avreya rurik

The bearish woman sees the formidable island from the far coast and knows immediately that Ruslan and the others must be here.

Its silhouette on the horizon howls a siren song that Avreya follows with her heavy steps. The landmass is more continent than just island, with sea stretching infinitely on either sides as far as she can crane her neck and view. Yellow gaze is already scoping out the sandbar that grants access to the land -- wide, with enough room to not get cornered on, but also just tight enough to be defendable. Creatures not used to fighting on sand would have a difficult time with the sandbar and the tides. With enough lions, a front could be held here for days.

Ears stand at alert as she travels through the Passage. Her paws fall softly upon the ground. Caution threads tension through muscular form as she makes first landfall upon the strange new land.

The lioness was moving along the pass, paws carrying her along the familiar claiming sands, her hide a dark splash of color standing out against the pale grains that covered the straight. To the right and left she heard the push and pull of the tide as it came ad went, and found comfort in the sound as she often went to sleep with the sound of the ocean just beyond her den. Eyes of ocean blue noted the form of another and she broke away from her walk to head that direction, ears tipping towards as her crown inclined slightly. "Passing through, or in search of a home?" Tones were kind, gentle and calm as always. The Caladan Sovereign's steps were measured as she gave the other female a smile that flashed ivory against the dark of her hide. "I'm Jewel Khulani - Sovereign to a pride to the north of here. If it is a home you seek, I can offer one, or I can point you in the direction of one of the others?" @Avreya""

irish

Wandering outside of the Hollow was becoming a little less doable with how someone kept wanting to follow her out, Zulema had snuck away as quickly as she could to the Passage. Eager to make due on what was expected of her but also in the interest of mingling with the masses. The journey to the inlet to Amaryllis was an enjoyable one as she was able to wander through the beautiful terrain of mountain's insides, while being greeted by a rather attention hungry sun that peeked high in the sky. The sun rays beating down on her as she admired the ocean set in the far east - there didn't seem to be much going on today but Zulema Kivasante was happy to fix that.

Eventually spying a couple lioness' just out of the way and making her way towards them. Recognizing one of the leaders she'd met a few days ago already present. Hello again, Jewel, and to you. She casually greeted the two as she moved to stand several feet in order to keep some relative distance. My name is Zulema Kivasante, a Noble from Obsidian Hollow just over the Mountains there. Pointing her muzzle to the stranger's left (and to her right). I can try and answer any questions you may have about Amaryllis or the Hollow to the best of my abilities if that interests you. Basically offering much the same as Jewel had though hadn't been present to hear her so an unintentional repetition.

@Avreya @Jewel

Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

Kimagure wounds were mending and she was finding it easier to travel and get around. The ivory queen had not ventured far outside her new home until now. Kimagure knew her numbers were very few, and with that knowledge came the need to do something about it. So she made the journey down to the passage, intent on seeking out any potentials.

Kimagure was not disappointed, the colossal woman laid eyes on a large brown woman. The scars lacing over her made Kimagure think she knew, at least, something of what it meant to fight. The female was not alone, however, Kimagure could already hear Jewel giving her spill.

The other woman, who named herself and gave her rank was unfamiliar to Kimagure. The ivory made careful note of her name and rank. She attempted to close the distance to a few feet, her eyes seeking out the brown female.

"And I am Kimagure Stagner, sovereign of Firnen Rainforest. Welcome to Amaryllis," she said slowly, then turning to dip her head towards @Jewel, the lioness she at least knew. She nodded as well to the @Zulema.

@Avreya

+5 Learn something useful about an enemy lion or pride. (Zulema is Obsidian Hollow's Noble)

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

Art by Luyene

avreya rurik

The wind shifts from buffering her back to scouring her features, and upon its laurels ride a sudden swathe of scents. Avreya's walking gait stills and she waits. Sharp yellow eyes scrutinize the rest of the Passage before her with careful suspicion. She hadn't smelt any borders, but there's always the possibility that she was a step away from trespassing.

A large obsidian woman marred with an impressive array of scars is the first to come into view. The large Rurik lioness examines her closely as she approaches -- her body language was relaxed, gentle almost, not tense. Even as the dark stranger calmly approaches, Avreya spots other figures materializing in the distance, approaching also.

The scarred Commander shifts her weight, discreetly swivels her head ever-so-slightly to the side to ensure that she had a way out behind her. Otherwise, she looks unperturbed -- she wears the same cool mask as the first woman does, though perhaps a bit more cold, a bit more stony.

