He had not lingered. He had not heeded the call.

But he hadn't left without the promise that he would search for her. And search he did—high and low, long and far, until his paws no longer ached from the cold or the heat or everything in between. Mountain or forest or sea, it did not matter. Time had made Kvare well traveled but it made him no less successful in his desperate search for Sunder. He'd told few of his plans to leave the country, perhaps none more than Drauhir and Zabrina, before he set his sights on the wild lands far from the peninsula.

But weeks became months, and months became years.

And he grew unsatisfied with stories. Stories carried over distance between stranger tongues spun tales of witchcraft and cannibals, of defeat and victory. And when rumor became speculation, and speculation became certain truth, Kvare could no longer afford to continue his search for a woman who very well may not want to be discovered.

He returns to Amaryllis a broken, beaten man. But the he would sooner light the flame of his pyre himself before he let anyone see it.

Instead, he ventures back to the peninsula under the cover of night, no less the man he was when he first left it. Roguish and battle-weary, perhaps, but still just much a dragon.

Spring had long found a foothold in the lowlands, save for the occasional chill on the wind. Kvare's large paws left a trail in his wake, preferring the flat route near the beach rather than attempting to scale the cliffs that flanked it. His eyes are focused forward, but his ears swivel at every noise, keenly aware of the purpose of this passage and the fact that night would not stop weary recruiters from finding fresh meat. Fortunately, for them, Kvare is ripe for the picking.

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ooc. Anyone is welcome! 8)
pls excuse any typos. I did not proofread this, I am very tipsy.

Art by Rabbit, table by cala

There was a sleepiness creeping into Rose’s bones as she lingered at the passage. She was new to counting this recruiting thing as part of her job description- but even she could see now desperately the cove needed to replenish its numbers after recent events. It was with that in mind she’s headed over to await any newcomers in the later hours of the day.

And then she’d waited. And waited. And nearly fallen asleep waiting.

Feeble rays of evening sun and faded into heavy darkness as she’d dozed off against the cliffside for what was probably a few hours until something had caused her to stir. Perhaps it was some sort of intuition, or just a sea gull disturbed by the passing stranger but she awoke in time to see his dark silhouette moving along the sands. She watched @Kvare for a moment, picking out his movements and doing her best to scent the air and determine if he carried the scent of another pride on him. Not detecting anything familiar she moved from her spot, approaching casually but carefully enough given the time of night.

Good evening friend! I’m Rose of Caladan Cove! Have you come here to join one of Amaryllis’s prides? she introduced herself as she moved closer - keeping just enough distance to maintain a level of comfort that she was out of immediate striking range should that answer turn out to be no and she needed to run.

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Striding into the Passage for the first time since gaining her new rank, Atalanta felt a little... odd wandering around the sands of the land. She wasn't really used to pitching the Plains, but she figured she ought to give it a go. She did have the rank to do so, however - might as well work on seeing what she could do for the Plains.

Seeing a pair up ahead of them, Atalanta would let out a polite chuff as she approached the two lions. "Greetings, and welcome to Amaryllis." She said, standing a polite distance from the duo. "Atalanta, Heiress of Lorien Plains." She introduced, glancing at the other lioness nearby. "What are you on the search for?" Atalanta asked, flicking her bobbed tail as she spoke.

@Kvare @Rose

text. "speech."

Art by Drifty | Table code by Zodiac

×ARCANIA×

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Now here was an intriguing man, all dark and handsome, tipped with red like firelight was reflecting off of him. And she was so drawn to fire. So, naturally, Arcania wound her way over, sinuous as a snake, to present herself before him. What might you be seeking? she asked, curious. What might he want her to be? She could pretend, at least for a little while. At least until she had him in her clutches. She wasn't afraid of getting burned by those flames that seemed to touch him. But she wasn't going to beg, nor would she offer the story of her pride to deaf ears, and so she waited for an answer instead.

Patience... she could play at having it, these days.

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art by drifty ♡︎ code by scorpixia

Elaine moved back into the passage with the hope that she would be able to bring someone back to the Bluffs who would be able to add something to the pride. She spotted a gathering near a male and made her way toward him. As she neared there was something familiar about him. Her blue gaze looked him over carefully as she came to a stop before looking over the others who had gathered. It didn't seem like things had gotten far. You look familiar. If you are indeed returning, you must have some idea where you would like to end up or not end up? Maybe he could spare them all the need to dance around each other and get to the heart of things. Maybe, just maybe, this male would make it easier on her, on all of them.

