What she said had plagued him, in a way. The slip of verbiage, the simple change of word, sleight of hand; it was enough to drive him wild, in a way. He wasn't sure whether he was overcomplicating it or misinterpreting it altogether. When she had said need, what had she meant? Did she intend to rescue him all over again, to relive that day on the mountain here and whisk him away to her great mountain and nurse him back to health? Or did she mean something different altogether, something beyond András' capability of comprehending beyond that stir deep in his belly, that heat in his heart? He'd spent long weeks without seeing her since then, content to throw himself into the duties of a loyal pride lion in hopes of easing his absence from the Cove when he'd first been injured in the Summit. After that, the great hunt for the mammoth had been the only thing to lead him from Caladan's borders; and when he'd left, instead of taking the prey straight to his pride, he'd come here. Thoughtlessly, without clear intention.

The large hunk of mammoth meat still hung from between his jaws. Though he would have preferred to secure a far larger portion, the sheer amount of lions that had shown up that day prevented him from getting anymore (lest he want to engage in a fight, certainly). It was large enough to fully feed two lions, and large enough to fatigue him by the time he reached the alcove he'd rested under before all those weeks ago. This time, the bear's scent was absent, and the nest it had built into the small cave nearby seemed abandoned. Despite that, András made sure to take residence away from where it had once dwelled, instead choosing to drape his forepaws over the side of the cliff and stare toward the entirety of Amaryllis below. A large sigh exhaled through his lips, thanking fate for that brief moment of solitude, that thoughtful loneliness.

@Fernweh

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times like this makes her feel grateful to be alone again. there're no strife within or around the pride lands to cause great concern for her and her family. no troubles and no rumors that plague the common people that it spills into the ranks of leadership. morrigan calls it the calm before the storm, and it'll stretch far longer than anyone can anticipate until the pressure snaps it in half. fernweh wish not to be in the middle of chaos. she has grown accustomed to this delicate peace, as would anyone else.

the familiar place of the alcove is where she intends to go to, mind thinking back to the last time she's seen its lofty position. and, of course, fernweh's not the only one that's lured here either. @András she said, keeping her voice even, but loud enough for the male to hear as she steps closer. he's holding a chunk of meat, big enough for her to notice the fat clinging to it, and big enough for her to want a taste too.

fernweh's surprised that he came here. though, she did invite him at one point, but at that time she never thought he would appear. for a moment, fernweh contemplates leaving so he can enjoy his food in peace, but then she decides to stay, only to know what he'll do now that she's here.

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He might have called out for her eventually. He had come here for her, after all, hadn't he? Had he every intention of returning home, he would have long been back at the Cove, feasting upon his prize and offering the remaining scraps to whoever was particularly peckish. Instead, he was here; frozen into silence because he wasn't sure what he would say if or do if he called for her. If she implored him: what do you want, what do you need? what would he have said? What could he have said? For a man so certain of his desires and ambitions, András were finally, truly stumped. Perhaps it were because a part of him lingered on Magdalene, unwilling to let go the fact of her brutal finality and the fact he would never have her again. Perhaps it was that cruel limbo it left him in, feeling undeserving of wanting purpose again because he'd failed his chances before, and he were far too weary now to try and rebuild it all again.

András.

But when he heard her voice—he stiffened, his gaze focused forward, watching as a deep white fog began to settle on the mountainside and blur away the fascinating sights of Amaryllis down below. @Fernweh, he replied, finally, after that aching silence. There is a deepness in his tone, something unlike that was there before. He wanted to move, to greet her properly, to stare into her face and see what strength may have blossomed in his brief absence. He hadn't been apart from her long, but it felt as if it had been ages. I brought you something. His head finally turns, motioning toward the prey that lay at his side. He hoped, at the very least, he could sate any hunger earned from making this long trek up the mountain. It wasn't too far from her home, but perhaps it would please her nonetheless.

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there's a contemplative silence. fernweh cannot read minds, no less andrás', whose stoic expression is worn well. but, she wonders what he's thinking, when he sees her. does he still see someone who's weak? or someone who has potential? she shouldn't pay mind to the opinions of others, and yet, here she is, questioning herself. it makes her feel vulnerable again, and she wishes to part from it as quick as possible.

before fernweh has the chance to break the silence, @András speaks her name. something's different here, she can feel it more than hear or see it. her eyes drift to the meat again, thankful that he has brought her food when just a moment ago she's been wondering about how it tastes. that's kind of you fernweh said, dipping her head in gratitude, let's share it. she knows nothing more intimate than partaking in feeding. maybe this will allow her to get closer to andrás in a natural way. she still wants to play it safe, so that nothing terrible will happen down the line.

she then settles closer to the meat, fangs showing as she opens her mouth, and takes a bite out of it. the texture is tough, but the fat bits are delicious. before inquiring about which prey the meat belongs to, fernweh has more pressing matters to ask her companion. what's ailing your mind? she looks toward him, hoping that his usual stoicism will break for this moment. you seem tenser... certainly now shouldn't be the time to ask, but fernweh wants to know.