A question is posed by the first arrival, and Avreya gives a gruff reply: "Not sure yet," she responds honestly. She isn't -- whether or not she would stay here was dependent on if she could find her kin within the land's embrace. One of the others. She takes careful note of that statement, of the existence of others, then looks past Jewel at the maroon and white lionesses approaching. For this many to come greet her, there must be many, many more lions here -- and she also takes a soft fondness to the fact that it would seem lionesses are calling at least some of the shots here.

Jewel, Zalema, Kimagure. Avreya commits these names to her memory. Ears push forward at Zulema's mention of seeing Jewel "again", realizing as the beautiful-pelted lioness goes into her own description of her pride that this must be a recruiting grounds of some kind. Avreya's stubbed tail gives a twitch of amusement. Very well, she could play along.

Kimagure's greeting is the most short, the most curt -- and much like Zalema's, with little presumptions. Golden eyes trawl over Kimagure's healing wounds and colossal size with a fond intrigue.

The Commander finally gives the collective a nod after appraising each of them with calculating gaze. "I am looking for members of my family -- other Rurik." Skull shifts minutely toward each of them as she speaks. "I am not looking to stay anywhere permanently until I find them." A pause. Her lips purse with thought. "However, these lands -- Amaryllis, you two called it? -- seem vast, and I would not be opposed to a place to rest my head while I search them." Something deep within her tells her that her search would yield results soon enough, but a good Commander always has a second plan.

The ebony sovereign waited for the other female to speak, but before she got a chance to, they were joined by others. The carmine woman from before had her giving her a nod, a dip of her skull in greeting. @Kimagure arrived and Jewel found herself passing her gaze over her form out of habit - assessing injury and how well she was healing before giving her a smile as well. The two women spoke, and then the rogue they had come to see lifted her voice to speak, Jewel gave the lioness her rapt attention. She had to admit that it was an interesting change of pace to see all women on the claiming sands rather than males - for the longest time she was the only female that traversed this straight. Jewel noted the stance of the other and made sure that she would stand far enough back so as not to crowd the other, hoping that it would put her at ease. "I am unfamiliar with the name of "Rurik".." Her tone was soft, a little sorrow filled as she had hoped to be able to help the other female with something - though she might not be able to help her find her family, she could help her with a place to rest her head if that's the case. Tails twitched near her haunches as she settled into familiar verbiage of the things she usually spoke of. "The Cove lies just to the northeast - one of the vanguard prides into Amaryllis.. If you have family that has yet to arrive in the lands you would be close to the passage so that you can find them if they come through.. Our ranks are available for challenge - none are exempt. Including my own. We currently have no enemy prides, we are allied or friendly with most of the prides in the lands - though I have yet to speak to a few.." She chuckled, looking at the silver queen with a tilt of her skull. She would need to make a trip to the Rainforest to discuss relations with Kimagure, but that would come after this. "Our laws themselves are simple. You can come and go as you please - I only request that you tell me so that we are not hunting for a mouth that isn't there to eat. If you find yourself expecting cubs let us know so we can adjust our food requirements. Pull your weight - don't be lazy... We don't claim anyone into the pride against their will outside of life or death circumstances. We defend our borders against trespassers, detaining or chasing out where required. Otherwise.. the pride is fairly laid back." Or so Jewel figured - she was curious though, as to how @Zulema would sell the Hollow under the leader. What she had seen of Magnus, he was an interesting fellow - and Jewel was genuinely wondering how his rule changed since the time of their alliance. As this was the first time she had spoken with Kimagure in the capacity of 'official' business, Jewel also wanted to hear how the silver giant would rule her pride, and when she finished speaking, she would shift, stepping back to allow the other two females their chance to shine and try to tempt the other woman to their prides. @Avreya""

irish

After having heard from Magnus that he wanted to get as much information of the prides and its leaders, Zulema quickly figured out that this was a great way to do that without trekking all the way to the prides. From here she already had an insider look into two prides now that another had shown up. A pale woman with a scar over her face that she had never seen before - immediately putting the information to her memory. Jewel Khulani, High Sovereign of Caladan Cove; then there was Kimagure Stagner, Sovereign of Firnen Rainforest. The idea that someone had hold of a forest was something of great interest to Zulema. Perhaps if the cards had played out differently she might've gone there when she'd come through the Passage but as it were she'd only been shown two prides and wasn't in the habit of being patient.

Even as the three women surrounded the rogue, the cherry woman became quite enamored by the fact that estrogen was strong here. Not a single male here to push them around or "put them in their place" and for this, Zu was thankful. It meant that she didn't feel the need to assert herself more than she already did as they were usually the more condescending kind. Zulema paid rapt attention to the white-patched woman, feeling a little disheveled at the thought that she couldn't help the woman find the Rurik's they were looking for. Jewel apparently having not seen any, either.

