I am flesh and I am bone.

Do you walk in the valley of kings? Do you walk in the shadow of men? Who sold their lives to a dream? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

Amara stood on the ledge of the Bluffs, the sky behind her starless, and the moon was covered by a large dark cloud. Her body was the only thing breaking up the night sky should someone look up. Her gaze looked out over the lands but wasn't really focusing on anything. Since his death, she had felt strangely off. She didn't understand why, he had been gone longer than he had been back but now she knew he wasn't coming back. His cold, unmoving body had been proof of that. The loss of her stillborn cubs had shown her that she could indeed feel and grieve but this was different. This wasn't that. She didn't know what it was. His life had been stolen in an effort to protect their home, something that should have been her burden to carry and yet he had done it. It wasn't an enemy she could seek revenge upon but a stranger, a rogue who had likely been looking for some food. Still, Amara knew that she would have to keep pushing forward. She didn't know what that looked like or what it would mean for her in the long term but she knew that she didn't have a choice in finding it out. Life had handed her that challenge and she didn't have a choice in t.

I've got fire in my soul.

Do you walk in the meadow of spring? Do you talk to the animals? Do you hold their lives from a string? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

code by corvus

she rather liked the bluffs, appearance wise- at least. she hadn't deigned to meet any of those she would call "pride-mates" aside from the queen at the passage- a figure she had meant to seek out in the days since.

apparently, this would be the night.

silently, she prowls, unable to sleep at the moment- her mind full of desires and plans, and the itching need to get to work on them. she hadn't expected, to stumble upon the scent of the queen of these lands.

yet, curiosity will draw her forward- following the scent as it leads her higher. she does not know if @Amara notes her approach of not, but with the slightest brush of fur, and a scuffle of her paws she makes to announce herself before speaking. "i suggest you kill whoever troubles you so." these were not honeyed words, nor words of sympathy for whatever plight may be bothering the lioness- helah can only assume she is troubled by her silence and staring. so few, stayed up at night to stare out over the land, unless they were thinking.

"i could suggest an array of poisons that may suit such needs." she offers, with a flashing grin in the darkness- but she will not approach her further. this lioness she calls queen... she does not know her in such a way to step closer to her where she sits- but helah will linger in the shadows- waiting to see if she what comes next.

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

I am flesh and I am bone.

Do you walk in the valley of kings? Do you walk in the shadow of men? Who sold their lives to a dream? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

The soft scuffle broke the silence of the night of paws, her ears flattened and turned toward the noise. Amara's golden gaze snapped to see who it was, her body was tense and only softened slightly when she saw @Helah ♔. He is already dead. She turned her gaze away from her. There wasn't much else that could be done for her mate or the lion who killed him. They were both dead. Her ear flicked slightly at the suggestion of poisons, Keiran would have enjoyed hearing that finally, someone else who dealt with toxins was in the pride. A little too late it seemed. Got anything to erase memories? Amara asked in a low voice. She knew that nothing would be able to change what happened and really she didn't know why it was bothering her so much but here she was, bothered.

I've got fire in my soul.

Do you walk in the meadow of spring? Do you talk to the animals? Do you hold their lives from a string? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

code by corvus

Helah remained still as a statue, if a statue's expression could be carved in such a calculated expression. Another's expression may have become softer, less stony at the Queen's verbal expression- 'He is already dead.' Yet, Helah does not flinch, merely blinks- waiting. She cannot alter the course of life and death. The question about altering memories... "Altering one's memories is not impossible. The flowers of devil's trumpet could do the trick to cause a temporary amnesia, though that may reduce your fitness for leadership." Calculating words, but calm and collected. It would come down to the thing... would @Amara choose the potential healing of her own memories over her crown. Helah did not know her well enough for that. If it was something Amara wished for, Helah could procure it- with little care.

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

I am flesh and I am bone.

Do you walk in the valley of kings? Do you walk in the shadow of men? Who sold their lives to a dream? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

Amara didn't think there would be an answer to her need so when one was offered a flash of surprise crossed her features before disappearing. What do you mean reduce my fitness for leadership? What could a plant do to her that would make it so she couldn't lead her pride and family? She was fit and had defended her lands multiple times now. She didn't know the new member well enough to know if this was a warning or a threat toward the pride and her leadership. Amara turned to face her to get a better look at her, her golden gaze leveling on @Helah ♔ as she waited for the answer.

