There had been a long bit of time since Ida had travelled within these lands. Her family gone (that she knew of) but then again, her memory was very hazy. All that she could remember was those long days and even longer nights in captivity. The darkness that enshrouded her; the sound of water dripping off the stalagmites in the background. Ida was smart, despite her crippling fear and anxiety, and over time she had begun to learn the routine of her captor. Eventually she was able to escape, but not without a cost. The young woman moved across the sand, ignoring the way the wind rattled her to her core. Her gaze was dull, the energy practically drained from her just from the walk alone. But this place, it was vaguely familiar, and it gave her hope. Her voice was hoarse and raspy as she let out a chuff, ignoring the dried blood on her face and chest as well as the puncture wounds there. Her left eye was in a precarious situation but with the right healer it might be able to be saved. She continued to trudge forwards until eventually she had to stop, her body was screaming for relief.

all welcome!

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Her chuff was grasped by wind at the right moment, carried on feather-light gusts across winter-chilled sands. He caught the tail end of it, round ears swiveling eagerly to absorb it further. There was no information that accompanied it, aside from a quiet femininity, and for Violarum that was enough.

A slow and steady lumber, war-wounds healed and Gunnhildr's wrath only vaguely evident across his cheek. He finds her eventually, earthy and spotted, young and - injured? Her eye looks bad, and he might have half assumed she had been in the war herself, had she not smelt so foreign.

"Hello," he says simply, pausing nearby, "If you need a home I'd like to take you to Ecrosia Mire, we can help your eye and keep you safe. You just need to hunt or fight or something."

@Ida

_{art by yumpy}

She jumps despite the fact that his arrival was very obvious. She hates the way she flinches away from him, swinging her head around so that her right eye can focus intently on him. Ecrosia Mire. It sounded vaguely familiar, or at least when she was younger she had heard of the different prides within the land. Her memory was foggy though and she didn't know much about it, just the name that sounded like something she might remember from when she lived in Amaryllis long ago. At the mention of a home, safety, her ears perked up slightly. "I- I hunt. And track." She offers it quietly; she knew that she was damaged goods and would be seen as such, but she could make herself useful.. in time. "Ida. I lived here once, when I was younger." She would skip over everything that had happened since then, at least for now anyways. She tries to ignore the hammering in her chest, the fight or flight instinct that was going off like alarm bells. But if this man could help her, she would be foolish not to take it.

@Violarum

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Perhaps only now does he notice how small she is, dainty and lady-like, a pebble on beach sands. Of course, Violarum is happy about this, his breast puffing vaguely to take advantage of feeling extra tall and manly in her petite company. He is oblivious enough to her mannerisms not to notice her sensitivity, or perhaps a little distracted by the condition of her eye.

"Does it hurt?" he asks, unraveling their conversation a moment to squint at the gooey eyeball. It was kind of disgusting, kind of cool. He'd have to make a point of hearing about the story that came along with it. "Hunting and tracking is good," I like to eat, "I'm Violarum, the Sovereign. Alaric is King. We have lots of strong lions, we will all look after you. Want to come?" Sadly, Brynja had been thieved away - but Nusura could surely help this eye also.

@Ida

_{art by yumpy}

Immediately she jumps backward a step when the man comes closer, her heart dropping into her stomach. She even flinches, initially thinking that he was preparing to hit her but instead he says, Does it hurt? And she freezes. Does what hurt exactly? Breathing? Yes. Standing here? Yes. The wounds on her face and chest? Absolutely, yes. She peers up at him and only then realizes that he is quite a bit bigger then her, but then again everyone was bigger than her. "Y-yes. It does." She feels inclined to answer, but also knows that if she doesn't answer him she would probably be punished. Or in the very least that was how she had been trained for well over a year to think. Hunting and tracking is good, I'm Violarum, the Sovereign. Alaric is King. We have lots of strong lions, we will all look after you. Want to come? He asks her and she pauses, staring up at him with her one good eye. So she had a choice in this matter? "I.. I think so. You.. won't hurt me?" She says it quietly, barely louder than a whisper. She was just praying that he was a good, decent man. Anyone could put whatever face on they wanted here, but there was no telling how he really was beneath the facade.

@Violarum

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She jumps, and that was a physical reaction he at least could notice. Unfortunately, not one that bothered him much; he wasn't used to lionesses flinching away from him, and he can't really fathom her reasoning. If anything, it gave him a sneaky little ego boost. "Are you scared of me?" he asked, openly, scarlet gaze eager upon petite features.

Though, @Ida 's next words almost seemed to confirm it. "Why would I hurt you?" clueless perhaps to the darkest corners of the world, Violarum ponders the matter for barely a fleeting moment before becoming happily distracted by the prospect of this new pride member.

Quickly he recovers from his prior state of pouty curiosity, a hefty lurch of his shoulders and awkward swivel turning him back towards Ecrosia. "Come on. You are an Ecrosia Lioness now, so we will look after you - not hurt you," and with that he begins his lazy saunter in the hopes she will follow.

-- exit with Ida?

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Are you scared of me? He asks and she feels herself shrinking backwards, away from his eager gaze. Yes. "No." She answers him, doe-eyed as she stares up at him. Why would I hurt you? His confusion makes her pause for a moment, unsure of how to answer him. Come on. You are an Ecrosia Lioness now, so we will look after you - not hurt you. He confirms and all she can do is nod her head gently. The petite lioness moves to hobble after him, her gait labored but still she made sure to keep pace with the man. He promised her safety and the sooner she could get there the better.

exit.

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