OOC: So sorry for the delay <3

Orange-yellow eyes turn to look at @Helah as she speaks to the grey Queen, and the woman cannot help but smirk. It was evident she had touched a nerve, and the Tolkien found it rather funny. No pride name was mentioned, darling. Maia comments with a drawl, finding the accusation quite amusing. If you think so, your pride obviously has some insecurities. And Maia would leave it at that - she had no real quarrel with Wolfbron, so had no need to push any further.

Instead, she turns to face @Serena, who had asked for some more information on the Rainforest. What do you want to know? She asks briefly, before thinking carefully about what she was about to say. Firnen is a safe haven for everyone who enters our borders and bares our scent. All I ask is that you actively practise your trades, participate in our monthly hunts and make yourself useful in whatever way you see fit. Otherwise, the time is to do as you please with. We have open ranks to be challenged for, if it is responsibility you seek. If not, we are simply happy to feed you and assist you in your search for the lions you seek. Maia remarks simply, with no sarcasm or patronizing tones. The High Sovereign was here to do a job, and not to torment those who sought a home.

table by ferus, art by ale-tie

Helah's face retains a cool mask of indifference at being called out on her lie. She isn't about to admit to her bullshit, not fully- but she is rather intrigued by a smart enough female to call her on it. This one- this one could be worth her time to get to know.

Yet, there's the matter of this Rainforest Queen. Helah, wishes she would go on away from here, but she has to pitch her pride, and so she lets her do so- while examining her claws- listening half-heartedly. She listens to the other, and when she is done, Helah sighs, growing bored with this.

She's offered all she has to offer, but she watches with interest.... wondering if she should decide to simply claim this female.

@Senera @Maia

ooc: sorry for the way and lack of... helah. my muse is dead.

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

Her statement of slavery goes unanswered and she assumes that means she is correct. Senera's eyes flick towards the patchy woman who had done nothing yet but lie. There is something there that makes her curious of the pride that the woman is from, but she'd been given no information on what that pride might be. Thus far she had only heard the insistent lies from the woman's mouth. Would she pipe in and share now?

No, it would seem as though she wouldn't. The gray woman gives her speech on her pride, Firnen Rainforest, and the other woman remains silent, as if content to let things play out before her from there on. So Senera keeps her attention on the words that Maia has said, considering them carefully. She tilts her head before answering. "I fear my skills do not lie in hunting," she says carefully. "At least, not the prey that you are speaking of." Of course, she hunts for plenty of things, but food is not usually one of them. Her voice remains steadily neutral, not certain if this Rainforest is quite what she is looking for, but knowing that she needs to have a place to rest safely while she works. Since the other has been less than forthcoming with information, it may be that the Rainforest is what is left for her to choose from.

"Thank you for sharing," she says finally, still mulling things over in her mind. She glances toward the other woman again, wondering if she will have anything else to say now, but again she is silent. "You've given me more than other parties present." Her scathing comment makes her opinion clear, but perhaps also suggests that she might be more interested in this other pride if she knew something about it.

"I am Senera, and I seek a woman called Magdalene, as you may realize now," she said with a nod to the gray woman. "She is my employer, and it is unlikely I will be living with her. I will need a place to stay as I work, and I am willing to contribute as I can."

@Maia @Helah

Maia nods in understanding. Not everyone is a hunter, nor is everyone a fighter. I only ask that you give it your best shot. She comments with a gentle smile, noting how @Helah had gone unnervingly quiet. Maia wondered if she needed to raise her defences? The thought crossed her mind but was soon pushed away as she focused back on @Serena. You are welcome. I see no point in keeping information that is required to make a decision. She comments light-heartedly, making a mental note of the lionesses name as she introduces herself. Serena, She repeats, echoing her name to ensure that she said it right. You are welcome to the Rainforest. I ask you to help in hunts, protect us in battle, and keep sensitive information to yourself. Maia confirms, looking over to the Wolfbron lioness briefly. Shall we go? We can walk and talk on the way back. Maia offers, rising to her paws and turning to leave.

Exit with Serena?

table by ferus, art by ale-tie

Helah is silent, letting the Rainforest lioness speak her piece- and when the gray lioness seems all but confident that she has secured this strange lioness into her pride- Helah slowly lets her paw she'd been staring at fall to the earth.

She offers them both a small suggestive smile, and speaks, her tone deceptively soft. "I think you're going to come with me to the Bluffs. You're too smart to let such an opportunity pass you by." The claim is only slightly subtle, probably obnoxiously obvious- that she has no intention of letting @Senera go without a fight. No- she's already wasted enough time here.

Helah vs ???
For Claim of @Senera
Round 0/3

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

@Maia seems intent on taking her to this rainforest, and Senera is prepared to go with her without another thought to the other lioness. At least she has been given some clear expectations by the gray woman, which is more than she could say for the lying one. Of course, she was still interested in whatever pride the other woman came from, but she was not here to play games. She had a job to do.

She begins to follow Maia, but before she can do so the other lioness offers a smile and tells her that she will be going to the Bluffs, not the Rainforest. Senera raises an eyebrow at Helah in question. "Oh? Are you presuming to take away my free will?" she questions, turning to face the woman. She is more than willing to fight for her own right to choose, and if the woman pressed the claim then she might, but she waited for an answer first, all while her claws flexed into the dirt beneath them.

Depending on the answer that the other woman gave, Senera would be more than ready to sink her claws into some flesh.

@Helah vs Senera
Claim of Senera
Round 0 1 2 3

ooc: putting fighting stats here because she will fight if she doesn't like the answer lmfao. Maia is welcome to hop in too

she's a mess of gorgeous chaos

Just as Maia turned to leave, the grating voice of @Helah rises, almost out of nowhere, and challenges Maia's decision. Fiery eyes turn to the Wolbron lioness and she shakes her head. Absolutely not. Maia challenges, coming up alongside @Senera to assist in defending her from the lionesses claim.

I will fight for you, or alongside you, Maia comments briefly toward the rogue lioness, before turning her attention solely onto Helah. Who are you to claim a lioness, to take away her decision? The lowest of scum, I'd imagine. Wolfbron deserve you, She remarks harshly as her tail lashes behind her.

She comes with me, like we'd agreed. Maia reinforces, digging her claws into the brittle earth below.

Maia & Senera vs. Helah
for Senera
0/3

and you can see it in her eyes

While Helah was not afraid to commit random acts of violence, she was far more interested in keeping her fur intact- thank you very much. Her eyes gleamed with the possibility of the fight, but she focused purely on @Senera as she spoke. "I don't think I have too. You're smart, too smart to go with her- all offenses intended, dear" She said, looking to the gray Queen rather dismissively. "You knew I was lying in moments- an impressive enough feat that I think my pride is exactly where you belong, while you look for your Magdalene." A careful pause.

"Wolfbron is a pride where the skill in finding out deception could be quite appreciated you know, even if you find me rather irritating." Lilting tones, but a grin there- as she waits, her on defenses on edge, watching them both. She considers them both, knowing she'd lose a fight against two of them- she is no fool, one on one was something she could potentially win, and she merely smiles- the expression small.

"Wolfbron is where you belong." She says simply, staring them both down, but not moving, and when she finally does move- it is a shrug- a half-hearted, movement, as she turns away from the two of them and proceeds to walk away.

-exit helah unless stopped-

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS