The quiet walk back to these lands ahd been solitary but nothing she actually minded. Being alone was as normal as death, it was always around. Company is temporary, such as life itself. And the young woman knew it well not to get attached to things that will eventually fade, faces that are an spark in the full spectrum of time.

She arrived to the same barren trail of dirt she had come many months ago. This time though she was alone and older.

Unknowns to her what life had stored for her she allowed fate to take control of her life now. No more pretending to know better, to be able to change what wont change.

(Open for claiming, no OH, VB and FR as I got characters in there)

icon by Rilvin - Code by Koi

Well, he had to do something other than lurk in the burned swath of jungle puzzling over the spontaneous new growth, did he? And heading out to the passage every now and then was also a productive use of his time. Plus it wasn't as far a distance from Andal, which meant he could probably be back before dusk.

Quick, light, steps carried him forward, his gaze constantly searching the area for signs of life until, finally, he spotted a figure in the distance. He moved with more purpose, then, trotting toward the stranger and offering a welcoming grin as he neared.

Zaahir would pause a comfortable distance from the girl, "Hey," he greeted, casually, "Looking for a place to stay or just passing through?" If she wasn't looking for a home, he'd let her be on her way. No point in wasting both of their time, right? "I'm Zaahir, from a pride called Andal Oasis."

@Manea

code by daanyen || art by seffiron

she did like to loiter at amaryllis' doorway, but there she stands, imposing and sharp as she happens upon two lions. one has the cloying scent of herbs and the freedom that is rogue-hood and the other smells horrifically like the oasis. brighid finds herself ignoring the maneless andalian in favor of the uniquely pelted lioness, noting the patterns on her pelt look like some sort of decayed butterfly. poetic. still, she is young, moldable. she can grow in illyria, protected and taught to be useful.

"welcome to amaryllis," queen brighid greets her with a quick, shallow dip of her head. her chin is tipped upwards, paws held closely together and shoulders arced back in a manner that could be uncomfortable, if not for her upbringing. "you have found the recruitment grounds."

she pauses then, tail tossing at her ankles. her voice raises momentarily, seeking to be heard over the spring breeze and the crash of the ocean in the distance. "i am queen brighid hailing from the kingdom and illyria. i can offer you safety and community; a home where you can hone your talents and use them for the betterment of our pride."

speeches and spiels are exhausting, but they are well practiced. her ear flickers and she finds herself expectantly awaiting a response from the rouge girl.

@Manea @Zaahir ♔

art by muuland, code by javs

He didn't really like coming out here to recruit. It was such a long walk for him, especially with his tiny legs, but hey, what other choice did he have? He had to be a productive member of the pride and all that. Or, he said as he sidled up to the gathering, and hear me out here, you can come with me to the Mire where you can do what you please and not have to worry about freezing your toes off up on the Summit or sweltering in the desert sun of the Oasis. Those seemed like very good reasons to come to the Mire, didn't they? Although his definition of "whatever she wanted" might be different from hers considering Luther's ideals.

art + code by spu

TRIGGER WARNING!
This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of dead bodies - Death glorification

"Manea Pantheragami, daughter of Archnae and Darcy." She responded to those who came to her. All from different prides, with seemingly different habitats. Manea wasn't picky in terms of what she would find better, only where she wouldn't be bothered for her less than pretty activities. A woman who glorified death might wouldn't be well seen everywhere.

A desert, a cold mountain and the Mire where she lived once. "I am a mortician who works with spirits and deadbodies. I seek a place where my learning as that and as a medic wont be judged or be frowned upon. I can both heal the living and dispose of the death. I am but a trainee in such arts. If that suits any of you.." She explained putting all in the grill.

@Zaahir ♔ @Brighid ♔ @Akuji

icon by Rilvin - Code by Koi

Next to arrive was a semi-familiar face; he remembered her as the pale woman who'd had a sort of outburst during the last meeting Harou had called before he'd pretty much disappeared on them. So she'd get a polite nod and he'd keep his opinion of her speech to himself. So formal. Did that impress strangers?

