Time continued to pass and while she did favor the Sigrun and whatever they chose to do, Zulema wasn't someone who could very easily do nothing. Especially when she continued to feel like she had so little aside from her loyalties but one could not sit still. So she ventured to a place that she hadn't been to in quite some time and hoped that perhaps someone might be able to see her skillset and understand that she would be a BENEFICIAL addition to their pride. Zulema had information that would CRUCIAL for the future but she wanted to make sure that she went somewhere that was going to value what she could bring to the table. As a Master Pathfinder, she could see what was coming at any moment and something WAS coming. So the carmine woman waited patiently at the Passage for someone worthy to come along.

it had been quite a while since elke ventured here. she had been resting, keen on using her skills on patrols and safeguarding the pride of firnen. but the wind swept her away and onto the next rogue she goes to. this time, the passage opened for her a road to a red woman. older, and no doubt experienced in life. elke must take a chance, so she chuffed to @Zulema. good morning, i am elke of firnen rainforest scents clung onto the rogue, some of which smelled like that of the prides in the area. elke wondered if zulema had lived here before, but that was not of great importance to ask. would you like to join us?

"i inhale great draughts of space," ♞


Still here I carry my old delicious burdens, I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go, I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them, I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.

The woman from Firnen – Elke, was her name? Interesting name – was the most common face he saw in the passage. Every time he saw her, it was at a different angle, which helped him with his limited depth perception to get a general idea of her many expressions. In fact, he felt he was building a library in his mind of her on different days. Her, carrying a limp body. Her, flirting with strangers. Her, standing confidently in the shark pit. She was not the queen, no, and he was not the king. So he felt a bit of kindred warmth toward her. Even so, his attention moved swiftly as he approached them to the vibrant streak of scarlet standing bold in the spring air. His eye drawn to the life burning within her. Something about her demeanor gave him pause, a scarred brow quirked on his head. "She and I are here often enough that I think she’s given up the preamble." He smirked, gesturing with a roguish tilt of his chin toward @Elke. It was a gentle tease, after all, they were practically co-workers. Corinthian settled his blue eye on the stranger, then, thoughtful. "I am Corinthian Lesath, Gentry of Caladan Cove, not a far walk from here. If you need rest and a meal, we can offer it. Or else you can tell me what it is you seek." He thought of that quip Alizabeth made about beggars. Was he beggar? He thought about it or a moment, tail lashing at his heels. Nah, and all of these strangers in the open road were oh so compelling. He could afford a bit of shamelessness.

code by corvus

Here she comes again. The uncouth, boisterous woman that called herself King. Confidence, as always, poured off of her as she entered the fray. Attention shifts to @Elke, grinning softly - perhaps she should consider seeing that woman again. "Hey lovely." She dips her head, recalling their battle and how she had thoroughly impressed Alizabeth, despite losing the battle. One day she'd be quite the force. The ivory woman could only hope she ended up getting her ass kicked as repayment.

A brow arches as those magenta eyes of hers settle on @Corinthian now, silently listening to him speak and offer the rogue woman a place to stay. As per usual, Alizabeth wasn't here to offer a free ride. Perhaps she was unusual in her ways, but she had every intention of building a pride that could survive no matter the cost. At long last her eyes turn to sweep over @Zulema. A stunning feline, both in color and looks. Like a cherry that had somehow made it's way into the snow.

"Alizabeth, King of Scilla Lagoon. I've got a nice fuckin' place to settle and call home, food and capable pridemates I like to call family. All for the low price of don't be a lazy ass. The Lagoon wants those that wanna work for what they got." See, see what she did there? Offered something nice but didn't make it free. Obviously Alizabeth was an evolved being. Obviously. While Alizabeth wanted members, she wasn't about to force someone to be in the Lagoon if they didn't want to be. If she had to convince them with niceties...then they likely weren't a good fit anyways.

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From time to time, the mauve lion got the urge to frequent the passage in person. While Obsidian and fine recruiters, sometimes it was just nice for Roan to get some first hand impressions from the other representatives of Amaryllis. Prides were ever changing, and so too were recruiters. The Hodari was oftentimes more interested to use the passage as a means of learning about other prides than for actually recruiting. Every once in a while, though, the masked would find someone of familiarity.

