Leander has not forgotten all that has transpired at Scilla Lagoon -- it is hard to when he had been attacked by yet another Wolfbron lion. The Brook had been involved or perhaps drawn into the political unrest, and what with Alizabeth no longer King, Leander seeks potential refuge with Vermeda. It is not as simple as needing shelter -- Halimede's bombshell that they had children lost within Amaryllis has really highlighted the need for a pride.

He stands tall by the Brook's borders, waiting for @Halimede to join him. He releases a low call for the leaders of the pride, wondering if @Cassandra would show and if things might have changed since the Lagoon challenge. Only time would tell. The Miroslav takes a sideward step, leaning his shoulder against his wife's as they wait.

halimede.

It was strange joining another pride that wasn't Seneca's. Halimede had done it before, living briefly under Magnus in the Hollow when she'd first stumbled into Amaryllis those many years ago, but she had lived under the Oasis' banner for so long that it felt almost sinful to show up somewhere new. And yet, she followed @Leander quietly, eyes wide and curious; the Brook was a far cry from the hot desert. This far north was frigid to her, though her pelt long and plush, the cold northern wind cut right through her. She found herself inching closer to him, brushing her flank and shoulder alongside his as they traipsed ever-closer to the border, leeching off of his wonderfully-pleasant warmth.

It seemed their journey would never end. And then, suddenly, it did.

As he paused upon the borders, Halimede came to stand next to him, uncharacteristically silent in the anticipation of a leader's arrival. Her jaw was tensed, noticeably out of her element, and she quietly pondered if she could convince her husband at the last minute to somehow join Violarum and Olive instead. Oh, what drama that would be. Instead, she elects to remain still and observant, curious to see what compelled Leander to come here of all places.

@Cassandra @Revna

The call that comes is not one she recognizes, so Revna is quick to prick her ears, locate the direction it came from, and heave herself up to head towards the border.

Things are starting to warm up with spring on the way and the rains have left the ground soft beneath the grass that tickles her feet. Though it can be cool here, Revna enjoys the weather. It is not as cold as the Sigrun homeland, nor so hot that she is uncomfortable. Perfect for the black-coated woman who does not have the thick pelt of her husband's family.

It doesn't take her too long to reach the border where she finds two waiting for the leaders of the pride. The black and white one with the fiery mane is mildly familiar if only because the contrast stands out and he was at the Lagoon challenge. But she does not know who he is or who he might be related to in the lands of Amaryllis. She certainly does not recognize the woman who is with him.

"Hello," she greets them both as she stops by the border. "Welcome to Vermeda Brook. I'm the sovereign, Revna," she explains, omitting her surname as she smhad been doing recently. "What can I do for you both?"

@Leander @Halimede @Cassandra (if you want to toss her in here)

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Paws carried the Brook Queen through her territory as a familiar voice rang out through the land. Leander? What was he calling her for at her borders? She had been sunbathing, taking a few moments to herself before she continued on with her duties for the pride. As she makes her way towards the source of the call, she catches two more scents along with that of Leander. One was familiar - her fellow queen Revna - and the other was unfamiliar to her, but it was heavily mixed with that of Leander's scent.

Closing the distance between herself and the gathered trio, Cassandra saw the familiar fiery mane of the Miroslav male. Alongside him was a smaller striped lioness, whom Cassandra didn't really recognize at all. Drawing up alongside @Revna, the young lioness would incline her head to the two at the borders. "@Leander - wasn't expecting to see you here. Last I heard you'd found residence in the Lagoon. After it's fall, I didn't know where you'd gone off to." She greeted the pair warmly, her shoulder aiming to brush along Revna in a show of solidarity. "As Revna said, what can we do for you today?" She said, tilting her head as she spoke.

@Halimede

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It does not go unnoticed that @Halimede is rather quiet on their journey. He had initially made some effort at conversation but after a while, they had fallen into comfortable silence -- Leander allowing his shoulder to brush against her's as they travel side by side. Like his wife, the Miroslav man would much rather their old home in the Oasis but with missing children and with the Bluffs thirsty for blood, finding refuge would seem their best option.

A woman named @Revna approaches them first, though @Cassandra is hot on her Sovereign's heels. Well, his great grandfather would be rolling in their graves when they heard of a pride being run by two women. Leander was drawn to the Brook by the fact that he knew the leader well and trusted her judgement. Whether she would invite him into her pride, knowing full well that it may exacerbate tensions with Wolfbron.. well, that was another question.