I've got fire in my soul.

Do you walk in the meadow of spring? Do you talk to the animals? Do you hold their lives from a string? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

code by corvus

Helah regards @Amara coolly, but that does not mean that she does not consider her words in silence. "To much of the herb, can cause tachycardia, the rapid beating of one's heart, delirium- you could forget where you are- who you are... in a territory such as this, it could be deadly." A gesture with a paw to the bluffs around them. "A subtle dosage, over a short period of time could possibly dull the memories- as it is known for causing amnesia... but abuse of it - I wouldn't advise for a leader, or anyone wanting to live any quality of life." She clarifies. Of course, there were a few things that it could also do to harm someone but she didn't reckon Amara wanted the entire list of every side-effect. "I'm a poisoner, not much of an herbalist, but even i study both the benefits and harms of a plant before I consider it for a potential murderee." She had to make sure they suffered, just as she wanted them too, after all.

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

I am flesh and I am bone.

Do you walk in the valley of kings? Do you walk in the shadow of men? Who sold their lives to a dream? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

Amara features didn't change as the lioness infront of her spoke of things that the High Sovereign wasn't even aware of. Fighting and killing with her claws was her skill set, not herbs. She had managed to pick up a little from Echo on healing herbs but that knowledge was limited and she wasn't able to add to it now. What @Helah ♔ was saying didn't sound like something she wanted to mess with. She wouldn't risk the safety of the pride for the removal of her memories. It seemed that she would be stuck with her nightmares for now. Do you intend to murder anyone here? Amara asked in slight jest but the raise of her brow may make one think twice about the ability of the High Sovereign to do anything in jest.

I've got fire in my soul.

Do you walk in the meadow of spring? Do you talk to the animals? Do you hold their lives from a string? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

code by corvus

Though, Helah quite liked poisons, she couldn't deny that she also enjoyed other acts done in the shadows. She enjoyed violence... but she also enjoyed taking things slow- and taking her time... in taking down her enemies. Amara's brow seemed to raise, as she asked Helah if she intended to murder anyone here, and it is a mere wry grin she offers the Queen. "Do you wish me too?" A subtle offer, that her murderous intent could be the queen's to harness, for now.

"I currently hold no intentions against anyone among this pride, though... I do not doubt in time I will find my targets among the land." She says simply- the land, not the pride itself- the land outside it. Helah did not forget, easily that.. Amara had offered her shelter, and so she would currently avoid them as a target. She hasn't decided who to go for, yet. "Any suggestions?" She offers, with a growing grin, as she studies the Queen.

@Amara

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

I am flesh and I am bone.

Do you walk in the valley of kings? Do you walk in the shadow of men? Who sold their lives to a dream? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

Amara gave an amused huff as the lioness answered her with a question. It seemed like an offer to kill on her behalf, something Amara was always open to. She doubted she would ever need to turn against a pride member but should the day come, it would need to be a clean kill. @Helah ♔ went on and Amara's ears flicked as she listened to her. Do you wish to have my enemies as your own? Amara couldn't help but think of things that had happened in her past when she had asked others to take on her enemies. There was a notion that they became her hounds a term that Amara wasn't overly fond of now. Was that something that Helah wanted of herself? Did she care?

I've got fire in my soul.

Do you walk in the meadow of spring? Do you talk to the animals? Do you hold their lives from a string? Do you ponder the manner of things? In the dark? The dark, the dark, the dark

code by corvus

Helah considered Amara's question, weighing it carefully in her mind, her eyes narrowing a fraction as she considers what she is asking. She stares out over the bluffs and contemplates that in silence. "At the moment, I believe our enemies align." She says simply, as her gaze drifts back to the Queens. A subtle, or not so subtle way of saying... 'your enemies are mine', as long as she was within her pride. "I'd hate my talents to grow dull with lack of use." She says simply, "and until I'm ready to claim my own throne... I may as well exercise my talents, in a way that could potentially benefit the both of us." She replies.

Helah falls silent, and flexes her claws against the stone beneath her, before rolling her shoulders, as she gazes across the bluffs again, waiting to see what @Amara may say next- in her slight revelations of her own ambitions.

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS