OOC: no Mire please (I have like 4 there already)

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She's always been a sparrow, but in a way the icy woman is more of a sharp-eyed bird of prey, her keen eyes looking for every tiny detail and always trying to remain a step ahead of those around her. It has taken her some time - her last job took longer than planned - but she has finally followed Madame Magdalene and her Aviary here, to this new world. What waits in store for her here? Certainly more jobs to keep the Aviary safe, but that will have to wait. For now she needs to figure out just where here is.

The earth is in the cold grasp of winter, snow blowing even here in the low coastal area that is the path leading to what would otherwise be an island. Her grey eyes sweep over the terrain, taking in each rock and dip in the land as the sea swells against the borders, the waves sending spray onto the rocks of the walkway. Snow blows around her, falling from the clouds overhead and being dragged around violently by a strong wind. It does not stick here, where the ground is so close to the sea. It melts as it touches the earth. But still it falls, determined in the face of her hesitancy.

Is this where she is supposed to be?

That question means so many things. Is this where the Aviary ended up? She is mostly certain, but there is always that possibility that she miscalculated. And then, in a completely different light, is she supposed to be with the Aviary? Or is this just as wrong as her first venture had turned out to be. Only time would tell, she supposed.

The wind rages as she walks, making it to the end of the rocky passage and coming to a stop. There are many scents here, all older and worn down by the elements. She cannot make out any that are familiar. Many must come through here. She needs to learn more about the why.

Scanning the horizon, she wonders just where she should be headed to find her master.

The blistering cold of the passage is not like to keep her here long today, the wind ripping across the land bites into her skin- ripping through her fur as if it would strike her down. Helah growls as she moves, grumbling at the cold- that she cannot escape anywhere she goes at this point, for the Bluffs are as chilled as this passage is- if not more frigid. Yet, she prowls forward- her interest in potential recruits is not dulled by the sense of her increasingly numbing toes- no... not when she spies a figure ahead.

Approaching with her typical swagger and carefree attitude, her eyes merely narrow in interest as she notes the pretty lioness that she beholds- a chartreux female- such an interesting color. Of course, not as beautiful as Helah herself, but pretty. Would a pretty face be something the Queen of the bluffs would appreciate, if she were useful in some other way? Helah is interested in finding out.

"Who are you to be out here in such blistering cold, beautiful?" She coos as she strolls forward towards her- halting a few feet away with a coy smile to her lips. "Need somewhere warm to shelter? Somewhere safe?" She offers sweetly.

@Senera

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

In the distance, she spies a figure approaching and her eyes hone in on the movement, tracking its progress. It becomes immediately clear that whoever had joined her on this blustery day is headed straight for her, and it takes her but a moment to realize just exactly what this passage serves as for the lions who make the island their home.

A claiming ground.

Well, that is mildly inconvenient, but at the very least she will have someone to ask about the whereabouts of her master. As the beast moves closer Senera's grey eyes skim the figure, who is similar in size and stature, and take in the interesting pattern that graces the slender lioness. A base of gray decorated with splotches of white and the lightest tinge of pink near her undersides, with a darker helm of gray upon her ears. Pretty? Yes, but it is unlikely that the assassin with ice around her heart would ever be willing to say such a thing.

The woman's posture speaks volumes to the hawk-like Senera. The swagger speaks to a certain amount of confidence. Whether deserved or misplaced, Senera will have to wait to see.

The wind buffets her fur, almost as if it is trying to knock her over. But the icy lioness stands firm against it, refusing to bow before the weather anymore than she would bow before one of her own kind. Magdalene didn't own her, not truly, and no one ever would if she had any say in it.

A coo slips from the woman's lips, questioning Senera's presence here, and she thinks on what she could say in response. But before she can make it far the woman adds to her questions, bringing up shelter and safety. "Safety is just an illusion," she says wryly, just barely loud enough for the stranger to hear. "I am looking for someone," she says, more loudly this time. "A woman called Magdalene - do you know of her?" The madam would have surely made herself known in these lands by now.

