T a l i s a

It had only been a few days ago where she had heard the challenge for Firnen go up. A wary thought to her wandering mind as she had coveted the Rainforest as a young cub well into her early years. It had only been when the original mist had opened up that she had lost her chance to explore its territory freely and without watchful eyes. She had never been since and did not even know that her own family friend, Valhalla, had died in this very pride fighting for what he believed in. Likely not something to tell her ... ever as it would only diminish her love of the tangled branches and length of the trees in their ever expanding glory.

So when she could hear that the fight was over she had felt the same as she had before. Sad that the Rainforest was still held by a stranger or really held at all. It had always been a place of great thought but she and Morrigan had intended to check it out. If lions wished to hold its power in their paws then so be it, but it did not stop the Vermedan Sovereign from needing to come visit. The Valour feared it would be an unsavory lot with which the Brook was apparently becoming well-versed in finding but she had managed to wrangle a hell of a lot of courage in the last year. She couldn't keep hiding behind it.

So as she began to walk towards the clearly marked borders she slowed her pace substantially. If only as her gaze lifted up to the canopy in quiet awe as she felt all her memories of cubhood come back to her in one fell swoop. How she deigned to run through this forest and become one with its spirit like she used to but she knew where the boundary was and consciously stopped a few feet from the marker. Taking in a deep breath and chuffing for the new leader of the one place in Amaryllis that would always take her breath away.

@Talitha

it is still strange to have people calling for her.

for her! of all people!

the little lamb is hardly equipped for it — so long has she existed in mordecai’s shadow. happily, of course, but her place has always been at his side. everything she did was to better the fellowship’s standing — not her own. this place did not belong to her, of course — it belonged to everyone. still, though, there is a note of possession in her chest as she trails through the deep woods, delighting in every tree and stone she passes.

she could not give an answer for what possessed her to answer ransom’s call, but she is glad she did. she is glad that something made her take that fight. even in the aftermath with all her hurts and aches, it is an easy burden to bear.

the call at the borders gives her pause, before little paws hasten to the call. she knows that mordecai is more than capable of answering it too, but there’s a novelty in this that hasn’t worn off just yet ( and truthfully, it probably never will ). not wanting to keep their guests waiting, talitha arrives on the scene soon after @Talisa's voice quiets, and she is greeted with a wide, warm smile.

hello there! she calls as she finishes her approach, coming to stop a few feet from the other woman — expression twisted pleasantly, clear delight in her petite features. welcome to firnen! is there something that i can do for you today, miss? talisa has managed to be their very first guest ( the first one who'd stopped at the borders, at least! ) and talitha wants to make a good impression. best foot forward, and all of that. tufted ears pitch forward in anticipation, ready to assist however she can.

CODE BY LARS; ART BY TANZANI

T a l i s a

While she waits she cannot help but to gaze into the canopy about her. Looking at each leaf that sways in the wind and the way that branches move so little and so slowly that unless you're looking for it, it doesn't happen. The birds that chirp way up there and the strange animals that bounce from one tree to the next. Shoulders relaxed on impulse even though she knew there were strangers abound. Listening to the noises of the forest had always soothed her but she was at least attentive enough to hear @Talitha move towards her.

Vision quickly moved to the dark figure of what she had first thought to be a male simply by the full head of hair but it was clear by voice and smell alone that it was not. She was friendly and that gave Talisa enough of a feeling of comfort in hoping that that was a telltale sign that this meeting would go well. Hello, she greeted as she made to stand up so that she would not appear rude to this new company, I hope so. I'm Talisa Valour, Sovereign of Vermeda Brook. I was hoping to speak the Rainforest's new leader -- is.. that you, by chance? The assumption could be made based on the faint scent markers that were no doubt growing with each day that passed under her care but assumptions were sometimes not the right way to go. Especially when trying to make a good impression.

her smile does not waiver or wane as her guest introduces herself — @Talisa valour, sovereign of vermeda brook. the title is familiar, if only because she wears a similar one, but the brook means little and less to her. a shame, then, that she did not know her neighbors just yet! yet being the key word there — because hopefully this meeting would be a learning experience for the both of them. tufted ears pitch forward as the brown-pelted woman continues, and talitha is happy to give a small nod of her head.

oh, yes! that is me! she says with a little laugh, maybe a little embarrassed at dropping the ball so early in their encounter. never one to dwell, she quickly continues. my name is talitha caelinus, she says as her smile sharpens to something a little mischievous, a wink-wink nudge-nudge to their similar sounding names. it is very good to meet you, talisa! you’re our very first guest here, she says, smiling still and hoping to impart how excited she was about that. despite that, clearly this woman is here on business, hmm? waiting is hard ( patience is a virtue, but one she has always struggled with ) but she does her best now — tufted ears twitching forward, waiting with a smile.

