There were more lions than expected, and many of them were not listening! Parvati glared at the disobedient ones, becoming more and more flustered. They had organized things very well. As well as they could. But there were so many strangers. Strangers even if they wore the Cove scent. And strangers that crossed the borders, despite being welcomed by Morrigan. And where was Aveneira? This was all displaced and wrong, and by the time the dark queen spoke Parvati's ears were glued backward and they were half rocked to their haunches, as though they wished to withdraw from this whole thing. (True.)

Most... almost all.. of the information was a jumble. Aveneira had passed the pride over? But Morrigan was injured as well. Nobody would be required to fight... but why say that, unless battle was expected in the future? This would be an excellent opportunity to practice their medic skills so long as they could evade fighting themself. Parvati also did not understand what Morrigan meant by 'expecting' and therefore this information was ignored in lieu of seething over what they did understand.

She is late. Terribly so, in fact; perhaps the fact that @Morrigan seemed mid-flow at her approach would make the late arrival easier to miss. Petra moved to the rear of the audience, brown gaze focused on the Greyflood. A few familiar faces were present, but there were some she did not recognize. She'd have to rectify that, most certainly. The lilac wraith tilted her head as she absorbed the information given, shifting an eye over the healing injuries that their new High Sovereign wore. Avaneira's absence was... concerning, but at least they were still in reliable paws; while she did not know the darker woman as well as she knew her sister... it was still something. The promotion was a pleasant surprise, and she glanced briefly toward @Reyna before focusing back on Morrigan. She would speak up in the brief interval given. "Thank you, High Sovereign. I will not fail you." That was not an option; she would simply have to... adapt. And Penelope and Parvana would have to adapt with her. As they aged it would only get easier. She hoped.

irish

THE WIND IN MY HAIR, IT SINGS MY SONG

When she locked eyes with her sister, her name slipping from her lips, Soka dipped her chin in confirmation. She remained where she stood, however, as @Morrigan began speaking to the other lions gathered here this day. It was clear there was some unrest within these lands that she had missed. What troubles her is the news of their sister being too wound to lead. Her brows knit furiously, taking a single step forward towards the crowd before steeling herself as her sister was yet finished.

Her introduction followed after that of her son, realizing the in the years passed it would seem her family had plenty of time to build families of their own. Sokanon stepped forward further into the crowd, officially making her presence known to any who might not have seen her. "The wilds will always own me," she taunted, "But I've come home." Declaring her intentions to end her search for her family and stay. She couldn't deny the eagerness behind her eyes to go to their other sister; especially after hearing of her current state. There was much to catch up on it seemed.

All in good faith it was a rather easy meeting to go by, giving kindness and a smile to those that may have settled next to her or gazed in her direction. She had been through far too much lately to be able to put on a friendly facade when all she felt was true exhaustion. Though apparently not enough exhaustion to look past @Morrigan explaining that @Nazdravan was her son, their prince. Talisa looked to the boy she believed to be this prince and while she felt love in her heart for this unknown boy that may as well already have been adopted by her, she also felt confusion. Either way, their family kept getting bigger.

manip & table code by k'sariya

nymeria settled in quietly amongst the growing crowd, eyes twisting across the sea of faces, both familiar and not, as they gathered before @Morrigan. the knife twisted a tad deeper into her chest as the queen began to speak, however, memories of blood and violence flashing across the forefront of her gaze -- it nearly caused the woman to shudder, recoiling away from the haunting reveries in an instinctive fashion. or at least that was the case before she felt the soft, gentle brush of @Arden against her skin, which managed to tumble the druid back down into the present moment. for they were not in the brook anymore, clad in the stench of blood and despair and calamity -- no, rather, they were just on the beach, safe, and protected by their kin and confidants. at least in this very moment, they had nothing to fear. "don't apologize, my love, it'll be alright," the woman's tones dropped as she sought to reach forward, attempting to press her muzzle against arden's cheek in an effort to wipe away the tear and provide some semblance of comfort in the process. knowing her own turmoil, nymeria could not begin to fathom what the children were feeling in the midst of all this -- but she did know that she had to do right by them, no matter the cost.

it was only after a moment or two longer that the valour's gaze would find it's way back to the cove's ruler, crown tilted forward as she took advantage of a momentary lull in the conversations of the crowd. "i know it goes without saying, but i appreciate everything that you have done, and continue to do, for our family morrigan. i will rest here a while, and will find you when i'm ready to return back to vermeda brook." words were drenched in deep-rooted gratitude and tenderness, for nymeria knew that they would find salvation once more. it was just getting there that posted the biggest question now.

it would seem as though the meeting was quickly coming to a close, however, as bodies slowly dispersing amongst the sands, one after another. pausing on the fringes of the meeting to ensure that there was nothing else direly important that she was needed for, the woman would eventually turn back towards her niece, leaning in towards arden's smaller, earthen frame before speaking. "and why don't you and i go take a walk by the beach, hm? i hear it's good for clearing heads." it was about as much as she could offer in these fleeting moments, and yet hoped silently that it would be enough as she began to shift down towards the unoccupied section of the coastline. soon, we'll take you back home. exit.

