This place would surely be beautiful come spring. Or so Adrien suspected. Though snow had laid a frosty claim upon these fields, it could not completely erase what laid beneath it. Amongst the dark, withered stalks of last year's flowers, there were some that still lived. Delicate blossoms that differed from their unfortunate brethren in that they thrived in the barren season. Though winter signified death for so many creatures, it seemed that it also served as a marker of life for other, hardier, things.

How curious it was, that the world worked that way. And how so very cruel. What would it be like, if only everything and everyone in this world could coexist with each other without strife. Such a thing would be impossible - Adrien had learned that lesson. But it was nice to think about, here in this peaceful-looking place.

The maned lioness was currently lounging beside a pond while she pondered, idly watching her reflection in the water, having already broken through the layer of ice upon its surface to take a cool drink. With a sigh, she pushed back, snow crunching beneath her weight as she rolled onto her back, multihued gaze turning towards the sky. The sun would be setting soon, it looked like. That would be beautiful too, she imagined. Perhaps she'd stick around here to see it.

+5 Scout a neutral territory

code | image, image

+5 Learn a character’s full name and rank
+5 Study the landscape of an area
+5 Learn something interesting about a character

The fields were a place that he came quite often, but the gardens weren't. Naturally, he was rather interested in visiting them. So, he'd made his way out to the fields and it didn't take long to find the gardens, not with how many plants populated the area. He could only imagine what this place would look like in the spring and summer, when the plants were fully alive. No doubt this was a place of great use to the medics of the lands during those seasons.

He wasn't alone, it would seem, and that didn't surprise him. The other lion, wait, no, lioness didn't seem to be paying too much attention though, and so he cleared his throat as he approached in the hopes of not startling her too badly, if at all. He did so enjoy meeting new lions who might have useful information for him.

@Adrien

The nearby sound of a throat clearing had the speckled lioness stiffening involuntarily. Although she preferred the company of others over the solitude that had engulfed her life over the past few months, she couldn't yet escape the tension she felt when confronted with the presence of another. Couldn't shake off the initial, heart-clenching thought that maybe she'd been found.

But it is a ridiculous fear, she thinks, all things considered. Adrien soothed herself quickly with that thought, forcing herself to relax once more before she turned her gaze to the dark lion who had approached. It was hard to get a useful read on him when he appeared upside-down from her perspective, so after a moment, she languidly rolled herself back up to a sitting position. Calm, cool and collected. Or, at least, that was what she was aiming for.

"Hmm. It's terribly rude to sneak up on a lady like this, don't you think? Her nose was slightly upturned as she spoke, but there was a teasing note within her accented voice, a good-natured sparkle in her gold and violet eyes. If the older male had truly been sneaking, he wouldn't have announced his presence, she knew that. But how could she resist the urge to playfully take offence?

@Tobin

code | image, image

+5 Learn a character’s full name and rank

It took a moment for her to roll right side up, time perhaps spent considering if he was even worth the effort. He thought he wouldn't have blamed her if she didn't. He wasn't the sort of lion who demanded respect based on his appearance alone, unless you happened to subscribe heavily to the "respect your elders" school of thought. Respect your old and half blind elders anyway.

He heard the jest in her tone and immediately offered a slightly exaggerated bow, lifting his right paw off the ground. "My deepest apologies my dear lady," he said before he straightened. "Perhaps you might grace me with your name despite my error. I am Tobin Kramer, of Obsidian Hollow."

She had, at the very least, a sense of humor. He could work with that.

@Adrien

What a polite gentleman he seemed to be! Playful though their interaction was, the older lion’s bow brought an amused smile to her lips. “Well, since you asked so nicely, mon bon monsieur, I suppose I can oblige.”

The maned woman offered a curtsy of her own, one forelimb crossing in front of the other while she dipped her head to him. “My name is Adrien Thibault, of…” Her smile twitched for a moment, good cheer threatening to fade away, “Of…everywhere and anywhere!” That sounded far less depressing than saying ‘nowhere’ she was certain, forcefully lightening her expression back up.

She reclined back to her seated position, head tilting slightly as she regarded the dark male further. “In return, would you tell me more about this Obsidian Hollow, Monsieur @Tobin? I must admit that I am not yet well-acquainted with this land.” Though Adrien suspected that there were some larger prides scattered around (clued in by the occasional scent on the breeze), she’d not yet tried to interact with them in any capacity.

Tobin seemed like pleasant company, however. A perfect opportunity for her to learn a bit more about where she’d ended up, no?

code | image, image

+5 Learn a character’s full name and rank
+5 Learn something interesting about a character

She spoke a language he recognized but did not speak himself. It was so intriguing to find others who had either traveled far from their native lands or were surrounded by family who had done so at some point in their ancestry.

So she wasn't from a pride. He wasn't surprised by that. Though there were a number of prides in the lands, it wasn't uncommon for lions to not be part of any of them. When he was younger he'd also refrained from joining a pride, but now it was just easier to have others to rely upon, and he'd been able to find a group that he did actually trust. Judging by the rest of her comment, she was just new here and probably hadn't had a chance to look around much yet. Probably wise that she had avoided the passage, for he knew there were several prides who would have simply claimed her.

