( I'm cool if anyone besides @Magnus / @Nadia wants to jump in but if there is more I'd ask for no posting order to keep this moving )

Aquila stood at the lip of the entrance to the Hollows nearest his home. Scents strange, unfamiliar, rolled up from the halls of Obsidian and conquested land of the Sigrun. Magnus, Nadia, Ulla. And more Aquila didn't have names for. The tunnels he knew as a child existed in and amongst the rest, poking through, holding on. He inhaled deep, trying to recall for a second any memory he had in his childhood from antics in the dark and he found none readily availiabile. Not with weight on his mind and so many other things jockeying for position in his conscious. On the borders Aquila called for the Hollows leaders, coming to them with ample thoughts, ample worry, and a bit of a dour look over his face. He hadn't immediately thought to turn to them when things started rolling down hill but after the recent fight at the borders between his Noble and the Hollow's Noble even Aquila wanted to clear the air and set some things straight.

This particular visitor had been anticipated. In fact, @Aquila had only just managed to beat Magnus to it - had it been another day or two longer the Valour monarch would've found the couple at his doorstep. Inwardly, the male felt just as the other appeared, and a low and sombre chuff of greeting would be offered as the titan sought to close the gap with the bronze-pelted High Sovereign. Aquila, Magnus dipped his head in acknowledgement, slowing to a halt several paces before the other man. How are you? How is your representative? He hadn't caught Valhalla's name, so - alas - the pink goliath would simply have to take on a more formal title until there was any sort of clarification otherwise.

He emerged from the shadows, dark as he was it was not easy to spot the approaching Sovereign until he was quite close and speaking to Aquila. That was not his first fight, he'll heal up just fine. Aquila reassured @Magnus, somewhat appreciative that the Hollows Sovereign would ask in the first place before even jumping into the meat of it all. Despite the good news though Aquila didn't look terribly happy either. He weightily exhaled, features heavy with a bit of a downturn to both lips and eyes. I though... have a concern. My relations with Wolfbron are not friendly and above all I'd like to avoid having them get a front row seat to an Andal loss in the future if possible. I'd rather lose a fight to them that let them sit back and watch. So, he would then pause but continue with a second thought. ... so I'll tell my pride to avoid further fighting with yours. If you'll do the same?

So Valhalla had suffered more of a bruised ego than anything else. Problematic all the same, though that at least left far fewer visible scars. The topic of conversation would not linger on the wellbeing of the Andal Heir for long, though. Magnus' brows arched a little at the information offered; he'd not been aware of the tensions brewing between the Oasis and the Bluffs. I see. Shit. I never wanted violence with you, @Aquila. I wish to remain in good standing with the Valour - your sister has been a valuable ally over the past year. Ulla was unruly, and I imagine has learnt her place now. A lip curled, a subtle hint to just how he'd kept the Noble in check. You should find no further trouble with the Hollows. He enjoyed a brawl as much as the next man - his proclivities towards it had not mellowed with time nor with circumstance - but to shed blood amongst allies and friends? No, that was not his style. It was an incident he hoped to not see repeated. Is there anything the Hollows can do to aid relations between you and Zoticus? He offered for multiple reasons; most of them selfish, of course. The last thing he wanted was to be wedged between two feuding factions when he was friendly with both.

Thank you Magnus. A little weight felt like it came off from his shoulders. He still carried a lot, Atlas weep, but for a brief second there was some relief. In other circumstances I'd not mind some fighting and sparring though, if you or any of your family is looking for a little exercise and practice. He offered as a bit of an after thought. It hadn't been on his mind when he arrived but seemed to bloom while they stood and spoke.

But rather abruptly and sure Aquila shook his head 'no' to the offer Magnus then placed on the table. There was consessions Aquila knew he was not willing to make, his mind was in no place to try and smooth things over or change this relationship. But ... There is something else I'd ask you to consider instead. If there comes a day you feel Nymeria and the Brook lions are in danger. Because of me. Will you let her know? I can take the consequences of my actions but they shouldn't be hers to bear too. It was a larger ask, a potential need to betray some trust or atleast omit things. But Aquila figured he could survive wondering if @Magnus would be on his side if push came to shove but he couldn't wonder the same about this Hollow's lion's relationship with Nymeria and the rest of the lions he loved.

Despite the previous tensions Magnus and @Aquila were both doing a rather fine job of keeping things pleasant. In fact it could almost be seen as friendly, which is exactly what the titan had strove for in the first place. So, all things considered, this was going rather well. With a half-smile he would agree to the proposal with a swift nod of the head. I would never turn down the opportunity to train. After all, he'd afford the exact same courtesy to Wolfbron. That made things equal, right? Maybe? It left his mind as soon as the Valour King spoke again, making an omission that Magnus would find difficult to refuse. So difficult, in fact, that he would not refuse at all. That sounds ominous, the melanistic brute grunted, arching a brow. Should I catch wind of anything, I will let her know. It was a promise, though it was one he knew could well have ramifications. Despite that, though, he valued his position with the Brook over most other things.

He would relent this, he did appreciate that the lions who had come to his home brought with them some lions keen on battle and the art of it. Lest he have been resigned to always spar against Valhalla or the few times he could convince a medic minded Valour to appease him. You know where to find me, and the door is always open. Hey, gold star for Aquila for finding something he could bond with Magnus and his family over.

Hopefully I'm just being overly cautious. He mused with a slight, forced, calmness to his voice. There was no whisperings Aquila was aware of but any lion would be a fool to trust lions he'd taken as enemies to be honorable. One of those instances you'd rather be wrong about your assumptions and haven taken the precautions anyways. Appreciatively Aquila nodded in return Thank you Magnus. His voice rang out as his chin crested back upwards through the nod and was held in place at height. That's all of the business I came with, if you have none...? Then all that would be left would be to wait and see what words brought what actions in the future.

Overly cautious was not always a bad thing; not when family was involved. Magnus and Aquila did not always see eye to eye on things, but that he could understand. So the melanistic brute would nod, taking the thanks as it was intended. Very good. He had nothing further to address; the only thing that had lingered in his mind were the strained relations between the Oasis and the Bluffs, and now that had been addressed.... well, their business was concluded. Pleased with the way things had gone - pleased that nothing had gone wrong - Magnus was content to withdraw. No, nothing else. I am sure I will see you again soon, Aquila. With a nod, and only a momentary pause to wait for the bronze male's response, he would turn on his heel and head further back into the territory.

EXIT

He was not terribly upset that Magnus had nothing more for their conversation. He was misplaced in these scenarios anyways and the less time he spent in them the less damage he could do overall to things. Until then. Aquila left @Magnus to his devices and his home with a tilt of his head in parting sentiment. The Bronze Oasis King turned around and began heading back upwards into the North for the lands he resided within, feeling at least a little more comfortable but knowing he'd never really be settled until he saw the commitment @Magnus promised on display. Words meant a lot to Nymeria, to Talisa and even Aurum. They were not so meaningful to him... /exit