Ghyslaine

In the discussions that they had, had, they knew that Vermeda was a Sigriun ally. Ghyslaine, however, cared very little for that- she wanted to speak with Talisa and Cassandra there, and let them know they had established a new pride in the Plains. They didn't have to be allies- just for Ghyslaine to say hello, and let them know that they were out there. She didn't feel like she should make allies... without Violarum present, but being able to bring information back to him and Fallon, would be a goal for today.

Approaching the Brook pride-lands, she let out a call for the lionesses she was here to meet. She wondered if the other leader would show up, and if he did- she wouldn't be mad. It would be nice to meet him, she supposed. She takes a seat there, a respectful distance from the border, and waits to see the Sovereign and Heiress, should they deign to appear.

@Cassandra

OOC: I know she mentions Talisa but I know she's not there ergo not tagging, haha

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cassandra

The young Valour-Sigrun was slowly getting used to her newfound position within the pride. With her mothers gone, and her family split - it was difficult to get used to. For the longest time that she could remember, her mother had been in the Brook. It had been her home, and her not being here? It was odd, and something she was still struggling to get used to. And then filling her position? Cassandra didn't think she could ever truly fill the position her mother had vacated when she'd gone to rule the Summit with Morrigan and her aunt.

Flicking her ears as she walked along the borders of the Brook and making sure the borders were properly marked, a familiar voice rank through the air. @Ghyslaine? What was she doing here? She picked her pace up to more quickly reach the source of the call. As she approaches through the woods, she notes the scent wafting towards her off of the other lioness. It was not of the Mire, but it was definitely pride scent... Weird. Perhaps the other would have an explanation for her once she greeted her.

"Ghyslaine - to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Cassandra asked with a smile as she approached the wheaten lioness. She had no idea this was both a political and friendly visit. Only had the thought that it was a friendly one. "A lot has happened since we first ran into each other." She said with a slight chuckle.

text. "speech."

Art by Thrush@dA | Code by Zodiac

She had never been into the Brook's pride-lands but from the border, she thought that the land was rather idyllic. She would have liked it there, had she chosen that as a home... as it reminded her, some of her previous home. As she waits, she enjoys the peace that seems to radiate from the land, and she listens to the birds who tweet, a distance stream bubbling. It is beautiful here.

As she hears someone approaching, her eyes move to see @Cassandra and she offers the lioness a smile as he approaches, though she does look around wondering where Talisa is- as well. "Hello Cassandra- I came to speak with you and your mother about our new pride." She shares, and adds with a grin. "A lot has changed, indeed since we last spoke." She grins.

"My best friend Violarum, left the Mire to take over the Rainforest- and named me his heiress. However... not to long after that we found this territory within the plains and we all moved there- I'm unsure the name of the lioness who won the challenge for the Rainforest after our departure." She shares, quite willing to share the information that she has. "Lorien Plains- is the name of our pride. Violarum is the King, his wife the Queen." She shares.

ART BY ROAMER, CODE BY LARS

Wish granted. The other leader made his appearance. The voice of the stranger calling for his family caught his attention, and as he neared enough to see it was a former Mire lioness the Sovereign was displeased. She may not have worn its scent any longer but her face was marked among those who fought against them that day. If not for @Cassandra already there, and seeming okay, things may have been incredibly different. But he surely was not going to leave his young family member alone now. He paced forwards, features frowning and scrutinizing @Ghyslaine where she stood. Slowly, subconsciously, Aquila's head was rising. His chin turned upwards just a tick to make himself appear a bit taller. Subtle, defensively, he found his hackles rising up too. Distrust on his face, eyes unwilling to leave Ghyslaine to get a view of Cassandra or what his niece was looking like, thinking.

What is this? His silent question settled over his features. Offering a far less friendly welcome and instead hopefully a reminder of what messing with the Brook meant. His fangs and ire. He couldn't find an ounce of him that suspected good motives. Personally he didn't seek out lions who tried to take his home unless he had malicious motives so he felt his reception fair considering Cassandra's own attempt to take Ghyslaine's home.

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cassandra

@Ghyslaine's words catch her attention and gave her pause after the greeting. New pride? There was a second new pride? Interesting. She knew that the Summit had been a new pride, but she hadn't had time between motherhood and her new position within the Brook to go investigate other happenings outside of the Brook. Cassandra opened her muzzle to speak once again when the scent of her uncle @Aquila floated towards her as he appeared next to her. Mentally, she cringed. She knew he wouldn't see this as something decent, considering Ghyslaine's former affiliation. But in their previous meeting, she had learned the other lioness held no ill will regarding the challenge and war that had taken place on what was once the land she called home.

