His once powerful frame had whittled away into little more than thinly covered muscle and bone- and even that had atrophied under the trails that he had endured in his long absence. In the wake of the nightmares, there had been a calling deep within his soul- a need to go back to where he'd come from to ensure that all was at rest there... to make sure that she had not returned. However, his sister, had not been there- had not been there to be found. He knew not where she went, and only returned to Amaryllis with the foolish hope that she would return one day.

The sickness he'd endured whilst being gone, had provided a good reason. He didn't want to spread it to the Brook- to be blamed if anyone should perish from it. Gods knew he felt like he would, many nights.

Somehow his paws brought him back though, somehow they brought him back to the familiar scent of the border, and so he let out a soft chuff- afraid to simply cross it. Afraid that now that the Brook scent had faded from him, that he wouldn't be welcome again. Eskel sat back heavily, his exhausted body, sinking to the earth gratefully, as his half blind gaze studied the border- head bowing a bit under the strain of exhaustion, and in the momentary peace- he closed his eyes.

@Cassandra

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The moment someone found her up and walking around, she knew she'd be chastised for even getting up and trying to do stuff again. Her wounds were still very fresh and tender, and she hurt to move around. The wooziness didn't pop up unless she exerted herself a lot right now, and she was trying so very hard to not do so. She didn't like the feeling.

Despite her pain, there was pride in her frame. She'd fought against the lion trying to steal her home and she'd won. She'd made her family proud she hoped, in keeping the land under the control of the Valours once more. However, when a familiar chuff carried through the air, it caught her attention. The lion that voice belonged to... had disappeared without a trace one day. Limping heavily in the direction of the call, Cassandra wasn't sure what she expected.

But whatever it was, she was still shocked to see @Eskel sitting on the other side of the birder, looking almost as rough as she was. "Didn't expect to see you again, to be blatantly honest." Cassandra said as she limped closer to the larger male. "You look rather worse for wear." She added on, gingerly sitting herself down to take weight off of her front left leg.

actions. "speech."

Art by Rabbit | Table Code by Zodiac

His reverie is broken by the approach of another, and he raises his gaze to see @Cassandra approaching. His eyes narrow as he takes her in, his brow furrowing at her state of disarray and wounded status. What had he missed in his absence? As she limped closer, and came to a halt, she spoke, and he watched her sit, only huffing once- softly.

"Can't say you look great yourself, and I don't normally ever tell a female that." He rumbles, a concerned sort of look to his gaze as he studies her. "Who?" The question is simple, who had attacked her so? "Did they pay?" A follow up. He assumes the Brook wouldn't let them walk away unscathed from harming their leader, but he questions it all the same.

"There was... a dream, and then an illness. It was best that I was away. Didn't want anyone else getting sick." Soft words, implications that he did in fact care about those present. Truthfully, it had perhaps been a bit of a fever dream that had brought him away from the Brook, but the strange dream had definitely led him on an adventure of a lifetime. "Not sick now, just..." He trails off, his gaze going a bit misty- vacant. Empty.

@Cassandra

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"Some bastard tried to take the Brook. Thought he could take it, and I presume underestimated my prowess as a warrior in my ability to protect the Brook." Cassandra said as she shifted slightly to make sure she wasn't putting too much weight on her wounded leg. "He looks just as bad as I do. Got him pretty good where his head met his neck at the very least. Didn't catch his name though. Big plum brute. Don't think he expected to get his butt kicked by a lioness." She added on, letting out a slight huff of pain as she moved her face in such a way that pulled at the raw wounds there.

"Well, I'm glad you are okay and managed to make it back safely. We thankfully didn't have much of any sickness here lately unless you count my husband. He fell in the Brook and caught pneumonia." She said, glancing down at her wounds as @Eskel trailed off. Thankfully no one else had been sick in the Brook besides her husband. She... didn't want to talk about her aunt's sickness and everything that had come from it.

"Is there a reason you came back though? I honestly didn't expect it when you just seemingly disappeared. Now I know why - but it still begs the question is why you've come back here?" Cassandra asked, flicking an ear as she spoke.

actions. "speech."

Art by Rabbit | Table Code by Zodiac

Apparently, he had missed a challenge for the Brook, which begged the question- what else had he missed. He looked Cassandra over, studying her, as she spoke. When she finished, he nodded. "Good for you." A simple word, praise from an older spy- he wished her well on holding the pride. Surely that male would not be the last to come for such a haven.

Ah, but the real question... of why he had come here. Eskel stared past her into the pride that had offered him... sanctuary, peace, and relative comfort, and then sighed softly. Somewhere in his foolish mind, he thought he could just come back... but did he want too? To a life as a lion that would never be trusted- and rightfully so?

"I am not seeking to return." He said simply, "But I owed you the respect of letting you know that, before I moved on. The Brook was a home for me... but I..." He trailed off, the words dying- wasn't there for it. "I wish you well, Cassandra, and I hope we are never on the opposite side of a battle or conflict." Simple, calm words- delivered with an earnest gaze. "If I hear anything about a large plum brute, who's messed up from your claws- I'll keep my ears open and bring the information back to you." A promise, and that much he owed her. "But... I just wanted to explain things, before I moved on." A simple way of saying good-bye, he supposed.

@Cassandra

(And because Roamer wants to stop having 2 characters in the same prides lmao)

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