The cold and bitter winds pushed around Amara as she lay in a patch of sunlight. Her wounds were still raw but healing but her body ached. She grunted as she moved herself into a seated position and called for @Apollinaire. She had been thinking about some things and needed to know what the male thoughts were. Amara knew that the family was small and that there didn't seem to be many ways for it to grow. Louve had mentioned something that had sparked more thoughts in Amara and for the moment, this was the only thing she could think of. There were two males that carried the blood left and Amara would drop dead before allowing Vermier to trust her. She was well aware of the rules of the family but she hadn't seen Apollinaire take interest in another lioness so she might as well give it a go. Maybe the pair of them could get enough cubs on the ground to keep the family's line strong and growing. It wasn't what she had wanted out of her life but she also didn't want the family to fall away. She had to try and she could only hope that he would see it her way.

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Never in the history of his presence at the Bluffs had @Amara called upon him privately, so when the summons rang out they stopped the heathen in his tracks. The surprise was shortlived, followed by a deeply-seethed curiosity and a hint of wariness. Having lived among powerful & extremely extravagant women for all his life, he couldn't know if punishment was due or some sort of compliment. However, Apollinaire liked to imagine it was the latter.

What else could he receive but an award for his extraordinary service?

The idea that Amara may have found out about his conspiracies with Louve didn't omit him, but so far they were but harmless talks. One could say that they were the grandiose impossible pipe dreams of a young & ambitious girl, that he had nothing to do with them. Innocent until proven guilty!

The slender, neat Frenchman approaches the seated Queen with a confident swagger but slyly kept himself unthreatening. "Votre Majesté," Your Majesty, The man bowed deeply, pausing almost at the ground, before lifting his head up. Sharp red eyes fall on the starry-furred woman, trying to study what lay behind the veil of her expressionless face. "Comment puis-je rendre service?" How may I be of service? He need not still his racing mind - it came naturally to him.

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Her golden gaze swept toward @Apollinaire as he arrived. She looked him over, her gaze settling on his ear for a moment before she watched his bow. He always had been a bit much when it came to all this. He didn't waste time asking about anything other than what she had called him here for. Before getting into the details, she wanted to give him some. *You're a noble now. She gave a sharp nod to let him know that it was earned and that it was something more than being her lead fighter. Not that he hadn't done well with the rank but as her ranks thinned out she needed to fill them.

She pulled her tail around her paws as she looked at him for a long moment before she jumped right into things. *Have you found a lioness that you are willing to grow the family with? Our numbers grow smaller and I was the last one to carry a litter. She figured that before she went to far with things she needed to make sure that she wouldn't be stepping on any toes. If there was someone else, she would change the plan that was forming in her mind. She didn't know what he would think of her line of questioning but she didn't care. By now Apollinaire had to be aware that their family was small and without a prior leader. Amara didn't want the job but she also was planning to do her best to keep the family together and growing until something else was figured out. That was her job. Protect the family.


*French. Im lazy

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While @Amara was certainly difficult to decipher, Apollinaire had learned what to anticipate when he spoke to her. For one, she was never the type to beat around the bush. This was once again proven to be true when the Bluffs High Sovereign immediately declared (what he thought to be) the purpose of this meeting - an award. Apollinaire maintained a steady expression, one that doesn't betray his inner celebration at his new title, and instead dipped his head down in a curt nod before uttering: "Merci, ma Reine." "Thank you, my Queen." A strand of blonde hair fell over his eye with the movement, and he quickly readjusted it away from his vision.

It did seem odd, however, that the yellow-eyed Monarch would call on him simply for that. He suspected she had more to say, and so he awaited until he was proven to be correct. The question that followed next was interesting, to say the least, yet one needed to do much more to shock the experienced french-man. He was well-versed in the politics of his kin and such a question wasn't completely out of left field. What did bother him was the tiny fact that the Queen may very well be questioning him about her own daughter. Yet if Amara knew about his and Louve's conspiracies, and was unhappy with them, she would simply state so. For now, his curiosity about how Amara was going to handle the well-known fact that the family is shrinking at an incredible pace took a step back. His worries that he may very well be in a different kind of trouble were taking first place. However, if she was displeased with him... would she hand him a shiny new title? Or was she seeking to betroth him to an ally? Or command him to find a willing bride and help with this arduous task? This would complicate a lot of his plans - he couldn't risk displeasing Louve, nor could he risk displeasing his Queen. "J'en ai trouvé un," "I have found one," It was not a lie, oh no. He simply omitted the fact it was her daughter. "Les choses sont légèrement compliquées. Nous n'en sommes pas encore à ce... stade." "Things are slightly complicated. We are not at this... stage yet." Well... more than slightly.

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@Apollinaire accepted her offering of a new rank. Something she was sure he would manage to use and make use of. Her trust in him had been rewarded with him as her lead fighter and now she would be rewarded with him as her Noble. She didn't know all that much about him. He had come in and lived within her borders without much fuss and hadn't caused much mess. He was devoted to the family as she had seen when he tried to get revenge for the removal of Louve's ear. Even if it had not worked out so well.