CODE BY LARS; ART BY TANZANI

T a l i s a

To see the enthusiasm ( or maybe it was embarrassment? ) upon the face of the lioness in front of her made her feel quite at home and most certainly at ease. There was little to no pressure about having come here specifically seeking answers and a deliberation on whether or not an alliance could be formed. Seeing as the Sigrun no longer held any particular pride it seemed crucial now more than ever to at least find folks that were willing to work with them. Not necessarily to fight but those that would at least have their back in some way. Obviously not expecting for this newly crowned Sovereign to have the same name, Talisa was about to correct her and say "no, i'm Talisa" before realizing that she had said her name.

Wow, tail flipping behind her in quiet excitement of something she didn't even think could be possible. Even if they weren't the same, they were damn close. What are the odds? She rhetorically asked, amused by this discovery but it only made the connection to be made here that much stronger. Already she had found some common ground with the Rainforest leader. I am very honored to be your very first guest. I hope to be a good one, if she hadn't been already but surely if she was @Talitha would've notified her by chasing her out and away.

Be it as it may, she had come on business even if she felt inclined to simply get to know the lioness on a deeper level. Perhaps next time? Ah yes. I came to see who led -- obviously, I now know that is you. And how you will lead your pride and what sort of things you might look for in an alliance with another pride. A half-question half-statement given as she hoped that this meeting would go as swimmingly as it was in her mind. Feeling the confidence brewing at the forefront of her mind that this just had to work out some way or another.

talitha grins at talisa when the big name mystery is unraveled — laughing in delight. maybe we were always meant to meet here! she says, tufted ears wiggling with her joy. names, she knew, were always important — after all, that’s why she had chosen talitha as her own! — and surely it was not just a coincidence that @Talisa ends up on her doorstep, wearing a similar name. the rainforest sovereign believed in fate and happenstance, and this only served to be a good omen for the things to come.

even as their meeting grows a little more serious her smile does not face, nor does the bright expression she wears. but — ah. when talisa reveals her real motivation for coming ( seemingly hoping to build some connection between the prides, or at least lay the groundwork for it ), her expression shifts. she cannot help but giggle again — a charming sound, even if her muzzle ducks and gaze shies away for a moment. clearly sheepish and embarrassed. wellll, she says, stretching out the syllable here and turning it into multiples. can i tell you a secret? she says, eyes twinkling with mirth and mischief, her cheeks still flushed a dusty pink. i have not given it much thought! that might sound bad, especially for a newly crowned queen, but talitha is nothing if not honest.

perhaps too honest. perhaps if mordecai had met with talisa instead, their conversation would’ve been far more constructive with more held close to his chest. but talitha sees no harm in sharing this information — wanting nothing more than to start this relationship off right. with talisa, and with all the others that might come to their door. but.. i suppose we would want to make alliances with like-minded prides! duh, talitha, be a little more specific. we are just starting, but i want this place to be more than a home. i want it to be a haven, a safe place for anyone to come and rest. even you, if you ever need a night away from the brook! this is not meant as a dig or anything rude, but instead a polite invitation — one that she clearly hopes the other woman will accept. because, hello — girl’s night!

i — really needed a place like that, growing up, and i was fortunate enough to find it. and i’d like to pay that forward. she says with a little nod, a firm motion that speaks to her dedication. the fellowship needs members, and wayward souls need the fellowship. it is an equal exchange, she knows, and one that will certainly save lives. i never really pictured myself here as a sovereign, or in charge of others… but i want to help them, however i can. and this seemed to be the best way to do it! she finishes with a bright smile, terribly optimistic.