The questions of shelter and safety could wait until she had that information. If this woman did not know where Magdalene was, then it would not hurt to find a base of operations until she could find the Aviary and figure out what her next steps should be.

@Helah

Smart female, Helah muses at her words- rosy eyes quick to take in all that her physical appearance can offer her. A grin quipped at her lips at her words, and she inclines her head in a 'touché' sort of gesture. Safety is nothing more than an illusion, but this little dove seems to at least understand that.

The stranger responds with her own questions, and another may have admired that fire within her. Helah merely quirks a brow, her head tilting slightly as she decides to deceive the creature before her. "Ahh, so you must be the missing piece to Magdalene's puzzle." A stab in the dark- that if this female was searching for Magdalene- that Magdalene was also searching for her. That she missed her. Needed her. "I indeed, do know where to find her." Another lie. Helah had no idea who she was- but to toy with this stranger, seemed like a damn good way to pass the time. A kind smile, sweet as honey- she offers her. "I can take you there, but it is a long journey. We can stay among my territory first for you to rest." A subtle statement- for now subtle and kind is her best bet.

@Senera

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

This woman has perhaps underestimated Senera. She is no weak little dove, to be tossed around by those around her. She is a hawk, her sharp eyes seeing all as she soars far above, her claws and teeth ready to sink into her unsuspecting prey. She is also no fool, and lying to her face is liable to get @Helah nowhere.

Her eyes immediately narrow, because a puzzle is nothing like what Magdalene has going on, and she is most certainly not a piece of it. She is much more like a weapon for the woman, keeping her game pieces alive and well. Because Magdalene is playing something more along the lines of chess, not simply fitting pieces together.

And Magdalene was certainly not looking for Senera.

"I did not know she was putting a puzzle together," she says innocently, her muzzle spreading into a smile that is not at all friendly and makes it clear that she is all too aware of this game. "Perhaps you can tell me the name of her puzzle, so I know what I'm getting into." A false note of sweetness in her voice, disguising the poison within.

Back to business. For all the stranger's sweet smiles and honeyed voice, Senera is not here to play games. "If you tell me where she is, I can find my way," she says seriously, making it clear that she has no intention of going on some wild goose chase with this woman. "I know why you are here - this is a claiming ground. If you want me for your pride that is fine. I will need a base of operations."

Helah is growing bored quickly of this game, lying is more fun when the wind doesn't nearly knock her off her paws. When the little dove speaks, Helah's grin remains in place- sticking to her lie- not faltering a bit, because to admit that she is wrong is to admit defeat. She is not about to do that. So, she absorbs the lie, believes it as truth- believes it wholly- and reflects it back to her with an innocent and pious expression. "I only know what I've been told in passing. To be looking for pretty lionesses that are searching for Magdalene." She responds in kind, her voice a coo. A rumor she expresses, at least physically- that she whole-heartedly believes... even if it is absolutely zebra-shit.

Helah's eyes light up a bit at the female's no-nonsense attitude, and she grins. "Why do you seek Magdalene so?" She asks, strolling closer to her, rosy colored eyes narrowing. "My pride can offer you so much more than one sole female." She coos- having decided at some point, that this lioness is definitely coming home with her. "What do you seek?" She asks, pressing further- deviating from the fun lie to figure out what this pretty little thing wants- what she really wants.

@Senera

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

It becomes even clearer that this woman does not know who Magdalene is or where she might be, if only because she has the Madam's character so incredibly wrong. "You've not been told anything. Madam Magdalene is not searching for me, only I for her," she responds with the air of someone who has grown completely bored of being lied to so blatantly. "And that is certainly not how so goes about procuring her investments." No, the little birds were found much more carefully than simply giving word to look for pretty lionesses. There are qualifications for such things.

Every word that leaves the pretty woman's mouth made her lie ever the more obvious. "The Madam is my employer," Senera responds quite frankly, a sigh escaping her lips behind the words. Her patience for this grows thin. "And if you think she is only a single female, you really do not know her." The Aviary is more than just Magdalene, after all, even if it would be nothing without her.

