Septima is.. different, in a way. She has flourished away from the suffocating glares of her sisters and come into her own, a Miroslav worthy of the name. There is confidence and even budding eloquence as she moved across the familiar wastelands, though suffice to say, most of Amaryllis is unexplored. She has spent so much of her life in hiding per her father's request, but no longer. Septima will not allow stories of ghouls and goblins to stop her from living, and she strides back into Amaryllis with purpose and intent. The young woman does not make immediately for the oasis, but instead lingers in all of the areas she has never seen before. A bird freed from her cage, Septima is not keen on returning quite so soon.

no damsel in distress, don't need to save me

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T a l i s a

The Sovereign did not recognize the lion that was crossing through the Passage and usually she ignored it by means of recruiting like the other prides did. Alas, visiting with Firnen had made her realize that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to recruit out here. She might've been letting good folks slip by and be taken to other prides that might not be so kind. So she moved towards @Septima (not realizing that her kids were related to her, oops) and as any mother would wish to see her yearling child be taken care of. Hello, she greets as an icebreaker to see whether or not the yearling would embrace the interaction or shirk it off, I am Talisa Valour, from Vermeda Brook up north. Can I help you with anything? Lost didn't seem to be an accurate word but perhaps curious, not sure where to step but Talisa did not wish to encroach or put herself in a position of overbearing.

When Septima had left to look for Genya, to spread her wings, Seneca had let her go. Not particularly willingly, mind you; after Diantha and Leonie, he is loathe to release his hold on any of his daughters. But he also will not be the thing that smothers their wings — he will not put out their fire.

All the same, when his approach to the Passage brings her scent on the wind, his stride quickens, and he is eager to see her well and whole. He nears to find not only @Septima, but another familiar face; Seneca pauses for a moment, glancing sidelong at @Talisa with a slight incline of his chin in greeting.

His gaze shortly returns to his daughter, who holds herself with a strength that has only ever seemed fleeting before. "Septima," he greets softly, and there's a question on his breath — a slight furrow to his brow. He doesn't know if she has any intent to come home, however much he wants her there. Seneca, for all his strictness and callous nature, has only ever wanted what's best for his children. Septima, however, has left him questioning what best means.

table by sentinel / lion + cliffs

She is oblivious to her father's many rendezvous. It isn't something she worries herself with; Seneca had been given his heirs by Aido and she, a mere daughter, knew it was best not to question any extra marital affairs. She knows the likelihood of her having half siblings was high, but it makes no difference. There is something special about being his eldest litter, and that is.. something, at least. Septima studies the lioness, not recognizing her as anything beyond a recruiter. Oh, how exciting! The mere idea of living elsewhere sends an electric shudder down her spine, but before she can respond, another face appears. One she knows quite well.

"Father," she replies softly, dipping her head with respect. Septima is uncertain if she should go to him and embrace him or remain distant, so she chooses the latter to be safe. She straightens out and shakes some debris from her silvery coat. "Is the Oasis well? Aido and the cubs?" She leaves out Diantha and Victoria because if the good for young, her sisters will live forever.

@Seneca @Talisa

no damsel in distress, don't need to save me

table by sentinel / art

T a l i s a

The cleric does not even get a spare moment with the yearling as someone approaches that nearly makes her breathless. Not by fear but simply surprise, seeing as she had only ever come into contact with them once and she had a secret she was withholding for multiple reasons. Many of which she felt were fair reasons but it was always hard to tell if she would be hit with backlash because of them. Talisa did not ignore the bi-colors upon @Seneca's face or the bright, luminescent eyes that encompassed those two colors. Remembering their rendezvous like it had only been yesterday when it had been nearly half a year ago and yet she had not seen him since. Not only that but it came to light that @Septima was his daughter, which caused Talisa to mentally take a step back from the situation and allow the two to converse. In the Valour's head, the child had (for the most part) already chosen where she was going but she couldn't will herself to leave and be rude after she had introduced herself.

