The lioness gave a sigh of boredom as she crept along the beach, her paw reached out to pick up and swat away a piece of sea glass, it's shiny colors glittering in the sun, she had finally decided maybe it was time she found somewhere to call home, atleast for the time being. Safer with a group than by herself, and she was not fond of the loneliness that slithered in and gripped her late at night, so the snowy goddess found a flat rock to perch herself upon before letting out a few roars, calling out for someone to come and accept her.

Khione's eyes searched the area around her, waiting for the first silhouette to break over the horizon, her eyelashes fluttering, she always looked seductive and alluring, even when she was just existing it was a natural trait to her, she had slipped easily into the role of woman of the night a soon as she crossed the threshold of her 2nd birthday. Even if she hasn't actually ever slept with another.

(Khione is open for claims, or whatever!)

code by corvus

This was the first time that Reah had found herself within the passage. Her dark tail twitched with curiosity as she moved forward, a few short calls catching her attention. This would be her first try recruiting, or perhaps, claiming. She wasn’t really too sure what would happen, but she decided to give all this out at least a try or two. Who knew what exactly would come of it?

She would walk towards the call, and before her, there was a lioness atop a flat rock. Hello, she called out to the woman. She was certainly a particular-looking woman. White, gray, many spots upon her pelt. I’m Reah, Sovereign of Lorien Plains. She announced her rank. That was the normal thing to do, right? You must be looking for a home if you’ve ended up here, she commented. I can offer you a home in Lorien, it’s a relaxing place. The High Sovereign even promotes naps and feasts, she added. Who could turn down that?
@Khione

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Tiamat slinked along the sandbar in the dark of night, her light wheat pelt blending in with the sand that glittered in the moonlight Her scarred flesh spoke to her warrior ways, but she moved like a Queen, regal and powerful and ready to take on the world. She was pregnant but not yet showing, her body still quite lean even though she could feel the new life within her. Soon her belly would begin to swell, but for now she would continue as normal, stalking the passage for new blood.

She came here repeatedly, searching and hoping for new members to fill out her ranks. She wanted desperately to compete with the other prides, some of which were much larger than hers. So when someone in the distance roared she was quick to hone in on the sound, ears pricked forward and eyes scanning the horizon for the source, knowing that it held potential.

It took her a moment, and she wasn't the first to approach the girl that rested on rock, her pelt unmarred and lovely beneath the moonlight. Perhaps not the best of prospects. She was, after all, overloaded with medics and lacking in warriors. But any lion could pull their weight in one way or another, regardless of their skills (or lack thereof).

Another woman was already there, her pelt black as night, and she was just finishing up her introduction and telling the girl of the Plains. Hmm, so leadership there must have changed since the meeting at the peak, where the sovereign had been a man and not a woman. Not to mention Violarum had been the king then. She wondered if that, too, had changed. Interesting indeed. As @Reah stopped speaking Tiamat stepped forward. "Naps and feasts on the plains are all well and good, but you look like a woman who would do well on the beautiful beaches, sunning herself next to the most beautiful lagoon,' she offered, a smirk tugging at her lips as she glanced sidelong at the darker woman. "I am Tiamat, High Queen of Scilla Lagoon, and we would be happy to have you there, as well."

image by rabbit, code by anyu

5years, no bonus.

It wasn’t often that he heard someone calling to be claimed. Or accepted… thus, his head would lift, turning in the direction the call had come. The warmonger would move forth, following the sound and the scent of the vultures that were answering the call that was made. A lioness he did not know, but smelled distinctly of the plains. He recalled the challenge, the dark cloaked lion that had won- one he still needed to speak with to see where he would stand in regards to the Oasis. Ears would twitch, picking up the tail end of her speech as another lioness he did know would arrive. Tiamat.

It seemed the Plains were offering laziness as a perk, Tiamat was quick to speak next, offering the beach as an alternative to laze about on. Yeah…he was fucked here. Ronin would slow, wondering if he should even bother. Might as well, right? He’d never know unless he offered. Ronin would come to a stop closer to the darker toned woman, @Reah. Nodding slightly to her, his gaze would turn to @Tiamat, offering a similar nod. Turning to the mottled woman (@Khione) he would shrug slightly, I don’t have nice tall grasses or a beautiful beach. My home is as harsh as it is beautiful. What a lie, it was far from beautiful. If you like a challenge, I would offer the Oasis as a home. There, he had offered and he hadn’t made it sound too bad…had he? I’m Ronin Svend, High Sovereign of the Oasis. May we know your name? He posed it as a question for the three leaders that she had to choose from. It was always good to know a lions name- even if they didn’t join him.

Khione regarded the woman as she walked over, her soft pink eyes looked at the dark woman, and had she not spoke, maybe Khione wouldn't have heard her, but she was always paying attention. "Hello, Reah," She spoke elegantly, but not uppity, her voice carried a pretty tenor, but she always had an egge to her that promised something more dangerous, "naps and feasts, as great as that sounds, is not what i personally need or feel like i am needed." Although the plains sounded very beautiful, sje would consider it at least, their introduction was shortened by another woman appearing, this one smelling of the ocean and sun.

