, idly wondering if he was probing for information. Kimagure had already allowed that information to slip before, without even thinking. “You make it sound as if you fought for the pride strictly because you were bored and for that reason alone,,” she questioned, eyes seeking out his dark one. The wheels of her mind turned, but she would wait to see what his return would be.

Then it seemed he was gazing at her more intently. Because he had only one eye capable of seeing, she could not be certain of what he was looking at, but she suspected it was her facial scar. It was the most prominent scar on her body, probably her most notable feature besides her size. She examined him in return, finding it ironic that they both laid claim to a terrible scar across their faces. They are worn like badges of honor. Kimagure felt only relief when she considered her scars. Relief that she had survived the injuries that caused them, wiser for the things that led to them.

“You must enjoy thrill of combat then, an opportunity to prove yourself?” she replied, ears twitching. She was becoming more and more damp as the spray fell on her, it soaking into her pale coat. It did not bother her any, but she passed her tongue over her lips to clear away the droplets that clung to her lips.

@Magnus

She watches. | "She speaks." | 'She broods.'

Art by Luyene

“You make it sound as if you fought for the pride strictly because you were bored and for that reason alone.” Magnus would turn his head so that he may regard her more clearly. No, he clarified, not entirely. I grew tired of living as a nomad, and did not want to put myself beneath the rule of an unknown. I do not know how long I will hold the Hollow for, but for now it suits me fine. He was the strongest and most ambitious in the area, and so for now he would hold jurisdiction. That was how these things worked, after all; at least in his mind. And the group he was forming seemed promising, at the very least. Time would tell. He wondered what @Kimagure would make of that - he thought it clear that he was not the pompous, glorifying sort, but he was a dominant beast and there was no hiding that. Especially not now, as he sat atop his throne. I do not shy away from it. To fight is not the only way to prove yourself, but it is the way I am familiar with. The way we were all familiar with. He rarely lost in battle, but he was not infallible, nor would he pretend to be. Can you tell? At this point he would tilt his chin a little, as if showing off the already clearly obvious marring on the left side of his face. And you? Have you always had plans of leadership?

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus

Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

He clarified and Kimagure could understand the sentiment. Kimagure intended to rule for as long as she could, and if not her, hopefully a member of her family... or an heir she chose. “I found myself in the same position. I might follow someone I knew well, trusted... but trust is not easily won,” she replied to him, sighing softly. Then he continued and her gaze refocused on him.

Her gaze fixed on his scar when he tilted his chin to display it before her gaze returned to his eye. “I grew up in a typical pride, my father lead and kept a harem of females... but they were driven together by the harshness of the environment. Prey was scarce and too large to manage alone, other lions were deadly, and that spoke nothing to the wolves, cougars, and snow leopards,” she replied, her eyes moving away to study to stone as her she continued, matter of fact. “It was kill or be killed, fall into line or freeze to death or starve. When my father grew old, two young males killed him and assumed control. I lost the remaining family I had after that, and I left. I became a ruler because I was dissatisfied with how others had rules over me, as the saying goes... if you want something done right, do it yourself.”. Her voice betrayed no bitterness because there was none. That had been a lifetime ago and she had long ago grieved the losses. She had felt the anger and heartbreak, the soul shattering truths found in the depths of the despair that had held tightly to her then. She would experience the same hurts again, but at least with experience rather than the naiveté of never truly having been hurt.

@Magnus

She watches. | "She speaks." | 'She broods.'

Art by Luyene

Magnus had only ever known the control of the Jarl and the Second, and even then their grasps on him had loosened considerably once he'd reached adulthood and left the inner sanctum of the Sigrún clan. He'd grown easily accustomed to being a rogue, and the way of life that accompanied such status. Anyone who had tried to dominate him in a situation had met his claw, and if anyone had managed to better him in battle then he would chalk it up to experience or simply try again until he did. It had been rare enough to not be a bother, and more often than not it'd been easier to simply avoid others; especially larger groups. It was only now, in his seventh year, that the desire to take root somewhere had become too strong to ignore. Instincts were instincts, and Magnus would ultimately succumb to the drive. Kimagure's stories interested him, and she would garner his full attention as she spoke. Such transparency would earn, at the very least, some information in turn. She had not asked for Magnus' life history, but she would get it; or, at least, a chapter. My family are nomadic, historically. Forefathers and their spouses; some children will stay until well into adulthood, to strengthen our numbers, but most will leave after their first year. Some return with families, some do not. Like him - or so he thought. The Jarl - our King - rules us until he dies, or until he is displaced. It is the way it has been for as long as any of us can remember. His thoughts swim with visions of the only challenge he'd ever witnessed in his time spent within the family unit; his uncle, the Jarl at the time, ripping into the throat of a distant cousin who had come with intent to dethrone him. The fight had been quick, but vicious - vicious enough to implant itself into his teenaged psyche. I do not know if my uncle still rules the family; it has been months and months since I visited the homeland. During his younger years, while 'nomadic', he had never ventured too far from the rest of his clan. Trailing behind them at some points, like a big black dog. Keen for his own independence, but still wanting to be kept in the loop. But, at this point in his life, he'd lost track of them for months. Hakon had been the first familiar face he'd seen since last year. The final statement would earn his approval; that was something he could certainly resonate with. I agree. He would take a step back, if only to tilt his body so that he was facing @Kimagure head on. I foresee the Rainforest doing well under your rule, Kimagure. You are not a force I would want to be on the wrong side of. To fight alongside her in battle? They would certainly instil fear in the hearts of many, or so Magnus liked to think. To fight against her? Well, that was another matter altogether - hopefully an outcome that would never be explored.

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus