The last time she had stepped into this land was when she was leaving it. Having not found anything that had satisfied her here she had retraced her steps to the outside world. However now almost two full years later she has returned. The adventure she had been trying to find just wasn’t working for her anymore and now as she has aged she fears she’ll never get to find a place to settle. Never get to have a family or a place to feel like she is wanted. Being that she never truly gave this land a real chance she returned to see if just maybe there was a place in one of the prides here for her. So in the mid morning of the late autumn day she slowly padded along the path that lead inward.

OOC NOTE: Feel free to claim her.

image by moogle/code by saph

She made her way to the passage yet again, despite having had so many failed attempts at recruiting here. She had to keep trying to bolster her numbers. Sooner or later she would not fail.

The warmth of summer was slowly fading away. It was evident in the cool air that blew in from the sea, brushing against her sandy fur with the scent of salt and distant storms filling her nostrils. It bolstered her spirit, filling her lungs with fresh, delicious air. If there was one thing Tiamat liked it was the ocean and everything that went along with it.

As she approached the passage near the middle of the morning she caught sight of a figure walking along the path that led into Amaryllis. She adjusted her own trajectory and approached the purplish-coated woman. She was small, but as Alizabeth had made clear size was not always what mattered.

"Hello," she greeted the woman warmly. "Welcome to Amaryllis. I am Tiamat, the Queen of Scilla Lagoon. Are you looking for a home?" Tiamat was all pleasant and warm for the moment, but she didn't want to leave here empty-handed today.

@Darcy

image by rabbit, code by anyu

Now that she thinks about it, Myra supposes that she hasn't made the trek all they way out here in quite a while. A rare bit of negligence that required swift correction perhaps, though she can't say she's that surprised by it.

The huntress has never been the biggest fan of playing the verbal games that a task such as recruiting required. But she's made it work in the past, in her own way.

It's good to be away from the swamp's lingering humidity, in any case. It's even better that's she's greeted with the sight of another woman upon her arrival to the familiar sands. How lucky. It always feels like a bit of a waste when the passage is empty.

"Greetings." She rumbles out as she approaches the stout little lioness, her tone not unkind if a bit lacking in the overt warmth that pervaded @Tiamat's words. "Myra Artesia, Noble of Ecrosia Mire." She offered a brief nod to the Lagoon Queen as well, which was more than what'd been offered to some of the other rulers Myra has crossed paths with here, though her attention remains largely upon @Darcy. "What's brought you here, stranger?"

SENTINEL

As she walked she wondered if anyone would approach her or if she would be able to just walk on through the threshold of Amaryllis. Being that she desired a home she would prefer if those seeking members came to her not because she is lazy but because it made things easier knowing how active a pride was. Her luck she would approach a pride that was nothing but a lazy thing starved for life and interaction between each other.

Though today it seemed she would be in luck as not just one but two arrived to greet her. Coming to a stop as @Tiamat greeted her she gave a smile and a polite bow of her head to the royalty. "Hello your majesty. Scilla Lagoon. Now there is a name I haven’t heard in a long while." She started her greeting thinking about the place she once considered to make home for herself as another who called herself @Myra of Ecrosia Mire joined them. Giving her a respectful dip of her head as well and a smile she answered both at one time. "Thank you ladies for the greetings. I am Daredasher. I was once for a very short time a guest of the Lagoon from a strange lioness who was Queen having just taken over but decided medics were stupid as well as sand. A strange soul that one was, a soul whose name I never did get in our conversation." Oh but that was almost a full two years ago now so it mattered not. As she speaks she keeps her voice light and friendly. No lies cross her tongue so there is no reason to take a hostile tone. "To answer your question regarding what brings me here, back to Amaryllis is rather simple. I indeed seek a home. I am growing rather old but I still have plenty of life left in me. That being said I seek a pride I may settle down into and become rooted to instead of a nomadic life of wandering." A bit long winded but the answer was still simple enough as she looked between both lionesses.

image by moogle/code by saph

I — I can help with that, too.

The voice broke through the small crowd of lions and vacant sand, dark body moving along the dirty pathway until she reached them. Parents had expressed what the Passage was a couple of times and that now that she was a year old, and royalty, that this was somewhere she could go. A place where she could attempt to recruit wandering souls and that it helped benefit the pride, and that it helped them too. I'm Analía, from Vermeda. Her one good eye moving to the other two that were present. Scents she did not recognize nor faces that she knew by any means; but that was hardly any surprise.

My family has led there for generations and we protect each other, no matter what. Not that she had ever done that but they would, if the opportunity arose. We're nice folks and we want to help where we can. Including you, if you want. Truth be told, she felt uncomfortable and small. Like a child who was just now seeing the outside for the first time and realizing that it was so much larger than just her small corner of the world.

Eventually she tried to look to @Darcy's eyes and found their markings entrancing. The bright orange of their eyes and the feathered marks on their cheeks and that was only the beginning. Ana knew that there were a lot of beautiful lions and lionesses out there but sometimes, their uniqueness made her feel a lot less so. As though her dark and shadowy coat had been left behind and everyone else made to look like pageant queens and kings.

@Tiamat @Myra

+10 - Invite someone to the pride who takes up your offer (darcy/vb)

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

The scents of the Lagoon, the Mire, and the Brook all wafted ahead of him as Roan moved towards the rogue. He wasn't the first, this time, but the masked man did managed to arrive just in time to hear the stranger answer a few questions, it would seem. An older woman looking for a place to settle and feel a part of. Perhaps Firnen could offer that to her, if she was interested.