CODE BY LARS; ART BY TANZANI

T a l i s a

Not ever had Talisa realized that there might be a potential other version of herself out there and no less with a name similar to her own. They were not the same, of course not! But in the way that the other smiled, blushed and expressed herself Talisa could not help but think that this was how she conveyed herself to others. Or, in the very least, how she had conveyed herself years ago before all the bad had happened. So to be let in on a secret - and one so small, to the Sovereign - it made a world of difference. Talisa did not see weakness or breakpoint; instead, she saw it as an opportunity to make sure that this @Talitha could be ready for what might come.

Never in a million years did she think about leading her very own pride but imagined she might be just as shell-shocked. Same with Vermeda! she expressed with glee, feeling that the two prides were one and the same in their visions. Vermeda had had to change to accomodate for harder times but that was what the pride still stood for. A haven for those to come and rest and to relinquish the pressures they may have felt elsewhere. That is how Vermeda began. A haven for those who needed sanctuary and a place to take their stresses and burdens and relinquish them. Did she dare mention that they had had to change and become a little more proactive about keeping their home by means of gathering their strength and building their physical powers? Talisa didn't dare mention that yet. She did not wish to burden Talitha with what might come so soon into their budding friendship.

If only you had found Vermeda in its heyday. She muses thoughtfully, finding that her voice became tender and quiet as she knew that her twin name-sake and her would've been the bestest of friends growing up if she had found her way to the Brook. Your picturesque pride is wonderful and any who come would be blessed to live here. Just as I think that I would like to extend an alliance of the Brook to you and yours here. My family has ruled there for countless generations, my cousin Aquila leads it now. My older sister before him. The small hiccup in the madman that had taken it for a short period of time was a leaf in the wind. We support each other and protect each other through it all. Give home to those that need it and rest to the bones that ache. Should Talitha decide that Vermeda was worth an alliance, the Sovereign had a few shreds of advice that she could give to the new leader. Things that might help her but the good news was that even if shared, she didn't have to take the advice but she could only hope to wish to see the Rainforest leader have the longevity she deserved.

same with vermeda! her companion croons and talitha’s tufted ears twitch forward, two towering little antennas pointed straight at the valour woman. oh? she says, leaning forward a little — clearly intrigued by the woman’s words and her home. surely it is a stroke of fate that brings the two women together today — here, in the dappled sunshine of firnen, and on the cusp of something great. she is filled with a great relief that this woman, this wonderful woman, brings news of her home — and that her home, too, is a haven in itself. if firnen is small and new, a fragile little budding plant then the brook must be a tree. with deep roots planted firmly in the soil, a steady place to rest your weary head beneath its boughs. and one day, talitha hopes she can grow firnen into a haven as strong as their’s.

they were meant for this.

they were meant for this.

talisa might not have wanted to burden tali with how the pride has had to change and adapt.. but there is a strange past tense to the brown-pelted woman’s words. one that talitha, an empath, picks up on. her little head tilts delicately as she asks: you have lived there your whole life, then? she cannot imagine settling in a place for so long — so long that generations and generations pass. it seems an impossible thing but @Talisa is proof enough that such things were possible. would firnen provide that for her? would she be able to raise her children here, and their children after them? the thought is humbling — and, strangely enough, terrifying.

at the mention of an alliance her eyes would widen, reflexively and curious. oh, talisa! that sounds wonderful. i’d love nothing more than to join our families — but, i must admit, i am not… very familiar with this process? embarrassment might color her features here again, though there is a trust in her chest now — talisa has not laughed at her yet, and so she feels brave even when admitting this failure. what would it mean, for us? what would you ask of us? her head tilts. she did not have much to offer yet — she is thinking of material goods, like meat and plants. supplies versus promises.

CODE BY LARS; ART BY TANZANI

T a l i s a

Despite all the leaders that had come and go, prides that had risen and fallen, not one of these prides had felt the same as Vermeda did. Not one of them had given her a homey vibe and that had always been okay because it wasn't her home. Leaders could do as they did and say as they wanted but to stumble across this woman -- this wonderful woman -- in a territory that she herself had always adored, meant something in the long-term. Talisa wanted this to work out for a multitude of reasons all being selfless and selfish. If the two prides could foster a strong alliance going forward, maybe she could begin anew and branch out. Start that retirement plan that she and Morrigan had talked about.