A short ways off, Roan noticed a small group forming. Certainly, there must be a rogue among them, and as the Hollows leader took a closer look through the other lion, a flash of red caught his eye. In the time it took for the Hodari to close the gap between himself and the other felines, he had managed to pull a name from his memory. Once again, he'd be crossing paths with the new Lagoon 'king' as he caught the end of @Alizabeth's spiel. The scents of Firnen and Caladan were recognized though @Elke and @Corinthian were not familiar figures to him. Then, there was @Zulema. If his memory served him well, she had been Magnus's right hand woman. A trusted individual to the Sigrun male, to say theeast. She could be a very valuable addition to the Hollow should the red woman be so inclined to return to a familiar home.

The masked man came to a casual halt among the group, offering a silent nod of greeting to them all until a break came in the conversation. Minty gaze turned to the red woman, curious if she would remember him. "It's Zulema, right?" He wanted to be sure before saying too much. While the Kivasante was familiar, they were not close in the slightest. "Are you in search of the Sigrun or are you looking for something new?" Was she just passing through the passage when the others had found her, or was the rogue actually interested in a home?

table by amanda || background

The first to arrive was a pretty little thing. So young and so gentle; she envied the girl's ability to sprout kindness at the Passage when she knew how dark it could get at times. The Rainforest? she asks, contemplating it for a moment. Remembering quickly when she used to make regular visits with Magnus to the Rainforest to meet with Avreya when she had been High Sovereign. It was a grand choice, really. Zulema had always thought the rainforest a beautiful place but there wasn't a lot of time to weigh in and chat with the beautiful wheat-gray lady. The likes of which she'd always been more attracted to monochrome colors anyways.

That of which only furthers her state of confusion on where to go when a very scarred up white boy comes to visit. Again, young but well built but his appearance certainly gave a hint of a wild story. @Corinthian offered much of what was always offered though she was no fool to know the alliances and allegiances or friendly ties to what could be considered friend and foe. Zulema was on a certain side and she could not deny that to her core but she refused to let anyone else know where her loyalties were.

Again, before she could properly introduce herself another lovely white beast arrived and this time someone more appropriately her own age. It made delighting in their appearance a little easier and less confusing and conflicting. Then to be met with someone that she actually vaguely recognized from one brief encounter where she had said no more than ten words altogether. Simply a political piece at Magnus' side. Zulema, yes. Zulema Kivasante. She introduced herself fondly to not just @Roan but to all parties around her. While there were some who might recognize the last name as Sangria's still, she wasn't going to let her cousin's bloody mess of a past life affect her.

A bit of both, perhaps. I'm not much for sitting and waiting around. Zulema kept herself endlessly busy with anything and everything. Whether that meant scouting the lands looking for stagnation and change or collecting useful information that she could use against others at the appropriate time. All of your prides are good places to choose from. Your Rainforest I have visited a few times. Very nice. Spoken directly to @Elke before looking to Corinthian. Caladan, I visited in the past during an event between prides. A breaking bread bones ceremony between prides. Not that she had participated in it much.

And the Lagoon, she muses quietly, I lived in for just over a year. Or was it more? She'd been in Amaryllis far too long. And Obsidian was my first ever home in Amaryllis. A place I know all too well. A place that she certainly held a fondness for even if she might have chosen a different place once upon a time. All of your prides I know geographically quite well. She also happened to know what ranks they had managed to fill out and where the dens were located but having that knowledge might be off-putting for the individuals that she wouldn't be choosing.

So she considers her options very carefully. Perhaps the last place she thought to go was, unfortunately, Caladan. For she recognized the pride to not be of any ally to the Sigrun. They were not on the same side and even if she could fill the role of infiltrator, she found no interest in being a backwater spy. Especially not to such a lovely representative. She loved Obsidian Hollow and respected Roan, but she did not wish to partake in a pride that was well-built and well-established. It was the easy pick, so to say. So her attention moved to Elke and @Alizabeth. It was theirs that she felt a steady inclination to and considered them both in quiet unless someone should wish to speak further to entice.

