He'd always found peace and comfort whenever he were at the grove. Something about the scenery, of how it kept its greenery all year round, was both interesting and intriguing to him. Not to mention all the hideouts within the many nooks and crannies Valhalla has discovered throughout the years he'd been alive. The majority of them didn't accommodate his colossal form like they once did when he were a mere cub, but that didn't stop him from at least enjoying the places they were at.

Large paws would keep on a worn down trail, one of many that intertwined themselves throughout the grove. He would move with a rather relaxed and lazy gait, his ears flickering here and there whenever there was a noise that would crackle in the otherwise silent air. The beast moved as though he had naught a care in the world. And, in all honesty, he didn't. Even though he had rather explosive plans that felt as though they were going to happen much sooner than later, Valhalla didn't feel any nervousness nor fear of what he were planning to do. He felt the exact opposite, rather. The feelings of being confident in his future decisions and comfortable with the actions he were going to take was what made him able to keep himself calm. There was no reason in worrying himself sick over something he, in the end, would be leaving up to Maua to decide the end result.

"speech."

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@Maeve

She was sitting, laying in the blessed sun. She’d not seen the sun in quite some time. Gently stirring the plants behind her with a hum upon her lips. Picking at the grass in front of her. Not a care or concern in the world, as she normally was. She was a tad bored, sure, but nothing crazy. Perhaps she needed to replenish her flower collection soon? She wasn’t sure. She glanced up at the trees curiously. Then to the sky past them. Very few clouds today. Perhaps she could sneak off to the gardens?

But she did not yet stir, relishing in the sunlight as it brought warmth to her dark pelt. Grooming her mane with a paw calmly. She was completely unawares of another presence near her. Not concerned enough to hear the light footsteps over the din of birds and the breeze. Or the sounds of the spirits in her ears. Though they were unusually quiet today. How strange. Very uncharacteristic of them.

@Valhalla

In The Forest Deep

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It wouldn't take him long before he scented another not too far from it. It were another native, he could depict their scents from the invaders very easily simply by how the ones such as himself had the aroma of Amaryllis embedded within their coats, whereas the others had a stench that caused for his nostrils to wrinkle. It was a pleasant aroma, one he was sure he had plucked out from time to time and a body he surely had come across once or twice. All the natives knew each other whether it be from passing or building friendships and relationships with one another. There were very few Valhalla didn't know past a first name basis. But that didn't mean he knew every single native on a personal level.

Yellow eyes would pluck out the chocolate figure that lay soaking up the sun's rays, lips pulling into a rather coy grin. "Beautiful day, is it not?" Deep tones would call out to the lioness in a casual greeting, only slowing his gait to a stop once he were a comfortable distance from Maeve. His tail would curl upward before swishing to the side, his ears pricking forward and his shoulders rolling to allow muscles to loosen up a bit around them. "Maeve, is it?" He'd surely feel like a fool if he got her name wrong, but it wouldn't be the first time he had mistaken one native for another. Ah well.

"speech."

code by corvus

@Maeve

Her tufted, dark ears twitched and swiveled as the greeting was called, casting her head over her shoulder. She smiled at him, lips curling upwards in a flattering manner. “It is.” She conceded. A pretty day, no? The spirits muttered once again but she lightly batted them away in her mind. Always trying to interrupt the living, they were. Maeve was pleased, however, when the warm hued male remembered her name. “You are Valhalla, yes?” She asks in return. Though she did not think she could forget such a handsome face. Nor such a unique pelt.

She looked up at him underneath her eyelashes. Smile still lightly placed upon her maw as she thought before speaking. “Still a rogue? Or have you decided to join Vermeda?” She asked. She quite liked the rogue life herself. Kept her out of the petty politics of it all. Didn’t have to worry about who hated who, she could be friends or have flings with whoever in that case. Again she paused before her melodic, smooth voice produce from her lips, “Have you stopped growing yet? Or am I shrinking?” She teased lightly. It wasn’t much of an accomplishment to be taller than her but he was exceptionally tall. The last time she’d seen him was a few months ago, when she was still a girl and not a woman. But now she supposed she was as tall as she was going to get. Only getting chubbier from here on out.

@Valhalla

In The Forest Deep

code by corvus

It would appear that he called her by the correct name, coming to that conclusion only by how she didn't reprimand or correct him. A simple nod would be given as she questioned that his name was, indeed, Valhalla. "The one and only," would be his witty remark, dipping his head low toward her in a proper greeting of sorts. She would pry further, asking if he were still a rogue or if he had decided to join Nymeria and the Brook. Although it did cross his times on several occasions, the beast was one that enjoyed the solitude lifestyle, not having to follow rules and didn't have to worry about anyone but himself. But those days were coming to an end, perhaps, if everything fell into place. "Still a rogue, like I'm assuming you are." It was more of a comment than a question; he couldn't scent Vermeda on her, so unless she was very good at disguising the scent Valhalla assumed she were still a rogue, too.

The next string of words Maeve would speak would cause for the Viking to let out a deep sounding chuckle. He has been blessed with his colossal frame, mainly from how his genetics were. There were very few small and medium built lions and lionesses in the Brynmawr lineage, and when both your sire and dame were of the same build as yourself, it was only fitting that their offspring bore their stature. "Soon enough I won't be able to see you down there." Valhalla would stand on his tip toes and shut an eye, pointing his skull downward with his other eye open, acting like he were trying to search for the lioness as if she were too small for him to see.