Her white dipped face looked at @Tiamat, she did not miss the way the woman smirked and gracefully undercut the Sovereign of the Plains, an arched brow and a smirk was what was given by the gray and white lioness, before she spoke, "I do love to sun, though my skills are far more useful to use against someone's enemies. If that is something you one of two need?" She was an assassin by trade, a manipulated, she wanted to work, wanted to teach, and most of all, she wanted to be used to the best of her abilities.

A male soon joins them, and her eyes slide to him, and she dipped hwr head in greeting, "My apologies, I'm Khione." She introduces herself to the three, pausing to allow them to speak again.

code by corvus

Another woman approached. So far, Reah had not been able to familiarize herself with the other leaders of the other prides. She was slacking, but at the same time, she was newly crowned and had to recover from a rather rough and traumatic birth. She decided it was fine for now, she would meet up with these leaders later on and discuss politics then. Now, she needed to somehow recruit this woman and compete with this other wheat-colored queen. Her name was @Tiamat, and she too had a gorgeous piece of land. A lagoon with pretty beaches, Reah would’ve much preferred a place like that. However, the Plains were gorgeous and comfortable in their own way. She couldn’t complain, especially when her mate had done most if not all the work to get it.

Then another individual approached, this time it was a man. He was darker, like darkened tree bark. Covered in scars and white splotches. He introduced himself as @Ronin, and he nodded to both Tiamat and herself. She too would nod to both of them. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself today. She would be polite and give respect to the other leaders, as long as they gave it back.

Ronin was the King of the Oasis, and she vaguely remembered being there to watch his fight. The memories were all coming back to her now. Ronin was a vicious fighter from what she had taken note of, but the Scilla ordeal was strange to her. Scuffles had broken out, but Tiamat had made a conversation out of the claim rather than a fight. They seemed to be two differing leaders, and only time would truly tell who exactly they all were.

The woman spoke up again, the rogue with so far no name. She said that naps and feasts weren’t what she was looking for, and Reah’s tail twitched with irritation. She did not say anything though, and she did not let her annoyance be known. Her face remained neutral, as the rogue continued to talk. She said something about being useful against enemies and then introduced herself as @Khione.

Reah decided it was time to speak up. Lorien Plains is very newly established, she said. She didn’t want to exactly call her pride weak, or outright say it, but they were low on numbers due to her mate's new reign. So your skills would be incredibly useful to us, she added. It seemed that Khione wanted to work, and if that’s what she wanted, oh, Reah would put her to work. And despite the Plains holding a very new leader, we have already made enemies, she said, smirking slightly.

I feel the Plains would suit you the most, nice tall grasses to practice stealth in. Plenty of food to keep your energy, and I’m a Medic. Whatever happens to you, I promise to care for you and patch you up as needed. Could the others say the same? She didn’t know, but all she could do was hope her words were enough to convince Khione to come with her, over the others.

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@Ronin appeared next, offering the harsher Oasis, located in the desert, as a place for her to make a home in, if she liked a challenge. While the Oasis and the Lagoon were not outright enemies, she was rightly cautious of the man and his accusations, as well as his enmity with her closest ally, the Mire. If this came down to a claim against him, she would fight tooth and claw and do as much damage as she could. But she would, obviously, prefer the girl make the choice on her own. It was much more satisfying that way. No, Tiamat would not make the initial claim, only challenge one if it should arise.

"If you are looking to put skills to use," Tiamat offered quickly when @Khione mentioned them, "the Lagoon and its allies have many enemies. We are always looking for new advantages to make use of." Here her eyes slid over to Ronin, whom she considered an enemy by proxy, even if they were not outright at odds. If the Oasis went after the Mire, the Lagoon would support their allies. And she was not lying that they were always looking for new skills to use. She had more medics than she needed and fewer warriors, or even lions of other skills, such as assassins and those skilled with poisons. Tia herself was better at the brute strength side of things, but she knew the need for a balanced approach.

The girl introduced herself as Khione and Tiamat dipped her head in acknowledgment of the name. @Reah spoke next, admitting that they were a rather new pride. So that meant that Violarum had lost his crown. Quite interesting, and a little saddening. She had rather enjoyed butting heads with him here in the passage. But perhaps the new leadership would offer such an opportunity as well.

"We have a variety of skills present in the Lagoon," she offered the girl once more. "Many skilled medics, who are well-versed in the art of herbs, if you need healing or seek knowledge of such things. Warriors, too, but we are sadly lacking in...other skillsets." Assassins. Sleuths. Rangers. So many things that they could benefit from. Perhaps this would interest the girl.

image by rabbit, code by anyu

5years, no bonus.

