Years have passed since the chocolate-haired native last sunk her toes in the earth of Amaryllis, and the familiarity of it all inspired a literal ache in her chest as she returned to her first home. Toffee limbs brushed through the sun-dried grasses as she paced towards her destination, her crown lifted alertly and her indigo hues sweeping from side to side as she took in the scenery. It was familiar, it was home, and all the wanderlust in the world could not replace the emotion this truth inspired in her.

With an expertise born only into the natives of this continent, the lioness veered straight for the borders of the brook, her stride lengthening with excitement the closer she got. Tuathla did not know if her sister Tyne lived here, or even if Nymeria still led the natives, but she entertained hope that all would not be too different from when she had last called Vermeda home.

The borders were the first sign of change; a scent she almost didn’t recognize had replaced the sovereign she had expected, and for a moment, Tuathla hesitated. But her reluctance only lasted for a heartbeat – homecoming was too important to put off – and she would stand at the borders and chuff eagerly for the attention of anyone who might be patrolling, be them familiar face or not. She was home.

table by sentinel / lion + meadow + flower

The young Sovereign didn't recognize the voice or the scent that came calling from the borders. The call rang out with a sense of familiarity in its tone, and whoever it was seemed to know exactly where they were. It also didn't sound like a challenge for the pride either. Interesting. Rising to her paws from her den where she was curled up with her husband and children, Cassandra headed for the border of the Brook to see what was up and who exactly was calling.

Paws traced the familiar paths of the Brook as the young girl made her way to the caller, and it was obvious by the way she maneuvered through the Brook that she knew these lands very well. Coming to the borders, Cassandra spotted a choco-hued lioness standing upon the borders, but politely on the other side of them. "Greetings. You called for someone from the pride?" She asked, keeping a respectable distance between herself and the other lioness.

She might not be familiar to the other lioness, but the drips on her nose were a dead giveaway of who she was related to, if one was familiar enough with her mother. At the moment she didn't reveal who she was within the pride, since she didn't know the lioness at the borders.

@Tuathla

actions. "speech."

Art by Rabbit | Table Code by Zodiac

By now young Imber had grown accustomed to his mother frequently leaving their family den to attend to matters relating to leadership. He was now four months old, and with each passing day became more fascinated by the workings of the world around him, and more determined to see what his mother's duties entailed out in the wilderness within Vermeda Brook's borders. The Sovereign was one of the child's biggest role models, and he was her near replica and little shadow.

Imber stirred from his nap as Cassandra rose to answer a call somewhere out in the forest. Feeling emboldened, the royal toddled out of their den on silent paws, wandering into the woods and pushing through the thick foliage to follow his mother's trail using sight and smell (to the best of his abilities, at least). He was just an inexperienced fool driven by curiosity and wanderlust, but who could blame the child for wanting to learn?

The sound of polite introduction between the two lionesses was interrupted by the snapping of sticks as Imber emerged from the undergrowth with a bashful grin. Twigs and dried leaves stuck out of his fluffy pelage, indicative of the illicit adventure he'd just embarked on. "Mama, who dis?" Imber asked @Cassandra nonchalantly, lilac eyes examining @Tuathla inquisitively.

Tuathla thought it a good sign that she was greeted so quickly; it suggested the pride was healthy in numbers, enough so to spare for plenty of patrols, and the thought that her former home maintained its strength comforted the wayward lioness. The one who emerged from the perimeter of pine trees to greet her was formally unknown to the Donnelly, but there was an uncanny familiarity in the details of her, and indigo hues swept over the Talisa Valour trademark with approval. Another good sign.

Excited energy hummed in her veins as the familiar stranger drew closer, a smile widening across her freckled features; diplomacy was never her strength, and thus she invested a bit of effort in conveying the sincerity of her happiness. “Greetings, yes, thank you for coming. I don’t believe you and I have ever met, but I used to live here years ago. Under Nymeria -is she still around? I was hoping… well, I was hoping… to come back, if possible.” She paused a breath, eyes dancing over the others shoulder as another much smaller form emerged from the tree line, a near carbon copy of the lioness who stood before her. Her smile twisted in amusement; Tuathla doubted the parents wanted him wandering so close to the border to greet a stranger, but she found herself tickled by the cubs spirit to do so anyway.

Although remaining on the opposite side of the border, she lowered her belly to the ground and crossed her front paws, indigo eyes illuminated with an affectionate mischief as she considered the child. “Oh my, you’re too cute. My name is Tuathla, little one. Tuathla Donnelly.” – her eyes flitted up to the mother during her introduction, as it was primarily meant for her – “My sister Tyne used to live here, too, I don’t know if that helps my credentials any. We kinda look alike, I suppose. No trademarks like yours though.” She lifted her paw to brush her the top of her nose, referencing the other woman's marking. Tuathla had no way of knowing whether or not Tyne still lived here, or if this lioness would even recognize that name; but considering they were strangers, she figured the best way to support her claim of prior residence was to name drop as much as possible.

