Something green, anything pretty. Aquila had traveled away from home and family today to escape the cold grasp of winter. He headed south, for the jungles and swamps that were hopefully less encumbered by the winter's wind and snow's bite. He wanted to find something alive, some plant or maybe even a flower bud, that he could bring home for his kids to see and experience. Something different than leafless trees and frosted twigs.

Unfortunately it had gotten a little too warm and the mud was particularly awful, unable to freeze back up but thick in the still brisk air. Walking was brutal, he had to slog along through a deep part he'd wandered into much to his dismay. His voice rose up, a disgruntled grumble accompanying the squelching of mud from each leg movement._{ART — CODE}

She had often thought of him. The large male who had beaten her and broken her leg in war. Who had then granted her mercy and escape. Then of course there had been afterward, when they had met and conversed, and she had discovered her supposed enemy to have principles and a respectable countenance.
Yet @Aquila remained an enigma. She'd never known that he'd been King of Vermeda. Perhaps the King of the moment in that snapshot in time. Nor now did she know that the crown had been passed on. But if she did, it would not have altered her view of him. Fascinatingly mysterious.

Fortune appeared to favour her greatly when a stroll amongst the jungle canopy unveiled his scent to her. Sláine's inquisitive nature turning her at once toward the wafting smell of male as it permeated through the treeline. Though she was careful where she walked, familiar with the parts of the jungle that refused to harden under winter's cool touch. Though even the Mire queen could not escape the smattering of dirt that coated the lower portion of her body whenever she went walkabout in the swamp.

Curious eyes spotted him at a short distance. Sláine walked parallel to @Aquila, retaining her path on firmer ground as she observed his bronzed hide appear and disappear as various shrubbery and trees obscured her view for seconds at a time.

Eventually, after hearing his voice sound out in frustration, Sláine would turn inward, cautiously approaching the edge of the wet earth with amusement undeniably tugging at the corners of her upturned lips. "Ye seem tae be ye enjoying yerself." The lioness said with a smile, perching her forepaws upon a small log as she peered at Aquila, still some meters away.

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There were many worse lions to have come across him in this embarrassing predicament. Sláine at least Aquila trusted to be somewhat kind about it. At least he hoped so, that her respect for herself as a warrior wouldn't lead to this being a situation to take advantage of. Strangely, there was some kernels of joy to realize she was near, her voice ringing through the foliage most suddenly and breaking through his frustration. The lioness he knew would put up the best fight and could and at the end the two of them could break it off and get home to their families if things turned that way. Equally as likely it would not. He didn't know if a fight was coming but with her he didn't fear it in the slightest. They might not be allies in any way but she was respected, admirable.

And right now likely his best ticket to some salvation. Heavily he sighed and stared down at his partly sunken feet. He tried to sightly move one and it just made horrible, thick, sounds of suction and pulled him back into it's clutches.

No. He grunted. Not quite in the mood for humor but also not in position to not receive it either. He was quite stuck at the moment and all frustration rained down on the mud. She, he decided, hadn't deserved his attitude. So he sighs heavily and looks up towards her with mild apology written all over his face. I need help... I keep thinking there's solid ground but it's just more of this mud _{ART — CODE}

No. Her grin widened, ears lifted at the pleasure of seeing such a great man so thoroughly covered in muck and lost in his way. Perhaps Slaine might not have taken such delight in @Aquila's predicament if she were not so desperately in need of cheering up, her mood had been so low as of late.
The pleasure of being with Alaric was tainted by the hurt that she had caused and the creeping feeling that their union would not be everything she hoped for. Much like Aquila, she was stuck, not knowing which way to turn and feeling quite alone.

Pushing those thoughts aside for a moment, she decided to help the male find his way, and perhaps retrieve some of his dignity in doing so. "Is quite simple really. Ye see, there is th' muck." She gestured with her nose to Aquila and the sludge around him. "An' over here..." Her nose pointed down at her mud speckled paws and the log and winter hardened earth beneath them. "There isnae any."

"Can ye make it over here? Or should I fetch a stick?" Tail flicked as she allowed herself a soft chuckle and stood further upright to get a better look at him. "Ye are tae grand a man to be left to keel over in the mud."

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It feels a little like @Sláine is speaking to her child. Pointing out the very obvious mud at first that Aquila certainly needed no help in finding. He did that well enough on his own. But she does divulge and identify some firmer ground, and given her homelands Aquila believes with all his heart she knows what she's talking about here. I can make it. He says, with hopefully enough strength to manifest it as truth. His silver eyes were locked on her feet with focus and determination. Don't let me fall on my face. He said with a big huff of breath and then began to half drag his feet through the thick mud that tried to claim him. He had to make a slight turn, wiggling and wobbling around until he faced her and began slowly trudging towards her.

Mud knows no thing of grandness. He mused in reply, giving only half his attention to her while he focused on not falling over. But his movements were getting easier with each step. The ground was firmer and he had more freedom to move through the mud until he came to stand before he, a light smile on his face beeming over to her. And I am no grand man I assure you. Had she been talking to Caligula?_{ART — CODE}

The great male does not need her help, of course. Sláine expected no less of @Aquila. Though her sapphire eyes danced across his struggling form, still unable to fully contain the humour that reflected there as he made his way toward dry land.
Don't let me fall on my face.
"I can make ye nae promises." She replied, voice soft with mirth as she fidgeted her paws on the log, still quite smug from her position. It proves quite a sight, to watch the bronzed male free himself from the muck, filthy and tired, until he was almost upon her.
The queen shifted a few steps backward to make his path onto solid ground easier, leaving the vantage of the log to set her feet upon the hard earth.
And I am no grand man I assure you.
"Ah, dae nae spoil my fantasy!" She chided with a pleasant shake of her skull before boldly stepping forward in an attempt to bump her cheek up against Aquila's.
They had not touched as friends before, but she would be surprised if he attacked her now. "How are ye?" She asked, ears pushing forward. "And what hae brought ye all th' way out here?"

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A fantasy? He looks quite surprised and the exclamation is more than enough to pull a deep laugh from his throat. Before fully realizing it he's bumping his head against her shoulder with playful roughness. His circle of friends is small, his circle of friends whom he regularly exchanges touch with is even smaller. And @Sláine plunges right in. He does not expect it but he is clearly by no means opposed. Now your flattery I most definitely do not deserve. Grandness, friendship, laughter.

I've been well. He can't help but smile when thinking of the new little children that he'd been blessed with. It's a calm, sincere joy that seeps into his face and while it does not look out of place it's certainly a far cry from the scowls and frowns he usually wears. I'm actually out here looking for some living plants, something green to bring back and show my children. They've really only known winter. And the proud father wanted them to know more, wanted them to be excited and eager for the changing of season where they could fall in love with their home in the Brook. To show them things exist besides the bare trees and mighty pines large and intimidating._{ART — CODE}