I have, yes. From the time I was a little girl to now, Vermeda has always been my home. She pauses, feeling the deep urge to keep the dark out of this conversation with dear @Talitha but she could not admit her length of time in her home without noting down that it couldn't be secure always. There would always be room for a crack. I hate to admit and say this out loud. But my older sister, she was challenged once and while she fought hard and bravely had not managed to keep it. Myself and a few adults took most of our children to Caladan Cove. The new King stayed there for maybe a week or so, but when my cousin went back to take it from him, he was gone and we reclaimed it once more. Still to this day it baffled the Valour lot as to where the cruel beast had gone but it needed to remembered so that they wouldn't be so caught off guard next time.

We were challenged by another female a few months ago but she lost. Talisa shrugs. Peace and strength is possible, but it cannot be promised. These lands, ever since the mist had separated, had a way of changing with every day and no tomorrow could ever be promised. It's alright. I was once new to leadership myself and you're doing great. Because she would not judge this flowery and beautiful High Sovereign. There was nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of because everyone started somewhere.

It took only a few seconds of thought as she settled herself down to try and sit (if she weren't already cause let's be honest, she'd been excited), before thinking about what she would say but also what Aquila would. Most of the time when an alliance is offered or given, they are looking for support in numbers. As a new pride I understand this might possibly not be up to snuff but you will grow. We may not wish to drag you into whatever troubles may come, but we would always welcome any strong fighters should you have any. As well as medics for those that might be injured or even just an exchange of information. Sometimes the latter could be the most crucial exchange of them all and seeing as Firnen must be rather small at the moment, she imagined that this could be the first thing that Talitha could help with.

from the time i was a little girl, talisa explains, and there’s a moment where tali’s heart skips a little beat. that must be wonderful! you must have so many stories to tell. she muses softly — voice hardly above a whisper. anything louder isn’t needed her, swaddled in the comfort of her new home and the fast kinship with the woman before her. envy was not her sin but it nips at her heels today, evident and wild, before it quiets back into joy for the other woman. there’s an expression that passes over her face — delicate and demure, and if talisa were to blink she might miss it. but there’s no missing the tender-soft look that talitha wears, the shine of it reflecting in mismatched eyes. a longing, settled deep in her bones, at the mere idea of having such a long-term and stable home. can you imagine it? talitha certainly could not.

but, ah.

nothing is as it truly seems.

talisa’s story does not end there. instead it darkens. even with a happy ending it speaks of the upset and turmoil that this land has seen and suffered through; the upset and turmoil that talisa’s family has suffered through. her bright expression falters, crumbling like a castle made of sand in the wake of a terrible tide. oh. it is a terrible thing, to lose a home like that. she says — voice hurt, laden with sympathy. real sympathy, and she feels it like a pang in her chest. i’m so sorry that you had to endure that. she, too, had lost a home when mordecai had been whisked away — but like the brook, he had been returned.

she only hopes the brook had been returned in as good of condition as mordecai had been.

i am sorry that your home has been the target of such cruelty, she says, brows furrowing together — offering the woman a worried set of puppy dog eyes. she does not think she has it in her to take from others. firnen had been empty when she had found it — though, talisa makes her think. was it always empty? have you ever been here before? she asks, suddenly — almost worried. her ears flutter forward, pitching low. this was not part of your home, was it? oh, dear! she’ll feel absolutely horrible if she was accidentally one of those conquerers they’d just lamented.

hopefully, though, talisa knows she is not one of those men.

@Talisa sits and talitha follows suit — wanting to invite her new friend further into the rainforest ( because sitting and chatting on the borders was all fine and good for strangers, but not for friends! ) but her attention only flutters so far. right now, it is caught here — on this conversation and the advice that talisa provides easily. she explains the nitty-gritty details of an alliance and she gives a small nod, trying to fit the pieces of it against what the rainforest holds. we are very small at moment — it is just my family and i. a shepherd and a baptist and the little tigeress following at their heels. but — i want us to be able to help you and yours, however we can. she thinks this is a worthy goal, albeit a lofty one. her family is in the business of saving others; opening their doors as a haven for this wonderful woman and her family seems the next logical step.

we might not be able to promise peace, she says, her voice lilting — a shy smile curving her lips. as if she’s telling another secret, a shared pinky-promise! between them. but we can strive towards it. a better way of living. a better chance at life. and i think together we have a pretty good chance of it! she laughs then, a delicate little giggle — even as she means it as a vow.

CODE BY LARS; ART BY TANZANI