Please allow @Everly to post first!

Thanks to her meeting with the kind mahogany-coated lioness she finally felt as if she had direction. For the sanctity of her skin, instead of carrying her by her scruff, Everly was balanced on her back to rest while they traveled north towards the land of the brook she was informed of. The valley sprawled out before her as she closed in on the territory. Swaths of trees acted as gates and the winding river catching her wide, wonderous eyes. Morrow paused a moment, letting out a breath of awe.

"Time to wake up, my love," she called up softly in case she had decided to take a nap up there. Morrowind paused at the edge of the border, carefully lowering herself down to coax her daughter off and to her feet. "We're here."

Leaning back she seated herself and cupped a paw around Everly to hold her close. She bellowed a few chuffs into the air in hopes to beckon someone to her.

— lily of the valley

bastard princess

                    of the feywild

∷ ⚜ ∷

    Engulfed in dreams, Everly's limbs twitched lightly, slumped over her mother's back. As the season faded, winter to spring, the girl was already feeling more comfortable in this new place. The warmth soothed her and though the heat of summer would do her better, surely, she would take this.

    Everly's eye lids fluttered at @Morrowind's gentle voice. A soothing way to wake up, but the cub groaned faintly anyway before coming to full consciousness. She slumped to the terrain softly, her jaws parting with a wide yawn. Blinking, she tried to process the glorious landscape that stood before her.

    "Where this?" she asked, confused, but amazed. She scrambled from her resting place into a seated position for a better look, her rounded ears pressed forward and her eyes wide, yet, accepting her mother's grasp, even leaning into her. She emitted quiet, vibrating purrs and her tail lashed with excitement.

This is Vermeda Brook. The Sovereign speaks gently as she approaches the gathered adult and child. Equally focused on the both of them and their similarities to one another suggests mother and child. Slightly too young for her current youngest children but still, Vermeda does not shy away from taking in the children. Welcome, I am Talisa Valour. The pride's Sovereign, my cousin Aquila holds High Sovereign. She eases a smile, gaze resting upon the mother's face and finding quite the delight in the dark brown tones and the spots adorning her face and body. What can I do for the two of you? A few months ago she might've been more playful with the young child or even forward with a flirt, but times were changing and she felt as though she couldn't be quite as forthcoming as she used to be. @Everly @Morrowind

manip & table code by k'sariya

Her eyes were down, focused on her child to give her an answer to her question, when it was answered before she could speak. She lifted her gaze to met the soft-faced lioness that approached. Almost involuntarily, her toes tensed a fraction to tighten her grip around @Everly. It was ever so subtle, but every fiber of her being wanted to recoil and run. Now that she was faced with the actuality of moving forward with adopting a new life she wanted to flee.

The nymph steeled herself and dipped her head towards the woman in a half-bow. "Talisa," she parroted delicately. @Talisa introduced herself as the Sovereign of this land that her daughters eyes twinkled at; her own, too, even. "Thank you for meeting us here," stormy eyes flickered down to Everly a moment.

"My name is Morrowind," she began, pausing momentarily, "this is my daughter, Everly. I met with a young lady named Cassandra who told me that this would be a good home for us. She told me to look for you, in fact." Morrowind explained, curious as to the significance that could have. She silenced herself then as that was all the information she had to offer. Even if this would be a good home for them.. could it be?

— lily of the valley

Good for Something

Aforementioned Aquila was not far along behind his cousin. The bronze brute kept himself quiet and kept himself at a disengaged distance for a moment from the stranger and her child. His form was visible between trees as he stood, as he watched and scrutinized this unknown woman that had appeared at the edges of their home. Each call forced the same series of thoughts- who was it, what did they want. Even a mother with child was not removed from all suspicion. Even one sent by family to them.

After a few extra moments to watch Aquila came closer, aimed to move up at the same angle as Talisa with his back to the heartlands. He kept his figure down a little, his silver eyes darting between Morrowind and Everly both. I'm Aquila. He explained with a still voice. If I may, is there a reason you've come to us instead of going with Cassandra? Caladan was just as fine a home by all standard measures of one. And he had to admit it made him nervous that she should come here specifically, seeking them out.

bastard princess

                    of the feywild

∷ ⚜ ∷

    The cub jumped, startled by the sudden unknown voice. Everly peered at the stranger, her ears flattening. They had been on the move so much, it had actually been some time since the young girl had been around others aside from her mother. Even back in their home, she was more often hidden away before they left. Call it under socialized, but she was frightened by the cat before her, who introduced herself as @Talisa.

    Everly gave a polite smile when @Morrowind introduced her, but remained in her pace and did not speak. This was all so confusing to her. What was Vermeda Brook? As questions swirled within her youthful mind, Everly spotted the male not too far off. Who were these lions? Eventually, this @Aquila, joined his fellow stranger, standing at her side. The girl did not quite grasp the conversation, despite knowing the words being spoken. It was the context she didn't understand.

    Feeling a tad overwhelmed, the child squeezed free from her mother's grip, slipping in between her legs to use her limbs as a hiding place. "Momma..." she whispered with a concerned tone. In her short couple of months, she had not met many other lions, especially not many that were kind, like her mother was, so Everly had no reason to trust these two before her or the situation itself. In fact, she was preparing herself to bolt.

It was an unfortunate measure that they had to remain a bit more skeptical than they would have been a couple years ago. Normally, she would've accepted @Morrowind and @Everly without question or concern. A mother and a child that needed a home and had been sent here specifically because they were a beacon of prosperity in this land. A place that everyone could be safe... or so they had all thought.

Welcome Morrowind, a nod and a quick look to the girl, and to you, Everly. Gaze returning to mother so as not to further send the seemingly shy child into a radical panic. Cassandra would be my eldest daughter. It made some small sense that her daughter would send the pair here but there was also the lingering question of why she'd send them here instead of taking them in to Caladan. A question that @Aquila approached just in time to ask though Talisa was sure to give him a little side-eye into how he approached that question.

We don't mean to frighten, we have been through quite a lot these past few months. I'm sure that Cassandra sent them here specifically for good reason. Maybe it was something of a gift to them after all that had transpired. Her daughter sending a mother and daughter her way to remind her that there were still good folks out there that needed to be looked out for. She believed that the two here in front of her wanted Vermeda for a reason.

manip & table code by k'sariya

A large male arrived, placing a face to the lion the Sovereign had mentioned before. The timid woman's ears fell back a fraction as he questioned their intentions to join the brook. It was understandable, of course. Her eyes fell to @Everly as she sunk further into the protection of her frame. Leaning her head down she nudged her tenderly and whispered reassurances into her fur.

She returned her attention to the lion who claimed the face of @Aquila that Talisa had mentioned before. Morrowind was thankful for the calming measures that the earthen-coated woman took for the pair. She felt a desire to gravitate towards the fellow mother, likely because she was the first one to introduce herself and the soothing aura she had. But she did need to explain herself a bit.

The fey ward drew in a quiet breath, "I can understand," she mused, "I come in the best interest of my daughter. I seek a refuge for her to grow up in, a place similar to our lost home." Morrowind explained her reasoning for choosing the lush valley over the coast as her eyes shifted towards Everly a moment before fixing back on Aquila and @Talisa. "I am sorry to hear the brook has seen some hardship, though, I could offer aid in any way if you could afford room for the two of us," she proposed, her tone more sure when it came to acquiring placement for the sake of her child's rearing. Her expression was soft, yet hopeful, as she quieted herself and let that be her case.

— lily of the valley

Good for Something

He didn't miss the side eye received. And made sure to give just as much back, feeling nothing wrong with his abundance of caution. He half expected they'd have let Viridian in if he'd simply asked nicely before hand. Someone tried to take our home- He said with a somber frown, a seriousness to his bronze features like one with too much weight placed upon his mind. Why beat around the bush? -and to be upfront I can't promise there won't be another attempt to take it. Regrettably she did not look to be a fighter Aquila could count on to help defend them if needed. He wouldn't expect a mother to stick around when their child's wellbeing was in danger. The same urge that drove her to them would drive her to flee like it had many of the pride lions. He couldn't even promise the next attempt wouldn't succeed again...

The lion sighed, his silver eyes stealing away to look at the child trying so hard to melt away and to not be seen. Knowing that if you still wish to stay I won't oppose. Because at the end of it all if they needed a home, if they came all this way, then the Brooks should be a home for them. Two more lions to protect. Or two more to cause them harm should this kindness and sweetness the mother showed now be a farce...

Permission from Fear to skip Everly!

Talisa couldn't help but continue to let her peripheral vision look at the young child at her mother's paws. Wishing that she knew the perfect thing to say to the girl to make her not be so afraid of them when the other dark part of her knew that maybe the girl had a good reason to be afraid. That meeting new "strangers" should be met with caution but there was something about it that she'd never been able to do. Talisa was a social butterfly and took to others (particularly women and children) like a moth to a light. They were her comfort and she hoped to be theirs.

So of course when @Aquila seemed skeptical and wary, Talisa wanted to offer kindness. Not too much of it, obviously, but enough to show them that they were friendly. Especially since Cassandra had sent them here to begin with. Cass would not have sent them here if they weren't good folk. I have three girls just a few months older than yours. I'm sure they'd love someone new to hang out with. She offered the information to the dark woman knowing that Aquila might not like this sharing of it but it seemed that he was inviting @Morrowind into the pride if she still wished to be here despite the warnings so she'd find out anyways.

manip & table code by k'sariya