She watched him closely, trying to see what she could work out of him without listening to his words but there wasn't much beyond some discomfort which she could understand given that she was asking about personal details of his life. A flicker of displeasure crossed her gaze as he says he has his eyes set on someone. Who could this lioness be that she wasn't aware of? A-t-elle un nom? Compliqué comment? Does she have a name? Complicated how? She questioned. If things weren't smooth with this lioness maybe Amara could make a case that was strong enough to sway him. Connaît-elle la vérité sur la famille ? Pouvez-vous faire confiance à sa loyauté? Does she know the truth about the family? Can you trust her loyalty? This wouldn't be an easy thing but she needed to know how close he was to bringing her into the family. She also didn't see a reason to hide her main reason from him, if he knew what it was that Amara was looking for, maybe he would make the choice on his own? Je veux à nouveau mettre à nu des oursons pour la famille, mais les mâles sont limités. I want to bare cubs for the family again but the males are limited. She would fuck a stranger before she laid with Vermier, no matter how dead the families line became. She again watched him closely now that he was fully aware as to what the main goal and reason for her calling him here was.

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If his heart was galloping wildly against his chest, Apollinaire hid it well. He was a seasoned liar, a man with experience in navigating tense situations without a problem. Dealing with dangerous women in power was his specialty. He let not worry slip past his mask of amiability. He put up a genuine front for @Amara, his body language showing subserviency & respect. Even when she inquired after this mystery woman's name, he simply stated: "Il y a de l'incertitude dans les sentiments. Je vous présenterai peut-être une fois que les choses seront plus... certaines." There is uncertainty in feelings. Perhaps I will introduce you once things are more... certain. He played the matters of the heart card to his advantage. He could see the subtle flash of displeasure across Amara's features. "Je détesterais vous faire perdre votre temps." I would hate to waste your time. Because time was important to the Wolfbron Queen and Apollinaire cared very much about it.

The absurdity of the situation both frightened & amused him. Here was Amara - questioning him about her own daughter. There was a sort of high that came from this situation, a sense of power over both Amara and Louve. Adrenaline rushed through his veins, intoxicating & overpowering. He walked a thin line, but for some reason, he'd never felt so alive. "Elle connaît. Elle est de la même race de loup, Votre Majesté." She knows. She is the same breed of wolf, Your Majesty. It was a play of words, but not enough to expose him ( he thought ). How could it? Apollinaire doubted Amara had any suspicions of him and Louve. It was a strange pairing and few would think there was anything but familial love between the two.

He would've continued to think that Amara questioned him simply for the sake of the Dieudonne's survival until she laid her cards on the table. They exposed a complication, a hint that this call was not a simple conversation. For a moment he was silent, evidently processing what the Queen was implying. It was an offer. One that most Dieudonne men would be thrilled to accept. Apollinaire was thrilled, too, for the stature that would give him. He would be Queen consort to the longest-standing ruler of the valley.

When one thought he couldn't dig himself a deeper grave, here he was. On one side Louve, on the other - Amara. However, he was no fool. If he played his cards right, he could have the Matriarch. She prevailed above any other title. She was the most important chess piece. "Il est vrai. Nous sommes peu nombreux," It is true. We are few, Save for him and Vermier... who else was there? He was aware of Amara's dislike for Vermier, so that was not really an option. She herself was caught in a tight spot too, and he acknowledged that. A Queen, yes, but she was no true Dieudonne by blood. With Kieran's death, her position was rocky, and it would be a lie to say that Apollinaire hadn't thought of using that against her. At this moment he had the upper hand and felt more confident in denying the starry-furred High Sovereign. Or at least... denying her for now. "Je comprends que la situation est difficile, ma Reine. Je vous aiderais avec plaisir, si ce n'était pas pour ma... situation." I understand the situation is difficult, my Queen. I would gladly aid you, if it wasn't for my... situation.

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Amara wasn't given many details and what she was given didn't help her understand things anymore. Normally she would push and get the information she wanted but she also knew that if the male's feelings were settled on someone else she would have to let it be. She wouldn't want to steal him away, even if she didn't know who the other lioness was. It was disappointing though to learn that her plan wouldn't be able to happen and she was left with no other option. Her ears flicked as he said that the lioness was aware of things and was of the same breed. At least that would make things a little easier in some ways.

She gave a small nod and looked from him toward the lands around the bluffs. Je trouverai alors un autre moyen de protéger la famille. I will find another way to protect the family then. Their blood may not run through her but her loyalty was to them, always. Every breath she took was to protect them and give them what they needed to thrive. If there was something she could do, no matter how rough it might be, she would find a way. J'espère qu'elle est digne de porter le sang que vous détenez. Si quelque chose change, tu sais où me trouver I hope she is worthy of the blood you hold. If something changes, you know where to find me. She gave him one last look over before turning to head away from him. While things didn't go as planned, at least she left knowing that he intended to spread the line and keep the family alive.

exit

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