(ooc note: her name is pronounced: too-a-lah)

@Cassandra @Imber

table by sentinel / lion + meadow + flower

She was not expecting the stranger at the borders to apparently be a former member. Must’ve been before her birth, or something must’ve happened to drive her from the Brook before she and her brothers had been out and exploring the land of the Brook itself. She was fully prepared to do all the diplomatic things necessary, and she had opened her muzzle to speak when the bushes rustled behind her, and a familiar little frame came up next to her, inquiring as to who the unfamiliar lioness. "@Imber! Quid hic agis? Cum patre tuo putaris esse in lacu." Cassandra scolded quietly in Latin, her tone stern as she spoke.

Her son was not supposed to be out here, and while this lioness seemed harmless, she couldn’t be too careful with her children. "Apologies for my son - he knows he’s not supposed to follow me to the border when I’m answering calls." Cassandra said, shooting a glance at her son after having returned her gaze to @Tuathla. It would seem she’d have to have a discussion with her youngest son about why he and his siblings weren’t to follow her to the borders without express permission. Turning her attention back to the discussion at paw, Cassandra mentally shook herself. "Nymeria is still around yes. Due to certain circumstances she is no longer leading the pride, but she does still hold rank in the pride as our lead hunter." The young Sovereign began, her attention still alert for the sound of anyone else creeping around. "My apologies, I am Cassandra Valour-Sigrun, Sovereign of the Brook these days. If you knew Nymeria, you likely know my uncle and who I currently rule alongside - Aquila. If you were previously a part of the pride under my aunt’s rule, I see no issue with allowing you back into the Brook." Cassandra said, having forgotten to introduce herself when her son had appeared without warning.

"I can’t say I’ve ever met a Tyne - but she might’ve been around while I wasn’t in the Brook for a time. This is Imber, my son. Who knows better than to follow his mother to the borders to answer calls." She said, raising an eyebrow as she looked at her youngest while simultaneously lifting a paw to draw him underneath her protectively. He was her ever-present shadow, but he needed to know the dangers that lurked outside the Brook’s borders. Lions who would wish to see him and his siblings dead if they knew their heritage. While she didn’t believe the warm-hued lioness in front of her would do anything, she was still a very protective first-time mother over her children.

Translation for those who can’t hover/on mobile:
Imber! Quid hic agis? Cum patre tuo putaris esse in lacu. = Imber! What are you doing out here? You are supposed to be in the den with your father.

actions. "speech."

Art by Rabbit | Table Code by Zodiac

A shy yet inquisitive grin painted itself across Imber's face as the unfamiliar lioness commented amusedly at his surprise appearance. She introduced herself as @Tuathla. Mentally noting this, the cub toddled eagerly over to @Cassandra to see what was going on, but he was not met with the same enthusiasm from his mother.

The sunshine drained from the child’s countenance as Cassandra scolded him in her stern Latin tongue. Lavender eyes flickered suddenly to the ground, lowered in self-consciousness and banished to study the mud and dried grass caked to his little toes. He dared not meet his mother's gaze — she was clearly disappointed. He did know better, it was true, but a small part of him had thought that maybe mama would have been proud that he was such a budding adventurer. But alas, young Imber certainly had plenty things to learn about rules, danger, and navigation — covered in mud, twigs, and pine needles, he was quite the messy sight.

"Me paenitet, mama," I’m sorry, mama. Imber whispered defeatedly, dark ears pinned down in embarrassment with his eyes still fixed on his paws. He felt his cheeks grow flush with chagrin each time his mother brought attention back to his antics as she talked to Tuathla. He sat, tucked away protectively under Cassandra, contemplating his decisions.

Tyne's place in the Brook hadn't really been found. The lioness felt that she was often just lingering along in life and not really making anything of it. She wasn't really sure how to change that but as her sister's voice lifts on the winds it gives her hope. Maybe with her back, they could find a path together to be something productive. She walked up and quickly found her sister and walked up next to her. She moved in to give her a head bump greeting before looking toward the pair who were there.

Hi. I am Tyne. Her sister. Our parents lived here for many years before they passed away. We have been trying to find our place in the world now without them. She left things open to see if @Cassandra would have any ideas on what they could do within the pride to help out and make sure that they were pulling their own. She needed some direction. She wasn't sure if her sister had found answers to things while she had been gone but Tyne hadn't.