"speech."

code by corvus

@Maeve

She continued to smile at him. Well, it seemed she’d be a tad less bored now. He was entertaining, at the least. Witty, just as she liked her company. Her jade eyes moved from him to the tree line for a moment again. Yep, sky was still clear. With all the days stuck in her den, she’d gotten a bit aggravated at Maua’s decision in weather. Still a rogue, good. There were enough in Vermeda’s ranks, anyways. Practically every adult Native, anyways. “Mhmm! Don’t get me wrong, I’m friends with some of them but- I like the freedom and keeping away from politics is always a plus.” Stepping on eggshells was always so annoying, after all.

Soon the man was standing even taller on his toes. She huffed, paw striking out to try and hit his arm lightly. “That means you can’t see my attacks, can’t hear my plans.” She said in a matter-of-fact tone. But she didn’t look annoyed for long, just mischievous. “Hm- the real question is, am I any more gorgeous now that I’m grown? Or have I aged poorly.” A dramatic sigh. As if she were old. Youth still clung to her face. But her body was much more curved and defined with some muscle. She liked to traverse the lands when the weather was nice, after all. Mae waited oh so casually for his response. She did like the bit of ego boosting she got from flirting.

@Valhalla

In The Forest Deep

code by corvus

Valhalla couldn't agree more to the reasoning behind why Maeve still continued to choose the rogue lifestyle. It would be something he would surely miss if his plans went how he were hoping they were, but it were time that the beast did something more with his life other than wandering the lands aimlessly all the time. And then she would speak about plans he may not be able to hear or see since there were such a height distance, the beast letting out a snort at this remark.

Before he could reply the lioness would aim a hit to his leg, allowing for it to happen and acting as though she had really hurt him by sucking in a breath and giving her a mocked shock expression. "Hey now, I bruise easily!" As he continued to joke he would bring his left paw to rub his right leg where she had hit him, doing this for a couple of passes before allowing for his paw to fall back to the ground. She would then pry about whether or not she gained a more attractive appearance since aging from the last time they had seen each other. Valhalla knew this game pretty well, of how women wanted to have their egos stroked. It weren't a foreign game to him, and it was one the beast knew how to play pretty well. After all, he himself liked to have compliments given to himself, too. But it were also fun to stretch out giving such compliments. "Hm... I can't really come to a conclusion with you laying around like that..." Brows would furrow in faux contemplation, awaiting to see what Maeve would do next. Your move.

"speech."

code by corvus

@Maeve

He began to jest with her and she let a light laugh come from her, giggling. She’d barely even hit him but the joke was appreciated anyways. His leg fell back and she saw the wheels turn in his head before his reply. So he was the type to make you work just a tad for compliments. Though she could not say she didn’t like to tease or play hard to get with others. So she couldn’t be aggravated or annoyed. Just a small challenge. She stood, then, approaching him walking before twisting her head up to look at him. “Is this a better angle?” She breathed, lashes batting for a few moments with her signature smile appearing again.

The game of flirtation was a fun one. One she never did get bored of, of all the things that bored her. Everyone had different things that made them tick or made them blush. It was fun to find those things. Perhaps uncomfortable at first but all in good fun. She was still young anyways. She’d perhaps settle one day. But not quite yet. No. So she flirted with the pink, large man in front of her. Frustrated. If she were a bit taller she could get closer to his face with her own. But looking up and stretching her neck got her close enough she supposed

@Valhalla

In The Forest Deep

code by corvus

The Viking would watch with mild curiosity as the maned lioness would rise to all fours, making her way directly toward him and staring up at him. Her question would cause for a hum of sorts to vibrate within his chest, yellow eyes not hiding the fact that they were roaming over the lioness's figure. She was quite stunning, something Valhalla could not deny, but did he want to stroke her eager so soon? Or did he want to continue to carry on the little game they were beginning to play? "Mmm..." he would begin, his lips pulling into a thin line as if he were trying to decide how to respond.

Large paws would then begin to move him in a circle around Maeve, taking slow steps. His tail would flick behind him, almost close enough to the lioness that it would just barely miss brushing against her. Once he were back in front of her he would allow for a grin appear back onto his lips. "I guess time has treated you well." After he spoke he would allow for his rear to fall to the ground below, sitting in a rather casual manner with his shoulders slouching a bit.

"speech."

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@Maeve

The male was circling around her, and she simply cast her head over her shoulder, completely relaxed, not tense in any way. She’d sort of expected it, actually. He sat after giving his opinion and she smiled. “How kind, might I also compliment your mane? It’s coming in quite nicely.” Thick, no longer patchy as many males had from one tot two years. She did quite love the colors that wove through his mane as well. She was glad her mane was done growing, though. It already took long enough to dry at this length, she couldn’t imagine how long it would take him.

“How come you haven’t came and visited me, Val?” She asked quietly, voice dripping in suggestion. “You know, a girl gets lonely out there in the thicket, especially with the bad weather we’ve been having.” Den fever, as she called it. She despised the rain and couldn’t bring herself to walk in it and get drenched. It was sort of nice ambient noise. But it was incredibly lonely. That was one positive of a pride, a group of lions you could easily befriend and sometimes you even had communal dens. She was quite partial to a good cuddle now and then from a friend. “I’ve even got several new pelts, perfect to relax on.” And do other fun activities upon.

@Valhalla

In The Forest Deep

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