Of all the newcomers she'd met thus far - and, truth be told, it hadn't been that many - @Fionn certainly seemed to be the bubbliest. If it were her living in a place this hot and arid she wouldn't be quite so friendly, but then perhaps that was a reflection on her and not on the pink-pelted man before her. The invitation into the Oasis - and to water and shade - was gratefully accepted; the huntress would smile and dip her head as she stepped over the border, in sync with her sister. "I can't imagine that you could give us an exact number, even if you wanted to, but did many come through the passage with you? It seemed to us that there was a mass exodus from somewhere; can you explain why?" It was odd, really - one day it was just them, and the next it was like their population had quadrupled. "And are you familiar with the others prides? We know of at least one or two, but I doubt we've had a chance to acquaint ourselves with all of them yet." And on that note, she would shift her attention sidelong to @Nymeria; after all, she would know the details on that better than any of them. As much as Demetria liked to involve herself in her sister's outings, she would not be present for all of them.

BIG PINK HEART

The Sovereign was glad to see the sisters followed, and they would soon come upon the crystalline waters of the oasis, cool and inviting.

His ears ticked towards Demetria as she spoke, the one he believed at first to be the more reserved. It was nice to see that expectation turned on its head as she asked him her questions. Numbers and prides. Valid, cosndiering they were newcomers to this isle. They undoutbedly wanted to understand what they were facing.

"Numbers? I cannot be sure." he said, mind ticking away as he tallied up all those he'd met, his heart swooping as Aarani swam into his mind's eye. "I must've met over four dozen by now. All I know is they're much the same; from a place that drove them out. Myself from a similar situation. We're all seeking a new home to settle." the number must be near the fifties by his own count. He wondered how that information would go down with the natives.

As they arrived at the edge of the water, Fionn would duck under some palm trees that reached to kiss the sky, relishing the shield they provided agaisnt the sun's glare. Prides. Gods, why did they bring that up?

"I''m friendly with Jewel of the Cove, and Diuris of the Lagoon to the east." he explained, "Jewel is a dark woman, but pleasant enough; truly, I think she's just after a safe place to raise her children. Diuris is much the same - a good man, a bit soft but well-intentioned. I consider them both my allies." He paused, wondering how best to explain the hollow - how best to explain the infection of their land, centred at the nerve mass of block rock at the entrance of the isle. "The Hollow though... it's not a place you or I would enjoy, my queens. A cruel, dark place, headed by a brute."

His face was pinched in a reserved but disapproving face, brow bunched with a scowl. Gesturing to the blues of the water with a absent paw, he added, "Please, feel free to drink. We might be here sometime." He'd given them the vaguest of rundowns, he was sure they'd have more questions - and he had his own for them, but all in due time.

@Demetria @Nymeria

and there the trio goes, slipping along the warm desert sands and towards the promise of something greater, more subdued, than the barren landscape. nymeria kept in stride with her sister perfectly as they went, a shadow to her every moment, following dutifully behind behind @Fíonn and his golden crown. the druid's ears slip forward casually, listening to her kin spew forth her questions and more nagging thoughts, smiling softly at her vigour. plus, it was always a nice change of pace when she didn't have to do all the talking!

arriving on the water's edge, nymeria would offer the czar a brief dip of her head, respectful as always, before leaning down and looking to take a quick drink before finally responding. "i'm familiar with diuris, having met him once or twice - but i can't say the same for the cove." the woman would add, thinking fondly to their brief time spent together with the lagoon king. well-intentioned was a good word for him, as he had done nothing but treated nymeria with grace since their arrival. and based on fionn feedback, the cove would need to be next on her list, it seemed.

there is however, a brief flash of her gaze towards @Demetria at the mention of the brute living within the caverns, uncertainty and perhaps a bit of reservation swarming within their depths. the vermedan could have likely gotten to this conclusion on her own, eventually, but her visit there had been fairly inconclusive, and therefore prompts further questioning. "what makes you say that of the hollows?" she would inquire, quirking a brow as the worlds fell from between her lips.

Alas, the Oasis monarch could not provide details, but Demetria wasn't really expecting him to be able to anyway. It would be unrealistic to have any sort of expectation that these invaders - while similar in their motives to disrupt their native way of life - would have some sort of hive mind. She was keen to know how exactly they had all been driven out - clearly they had not been as lucky as the folk of Amaryllis; to have a divine being such as Maua to protect them, nurture them, love them - but it would be difficult to ask that without prying too much into Fionn's own personal life. And so, with a dip of the head in acknowledgement to his words, Demetria opted to press no further. Talk would turn to other leaders; Jewel, a woman that Demetria was not acquainted with, and Diuris of the Lagoon. The wheat-pelted huntress thought back to their expedition to the Coast with Caeso to meet with the golden Monarch. He had seemed amiable, much like Fionn. Surely they would not all be so obliging? As Nymeria pressed further about the Hollows, her sister would dip her head to take a drink from the cool waters, ears pricked and swivelled in the direction of the High Sovereigns.

Ah, prying further about the hollow. It didnt surprise Fionn - in there position, he would want to know more as well. But it felt akin to telling someone a terrible plague had come to their home, like a curse or a sickness. Fionn shifted on his haunches.

They force claim women and children. No discussion, no choice. he said honestly, blunt, From what I've seen and heard, lionesses such as yourself are second class compared to the men. It seems to be a theme in the Casimir family. He remembers Zagan, so young and full of self-importance, arrogance, righteousness running hot through his blood. Fionn shook his head sadly. What a wasted youth. I stepped between their leader, Gwyn, when he tried to claim one of my current pridemates Maia. She wasn't even two summers old. And another lady with us - Poppy - was hoarded away like a prisoner, fell upon my borders rail thin and ill from her time there.