The woman would regard them, nodding to them each in turn. The Reah doing the same. As long as she showed respect, it would be given in return…until she proved respect was not something she should have from him. The warmonger would listen as the lioness declined the laziness of the plains, Ronin would hide the smile that pulled at his lips, it pleased him to know that she was not wanting to just laze about, she wanted to work. The warmonger would have plenty of work to be done.

She would nearly do the same to the beach, saying she loved to sun, but her skills were more useful on ones enemy. If that was something either needed.. Ronin could certainly use it. She would dip her head to him, offering her name, @Khione. The Oasis King would nod, appreciative. He would file away the name for safe keeping. It would be @Reah that took the opportunity to speak first and Ronin would turn his skull to listen to her. His expression would remain unreadable as he listened to her speak of the Plains being newly established, her skills would be useful- though he did note that she hadn’t said what her skills were….he supposed that if the pride was new enough any skill would be valued.

He was interested in the fact that they already had enemies. Who had they angered? He noted her smirk, she was pleased by the fact that they had enemies…that was either arrogant or the pride had strengthened far quicker than he anticipated. He couldn’t say much, he had felt the same when he had risen to King in the Oasis. Ronin hadn’t been arrogant though. The dark lioness would continue, explaining that stealth would be easy to practice in the tall grasses- he couldn’t argue there. How often had he hid in the grasses eavesdropping on others when he had resided in the plains? The Sovereign would go on to offer to patch the woman up, if she should need it.

Gaze would shift to @Tiamat next, assuming she would speak next. He didn’t mind letting the ladies go first, it gave him the opportunity to think of something better to say. Ronin did not have tall grasses to practice stealth, he did not have herds a plenty to practice hunting, but he had endless dunes to work ones muscles and to practice stealth when little was around. It was far more difficult and offered a challenge. The few beasts found in the desert were hardy and vigilant, hunting would offer its own challenge in running on the sands and sneaking up on any creature. If she were a medic, he would still have plenty to offer in the way of healing the many warriors within his pride that were currently challenging for ranks or getting into scuffles outside of the pride lands. Should she wish for more…dangerous work, he had plenty of opportunities to poison his enemies or learn valuable information from them. If she wanted danger, he could certainly provide it.

When Tiamat spoke Ronin would focus once more, listening to what she had to offer and really..what information she was willing to shed about her own pride. The Lagoon had many enemies, that was valuable information, though he could not help the slight smirk that pulled at the edges of his lips when she looked in his direction. Ronin hardly considered the Lagoon enemies, but he supposed…given the tense relations with the Mire that ‘enemy’ was as fair as any other term to use currently. Still, he would appear unbothered by it. She would go on to include that the Lagoon had many skilled medics and warriors, but they lacked in other skillsets. He would absorb all of the information, remembering how Léonie had told him the Lagoon was small.

Ronin would turn back to the lioness, giving her a moment to take in what she had been told before speaking. The Oasis accepts all skillsets, we have members of varied experience and trades, there is always something to learn…and teach in my pride. He would pause there for a moment, before continuing- debating on if he should say something before continuing. Like the others have said, The Oasis also has its enemies- tipping his head slightly towards Tiamat. Fighting is frequent with plenty of medics to tend to us… but we can also be discreet. Hunting is…interesting. There are several children and teenagers as well, if teaching is your fancy. If she got his meaning on being discreet, he was sure that Tiamat would. How else would Ghyslaine have left when the Queen was speaking to him across the island?

The lioness stood up finally, stretching and shaking her fur out, she listened politely to each one of the suggestions, the plains had beauty, tall grass, places perfect for an assassin to practice their trade, but if their were no enemies for her to spy on, no enemies for her to dispatch, training did nothing. She studies the face of @Reah, noticing the twitch of her tail, and though she feels as if she's annoyed the woman, she gives no indication.

@Tiamat speaks, and Khione slides her eyes over to the wheat woman, cocking her head a bit as she listened, and then she spoke, "I by no means am a warrior with brute strength, I can hold my own in a fight, but i am better at skills more useful for a leader to also reap the benefits. If you'll use me to the best of my abilities, I'll provide the rest." She smiled, she didn't want to outright say she was a weapon always loaded and ready to fire, not when two out of three of these leaders could be her enemies one day.

Next the male speaks, @Ronin gives her his speech and she flicks her tails, then she regards all three, "I feel as if all three of you have enticing reasons why I should join, if I choose though, i want to be used, i don't want to sit idle while we wait for something to happen."

code by corvus

The lioness finally moves, and speaks to the Queen named @Tiamat. She spoke about how she wasn’t a warrior but could fight if she had to. If Reah was being honest with herself, she didn’t really care about what skills the woman held. It seemed like she wanted to work, and wanted a job. If that was the case, Reah would make sure to work her to the bone if that’s what she really wanted. She wasn’t opposed to the idea at all.

You don’t need to worry about sitting idle then, she spoke up. I have some grand plans for Lorien, she added. You can be a part of them. She kept her ideas vague for now, as she didn’t want to give too much information for the two other leaders. But she definitely wanted to mess with Vermeda, if she was able to do so further.
@Ronin @Khione

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