As she listened to Ghyslaine discuss some of the new changes that had occurred since their last encounter, the changing around of politics caught her attention. "Interesting. I've heard word on the wind that a friend of my family has taken over the Rainforest, a lioness who I ran into occasionally awhile back." Cassandra began, gaze glancing towards her uncle as she suddenly became very aware of her words. She didn't want to say anything that he might find too revealing or anything of the sort. Not that she'd purposefully reveal anything, but their versions of too much might differ. "I don't believe you've met my uncle. This is my uncle Aquila. He is also the King of the Brook. Aquila, this is Ghyslaine." She said, attempting to make introductions. She... wasn't sure how to introduce the other lioness.

"Interesting - I hadn't heard about the appearance of a second new pride. I'm afraid my mother will not be joining us - she no longer calls the Brook home. She has moved with my other mother to rule another new pride it would seem - Illyria Summit. I have stepped forward in her place to rule alongside my uncle as the Brook's new Queen." The fluffy Valour explained.

Attention turning to her uncle for a few moments, Cassandra gave him a look that said this was in no way a threat. "Ghyslaine, to my knowledge, never believed in what Alaric does. She was recruited by the king that she speaks of that now rules this new pride called Lorien Plains - Violarum." Cassandra began, trying to soothe the angry demeanor her uncle currently wore. "She met and sparred with mom - Talisa likes her and trusts her to my knowledge." She added on, hoping that the trust of two of the Valour women would be enough to temper his reception towards their guest.

+10 Diffuse a tense situation with reason (1/2)

text. "speech."

Art by Thrush@dA | Code by Zodiac

Ghyslaine

In the silence between them, she watches her acquaintance- if that was something she could call @Cassandra. When a new scent comes to join them- Ghyslaine's eyes leave the lioness to study a large male who approaches... and she notes that he doesn't look thrilled with her. She watches as he comes forward, not so subtly putting himself between her and Cassandra, and as he seemed to puff himself up- Ghyslaine merely raised her head- to meet his gaze. Being an Heiress, it would do her no good to back down from his stare, but she would sit back onto her haunches, and offer him a polite smile and a nod- a dip of respect of her head.

Her attention is snagged by Cassandra as she speaks. So it was a friend that had taken over the Rainforest- interesting. Then Cassandra introduces the male- @Aquila -- king of the Brook. Cassandra goes on to say that Talisa has left the Brook to help lead another new pride- Illyria Summit. Ghyslaine would have to go visit them it seemed. Then the conversation shifted back to her, and her allegiances. After Cassandra finishes speaking, Ghyslaine would speak to the King.

"I am the Heiress of Lorien Plains now. I did indeed live and serve in the Mire, but no longer." She paused and then added, her tone soft but firm. "I hold no ill will towards the Brook or Cassandra for the war that broke out- there isn't any point, in my mind for dwelling on the past. It is what is and I wish to move forward." A distinct pause. "If you care to know anything about me and what I believe in- I don't believe in harming cubs, claiming lionesses, or harming anyone weak. I'd prefer if we could all live in peace- but I don't think that's how things work in Amaryllis." Another pause. "I have no ill will towards you or the Brook." She says simply, easily, as if it were a simple fact.

A pause again. "Violarum is our king, and his wife our Queen." She says, nodding at Cassandra to agree with what she has said thus far. Then she falls silent to see what Aquila may say- to know how to go from here.

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She does not seem an outright threat, it's enough of a display to somewhat quiet his beast and give Aquila a second to breath. Did he believe @Ghyslaine? No. Not entirely, for her feelings alone didn't mean a thing. She was one piece of a puzzle. Rike, lions of the Mire, could all still harbor feelings of ill intent and revenge. Against Cassandra, her children. And unless someone was actively willing to help then any promises were hollow. And all action Aquila had seen were wounds against his own allies.

Peace an impossibility? Aquila frowned deeply Ghyslaine's direction. Those words tugged at something deep within. Old flames, one he'd left burning for years and set before Cassandra was even born. "It used to be possible." The loss and pain in his voice, immense. So too was he angry. This ever bubbling presence in his soul that grieves. His old home dead and long buried, he was no less a stranger here than the next lion to walk through the passage.

He turns to Cassandra, full attention shifted to the young ruler. Intrigued, fearful of her naivety and inexperience. "You trust her?" He asks @Cassandra with heavy sincerity, curiosity abound. What had he missed? Cass had worries her challenge would carry baggage as she took up heiress, sought secrecy for her children's lineage. Befriending this woman seemed an incredible act to take. An interesting woman to put some trust in, to be friendly with. "Go on, show me what moving forward means." He took a half step backwards, gesturing for Cassandra to take things over. To see what her read was, what she felt like risking here._{ART — CODE}

cassandra

Knowing what she did, and the interactions she'd had with @Ghyslaine, she knew that the lioness didn't align with how Alaric saw things. He was a brute, one who would stop at nothing to seek revenge for his fallen wife. Speaking of Alaric... She recalled she had some suspicions to mention to her uncle about the Ecrosian king that she'd noticed at a recent pride challenge.