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Were he far less plagued by his contemplation, he might have been content to regale her in the story of his hunt. How he and a mass of other lions from all walks of life managed to fell beasts never seen before in Amaryllis. Never seen before anywhere, András considered. As it were, however, the rare delicacy of the meat could be forgotten in his thoughts, and he could feel content to tell such stories later, when he no longer felt such a twinge in his stomach. Why do I feel like this? he continued to implore himself, just as he'd done those lonely nights pacing on Caladan's coastline, trailing up and down in fervent paces until he was certain he'd dug a trench tall enough to rise over his head. It took him far too long to comprehend the feeling. Perhaps, he considered, it was because it had always been an unanswered question, long before he'd lost his wife.

He felt guilty.

Guilty, at least, for allowing himself to enjoy the company of another woman. To feel perhaps it might be something more than a mentor teaching an upcoming apprentice, or a man indebted to a warrior who saved his life in this very same place. It was a blossoming friendship at its infancy; but András were just a man. There was always the chance for something more. He did not realize it until she'd said those words: Whatever you need. He is unable to escape it. Her implorations cause him to stiffen, to choose carefully what he says next. He does not wish to drive @Fernweh away, but even he knows just how cruel loneliness plagues. Just weary from the hunt, he lies, offering her a small smile. I'm not injured, thankfully, so there's no need to fret over me. He was almost certain if she got any closer to him, after all, his steeled façade may all fall apart. He was thankful, at least, the meal was distracting.

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is that so? fernweh said, raising a brow as she watches @András closely. she has no doubt that the man cannot lie, but he can also speak half-truths. it's only unfortunate she cannot worm her way into the man's mind and know what he wants. in her opinion, andrás seems like a man who have more thoughts than he has words. i don't know if you're speaking the truth, but i won't press for more she commented, shrugging her shoulders. her attention's quickly taken back to the meat, sitting tantalizing there in front of her. the deliciousness of its taste lingers on the surface of her tongue and she licks her lips.

here, for us she said, before pushing the meat closer to andrás. she doesn't know what else to do, or if he needs something other than a bite to eat. but fernweh is patient, she can still find a way to distract andrás from whatever's plaguing him, if he is. and, of course, there're plenty of conversations to have to whittle away the free time they have.

you're in the cove now, correct? it's obvious, despite her asking, that the male is in her former pride. the smell makes her nostalgic, especially now that they're beside each other. fernweh's only aware that the pride's small, ruled by a single high sovereign and a few unranked lions. i used to live there, when i was a babe.

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He is certain she is not content with his answer, but he is pleased by the fact she doesn't seem to press him too hard. András lets out a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding, his gaze shifting back toward her as pushed the meat closer toward him. Half-eaten, thankfully; suddenly, the hunt seemed more than worth it. Thank you, streifen, And had he not been so overcome with his own thoughts, he might have entertained the idea of scarfing it down all at once, brutish and boyish as he always had. He never were an elegant eater. For now, however, he places a single paw on top of it as he leisurely pulls away long strips of the gamey meat, enjoying the fatty, almost blubbery taste of it. A delicacy, he noted, perhaps more of an acquired taste for some, but he were not picky.

You're at the Cove now, correct? she asks, and with a mouth full of food, András only nods until he swallows. Correct, he states, before smirking softly, I might have joined the Summit, though, if you'd gotten to me sooner. Gauthier had plucked András upon his first entrance to Amaryllis, and had only been a few days fresh to the Cove when he'd met @Fernweh. It had made sense for her to think him a rogue still, and he'd been delighted to keep from correcting her. It felt nice, in a way, to be wanted in that way. Her next statement elicits a slight furrow of his brows, however; had he been a keener man, he might have been able to put the timeline together better, to remember how the woman who had assailed him upon their first war in Amaryllis had been of the Cove, and how Fernweh would have been just a girl on that day.