There was a reason Morrigan had fit so well for so long as Obsidian Hollows Lead Fighter, and then the Sovereign behind Avaneira without having ambitions of her own to move beyond such things. It mostly lie in her inability to empathize with others, at least insofar as predicting how certain news should be delivered. Morrigan felt like she was being tactful and considerate by giving everyone the news so briefly and bluntly... yet the reactions by Avaneira's children were not what she was expecting.

Morrigan looked to @Brigid automatically, perhaps thinking back to the days when all those surrounding her were stern and cold as herself, before refocusing on her niece and nephew. "Your mother fought one of our enemies to keep you safe, and has sacrificed her power in doing so. Only children of the Sovereigns are royalty, but you are both welcome to the other ranks when you come of age. I am sorry this has happened to you," her voice softened toward the end as she spoke to @Arkyn and @Eilwen.

She knew their anger came from a place of fear and concern for their mother, who was not properly able to comfort them herself. She had an idea though... "Give me a moment, children. I know someone who might better comfort you, but e will wait until the meeting has settled." @Keir had asked for an audience after and Morrigan was quick to say, "Of course." She looked to @Petra as she thanked Morrigan, but the dark sovereign shook her head, "Thank you all for your steadfast loyalty," her gaze shifted to include @Parvati, @Reyna, Keir, Brigid, @Sanson...

@Talisa was quiet but Morrigan knew she still needed to explain the pale boy's origins to her wife, as it would likely be a surprise to here her claiming a nearly grown child as their own. @Sokanon seemed intent on sticking closer to her wild roots for now, "It is still a relief to see you, sister. I think you'll find much to love in these lands." Her littermates had, after all. It had come with pain too, but it was still worth it.

@Nymeria's words cause a knot in Morrigan's stomach, a strange sort of guilt still, like her own inability to believe in the invincibility of the Brook might have led to its downfall... She shook such thoughts away though and smiled warmly at Nymeria and @Arden next to her, "Enjoy your respite, Nym. If anyone has earned it, its you." Looking around at the rest of those gathered, Morrigan would ask, "Does anyone else need anything? Otherwise, you're all free to go. Arkyn, Eilwen? If you two would come with me to the beach, I think we should have a talk."

She looked at both @Cassandra and @Talisa conspiratorially before moving to leave with Ava's children, calling for the others if they wished to join them as they went. exit morrigan unless stopped

table by ferus, art by grav3wolf

Ears would stayed pinned atop his skull as @Morrigan explained what had happened that caused for his and his sister's ranks - and lives - to change. He couldn't help but feel angry at his mother; how could she protect him and @Eilwen and @Arminius if she couldn't even protect both herself and the pride she once took rule over? Arkyn was finding himself lost in his thoughts, the inner turmoil and angst bubbling up and threatening to spill over. But before he could say anything else would his aunt call for both he and his sister, as well as calling out to their brother if he were anywhere around. Why wasn't Arminius here, anyways? With a huff and an eyeroll would the young Brynmawr begin to follow behind Morrigan, stomping his feet for a few steps before letting himself sulk behind. exit Arkyn.

image by scarf, code by koi

It was a decent amount of information to process but Brigid couldn't help but be distracted by the looming threat of the Rike. There was vital information that Morrigan would need to know, but she knew that the woman would surely be busy with her new title of High Sovereign. For now she would wait until Morrigan had an opening in her schedule before she would come to her with the news she had acquired. If anything was true Brigid knew she would have to be more alert then ever before, especially with Morrigan's current condition. The woman said nothing as she rose from her seat, moving to make her way back through the Cove, mulling over everything she had just heard and contemplating when she should seek Morrigan out. exit.

yumpy

Talisa was, in fact, as silent as the trees in the eye of a storm. Stirring in her mind that trouble and trials that she had had to go through and how it had landed her here, watching over @Nymeria with some semblance of fear like her older sister might suddenly collapse. She'd been lucky not to have seen it happen at the challenge but it still haunted her, regardless. Even though she wasn't technically invited, Talisa lifted herself up in quiet so that she could follow her sister and @Arden out along for a walk. In the very least she'd stick close by but keep a close enough distance if they needed her. Perhaps then @Morrigan could find her when she wasn't otherwise occupied and explain everything to her in private. exit talisa

manip & table code by k'sariya

confusion pooled within the cub's chest, swarming the edges of her gaze and wilting the animation of her features. but it was only after a few moments more that it materialized as anger, her body flooding with a tidal-wave of uncertainty, as the proverbial rug was lurched right out from underneath her and @Arkyn's paws. it was all too much, too real, too painful to comprehend, and eilwen would have very much preferred to have the ocean swallow her up in that moment. even as her brother spoke, she remained frozen in place, blacking out the other faces and their words, in lieu of keeping her full attention on morrigan and the consequential spiral of this news.

alas, it was with gritted teeth that the girl would follow suit of the others, as instructed. she feared what words may tumble from her mouth if she were to speak out of such hot and ugly emotion, and so would do her best to keep it bottled within her chest, safe and suppressed, right where it belonged. plucking herself from the fringes of the meeting, the girl's steps were shuffled and forced as she begrudgingly wandered down the beach, unaware of what exactly was waiting for them. exit.

table code by ferus