The Hodari came up alongside @Analía, favoring the side of an ally than the other company, before his attention went to the rogue. "Firnen Rainforest might also be of interest to you. A laid back atmosphere with a family feeling. We don't ask for much, but to do your part to help the whole. Plenty of trees to root yourself amongst." The masked noble couldn't help himself from smirking with that last part. The Rainforest certainly did have a lot of roots beneath the foot with so many trees everywhere. He didn't know much about the other prides, though, at least not Scilla or Ecrosia. Granted, at least the Mire had stability behind it with Alaric's lengthy tenure as king. Vermeda had the history, though, even if Cassandra was among the younger rulers of Amaryllis. The natives were an easy bunch to get along with. Without going into much detail, though, Roan would wait to see what @Darcy might have to say about her options thus far, but was ready and willing to answer any questions if needed.

Table by Amanda | Bust by Hinter | Background from unsplash

It was not long before others gathered, drawn like moths to a flame at the promise of new blood. Tiamat dipped her head to @Myra, whom she recalled from the Mire. She would do her best not to step on an allies toes today. Hopefully Myra would do the same.

The woman spoke an Tiamat offered up an understanding smile. "The Lagoon has changed," she offered easily. "I have ruled it for nearly four months now, and we value healers as much as warriors," she explained. Truthfully, she had plenty of healers, but more would never be turned away. A career warrior, she knew the value of those who could help tend to wounds. "If you like sand and a nice ocean view, you'd be welcome there. One of my members Calypso, is a skilled healer." Perhaps this woman, Daredasher, still had room to learn?

A girl arrived, her voice almost uncertain at first. Tiamat had jot seen her in the passage before. She caught the scent of the Brook, followed shortly by one of the Rainforest. The man drew up alongside thr girl. Allies, then? She was allied with neither pride, but also had no quarrel with them at present. And since neither were pushing a claim it seemed as if she wasn't going to draw their ire just yet either.

Her gaze returned to @Darcy, calm and collected. She carried the air of the queen she was, the queen she was always meant to be, as she waited for the others to make their cases.

@Roan @Analía

image by rabbit, code by anyu

Naturally, it doesn't take long for even more to gather for the sake of vying for the rogue's attention. It's inevitable, like vultures circling around an old carcass. Is it hilarious or pathetic that the huntress should now count herself among them?

The woman, Daredasher, was quite forthcoming in explaining her wants from this place. This must not be all that new to her, given that she even shares a curious anecdote about a previous experience with the Lagoon. Apparently that place had had several interesting up and downs, even before @Tiamat.

"If you don't mind a bit of mud, the Mire can offer you a reliable place to settle. Our King has ruled for a couple of years now. I've witnessed his strength myself." Nothing in life was guaranteed, but at this point Myra couldn't help finding it unlikely that they would be uprooted anytime soon. "We protect our own, and knowledgeable healers are quite valuable to us." Considering those recent conflicts, she could never claim her home to be anything like a tranquil retirement home, if that was that @Darcy was hoping for. "If you don't mind some 'excitement' every now and again, you would be more than welcome there."

Not everyone had to be the most ambitious type, she supposed. Maybe Ecrosia could actually do with less of those, actually.

The scent of the Brook has Myra giving @Analía a vague side-eye, though the huntress holds her tongue for now. It was unlikely that the nervous yearling would be worth her time anyway. @Roan's presence is accepted with little reaction, the man and his pride both carrying a neutral status in her mind for how little she knew of them.

She'd wait for them all to speak their turns, watching for the rogue's reactions with her chin tilted up expectantly.

SENTINEL

She stood there listening as more arrived and gave their spiel as to also why they believed they’d be a good fit for her. The youngest that arrived @Analía spoke of her family having been in their home for generations which excited her. Though @Roan was cute and she couldn’t help but smile and let out a polite giggle at his joke. Yet she didn’t catch his name since it wasn’t offered. Ears turned to the other lionesses who it would seem she might have confused about being a healer with. She did know a bit about healing but she wasn’t a master of it. She just knew how to get by and not die is all. A skill everyone should know when they live alone.

Listening to @Tiamat she gave a soft smile to her as well while looking at @Myra judging her by her reactions or lack there of thoughts the younger lioness. Though everyone had their own personal experiences and reasons to why they thought she should go with them in the end it was Analía who Darcy had decided to give a try. "They you all for your offers. They all sound delightful and sadly I can’t go with each of you." She said calmly before she stepped towards the Brooks yearling. "I have decided I would like to accompany miss Analía home today. I do wish you all the best of luck on your future endeavors. Perhaps we shall cross paths again." With that she gave each a nod of her head and waited to be lead away.

-exit with Analía?-

image by moogle/code by saph

In the end, it would not be Firnen the woman would choose, but at least she was joining Vermeda Brook. "At least you'll be an ally," the mauve man commented with a nod and a light grin. @Darcy spoke graciously, politely, in declining the rest of them, so the Hodari was hardly perturbed in being declined. Once the decision was made, the masked man offered a nod to the other representatives in departure, before taking his own leave. He'd been pretty lucky in recent trips to the passage, so the Hodari was bound to get turned down soon anyway. No skin off his back as his socked paws carried him away.

exit Roan

Table by Amanda | Bust by Hinter | Background from unsplash