Then came a guy who'd present the mire as an option, and Zaahir wasn't really sure what Andal's stance was with either of the other prides these days. "Ooh, yeah, up to your knees in mud sounds way better than a little sand or snow, huh?" It came with a wry smirk, and a glance to @Brighid ♔ as if he expected her to agree.

Attention shifted back to the rogue quick enough, though. The names she offered weren't familiar to him, so he couldn't point her toward those they belonged if that was what she was after. And she certainly had some interesting hobbies. Zaahir shrugged, "As long as you're not leaving pieces all over the place I don't think it'd be a problem in the oasis." Probably. Actually, he wasn't sure what being a 'mortician' entailed, but he was really hoping it wasn't some other way to say she liked to do weird things with the dead. "I'm a medic, too," he grinned, then, on more familiar footing, "I could help with your learning in that area." If she needed, or wanted it.

@Manea @Akuji

code by daanyen || art by seffiron

although she had no intentions of interacting with the sand cat, he is casual and curt despite all things. when the lion from the mire arrives, with their alliance only partially written in the stars through anya and her husband, brighid settles for siding with @Zaahir ♔ rather than replying with the glint of her teeth instead if words. "yes, i am sure there are lots of dead laying to waste already beneath the swamp." great for @Manea's career and yet, its a barb thrown right at @Akuji's feet. how many of those dead from natural causes or being drowned to death by the muck and humidity and the sheer thick of that place? brighid would never have the answer to.

"manea, your skills are uncanny, but a necessity," she does not think she could ever soil her paws with the blood and fur of the dead without trembling. its a career that is not glorious, with the frequent bloodshed that casts itself over the valley, brighid does not think it is one that will be lost to time. "my pride is young and the empress is a well-practiced medic. there would be much to learn from her. we would be grateful for you," its a chance that she is willing to take by mentioning the size of their pride and their distinct lack of healers, but it is important that the queen bares her wrist for the moment. how awful it would be to lose what could be a bright doctor, especially with anya's cubs born and the unknown on the horizon.

"i would be grateful for you." she adds as an afterthought.

there were benefits being of value to the queen

art by muuland, code by javs

He'd expected some kind of comment once he'd approached, but the one that he was given was just golden. Akuji pointedly looked at the knees of the man who had spoken, then down at his own before rolling his shoulders in a shrug. I mean... it doesn't seem that bad to me, he commented, in a rare moment of pointing out his own stature in comparison to others. At the end of the day, it was only okay if he did it. Unfortunately, once the woman spoke of dealing with the spirits he had to wince internally. Yeah, that probably wouldn't go over too well with Luther and the rest of them. But he wasn't going to outright say that because he was interested in stealing her away from the other two, not chasing her off. Yeah, lots of dead things in the Mire, he agreed with what the other man had said. He doubted he was going to be able to compete with the offer of sharing healing skills, though. Could definitely use a healer too. We're not shy about sticking our claws into others.

art + code by spu

"I lived in the Mire in the past but we left with my family when the kind queen that welcomed us got taken prisoner. It would be foolish of me to go back there." She said to the small man, she hadn't had only bad experiences in that place. A desert might be too bright for her, and the heat might not go too well for her. So she was left with one choice. The cold summit. Cold that reminds of death and the dead bodies she interacted with. "I will go with you Miss Brighid." The girl said as she walked towards her to go with her.

exit w @Brighid ♔

icon by Rilvin - Code by Koi

@Manea mulls over her options but brighid is certain that she is the best option. as the young coroner chooses to come to the summit, she spares a glance at the other representatives, namely the mire lion. it seemed the mire did not have the best reputation among many - perhaps @Akuji had best find some way to make the place more appealing. her tie to the mire is through anya, but she leaves that unstated, confident that manea will be found in harm's way.

"please let me know if you need to rest along the way," she says to manea, positioning herself so that they may travel side by side. this way, she could share more about the kingdom before they arrived and her expectations. with hardly a glance back over her shoulder, brighid calls a simple "farewell." to akuji and zaahir, certain that she will see them again.

/exit

art by muuland, code by javs