Art | Table Code | background

Be it some cruel and ironic twist of luck or divine providence, it is Caladan that first heeds the call. Rose is unfamiliar, but her near-lackadaisical nature betrays the caricature Miaran had made of herself last they met. Certainly, a woman of such cold brutality would not tolerate a tenderheart within her ranks—but then he is reminded of his compassionate and valiant great niece, and the disdain she held for all his horrors and misdeeds. Kvare would not suffer a mystery for long, however—

That depends, he answers. Does that serpentine wretch still wear the crown?

Regardless of her answer, Kvare has long relinquished the Cove to his daughter, and he has much more to do before he endures the idea of retirement. And if Miaran had yet to be toppled by Pyrrha, then he would have far larger problems to face.

Mercifully, they aren't alone for long.

Atalanta is unfamiliar and her pride even less so. He had interacted little with Lorien during his time as king, and before then the territory had not even existed, had been left unclaimed. A fresh start, however, is not unappealing. Somewhere as new to him as he is to them, even footing upon even ground.

For the Lorien heiress's youthful optimism, however, Arcania is a beacon of age and experience. Kvare's gaze slips from Atalanta and onto the Vermedan monarch, and her gaze pries him apart, beholding him in a way he's not been since he himself was a king. A feeling he has missed so very much, he very quickly finds out.

She is the opposite of what he expects of Vermeda. Beguiling, bewitching, coy curiosity and clever little smile enough to bring any man to his knees.

For now, a place to lay my head and gather my strength, he answers them both.

There is indeed something familiar about the final representative.

Recognition sparks in Kvare's eyes as the unmistakable shimmer of stars and speckles shroud a pelt of obsidian. The Dieudonne had forged themselves a well-earned reputation even before his own time as king, and though he'd never gotten the chance to establish an alliance with them, he knew them to be both respected and feared. He'd even grown to care for one, once—long ago, never to be his.

He blinks, wrenching himself free of his reverie.

The Bluffs would not be an unwelcome option, he muses, before his gaze flits to the others in attendance. My name is Kvare Tollaire, once a king, once a patriarch. Now, a man who wishes to find closure—and revenge.

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@Rose @Atalanta @Arcania ♔ @Elaine ♔

Art by Rabbit, table by cala

Others came, Rose wasn't surprised as representatives from not only one, but three other prides soon joined them. She would wait as they all spoke, giving them all the time to introduce themselves and state what they had to offer the man before he finally spoke to them - addressing her first in a manner that left her hiding the surprise, apparently Miaran had a reputation beyond Amaryllis as well. "I assume you mean Miaran?" She confirmed, a cautious look of displeasure on her features. Miaran was scary, and admitted to committing atrocities that Rose could barely fathom. She quickly shook her head, "No- king Drauhir and is sister queen Pyrrha took it back last season." She would explain before the man went on to address the woman from the bluffs.

She listened in silence as he introduced himself, surprise causing her eyes to widen and nostrils to flare slightly as he gave him name. @Kvare Tollaire, that was the name Drauhir had given for his father when he'd won the cove! Rose was certain, she had a memory for important details like that. Even if the man chose to stay away from the cove she was sure her king and queen would be very glad to hear that their father was alive and well and back in Amaryllis! What sort of family wouldn't want a heartwarming reunion, right? Right?

@Atalanta @Arcania ♔ @Elaine ♔

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×ARCANIA×

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Unusually, for her anyway, she made way for @Elaine ♔ as the star spotted woman approached, a rare showing of almost deference to the woman she knew co-led the place she had once called home. Her attention might have been stolen by her for longer, except that @Kvare mentioned a very familiar name, one that had her head whipping back to him as her eyes widened slightly in surprise and delight. The Tollaire are always welcome in Vermeda Brook, so long as I am there, she replied. I knew Drakon and Hecuba well. Who are you seeking revenge against? She would aid him in that even if he chose to live elsewhere. She just... wasn't going to mention that she knew where Miaran was. Let him figure that out on his own, or perhaps if he said he was seeking her out, she would lead him right to her. She wasn't entirely sure her loyalty lay with the former Cove high sovereign anymore. Not after their conversation where she had spoken so ill of Arcania's father.

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art by drifty ♡︎ code by scorpixia