Yes, Gwyn seemed to have had his dirty paws all over the women in Fionn's life. Even Aarani, at one point. The thought made him shudder.

But I hold no such practices, my queens. We're a community here, a family. He gave a small smile to the women, bowing his head, I'd always be interested in becoming a friend, or an ally should you ever need one. And if the hollow ever went on the warpath they certainly would.

@Demetria @Nymeria

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though nymeria had asked the question, silently did she fear the answer -- feared the depths of their monstrosities or the breadth of their callousness. and yet, still, she is thankful that @Fíonn is willing enough to indulge the dirty details to her, eyes hardening at the corners as he ushers forth further explanation. claiming, second class, casimir, prisoner; instantly does the woman's gaze shoot back towards @Demetria, tongue pressed against the backs of her teeth in an uncertain fashion. this was exactly the kind of behaviour that she had been afraid of, and that she had prayed would never find its way into the valley. "horrible. clearly, we do not support such laws, nor that way of life - i'm glad that you don't, either." she started, apprehension tight across her tones, before she addresses her sister. "we will have to make the rest of the brook aware."

ears tilt forward once more, finding further reassurance in the oasis king as he details his pride and the way in which they lived together; a family. he painted a much nicer picture than the hollows, and it was a picture that nymeria felt resonated with her, as well. "the brook is much the same, made up mostly of my family, as well as other natives of Amaryllis. free will, unity, and democracy are of the utmost important to me." she offered in return, rolling her shoulders, before continuing. "i can not begin to express how thankful i am for your honesty and your warm welcome, Fíonn -- i think that, perhaps, an alliance could benefit us both." though hopefully, they would not need to bring it into play anytime soon. regardless, she would give the man a moment to consider the loose-ended offer, all the while checking her kin's expression for approval.

As the Oasis King began to describe the offender, Demetria's expression grew tight. Lip would curl in silent agreement at the summary that the others gave; he sounded like a real peach. The idea of such a man, in such a position roaming around the island? It unsettled her. Sadly, he probably wasn't the only one. She would brush her hip against her sister's quietly as glances were exchanged; the freckled monarch was just as concerned as Demetria was by the whole thing, clearly. She would nod in agreement at the other female's decision to inform the rest of Vermeda; that would certainly be for the best. Attention would shift to @Fíonn, then, as he broached another matter. An alliance. Demetria knew that ultimately the decision would be down to @Nymeria, but she appreciated the fact that her littermate seemed to look to her for approval all the same. And so she would smile, saying nothing but making her opinion on the matter clear by her open stance and her warm demeanour towards the Andal High Sovereign and the situation itself.

The fact they mirrored his way of life pleased him greatly, and it eased the guilt he felt at intruding upon their lands; at least they had similar ideals, a strong foundation to build upwards from. When she spoke of an alliance, Fíonn nodded in agreement.

An alliance would benefit both our prides, I feel. he agreed, Should anything come upon us, be it pride trouble or extreme weather, I’ll send a runner your way, and visa versus. Should your people ever need shelter, they’d be welcome here. brief terms, but short and sweet for the sake of diplomacy, Although my queens, for a such an alliance to work, I think I’d have to know where your pride is? he chuckled lightly, The Isle must’ve hid it in fog because I’ve no idea where you both hail from.

He looked at the other two expectantly, silently hoping one of them would happen to explain the mysterious fog keeping the isle hidden whilst telling him of their whereabouts.

@Demetria @Nymeria

^{_{CODE & ART BY D}}

common ground had been something nymeria had feared would be hard to come by -- but judging by this interaction, they were getting off to a good start. his words are quick to prompt another flutter of the woman's lashes however, looking humorously between @Fíonn and @Demetria, as she realizes her lack of manners. "oh, how silly of us! we are not used to be being the 'new' pride -- the brook is situated in the northeast, at the furthest edge of a large, evergreen forest." nymeria would explain briefly with a small laugh, twisting her head across her shoulder in the direction from which they had come. "it seems as though maua is gradually pulling the fog back, so i suspect it won't be long until you are able to get to us." the additional words fell naturally from her lips, hardly thinking twice about mentioning the deity in such a casual and absolute manner. perhaps demetria could fill in the blanks left by her explanation, though that would be entirely up to her.

twisting her gaze back towards the rosy-hued king, the druid would offer another brief smile, before speaking a final time. "maybe when it does, you and a few of your pride-mates can come pay a visit, hm?" it seemed only polite that she offered him the same kindness he had given them, after all.

And, just like that, the pair had come to a rather fine agreement. Hopefully this pride would be the first of many to ally themselves with Vermeda - the last thing any of them wanted was a war. While they were a large pride in numbers, most of the Brook-dwellers were not fighting folk. Aquila, perhaps, being the exception to the rule. Demetria could not help but chuckle knowingly along with her sister at the revelation; Maua had done well to keep Vermeda shielded up until now, hadn't they? But, alas, it was only a matter of time before all became glaringly clear - their little slice of haven included. The huntress would merely nod along in quiet agreement to both the revelation and the invite that would follow. "You and yours would be most welcome, High Sovereign Fíonn." @Nymeria had been good enough to extend the welcome, so far be it from Demetria to stand in her way - especially when she saw no good reason to do so. @Fíonn had been more than obliging, so it was only right that they do the same. A step in the right direction, most definitely.