@Amara's response blew air to Erna's proverbial flame of fury, causing it to grow higher and higher. Her discontent only increased with the Bluff's High Sovereign blunt and straightforward way of speaking. Did this Amara assume Erna cared one bit about her so-called authority? If Alaric wasn't by her side, Erna would be going for this wench's throat - show her how little she deserved this farce of a title that the natives here had bestowed upon her.

Dark talons unsheathed to bite the dry, red ground below. Erna's venomous gaze narrowed in on the female but dared not speak back, fearing that Alaric may do good on his threat once they return home. She disliked how Amara hinted at Erna's need for Wolfbron. I don't need you. I don't need anyone. The bob-tailed cat was here for her wheat King & husband. She wasn't speaking on behalf of the Rike - only Odhgrimm could do such a thing. However, she also knew that the Rike may benefit from this, if only just a tad.

"What do you know of their... god?" Erna scoffed at the mention of the Sigrun fairytale. "They call it Vellen. Believe it's the sea." Her tone was mocking, her lips pulled to reveal her elongated fangs in a wild sneer. The fanatical clan didn't need to be made fun of - they were already a joke with this stupid fairytale of theirs that they've spun so well. So well, in fact, that they would drown their own children for it.

"Does your family have a god they follow?" For a second, pure disbelief replaced her scoffing expression. Her brows twisted upward to signify it, before they furrowed together. The bearish Rike spat to the side again. "The Rike are no fools believing in fantasies and made-up beings. We believe in strength." If only her father could hear Amara's presumption! Lord, he would tear the woman to shreds! "Does your?" She shot back, wrapping her question in the pretense of curiosity, although there was an edge to her words.

The questioning continued. By now, Erna's patience was already running low. She felt like some scientific experiment being examined under a magnifying glass. Her family's business was not some reality tv show for them to leer at. "Your family lives in the Mire?" Amara asks. The Rike woman replies simply: "No." No further details were offered.

With the knowledge that it was Alaric who needed their support, she felt that there was more to be learned and that it was her who held the cards here. She looked them over as Alaric seemed to fall to the wayside. Amara's ears flicked as she listened, the name of their god sounding familiar from what she had learned before. It amused her at the mockery that was made from it. The hate between the families was clear and Erna held nothing back. Learning that the Rike didn't have a god was something she could file away as was the fact that they valued strength. She didn't think much about the look of disbelief, there was a lot to learn here, and asking things that were hard to hear or answer would happen. She didn't care. We do not. We value strength, loyalty, and family. Things that were tangible and able to be seen. Nothing that was outside of their ability to see and weigh against life. The Rike do not live in the Mire. She was the only one then that was there so would it be best for her to be talking with these two over someone else? If the Rike do not live in the Mire and you do not lead them, who does? It seemed that Amara had thought things were set up in the same way her own pride was in some way. While Amara had started to lead things before being a true member of the family but the family had been there. She was also always very careful about what she said and to who. Always. She looked to the new king, Have you found any new allies since we last talked? What had changed for him that might weigh into this? She wasn't aware of many groups that would offer him the strength that he may be looking for but if they had to play nice or share things, she wanted to know where she would have to stand in all this.

Table by Ice. Graphic by Lars.

Erna wouldn't have been surprised if @Amara had said they believe in some god. The fact that a woman led here and in their family was already the weirdest thing Erna had heard. Strength, loyalty and family. The Rike weren't different in that sense, although strength certainly prevailed above all else. Loyalty came with strength and family was a given, as long as they shared one blood or were wed.

Erna thought by now they'd be done with this crude examination, but another question follows. She bites the inside of her lip, trying hard not to let her annoyance show through. Her? Lead? Don't be preposterous! The idea itself was laughable and an insult to all Rike men. "My brother," she says. "Odhgrimm." Will they seek him out now? She'd bid them good luck, he would most likely not want to speak with them, and especially not with women who think themselves special.

Thankfully, the next question was for @Alaric. She glanced at him, awaiting his response.

i am SO SO SO sorry for the wait y'all. ;_;

---

Alaric listened, patient, as his wife and @Amara exchanged words. It was not his story to tell, and he was not foolish enough to believe that she wanted to hear more from him. Erna was Rike, and the feud he had become a part of had been her life. It is only as there is a question sent his way that he finally speaks again.

"I have a few personal allies, but nothing of significance." It was a lie, but he tells it smoothly, not entirely willing yet to reveal all of his cards. In time Alaric would have to choose between one ally or another, but until then he would work to earn whatever favour he could within prides. He recognized Wolfbron as a significant ally, and it would seem they had more than one common enemy.

"I have worked, mostly, on building up my pride. When I first came to you I was few in number, but the Mire is a strong force, now. We are not such a risk anymore." A quirked brow as he studied the Wolfbron leader, curious what her overall opinion was of everything Alaric and @Erna had brought to her.

where innocence burns in flames

i'm frozen to the bones

image by yumpy, code by corvus

i'm a taker, devils-maker

It was, perhaps, one of the most interesting conversations that Louve had ever been privy to.

The talk turned quickly to that of the Rike and Sigrun feud, giving the girl more information than she had had before. While she knew of the Sigrun (and Maman's hatred of them) she was disgusted to hear of exactly what they did. While her family might have their less than savory habits it seemed a true horror to end the life of your own cub before they even had a chance to live.

Odhgrimm was the leader of the Rike, and the Mire king was wed to one -- all information she tucked away in case it was one day relevant.

Only when she felt her mind might burst from all the gained information did she attempt to slink away with only a small touch of farewell to her brother's shoulder.

-exit-

manip + coding by scarf | photos from unsplash