Of course, he agreed. It's a rather closely knit pride, with a couple of families living within it along with others with no familial affiliation, such as myself. Everyone looks out for one another and is happy to help with anything. It's quite peaceful, he explained. He was always willing to discuss Obsidian Hollow with others because he did so enjoy living there and hoped that others would as well.

@Adrien

She had indeed traveled quite far to get here. Far enough that she is unsure that she could ever find her way back if she tried. Of course, returning home would be inadvisable regardless of whether or not she could do it, but knowing that did nothing soothe the homesickness that had yet to release its grip upon her heart.

Months had passed by in a blur, but Adrien still felt a bit like she'd been set adrift in the ocean without a paddle.

But now wasn't the time to be lingering upon such depressing things, especially not when there was a friendly face here to keep her attention focused on the here and now. She listened attentively to @Tobin's words, gilded eyes alight with interest and curiosity. "That sounds delightful!" She commented with a pleasant smile, her words both polite and sincere. It was a relief, honestly, to know that peace still reigned in certain places. "Do these families control much of this land?"

From his description, this pride didn't sound so different from her childhood home, before...everything. And it had such a romantic sounding name too. Obsidian Hollow. It evoked some lovely, exotic imagery for her, though she had no idea what the reality of it might be like. "Don't suppose you accept visitors, do you?" Dropping by to take a look didn't sound like such a terrible idea, provided that the lions weren't aggressive towards passersby.

code | image, image

He considered which prides were currently ruled by or mostly populated with families at this point. There were less now than there had been. Vermeda Brook is the home of the Valour family, and is also a pride belonging to those who are native to these lands. All other lions came in a mass influx some time ago. Then there is Wolfron Bluffs which is populated by the Dieudonne... I would recommend staying away from them, to be quite honest. Andal Oasis has quite a few Miroslav in it as well. There was a large family called the Sigrun who once held Caladan Cove, Scilla Lagoon, and briefly even our own Hollow, but now I believe they are scattered among several prides." Still including the Hollow, he thought. At any rate, they were no longer the cohesive force they had once been, but he suspected they could become again if given the time and inclination.

I'm sure if you called for me or mentioned my name you would be welcomed, he replied. He didn't think she could be given a grand tour of the place, but being shown around near one of the entrances surely couldn't hurt if she really was interested in joining. He knew Roan liked them to keep quiet about the pride, and he understood why, but this woman seemed trustworthy enough. Or maybe he was just becoming easily fooled in his old age. That was possible too.

@Adrien

She decided that she was quite lucky to have met @Tobin here today. He seemed to be a veritable fountain of knowledge about this land, something she was in desperate need of as a newcomer. Of course, there was always the possibility that he could be lying about what he knew, but Adrien wasn't at all inclined to suspect the sweet older gentleman of anything of the sort. What could be gained from it, anyway?

She listened intently to his overview, making a mental note of each pride and family name he mentioned. Valour sounded enchantingly regal and noble. If the natives really were like that, then maybe she really had ended up in a decent place to start her life over. Out of all the names, however, Dieudonne stood out to Adrien the most. She didn't know the family, but that was a French surname, she was certain of it. Did they come from the same place she had? Tobin warned her away, but her curiosity was piqued, nevertheless. She would have to investigate that further.

"What caused them to scatter?" She asked in regard to the Sigrun, vaguely confused as to how a faction that covered three entire prides could fall apart in the way Tobin was suggesting, a result of Adrien being unfamiliar with these lands customs. Pride challenges were unheard of in her birthplace - only one bloodline could hold the crown there and she herself had never questioned it.

"I'll remember that, then." She dipped her head, pleased to have been given permission to visit the Hollow. (More or less.) Seeing the place would be a good opportunity to learn more about it, and thus become more familiar with the land. "You're very knowledgeable about these things, Monsieur Tobin. Thank you for sharing all this with me, I greatly appreciate it." She said, sincerity brimming in her tone. It was quite the relief to finally have some names to go off of around here.

code | image, image

+5 Study the landscape of an area

Let me think... he mused, lifting his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he thought back to all the prides he knew had been ruled by the Sigrun. In doing so he spotted some small bodies of water nearby and deduced that was likely how the fields were so populated in the warmer months. So many things could grow if given access to even the smallest bit of water. He would have to come back when the plants began to grow again and see the area in all its glory.

They had strongholds in the Hollow and the Lagoon for some time, but rogues and the land forced them out. Now I believe they are spread out amongst many prides, with many more being rogues, I would imagine. They have enemies in this land by the name of the Rike, which I suspect contribute to their separation, he explained.

He smiled slightly at her thanks, knowing he had done nothing more than exist in these lands and learn what he could from doing so. Still, he did try to meet as many as he could, to learn their ways and see how things were going within the lands. Someone should benefit from all the time I spend talking to others, not to mention the time I've spent here, he commented.

@Adrien