I, myself, have not met with any Rurik's thus far here so I cannot be of much assistance but I can offer a place to rest while you search. Zulema was tempted to use a we and likely should have, but she also didn't want to insert herself into somewhere that she may or may not be wanted. It was hard to tell on whether or not the Rurik wished for the added company.

Seeing as the rogue hadn't explicitly asked for information of the pride she wished to potentially rest in, Zu didn't find it necessary to speak up. Perhaps if she chose to stay, it would be far more pertinent. All that is required of a guest is to replenish what is taken. I imagine it won't be much since we're a rather small pride as of this moment. Zulema could sell the small just as she could take an easy stay, but she couldn't begin to make assumptions on what the brown woman might feel more inclined to experience in a potentially temporary stay.

+5 Learn a character’s full name and rank
+5 Learn something interesting about a character

@Avreya @Jewel @Kimagure

Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

Kimagure studied the brown woman as she spoke, taking in how her gaze had flicked backwards when they arrived. Looking for someone? Or ensuring she was not being closed in on from behind as well as from the front? As the woman spoke, it seemed she was sizing Kimagure up as much as Kimagure was her. Kimagure kept a stoic face, attempting to avoid giving anything away.

The woman soon made it clear she was looking for someone: Rurik. Kimagure did not know anyone by that name, but the lands were vast. Jewel wasted no time offering the laws of Caladan Cove, though Kimagure privately thought it foolish to invite someone to challenge you. Not only that, any lion knew that a change in leadership would not always be tolerated by the pride's members. The red woman spoke then, also clarifying that she did not know anyone by the name.

The lioness wondered if whoever the brown woman was searching for was even in Amaryllis. On the other hand, if they were, it would perhaps open the doors to several new members rather than just one. Kimagure did not know the brown female well, but she claimed to be alone for now... and surely she and Tamotsu and Aesir could handle one woman. All the same, it was now her turn to speak. "I'm afraid I don't know anyone by that name either, but my pride is located on the opposite side of Amaryllis. That rules out three of Amaryllis's eight prides. If you would like, you may stay within the Rainforest. Over the next days, I must make visits to the other prides on diplomatic business, and I will take you to them. As for my pride, we value the security and privacy of our members. During your stay as a guest, I would ask that you replace whatever you use, and we will keep an eye out for your family members." she responded, choosing to take a proactive route. She felt that her offer was the best, and the best part is Kimagure would have the opportunity to evaluate the woman in the meantime if she chose to stay in the Rainforest.

@Zulema @Avreya @Jewel

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

Art by Luyene

avreya rurik

None have heard of them here. Her ear flicks but she shows no further disappointment. It's a delay, not a dead end. If they are here, she will find them.

There's something amusing about the situation -- a strange balance of power. They obviously came to try to lure her to their prides, seemingly eager for the extra paws, which tipped the scales in her balance, but a rogue's desire for security and a safe place to rest tilted them back. Either way, she's surprised by the thoroughness in which they all describe their prides.

Jewel, the dark lioness, gives quite the thorough rundown of the pride's location and laws. Avreya's interested in the position -- if this is the one way in and one way out, the Cove does sounds like a good spot to see who comes in. However, Avreya knows that she's so far behind Ruslan and the rest that if anything, they're likely already here if they are at all. She nods thankfully to Jewel.

The Obsidian Noble gives a much more brief summary. Avreya appreciates it -- while it was nice to have more information, her paws are softly itching to get moving and find who she was looking for.

It's Kimagure, however, with the most enticing offer. Not only would she have a place to stay, but she'd also have someone to personally guide her to the borders of other prides. Not to mention that she's not sure she's seen a rainforest before -- it's piqued her curiosity.

Avreya looks to each of them. "Jewel, Zulema, thank you for the information," she says sincerely, with another slow nod of large skull before her crown swings back to Kimagure. Her head raises and she strides to the pale lioness' side. "I'll be staying in the Rainforest for now." The Rurik Commander doesn't feel the need to justify her decision.

She draws the sovereign's scent into her nostrils, committing it to memory in case they were separated. The woman smells earthy, humid. Was that what a rainforest smelled like? There's no expression in particular on her outward features as she turns inland and gazes expectantly at Kimagure. "Lead the way."

exit Avreya with Kimagure ?

The lioness would make her decision, and Jewel would shift slightly, giving the pair of women a nod, and a smile. "Of course. You two be safe.. I will see you again I'm sure." After all, she was intending to venture to the north into the rainforest territory to speak to Kimagure on the topic of an alliance. The lioness would take her leave, giving Zulema a nod of her skull as well. She was bound to see the other female again, and looked forward to it. //Exit//""

irish