It was instinct that drove him to seek loftier heights and a colder climate than the majority of the lands he had found himself in. He was used to mountainous terrain, he was happiest with the bite of snow on his insulated paws and the cold winds brushing across his face. And so the guardian had made a beeline for the mountains he'd spied in the distance, leaving the rain soaked lowlands to themselves. He moved with graceful steps, occasionally leaping boulder to boulder with his long thick tail extended for balance. He was, no pun intended, in his element.

Sunset eyes and soft pink nostrils gave him plenty of information about where he was - a pride border. The scent of lion was strong, the clear demarkation between wild land and owned territory a very clear landmark for the snow leopard. And while it hadn't been what he was looking for, it was certainly useful to know. Grail stayed a little way back as he carefully scented along the borders, mapping out this little patch so that he would know where to avoid - or perhaps not.

+10 Explore a territory and find something useful in it (IS Borders)
+10 Find a notable landmark in a territory (IS Borders)
+5 Explore the borders of a pride or group (IS Borders)

code by scorpixia♡︎

another one.

discovering nashira and her child in the flood gates of amaryllis had been a surprise. brighid had surmised they were wayward, lost and ultimately found in the land of lions. she had not expected to see another one of their kind, but where else but the cold, mountainous peaks would be fitting for the thick furred little snow cats?

she is distracted from her patrol of the borders as she watches the leopard skirt around the kingdom. it seems he is mindful of the borders, or at least slightly curious, and as brighid slinks about the pine trees and rocky outcropping she cannot help but to wonder if he has some connection to nashira and has come looking for her.

but before she dives into that -

best figure out his intentions first.

she is not a small woman by far, but the marbled, snow blind patterns on her pelt work in her favor. from behind the stranger, she rumbles a growl and crouches low into the powdered snow. the queen has no intention of harming him, however, and breaths out from her hiding spot: "are you lost?"

@Grail

art by rabbit, code by javs

"Nullam sodales posuere leo, sed dictum magna feugiat eget.”


He had been doing his duty- patrolling, when he had caught the scent of the male snow leopard. The scent common to him, being from the northern regions he was used to leopards encroaching upon his home. Here? He had to coexist.

Grudgingly, he approached from within and to the right of the leopard, a low rumble vibrating in his throat. He was too close. He was going to make Styrling look bad if he entered the lands. Yet, it was another voice, one that gave him pause for a single stride before continuing forward and blocking the path into the prides lands.

Green gaze narrowed on the darker than average snow leopard. Brow raised, as if to say ‘she asked you a question’, he didn’t feel anything else needed to be said in that moment.


@Brighid ♔ @Grail

Some pretty quote

XOXOXOXOX

code by corvus

He explored, carefully - cautiously mapping out the section of pride borders that stretched ahead of him. Critical sunset eyes probed at the rocky terrain, noting a funny shaped tree (crooked and bent over as though it had seeded itself in the worst possible place and was constantly battered by the wind) that was very close to the boundary. Naturally, Grail was careful not to cross the boundary. He was neither stupid nor had a death wish - in fact he came with different intentions altogether.

However, when the rumbled growl and menacing question rolled his way, Grail couldn't help the startle - the flail of his giant tail as he turned to face the feline who had successfully snuck up on him. A feat in itself and one that he was fairly impressed by. "No, my lady - not lost." He returned, briefly glancing over at the male lion who had arrived but remained quiet. "Looking for a home in the mountains." He explained, head tilted to the side as he observed the snowy woman. "I wished to see where your boundaries were." He explained, deep voice somewhat melodious and accented in a way that clearly marked him as foreign. But certainly not a threat

@Brighid ♔ @Styrling

+10 Explore a territory and find something useful in it (IS Borders)
+10 Find a notable landmark in a territory (IS Borders)
+5 Explore the borders of a pride or group (IS Borders)

code by scorpixia♡︎

the smaller feline turns immediately to face her, startled, but brave in the face of two lions. she does not look to @Styrling, but flicks an ear in his direction, noting his presence. he is silent and she is, too, as the leopard admits his reasoning for meandering about the borders. "our borders span the entirety of the northern ridge. we also lay claim on the flat land nearby." the ledges and ridges were broken up by a cluster of pine, their dens nestled within the mountain fortress. "you will need to go back south." the frostsong was more desolate and brighid would almost suggest he find some boulder to hide under than try to remain out in the everfrost even with the thickness of his pelt.

unless --

"there is another of your kind living within illyria," she says. they are different, from the swirls of their pelt, but the same in need of shelter among the snow blown cliffs. nashira had proven to be an excellent hunter, despite her reclusive nature and momentarily, brighid wonders if the kinship of her own kind could help. "are you traveling with anyone else?"

she then looks to @Styrling from the corner of her gaze, wondering if he is picking up the suggestion that sat heavily in her tone.

maybe, the leopard could be useful.

@Grail

art by rabbit, code by javs

"Nullam sodales posuere leo, sed dictum magna feugiat eget."


The leopard had been startled, it wasn’t often that one of his kind were snuck up on, Styrling was rather impressed that Brighid had managed to get such a reaction from the creature, but aside from a fleeting look, he kept his attention on the leopard in question. He’d explained he wasn’t lost, but looking for a home in the mountains. The sentinel’s brow raised slightly, but said nothing. He didn’t really want to speak, but he also knew that Brighid held the control here, not him. She was the deciding factor on if he stayed or if she chased him off. The leopard had wanted to see where the boundaries were, a smart thing, to make sure he never crossed them. Tongue rolled over his lips in a bored way as he glanced to Brighid, a curious look in his green eyes.

To his surprise, she willingly told him where the borders were, how far they reached and vaguely what was within. An interesting tactic. She surprised him further when she said he would need to go back south. What, was one leopard too many? He caught her look, that curious twinkle as she suggested an alternative. Informing him of the leopard that already called the summit home, and even being so bold as to ask if he travelled alone. Styrling gave a nod- ever so slight, an agreement, but a motion so minuscule he wondered if she would catch it- if the Leopard would catch it.

Leopards were fine hunters, it meant he had to do even less if the man joined them. Styrling would at last clear his throat, "if I may, what is your name stranger?" He asked, even if the leopard decided to turn away, it was good to know names. It could be valuable in the future, but that was likely the paranoia in his mind talking. He just wanted to know someone elses name.


@Brighid ♔ @Grail

Some pretty quote

XOXOXOXOX

code by corvus

It was enough that he hadn't been chased off on sight really. While Grail was an easy going male, when playing with the veritable giants in the game he had literally no weight to throw around. He was agile, there was no doubt about that but when it came to lions, their brawn far outstripped him. His attention remained on the white female, who was so kind as to give the extent of their borders before suggesting he head south. It was reasonable, if they claimed these northern reaches. Before he had considered what he might say, the woman continued and his interest piqued. He had grown up with plenty of his kind, but his experience outside of the temples had been limited.

"I am alone, my lady." He confirmed, enormous thick tail now swinging naturally around to rest against his paws. "I haven't met another of my kind since leaving home." He admitted, but there was a curiosity in his tone and his expression. The male lion spoke, drawing Grail's attention away and he offered the man a toothy grin. "Grail of Rudranath, at your service." He tipped his head, a gesture of respect to both Illyrian's. "The south does not suit me very much." He admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. "Would you consider allowing another leopard into your mountain? Into your ranks?" He asked the white woman specifically, sunset gaze remaining on the woman for the moment.

code by scorpixia♡︎