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

The cub was scolded and Tuathla could not help but respond sympathetically to the deflated energy that came from his small little body: her freckled face softened, and her ears swept back against her head. She felt a longing to pull the child into a cozy hug and reassure him that everything was okay—that he did nothing wrong, even if, by every logical account, his presence at the borders was dangerous (in general, as she knew she was no threat) and the reprimand was just. Besides, for all of the native’s fun aunt energy transient maternal instincts, she would never dream of contradicting the cub’s mother, especially not in this situation, and so she remained silent during their family moment.

The Vermeda lioness returned to their conversation, and Tuathla looked up at her with a quick smile of reassurance. “Oh, no need to apologize—kids will be kids. He’s a darling welcome party.” She pushed herself back into a reclined seat, attentive and keen to the others words. Surprise lifted the lines of her countenance when she realized this lioness was in fact the new Sovereign of the brook, and Tuathla lifted her hips from the earth and would dip her head in a more formally respectful manner than she had offered earlier. “I did not realize you are the Sovereign, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Cassandra. Yes, I know Aquila,”—not well, but alas, she was a wayward creature who had not managed to establish the same warm-and-fuzzies relationship with the Valour’s that they held inherently for their own blood, but that didn’t necessarily mean they lacked history—“and I am glad to hear Nymeria is still here.” Regardless, her words were true, and the sincerity of them rang in her tone. “I thank you for your trust; it feels wonderful to be back home again.” Her grin was generous, and her eyes danced over the backdrop of pine trees, visions of the familiar fields and meadows and shining water clear in her minds eye.

At the mention of Tyne, she felt a twist in her belly—her sister was not here anymore? Tuathla resisted frowning, although the delight she had worn seconds ago was visibly tempered and was replaced by a gentler warmth as she smiled at the cub. “Your mother is right of course, but I’m glad to have met you.” She assured with a wink and would have returned her focus to the Sovereign Cassandra had the arrival of the very sister she had spoken of earlier not manifested from the pines. An incoherent squeak of happiness bubbled past her lips as she darted forward, greeting her sister with a returned headbutt and a throaty purr.

“Yes, what she says is true. Its the reason I’ve been away.” She finished in support, turning to once more face the Sovereign, the brightness of her eyes restored but she would say nothing more, waiting instead for Cassandra’s approval to officially cross the borders and spend some much-needed time with her sister in their new-old home.

ooc | @Cassandra @Imber @Tyne sorry for the length – lots of feelings to process!

table by sentinel / lion + meadow + flower

She didn't mean to make @Imber so scared and upset, and she learned down with a sigh to brush her nose along his head to soothe her son. "Aliquis in limitibus potentialiter periculosum esse tibi tuisque siblings potest, quare nolo me venire donec maior sis.*" Cassandra murmured to her little shadow. He didn't know that someone out there would want to kill him for merely who he was related to.

Her attention would turn back to the visitor at the borders as the topic returned to the matter at paw. "I know I'm quite young to be a Sovereign - but due to recent circumstances my uncle asked me to rule alongside him to help him out. He's the High Sovereign of the pride. It would seem much has happened since you were here then." Cassandra said, her voice becoming more musing as she got towards the end of her statement. Another would appear alongside her, the sister apparently to @Tuathla - named @Tyne. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting quite yet - I'm assuming you joined when I was otherwise occupied." She said, a glance being given to the cub between her front paws.

"As for finding your place in the world, I can understand that. It took me awhile to figure out where I belonged, and I am happy where I'm at now. I know we've got a few ranks open within the pride, and if you wish to seek me out later you are welcome to do so regarding those open ranks. However, I'm happy to welcome you back to the Brook." She said, stepping to the side to allow Tuathla to enter into the Brook's territory.


*Aliquis in limitibus potentialiter periculosum esse tibi tuisque siblings potest, quare nolo me venire donec maior sis. = Someone at the borders could potentially be dangerous for you and your siblings, which is why I don't want you coming with me until you're older.

actions. "speech."

Art by Rabbit | Table Code by Zodiac

Imber remained beneath his mother's protective stature, still mulling over his actions and subsequent scolding while the lionesses discussed adult things that he didn't quite understand. Lilac eyes finally glanced upwards to meet his mother's gaze when she turned his attention back to him, speaking in a more soothing voice to explain why the borders were dangerous for him and his siblings to explore. Imber understood and felt some upliftment upon his mother's nuzzle along his head, but the sting of rejection and embarrassment lingered. Imber smiled faintly with a shy nod to express his understanding, and then sat back obediently to let the lionesses talk. A third stranger had approached now, and Imber studied her curiously from where he sat.

@Tuathla @Tyne @Cassandra