"It is nice to see you again, Cassandra," he greets her as warmly as came natural to Leander, "I am Leander Miroslav. This is my wife, Halimede." A pause as he glances across to his better half, wondering if she might have something to say. "We seek a home in Vermeda, if you will have us. Halimede and I are looking for our children -- they are lost somewhere in Amaryllis."

The patched beast takes pause, letting his request sink in for a moment, "I understand that this may put more pressure on your relations with the Bluffs." Not that Amara and her crew had helped matters by attempting to steal their lioness -- his niece. He knows not where Cassandra stands on the matter and thus he waits, allowing the two women to consider his request and to have their say.

halimede.

She knows little the friends @Leander had made in her absence. In fact, she knows little at all about the alliances forged between the Miroslavs and other great families and prides. Halimede had been content to linger in the delightful little bubble of the Oasis, never caring to know anyone outside of it except those who had personally intrigued her. Thus, as @Revna and @Cassandra make their entrance and immediately recognize who her husband is, Halimede feels an embarrassed heat slip across her cheeks, for once, humbled into silence. By comparison, she really was world-weary.

She is thankful that Leander introduces her, allowing her the continued stillness from both nerves and, well, keeping her from embarrassing him. In these moments she could recognize the seriousness in him; the tightening of his jaw, the tip of his chin angling his head proudly, the curl of his tail against his side with a refined politeness. It is a side Halimede is unused to seeing, but admires nonetheless. He were built to be a King as much as his brother was, she thought silently, and then mused at the idea of him ever realizing such a thing. Would she be a better Queen, or a better jester?

Her thoughts only distracted her for so long, before eventually, her gaze shifted back toward the pair of Queens before her. How strange it would be living under a banner of someone she was not legally protected to harass.

Ah, so this is the @Leander that had been mentioned during their meeting with Amara. She studies him for a moment, her expression neutral and contemplative. He is a large man, mostly white with some black patches and a fiery-colored mane. Revna had never truly been aware of the relations between the Sigrun and the Miroslav, but she knew there had been some connection there. That leaves her open to friendly relations with this man and his wife, but her hesitation lies in the desire to avoid more war.

The woman, @Halimede, is a soft gray color, covered in gray stripes, and seems quiet. Revna studies her for a moment, too, but doesn't linger there as the conversation continues.

Revna does not wait for @Cassandra to speak up. "Missing children?" she says softly, her heart going out to the pair. "I'd be happy to help search for them while I'm out and about," she offers quickly. She wanders enough that perhaps she will run into some sign of them.

But then her gaze darkens a little. "We do not want full-out war with Wolfbron," she cautions the pair. It is not a negative to their request to join the Brook, but more a warning of what she would expect in future behavior. Her eyes shift over to Cass, wondering what her thoughts on the situation are. Ultimately the decision would be hers since this was her pride. Revna was fine with the two of them staying here, but she would hope that they would keep in mind the Brook's stance and avoid starting any further drama.

Of course - and this would be likely - if Wolfbron attacked she would also expect them to defend themselves.

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A flick of her ear would be given as Revna spoke up about children missing. If the pair had children missing she would do whatever she could to help them. "I often find myself in the Passage and out in Amaryllis as well - I can keep an eye out for anything I hear of them while away from the Brook." Cassandra added on, flicking her tail in agreement with @Revna's words. If it were her children missing she would not be stopped until she found them.

"Both of you are welcome in the Brook - but as Revna said we would like to avoid war with Wolfbron if at all possible. So if you are to join the Brook I ask that you not cause trouble with any of Wolfbron or their allies." She said, elaborating on what Revna had said in regards to their relationship with the Bluffs. They weren't allied with the Bluffs, but she also would like to avoid soiling their relationship even further than it already was.

"However, if a Wolfbron member attacks you first unprovoked, then you are allowed to defend yourselves if you join the Brook. I just don't want more issues to be caused between the Brook and the Bluffs." Cassandra added on to her statement, making it clear that they were allowed to defend themselves if attacked unprovoked. She just didn't want them causing more problems that she had to clean up in the end.

@Halimede @Leander

OOC Note: I am SO SORRY for the delay on this - I didn't realize it was my turn.

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