"I've told you what I want," she retorts, her voice growing sharper and icier. "Perhaps you should tell me what you have to offer, before I find someone else with something of value to me."

@Helah

Perhaps I can offer you some more information? Maia states calmly as she enters the conversation later than she would have lied. Eyes fall to @Senera first as she slows down to a halt, and offers the seemingly distressed woman a calming smile. I do not know who Magdalene is, but I do know that you are safer in the protection of a pride whilst you seek her out. There are individuals within Amaryllis - this land and the Passage you stand in - who will claim you as their own and not offer you any rights or freedom. Maia pauses, looking to @Helah and scenting Wolfbron on her coat. A shame, really, that she had to be a representative from such a devastatingly shit pride, that seemed not to offer any solace or protection to their female counterparts. A dog eat dog world. The Firnen High Sovereign says nothing to the woman, her attention turning back to the rogue who seemed so keen to find her flock.

I am happy for you to be a member of Firnen Rainforest, whilst you seek out your family and friends. We offer a sanctuary to all who join us, and ask only that you participate in our hunts twice a month. Otherwise, the time is your own to do with as you please, and you will be safe in our protection. Once you have found Magdalene, then you will be free to go - no questions asked. The Queen then falls silent, observing the two females in front of her for a reply.

table by ferus, art by ale-tie

Oh how Helah grins.

It is not a pretty thing but something more grotesque and disturbing as @Senera speaks, and she laughs lowly at her words, shaking her head- before placing a paw to her chest in mock hurt. "Why would I deceive you, dear little dove?" Then she cackles again. This may make her insanity clear- yet the game is disrupted before Helah can ask any more interested questions or admit that she is indeed lying or deny it further- by the arrival of another- someone she doesn't know, and Helah merely gives them an assessing glance- cool and amused at her words.

"Are you implying dear... whomever you are that we are such a pride?" Soft, soothing words paired with a flash of teeth- definitely lacking respect but all she would offer her before her gaze fixes on Senera again- with a paw to her chest. Helah grins at the pair widely- all her teeth showing again. "Why do you want to find her so bad if she's not looking for you then?" A pointed question and not really her business but this lioness is sharp tongued and witted- she could be a decent recruit for the bluffs. "Do you intend to live in this... aviary or just help them out?" She follows up.

@Senera

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY LARS

She notices the approach of the gray woman immediately, and her gaze flicks in her direction briefly before returning to the liar, who Senera currently viewed as the bigger threat. The woman seems volatile, with her grins and lies and the games she wants to play. But Senera did not come here to play games. "Why wouldn't you?" she retorts to @Helah's question, her features a mask of indifference even though she is seething at the idea of being called a Dove. She would never be one of the Madam's doves.

Finally the gray woman reaches them, immediately butting into the strange conflict with an offer for more information. Senera raises a brown, but nothing more. It becomes immediately apparent that she has no information on Magdalene to pass on, but the information she does share causes Senera's blood to boil. Of course, she schools her facial features into icy indifference, though they might notice the harder edge to her gray eyes or the increased iciness in her voice when she next spoke. "So this land practices slavery," she states. Not a question, but an opinion drawn from the words spoken.

At least the gray one is open about her intentions. The splotchy woman has danced around her lies and clearly not listened to half of what Senera has said thus far. As if on que, the woman pipes up again, asking more questions. "Why would my employer look for me when part of my job is to find her when my task is finished?" she asks her own question in return, a pinch of disdain coloring her tone.

Then the woman - miraculously - asks a more serious question, and though Senera flicks her tail in general annoyance, she answers with the same indifference as before. "If the Madam wishes me to live with them, yes. More likely I will not, however. There is likely to not be room with the main group." In other words, she would need a more permanent base of operations, as she had already told the woman once before.

Her eyes wander away from the splotchy woman and to @Maia's gray form instead. "Tell me about your pride?" she requests, giving this woman a chance too. She'd already given the other woman a chance to sell her pride and she hadn't taken it. Senera was not fond of offering second chances.