The negotiations were going quite well and it seemed that @Sahir was a lion who given the chance would make a great king. She would have to text to see if these wives of his were just as levelheaded. It didn’t matter though she could play nice when she wanted to and rather or not the terms of their agreement were followed completely well she had a few terms of her own. She listened to him agree to her terms, but add in some of his own. It was to be expected. Thankfully it wasn’t like the time when she was younger when a lion she was negotiating with tried to claim ownership of her womb. Still a year and her tongue was a hefty price.

“One year and my tongue only if you remain in power here.” She countered making it clear that she would only be loyal to him as long as he is as strong enough and capable enough to keep his shiny new crown.

image by moogle/code by saph

"One of my wives is a medic," he warned next, figuring it was best she was aware of this before it was too late. "But, surely she will have another rank." A higher one was implied, though he did not figure Nebula would be too upset about it, as she had not asked for anything higher even with the ball in her court. “One year and my tongue only if you remain in power here," she stipulated.

"Unless I rise elsewhere in that time – you follow," Sahir insisted, arching his brow with interest to see how this requirement could change things. They were getting into more wild hypotheticals, unlikely to happen and yet ripe with the potential to ruin their agreement should they come to pass.

---

@Nebula

ART BY MAX, CODE BY LARS

One of his wives being a medic didn’t surprise her. Healing had been seen as a woman’s trade by many she had came across. Did she really think she’d be the only healer in a pride? Of course not. Even her siblings growing up as assassins knew healing arts they just chose to use the more murderous side of plants to aid them in their jobs.

“Of course. As was expected surely a much higher rank such as Queen or Noble though would be better fitting to a spouse.” Her words left her lips calmly. There was no distaste or distain within her tone. Honestly Nebula was the type of lioness who if offered a high rank would say no. Lead Medic was as high as she was comfortable going in the pricking order of a pride.

Speaking of a pride he came back with another round of negotiations. A counter for her own. So he wanted her loyalty to be transferable? Interesting. “Alright, but only if the rank of lead medic follows.” She agreed to the hypothetical of what would happen if he lost the pride within the year. “One more thing than. If you should lose the cove in a years time and take another pride if I am to follow but find myself not allowed to by another in order to follow you shall fight for my freedom?” He was partly a question of if he would be willing to find for her. Fight to keep her loyalty. It was also being thrown in there to judge to see what he thought of her at this moment. Just another body for his crown or not. In any case she accepted his terms.

Pink eyes finally parted from his own as she looked up at the very few stars that still lingered in the early morning. “The Cove was an interesting pick to challenge for. Surely there had been prides with less numbers and familiar bonds holding them together to pursue.” She mused as she looked from the heavens out to the landscape.

“Through with only one way in and out it does have a good tactical appeal.” She added before turning her gaze back to @Sahir.

+10 (20) Discuss the features of a territory with someone 1/2 -Pathfinder

image by moogle/code by saph

The sun continued to rise on the horizon, cascading shades of purple and orange across the sky. Sahir shifted his weight once more, a new surge of pain lighting like fire every time he dared make a move. Still, he tried to stay attentive as the lioness spoke, agreeing to his terms and adding some predictable stipulations of her own.

"Lead medic, and I fight to keep you," he reiterated with a nod to mark his agreement. "We have a deal?" The lion guessed, staring at her down the bridge of his nose.

Her staring off into the sky and the silence that followed hinted at her state of contemplation. Nebula changed the subject to the cove itself then, questioning his motivations in choosing it of all things.

"You chose it, too," he reminded her with another smirk. Even if they had chosen this beach in different ways, hers only for a stay as the lead medic in the pride, she had seen ways it appealed to her, too. She would not be standing there otherwise. "Surely there had been prides with less numbers and familiar bonds holding them together to pursue.” "Those lions were not my target," he explained. "I do not know them. I do not care. The stars," he gestured up toward the sky with his muzzle, "they guide me and tell what will come to pass. They say this is the place."

---

@Nebula
+10 - Preach your beliefs to someone (double exp event)

ART BY MAX, CODE BY LARS

He agreed with her terms and even if this was all business he had made a good impression on her. After all he could have just claimed her for being at his borders and forced her into service to him. Or even laughed and chased her off. Having a level enough head to negotiate with someone wanting to join his rightfully won pride said a lot about the man. “Deal.” She agreed sealing their agreement with a nod of her head.

Looking away from him as he retorted that she had also chosen the cove she allowed a small smirk to edge on the corner of her face. “True, but I was already here under Ulla’s rule. Though I didn’t interact with her much. Mostly I interacted with Revna her Noble or Ulla’s children.” She explained calmly. “Though there was no deal made with them regarding my loyalties. Just a deal of shelter from the rain.” She added. So even though she had found herself becoming fond of the children and even Revna, @Sahir still had a much better deal struck. After all fondness was nice and all but it was no longer raining nor could Revna hold up her end. Though that wasn’t to the fault of the Sigrun girl.

Still he had said he didn’t know them so she figured she might as well share a small bit of information about them. In all honesty she didn’t know much more about the family than what she had given already. “The stars? Interesting. Do they speak to you often?” She asked with all seriousness in her tone. Having crossed paths with a fair share of others she knows that poking fun of what someone believes isn’t a good idea so she wasn’t even attempting to, but the idea of the stars was intriguing.

Noticing his pain she let out a soft humming sound. “I have a garden near a freshwater outlet within the cove of far from the entrance. If you allow me to show you I can get you something to soothe your pain.” She offered as she turned her head and motioned in the direction of it. Motioning for him to follow as she lead the way.

