ooc: This is after the Cove challenge, before the Lagoon challenge <3 The taste of failure was still foul on his tongue, he wasn't found out but nonetheless he could not infiltrate the Lagoon. Months spent honing his skills and attitude only to fail in the end. One could argue he wasn't focused enough after his encounter with Alvyia, but the argument wouldn't hold water. He had been very focused, so much so he had put off 'buying' his wife from her mistress. Tail curled around his auburn haunches while he sat at the borders of the bluffs. He had heard Gauthier had taken the Cove, and he wondered if Amara needed him home anytime soon? Or if he was needed somewhere else. Though his facial expression was neutral he was nervous. What would she say of his failure? Of his sudden nuptials? Would she outcast him? Though she didn't really have the power he knew deep down, that no Dieudonne would argue in his defense. It was just how they were. A low chuff called his aunt to him, there was no rush of course, she was a busy lady after all. "talk"

Art and Code by Cloudy
@Amara

Amara wasn't expecting to hear his voice here. They had planned to meet up, had she forgotten or gotten the timing wrong? She moved away from her meal and with her coat still wet from the blood she arrived in front of Tripfire. Her golden gaze looking him over to make sure that he wasn't harmed in the course of his mission. She sat down and invited him to do the same as she waited to hear what it was that he had to say. She was sure that it was important, otherwise he wouldn't have come here and risked being found out. Or maybe things hadn't gone as planned and he had been found out?

code by corvus | art by BETHIA

ooc: ** means French speaking, too lazy to translate <3, sorry for the word blurg When she arrived he had straightened himself up a bit waiting for her to sit before he reclined to his haunches. **"I was not found out, but my request to join was rejected...they have become extremely wary of strangers. And require some test to join but did not clarify, I assume one would fight Alzibeth" he had answered the question that knew hung silently in the air between them. Though he was not foolish to immediately come to the bluffs after his failure. He had detoured. A lot actually. "**i did some scouting of weakpoints of the Lagoon before hand, but they made no mention of seeing me," he further explained shrugging his shoulders. He was confident they didn't know he was even poking around. "**That ebony lion of hers is her husband, and quite the loyal if not grumpy guard dog." he added about Ransom, as this was sadly the only information he could gather at this point. Though his lip did peel in disgust at the mans reaction to Tripfires gift, he wouldn't want that nasty little thing even if she had begged him. "**I did not come home because I got ... uh... sidetracked," it was here his voice would lose some confidence, because it was here she could hurt him for thinking with the wrong brain. And he would not blame her. Yellow eyes lifted from his feet to meet her gaze, when the heck had he been staring at his feet? He was not a child... "**I... found, and have taken a wife, she is pure and untouched. Came from a harem ran by some woman named Magdelene. She believes I will give her payment for my wife, I do not believe in doing so," he was talking a little quicker but carefully, he would not follow through with the payment unless Amara believed he should. Only for her would he bend his beliefs if but a bit. "**i love her Amara," he added with a soft chuckle, he didn't throw that word around carelessly. And for him you had to basically earn it. "**I briefly joined the Mire, to keep her safe. But if you want me home, I will come home." he explained, he had joined Alaric in a kneejerk decision. To keep his family safe. But if Amara requested him home they would move home, no questions asked. "talk"

Art and Code by Cloudy

Amara listened and took in what he said. She had hoped the group would be easy to get past and wouldn't question someone at their borders but it seemed that wasn't how things would go. She nodded as he talked about what he had learned and that he had been able to scout along the borders. Her own memory was foggy on the Lagoon's details now so it would be good that his was fresh. She expected that to be it but it wasn't, her ears pricked as he started talking about getting sidetracked and she went from understanding to not, very quickly. A wife? A harem? Payment? Love? What on earth had this boy been doing with his free time? Just went she thought she was just confused, he told her he joined the Mire. The High Sovereign stood quickly and took a few sharp steps toward him, her hackles raised and her teeth snapped toward him but she had enough control not to let them reach him, yet. *You did WHAT? Her voice was sharp and low as her golden gaze seemed to try to burn into him. She must have heard him wrong. He wouldn't dare to suggest that she wouldn't be able to protect him, his family, and this pride after all she had done to keep the family alive, to keep the pride under their rule. He. Wouldn't. Dare.

code by corvus | art by BETHIA

ooc: ** means French speaking, too lazy to translate <3, Aaaaannnd he was back pedaling for his life. Her words stung just as sharp as her claws and he visibly winced from them. For a split second she could probably see him as the cub she had first met, because very few could make him flinch like that. She stepped towards him but he did not recoil from her, though his face softened just a bit. Ok, time to do some quick talking. "**I misspoke!" he said quickly, "** i set her up in the Mire unofficially while I was busy doing my duties in the Lagoon scouting. Less chance of trouble for you that way or my disguise being found out," he added with a slight edge of reason. His heart was hammering in his chest but his face was calm, he wasn't telling lies per say. Just tweaked versions of reality. Because he had been doing duties for the Lagoon scout, and to come to and from the bluffs visiting Pyracantha would blow his cover. Though he wished he hadn't said anything at all. Tripfire did not mean to insult his aunt in the slightest and he did not question her ability to defend their home, but maybe she was sensitive because of the members that had left. "talk"

Art and Code by Cloudy

Unlike the others from Cassine's litter, Trip hadn't had the benefit of living with Amara for those many months and had not learned how to not piss her off. Maybe that was for the best though because he seemed to be the only one left now, well there was Haz but he never seemed to want to be close to her. Her firey gaze remained locked on him as he tried to backtrack what he said. She was no fool. *You will bring her here and this will be your home for your wife and your cubs. You will help the family grow. Unless Tripfire had told others only two knew that he wasn't related by blood, her and Vermier. Amara knew the value of the family growing and didn't care if the blood wasn't pure only that the family's practices were kept in place. IF Vermier had anything to say about it, she would remind him that he hasn't added any cubs to the line either. It was clear she was pissed off and she hoped that Trip would leave and gather up what was his and return quickly.

code by corvus | art by BETHIA

ooc: ** means French speaking, too lazy to translate <3, Tripfrire expected a beat down, verbal or physical, even both. Instead he was given a order, and a direct one at that. Ears folded back in his mane in submission while he swallowed hard. "**Y-yes auntie-- er, ma'am," he stuttered over his words and with a bow he would start to turn. "We will be home before nightfall." he reassured her he would go fetch them now to have them settled in his old den by midnight. It was a quick move and he would have to speak to Alaric later and offer his services to the man in payment for this. Oh, yes, Tripfire only believed in payment in this type of situations. exit Tripfire

Art and Code by Cloudy
@Amara

Amara's hardened gaze didn't break off of him as he accepted her words and moved to go get what he had left behind. She didn't know what he had originally come to tell her but it was clearly not something that would be talked about now. He had chosen a route that doubted her and it wasn't one that he would want to walk down. She had enough to deal with and her own family doubting what she was able to do wouldn't be allowed. She had worked to hard and to long for something like that to happen. A sharp Good followed him as he left to go to the Mire. The next time she saw him, it had better be with this wife of his. She huffed and made her way back to her den to wait on their return.

exit

code by corvus | art by BETHIA