The cove to a mountain, that's quite the change, he remarks instead, content not to try and piece together the fragile bits and pieces of his past, to try and piece together all the mystery that surrounds her. I think where you are now suits you better. Strength persevering, an infant mountain showing its fangs for the first time. The circumstances of her leaving the Cove and coming to the Summit would probably be the same as all others of Amaryllis, András figured; thrones rose and fell in months and years time, and it was likely the same aunt who led the Summit now could have lead the Cove before. I'd lived as a rogue until recently...just down the slope from here, actually, he recanted, before pausing, a noticeable grief befalling his once-friendly demeanor. There is a pause, a breath. Then, he frees himself of it. Got tired of my paws getting too cold.

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fernweh immediately picks up on the word that andras calls her. she smiles, mostly to herself, and says nothing about it. for a while, fernweh has simply been fernweh, so to be given a nickname - however small and insignificant as it seems - is a welcoming thing. her eyes watch the male eat, somewhat entranced by the way he swallows the food. in no time, fernweh too takes her share, until she feels full enough to pause again.

the invite's still open fernweh reminded him, gently this time, with no hint of excitement as the previous one. she's certain andras isn't the type to be swayed so easily. to her, he seems like a staunch loyalist, a trait that is highly sought after for pride lions. even so, this makes her all the more willing to have someone like him be a part of illyria. but, she can argue that this opportunity of andras being in another can help her figure out if he can truly be called an ally.

the cove has too many memories for me to not want to go back fernweh said with a wistful gaze in her eyes. but she leaves her response at that, for she doesn't even know when or how she'll visit. the reigning sovereign may not want her near their border, they may not even be on good terms with illyria, for all she knows. fernweh may be new to politics, but she understands that the greyflood has some enemies still thriving in amaryllis. from time to time, fernweh thinks of challenging the current sovereign, but what point is there to doing that now that she's heiress? it's a shame fernweh said, sighing, a mountain life suits you too. there was a hint of a teasing lilt in her words as she spoke. even now, she cannot stop driving the idea of andras joining illyria into every conversation, despite her resolution of getting to know him better first.

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He couldn't tell if she were insistent on his joining of her pride because they needed more able-bodied adults, or if she genuinely enjoyed his company that much. András was not the sort of man to abandon his pride without at least consulting Gauthier first, though he'd rather enjoyed the Cove as it were so fresh and fledgling to the politicking of Amaryllis. His had been the very first pride he'd joined since first coming here, having lived the brutal life of a rogue for far too long; to take leave of it now in favor of something else seemed almost sinful, in a way, though a part of him delighted at the idea of spending a far larger amount of his time with @Fernweh and her ilk. Perhaps the largest part that fettered him to silence was his caution; there were enemies here, still, lurking amongst prides unbeknownst to him. What prides the Sigrun controlled before may be different now, and all he knew to assume was that the Mire was still their ally, a refuge for the Rike but unknowing if it were a true stronghold. The rest was a mystery.

I'm sure you could visit, if you'd like, he stated, lifting a brow. He was unsure the nature of political relations between the Summit and the Cove, but even if things were sour, he very well might entertain the idea of sneaking her in if it seemed feasible enough (and if he wouldn't lose his hide over the whole ordeal). It did make him wonder, however, what it was like for her to grow up there; who had come there before, and what had first driven them all out?

A mountain life suits you too. András let out a soft chuckle, peering toward the striped Heiress from the corner of his gaze. He'd thought it had, once, as well. Ah, yes, he who attracts the ire of bears, he teases back, reaching out once more to try and jab a paw in her shoulder, in typical András fashion, Certainly I have enough poise and grace to not fall off your great Summit.

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he responds to her and fernweh feels a little better. she's still incapable of truly going near the cove lest the festered memories surface once more. and she doesn't want to senselessly become the reason a war happens. perhaps later she said, looking away. she would rather dismiss the thought of the cove for now, until there's a better opportunity for her to bring it back. it will be interesting to see how far its kingdom and reach expand within the next month. whether or not the cove will become their ally or not is still up in the air. and, when they do become one, then fernweh will visit, without hesitation, and without doubts.

fernweh feels the teasing jab from @András and jabs him back in kind, not being the type to allow such things to go unanswered. it's nice to be playful like this, as it reminds her that she's not just an heiress, but a lion too. to be fair, you attracted one beast and it's only because you disturbed its beauty sleep, she said, grinning. while the situation back then was dire, she couldn't help but find it funny now. to think...you're loud enough to wake up a bear from hibernation; that's quite a feat, i confess. but, of course, holding the bear back and causing its eventual downfall was admirable as well. fernweh will never forget that moment, ever, for as long as she lives.

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