+10 (20) Discuss the features of a territory with someone 2/2 -Pathfinder

image by moogle/code by saph

He nodded idly as she spoke of her time there under "Úlla," though the name was not one he had known. Perhaps it was funny, to have affected the life of someone so much without knowing even the basics such as her name. Ultimately, Sahir did not care about their family or what the cove had been like before he had arrived. He only cared for how its destiny was to unfold. “The stars? Interesting. Do they speak to you often?” The dark lioness asked, finally latching onto the bait he set out.

"No," he answered simply. "They do not speak, they only shine. Their positions change and mark the passage of time. If you know how to read them, you can know what is coming," Sahir elaborated with a thoughtful gaze, curious to see what her reaction might be to the concept. He had been a renowned astrologer in his homeland, but these Amaryllis lions were different. They seemed less willing to merely look and see. “I have a garden near a freshwater outlet within the cove of far from the entrance. If you allow me to show you I can get you something to soothe your pain.” She seemed to notice the way he winced with each movement, and Sahir could not deny the relief he felt at the idea.

"I appreciate it. I would rather not bother Kismet again so soon," he agreed with a dip of his head, obliging her gesture and beginning to follow her into the Caladan territory.

---

@Nebula
+10 - Preach your beliefs to someone (double exp event)

ART BY MAX, CODE BY LARS

She listened to him and found his study of stars interesting. In away she wondered if their fates had been something ment to be entwined. He read the stars and she was named after a cluster of stars. Or so she had been told before. Rather or not that was true was until. Nor did it matter. “That is rather fascinating. I have studied the stars a bit myself. Though I only know where the North Star is as I use it as a guide when exploring at night.” She mused softly being honest about it. Nebs had no real reason to lie after all. She didn’t know much of the stars, not enough to guide her destiny or anything, but enough to find her way back to wherever she was calling home at the time.

Anyways nodding her head she lead the way to the garden. It was an small outlet within the cliff wall of the cove with fresh water that collected in a pond. The water fell from the side of the cliffs and it was here she had made the garden using the fresh water to feed the herbs. Next to it was a decent sized cave she had been using as a den and one that could be used to house the sick or injured as well if the need was that great. “Here it is. I still have some plants I find best to travel out to and get for they haven’t done well at the cove.” She explained as she moved to look at what she had and what she could offer @Sahir. Pointing a toe at some Baobab bark she spoke again. “For example this is from a tree from the badlands. It is Baobab bark and well I can’t replant a whole tree here.” Going silent she studied him for any reaction before she would look at what she had for pain. She did have Wild Mango, but her little prince had been enjoying the fruits a lot before the challenge and her store would been to be stocked soon. She did however have a lot of Gnetum which was normally used for childbirth but was still an effective painkiller for other forms of pain.

+10 (20) Heal a character’s sickness or injury 0/2 - Medic
+5 (10) Teach herbology trivia to someone 1/2 - Medic
+10 (20) Discuss the features of a territory with someone 2/2 - Pathfinder

image by moogle/code by saph

Perhaps fortunately for them both, she did not deny or scrutinize his claims; instead, she offered her own basic knowledge of the north star.

"Think of all of them like that," he pointed out as he followed along after her, interested to see which part of his kingdom she called her own. "You follow the north star for direction home. Another star can tell you the direction to your wealth, or to your mate, and they interact with others to mean different things," Sahir continued explaining. It was an overly simplistic way of looking at his practice, of course, but he was adamant about the practicality of what he did.

When they came to a clear conclusion of their travels, Sahir wasted no time reclining against the rocky cliff so that he could be tended to, emitting another groan as he settled. He followed her gaze as she explained some of the plants she could not keep within their territory, nodding at the appropriate moments to show he was listening despite how most of this kind of thing went over his head. Kismet had tried her best to teach him before.

"What does baobab do?" He asked.

---

@Nebula

ART BY MAX, CODE BY LARS

She didn’t need the heavy details of his star following. Knowing a simplified answer was a good enough thing for her. There had been some interesting comments he had made about what reading the stars could do for her that made her pause. “I would say finding my wealth didn’t interest me, but that wouldn’t be a truth. Though I wouldn’t mind learning how reading the stars could lead me to my future mate.” Her words came out in earnest. Perhaps the most honest she had ever been when speaking to someone. What the future has for her and her possible family had always been on her mind.

Though as the conversation turned from the stars to the herbs in the garden she smiled politely at his question. “Baobab bark is used to help with fevers, as well as fatigue.” She explained as she finally decided what she would give him. Getting some of the Gnetum she had she broke off a decent sized stem of it. “Here chew on this. It is Gnetum and it will help the pain.” Placing it at his paws she knew it might take a bit to kick in, but would last longer than if she had just dressed his wounds and sent him on his way. Though she would get some Aloe Vera leaves and Frankincense sap ready for his wounds to help soothe them.

@Sahir

+10 (20) Heal a character’s sickness or injury 1/2 - Medic
+5 (10) Teach herbology trivia to someone 2/2 - Medic
+10 (20) Discuss the features of a territory with someone 2/2 - Pathfinder

image by moogle/code by saph

Sahir parted his jaws in a rumbling chuckle as she confessed her curiosity regarding wealth and love. He was far from surprised – after all, who could resist such subjects? With a glance up to the sky, he nodded concisely.

"I throw a free reading into our deal," he declared with a smirk. "One of our nights I will read what the sky says of you," he promised, for the sky was illuminated with morning sunlight by the time they had arrived at her headquarters.

She explained the use of baobab, though it did not seem fitting for his needs on that day. Instead, she offered him a stem she named as 'gnetum' to help the pain, and Sahir began obediently chewing on the bitter plant to get a head start on the effects. "Thank you," he grunted with a wrinkled nose.

---

@Nebula

ART BY MAX, CODE BY LARS