Dark ears pushed back at her uncle's voice towards the Plains' Heiress's words regarding peace being an impossibility within Amaryllis. She could hear the pain in his voice as he spoke, and she aimed to light touch her nose to his cheek if he'd let her to try to help soothe the loss and pain. "From my understanding, before most of the outsiders started to trickle into Amaryllis, this land was a place of peace. No pride borders, no family feuds.. It was peaceful once upon a time from what I have been told." Cassandra said softly towards Ghyslaine, explaining the words her uncle had spoken of it once having been possible for peace within the lands.

If the stupid family feuds hadn't been such a thing... perhaps there could've been an uneasy peace within the lands. When her uncle poised the quest of trust in the other lioness to her, Cassandra nodded slightly. "Not with my life yet, but I do trust her as her own self. She has earned the friendship of my mother, and from what she has spoken of she carries the same beliefs that we do here within the Brook." Cassandra said. While she didn't trust her as she did her family, Cassandra knew enough about the other woman to know that she could be trusted in what she spoke about.

"Your king, Violarum. He once stood alongside Alaric as his right paw. Where does the Plains stand with the Mire? That relationship will determine where the Brook will stand with the Plains. If the Plains are allied or friendly with the Mire, then how do we know that those of the Plains will not fight against those of the Brook if push came to shove?" Cassandra said. She knew Violarum had once led the Mire with Alaric. She also knew that there was a line between being friendly with an individual and being allied politically. The former she could do easily with Ghysaline regardless of their prides' political statements. The latter? That would depend on the wheaten lioness's response to her question about the Mire.

If the Plains were friendly or allied with the Mire, her family would not be safe. Her children would not be safe, not with the threat that loomed over their heads as it did all Sigruns. The politics of Amaryllis were a finicky place, and she needed to tread carefully here. @Aquila had placed his trust in her to field this political path, and she would not steer him wrong.

+10 Diffuse a tense situation with reason (2/2)

text. "speech."

Art by Thrush@dA | Code by Zodiac

Ghyslaine

'It used to be possible.'

@Aquila speaks and his words seem heavy with pain, and Ghyslaine closes her eyes for a moment to try to imagine it. Peace among the lions that live her, and with a heavy sigh, she releases the air within her. "I... wasn't born here. When I arrived... I found myself in the middle of a feud. I chose the side I chose, because I was informed that the other side- drowned their cubs." She decides to explain. "For me... it was an easy choice to make." Another pause.

"A friend of mine... He is a Sigrun, and he... explained to me that what I had been told was a lie. Cubs were merely baptized. That... challenged me and the way that I was thinking." She pauses. "I just want to remain out of it, but I'm not ignorant enough to believe that is a choice." She says.

"We are allied with the Mire, but I did not come here seeking alliance... merely to share that we are out there. I wouldn't seek an alliance without Violarum or Fallon present. I...." She trails off thoughtfully. "We have our pride, and I pray we somehow manage to stay out of any conflict so that we can be safe and happy." She finishes.

"I felt that I owed you and your mother," She paused, "The courtesy of introducing you to our pride- and letting you know that you do have a friendly face out there- should you be in the area and in need."

Another sigh. "I hope that one day there can be peace again. I fear it isn't possible with the feud the land seems to be divided between, but I hope that somehow... someway it happens." She wonders if they can understand the way she has to balance on a fence now. Somehow she had friends on both sides and she didn't known how to pick a side- only to remain as neutral as possible- swaying to act only when she had too.

@Cassandra @Aquila

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That rumor again. Aquila visibly had a subconscious reaction, a tightening of his lips and tensing of his muscles. For all he knew the entirety of it was a falsehood. One he'd only heard on the lips of enemies and those enemy adjacent types like @Ghyslaine herself. There was simply no way his cousins had forged this alliance years ago with anyone who did something of that vile sort. Only hearing it from their enemies made it seem all the more likely a fabrication. He grumbled, a low sound of discontent in his chest as he was in it's presence once more.

For the most part Aquila fell to silence, letting the two young women speak and explain. Besides the reaction to the Sigrun's falsehood he was still. Until his lips parted and features turned to his cousin. @Cassandra, I would like to speak with you later. He decided then, features still very much grumpy and discontent but in the way his family might expect to see Aquila wear on the daily. One that suggested he was still displeased, but by what of the many things he took it upon himself to bare and burden couldn't be said for certain.

He aimed then to depart, sparing a glance back to Ghyslaine as his body began to turn and align back into the Brook. If you are sincere in what you said, the only unfriendly face here will be my own.

/Exiting unless stopped_{ART — CODE}