Eyes briefly flashed to the bold age-appropriate lioness and fancied her for a moment or two. Glancing along those scars and the story they likely held, wishing for nothing more than to soak up into it. Only then did her gaze flip to Elke and her young, able-bodied self who so kindly had offered fewer words than the rest and yet, perhaps it was the pull that words couldn't express. A place that she had never lived that wasn't at the other end of the pool in the enemies section. I think I shall fancy a new place to call home. Elke, if you'll please escort me to Firnen. She smiled kindly yet confidently before looking to those she hoped noticed that she was politely declining their invitation. Thank you all for your most kind offers of inclusion within your prides... King Alizabeth.. she added, hoping to get the woman's attention, I do so hope to see you again. She hoped to see all of them at some point but given their age and the curiosity that the woman held, it was far easier to take part in that than anything else.

next came the other pride recruiters. a familiar, heavily-scarred male whose scent belonged to the cove. she was familiar enough with him to let slip a chuckle at the words. @Corinthian was right - they were close enough that they could be considered work mates. but elke was no less impressed at his loyalty to his duties than anything else. perhaps one day, they could share tips.

before she could actually greet him, @Alizabeth comes and sends her a grin - a teasing one, if elke could insist. with a spark in her eyes, elke chuffed at aliza and said hello back to you too, king. it was almost a purr, but knowing that she was surrounded by other lions, she decided not to take it too far just yet. after alizebeth's arrival was yet another lion, this time a man who she had yet to know. he seemed to know the red woman @Zulema and already elke was wondering if this was another one of those tripe.

but surprises were on the horizon when zulema reached out and picked firnen - and elke. elke's eyes lit up with excitement, mouth curling into a pleased smile as she pressed forth. her tail gently swayed behind her as she looked at the older woman, the brilliance of her coat keeping her attention from everywhere else. of course elke said. let me walk you to your new home, zulema. before heading out, elke casted a look towards the three lions, giving them a smile as goodbye for now. but to alizebeth especially, she carefully lingered close enough to nudge her shoulder against. next time, she promised, we'll spar again. [exit elke]

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Alizabeth couldn't remember the last time she'd met someone that was so...perfect. @Zulema didn't even blink or flinch upon meeting her - and it honestly both impressed and intrigued her. Someone so feminine and dainty, she had half expected her delicate sensibilities to be offended. A stupid grin curls her lips as the red woman speaks, so eloquent and efficient - polite but making sure to include everyone.

She chose Firnen and the Lagoon King couldn't even be angry. There was a focus on her that would've made her blush if she were the type, but instead her vibrant eyes settled to met and lock with Zulema's, a dip of her head offered. For the first time in a long time, Alizabeth's reaction wasn't one of outlandish behavior.

"You will." She assures, the words a promise. Standing, the wartorn woman offers the lioness a fleeting wink before she turns to leave, but not before bowing very briefly to @Elke, @Roan, and @Corinthian. Alizabeth would be back for the red woman. If she had anything to do with it, Zulema wouldn't be a Firnen lioness for long.

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Much to his relief, the mauve lion had not mis-remembered @Zulema's name. "Roan Hodari," the masked man offered in return just in case she didn't already know his name. It had been only a brief encounter, after all. As for the red woman's pursuits in these lands, her answer was vague leaving Roan to wonder of her current standing with the Sigrun, if she had any allegiance to them anymore in the first place. That seemed all he would need to say, however, as the rogue went on to acknowledge her familiarity with the pride territories they each represented.

While the Hodari would expect a rogue to ask more question about how a pride was lead, perhaps Zulema had just been around Amaryllis long enough to know what she wanted already. A change of scenery was understandable, even if his own opinion would still wish to know the laws of a land before joining. In the end, it would be Firnen that would draw the red woman's interest above the rest. With a respectful nod given once the decision was made, Roan would take his leave without much further fanfare.

exit Roan

table by amanda || background

Part of why she did not bother to learn any of their laws was that she was practically already privy to them. As a sleuth it was her job to know a lot about a pride, its den spaces, its ranks and if they were filled and she did not believe Firnen to be of any horrible consequence. From what she could surmise, it was a very chill pride that simply did not wish for you to stand around doing nothing to help.

Once @Elke was out of her surprise and began to escort her did Zulema turn to look at those who had begun their leave. @Alizabeth would indeed see her again and with much confidence to give in her statement. @Roan did not leave with another word say and she pondered for the briefest moment and if she had said something incorrect but the moment passed quickly. Zulema had a lot on her mind already and joining a pride had been a part of a probably temporary situation anyways. She hadn't a clue when the Sigrun were going to be finding another home and she didn't have the patience to wait around. exit zulema.