Septima allows her gaze to drift from.her father and onto @Talisa, curious as to what her pride may have to offer that the oasis does not. She certainly doesn't expect being permitted to go, but she is adamant about trying at the very least. "Miss, could you tell me about your pride?" She is interested in politics if nothing else, and her folded ears tip forward expectantly. "Vermeda is the oldest pride, is it not? The pride of natives." She cants her head curiously, the question on her tongue barely restrained from her lips. Septima wants to see the place for herself, but the likelihood is slim to none.

no damsel in distress, don't need to save me

table by sentinel / art

T a l i s a

There was hardly any expectations for @Septima to wish to even fantasize the idea of Vermeda and yet here the girl was asking about it. Wishing to know information about the native pride and already seeming to know the first thing. Though, not that surprising given that they weren't exactly a secret anymore. It is, yes. My family has lived and ruled it for many generations now. My older sister, Nymeria, held it and now my cousin, Aquila, is it's High Sovereign. Though just because he held that rank didn't mean that he was above anyone else within the pride. It just meant that he would make the ultimate decision but not without first consulting his council and his members for their opinions. With a sparing glance to @Seneca as he might wish to hear it, too, she explains further. Over time we have had to change our ways to better balance the change that Amaryllis as a whole has seen. We are still tight knit and family-oriented but we also value the strength to overcome our enemies and opposition. No one was without enemies and while the Valour's might not have enemies, they had close allies that did and they stuck by their word to protect and provide.

She cannot tell what @Seneca thinks of the conversation. Her father is as unreadable as ever, and she shifts uncomfortably in his silence. The silver yearling still isn't sure what he thinks of her interest in Vermeda or whether he would put his paw down to prevent her from going with the native woman. There isn't anything she can do to pull words from him, however, and the lioness can only move on with her own life.

"That's very impressive," she says with a nod of her head. To have a single family rule the pride for so long spoke wonders of their strength, and she knows they would certainly be a beneficial alliance to the Oasis. The issue rests solely with whether or not her father and he Miroslav upbringing agreed with that of the Valour.

"Are you accepting new members? I would very much like to spread my wings and learn about other cultures. I'll help with the hunting, of course, and I can heal as well. Oh, and I love cubs, so I don't mind cubsitting. Fighting isn't my strong suit, but I've been learning." Septima blinks curiously at @Talisa, hoping there is room for one more wayward little soul.

no damsel in distress, don't need to save me

table by sentinel / art

Talisa, too, could not begin to gauge what @Seneca's thoughts on his daughter's brimming interest with Vermeda. Not that she could blame @Septima for being interested because she was rather biased when it came to home, but she also knew what it could potentially feel like to have a child potentially spreading their wings. Though the girl was clearly of an age to make her own decision, sometimes a parent wasn't so ready to let that decision take root. Yet, all Talisa could do was continue the conversation until told otherwise. We most certainly have room for another. Medics and hunters are always handy and you'll have plenty of cubs to wrangle. Only as she spoke did she realize what was at stake here. The possibility that Septima could figure out that she had half-sisters here in Vermeda that her father currently had no idea about. Purple eyes sweeping to gaze at the orange-eyed High Sovereign carefully before returning back to the lioness.

^{MANIP BY ZODIAC !}

"I'm sure you would allow me to leave if I wanted, too, right?" She has no reason to ask other than to put her father at ease, but again, she doesn't know what he thinks or feels. Septima does her best to stay focused on the sovereign as she further hooks the young Miroslav girl's interest, hinting at a plethora of cubs she could surround herself with on the daily. She grins at that, eager to play the part of older sister once more and ensure they had loving role models and not abusive ones. "I think I would like to try Vermeda, miss Talisa. Perhaps this could be some sort of alliance or a pact of neutrality between the prides? If there isn't already." Politics fascinate her, after all.

no damsel in distress, don't need to save me

table by sentinel / art