Renfri had gone to a stream early that morning, submerging herself fully in the water despite the bitter chill in the autumn air. She had scrubbed herself thoroughly by rubbing against the rocks along the edge of the water, until her skin tingled beneath her fur and her own scent was significantly faded and easy to mask. She had then moved swiftly and silently towards where Aeistrios slept, keeping her body low in the tall grasses until she could see the exact spot his body laid upon in the evenings, vacant save for the stray fur tufts that clung to the ground. Moving closer, she dropped to the ground, rolling and rubbing herself into the dirt that carried Aeistrios’ scent. Once she had covered herself in the smell of him, she set off once more, slinking through the grass, tracking his scent until she could see him standing tall over the grasses. She resumed moving, matching her pace to his, but maintaining distance between them. There was no real reason for her antics, beyond wanting to practice her skills to keep them sharp, and wanting to test this landscape, and how to adapt her skills to it. She wanted to follow for as long as she could without being spotted, or at least until she was satisfied that she felt satisfied. @Aeistrios +5 Practice speed or stealth +5 Practice fabricating another’s scent +5 Follow someone through a territory

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He knew women had reasons for many things - things he'd never understand but be curious of for decades to come. @Renfri was one of those , and she was heavy on his mind as Aeistrios prowled through his tall grasses.

It wasn't just her on his mind though, but his brother - and any other Saxes. He wondered if they would appear here too, because if Renfri found her way here, couldn't they? What would his brother make of him wifing his once beloved? The thought brought a smug smile to him, and in his distraction his large paw stumbled him over a hole in the land. A minor lapse in his stride, and Aeistrios snorted to himself with a hard breath of air before he continued onward.

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She crept along behind him, body low to the ground. Each step was careful, practiced, so as to not make a sound. He appeared to be deep in thought, so much so that he stumbled over a dip in the ground. The lioness had to bite back the urge to let out a laugh at the sight of it, opting to maintain her stealth for now. Only a little longer, and then she’d be confident in the landscape's ability to conceal her, but she might need to select a more observant target next time to better test her skill. Rugaer had been far more challenging to stalk, always so tense, it was like he could feel the shift in the air when someone’s gaze passed over him. It had been fun to work through his walls, so opposite of how she’d come to reside at Aeistrios’ side. Her tongue flicked across her lips at the thought, a renewed sense of anger at the other Saxe for vanishing. Not because she was worse off without him, it seemed quite the opposite, but the king's words still rang in her head. “Saxe go where it best suits them.” He would never find anyone better suited to him than her, and if he ever did come crawling back, she wanted the message to be very clear. She had moved on. @Aeistrios

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His paw only throbbed a bit from his near stumble, and Aeistrios noted to himself to watch out for holes in the ground. Usually he was too busy lounging about to care - or notice - but being a leader did bring on some responsibilities. He hoped once he got more members, more ranks filled, he’d be able to lounge back even more and relax through his days.

The wind shifted, and Aeistrios caught a faint whiff of someone he enjoyed spending time with. A pause in his stride, the King lingering in step as his nostrils flared again. Then, a smirk pulls over his lips. Was he being stalked? Since when had he became the prey? Oh @Renfri , she never ceased to amaze him. She made things quite exciting. He doesn’t expose her, not yet, and rather resumes his walking forward- but into taller grasses, grasses that even started to blend his pelt into the dense foliage around. He was hoping to shift things, get out of her sight and surprise her himself, because Aeistrios liked to be the one to take action.

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The wind shifted, and with it so did Aeistrios’ gait. He paused, and so did she, holding her breath for a moment. Had she been caught? He didn’t call her out, but he moved towards the taller, denser grass. It would be more challenging to track him through there, but she had a feeling that was his intent. Was he flipping her little game back around on her? Her heartbeat quicked, a wicked smirk spreading across her face at this new game of cat and mouse. She moved towards the tall grass he’d disappeared into, inhaling deeply to try and pick up his scent. It was everywhere in the tall grasses though, and her only option was to keep moving forward. @Aeistrios

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As the grass got taller, it also got thicker, harder to see through as Aeistrios slowed his movements, doing his best to not give way to where he was stepping next. A hard feat, but the excitement of turning this game around on her had his heart skipping a beat, eager to see it play out.

He shifts, subtly taking a left as he slowly rounds about to where he assumed she would of followed him. Gaze dances over the area before him, looking for that pretty abyss pelt of hers. A flash of it- briefly, if at all- did he imagine it? Perhaps… but he takes his chances, lunging forward out of the blue with a shit-eating grin on his face as he aims to tackle what he hoped was Renfri in front of him.

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She moved as stealthily as she could through the grasses, moving forward through the thick, dense grass. His scent surrounded her, washing out what little traces of her own scent had managed to leak through her disguise. They were too close now though for her to go entirely unnoticed, and it was only a matter of time before the game was up. She saw him to her left, a flash of plum, moments too late. He came barreling towards her from the shadows, tackling her easily to the ground. She let out a hiss, annoyed that he’d been able to pinpoint her, that she’d been caught, but a grin spread across her face either way. “What gave me away?” She questioned, flat on her back and gazing up at him. @Aeistrios

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She had spotted him, but it was only when he was rushing at her with full intention to barrel her over and underneath him. A large grin on his face, her body pressed to the ground underneath him as Aeistrios growls in easy content. No matter the victory, he would always thrive off it.

"The wind shifted." He replied back, letting her know the error wasn't even exactly something she could control - it was nature's element. His head moves, aiming to nuzzle along the slender curve of her neck. "Surprised I could sneak around, hmm?" He muses then, eyes sparkling with mischief.

@Renfri

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The damn wind. Perhaps if she’d napped in the grass for a bit before coming after him, the scent of sleep would have been enough to trick him that it was his own scent wafting back, rather than hers. Or maybe her eagerness had been too palpable. Either way, she’d need more work at fabricating scents. Masking was so much easier, though, so maybe next time she’d slather herself in mud. Surely he wouldn’t be so keen to circle back and tackle her then. She grinned up at him, letting out a rumbling purr as he nuzzled her neck, aiming to gently nip at his ear while his head was ducked against her. “Surprise is something reserved for those who don’t plan for every possible outcome.” She replied, lifting a paw to gently press it against his chest, a matching mischievous glimmer in her own eyes as well. @Aeistrios

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He watches her, his gaze intense with a certain interest lingering about. His tongue licks his lips- and as she nibbles along his ear his purring increases. At her words, a wide smirk forms along his lips. And just what outcome do you have planned here? He questions, voice low, taunting and teasing as his body presses closer - her warmth enticing him in all the ways he loved. She was certainly a drug, one of the finest - and he couldn’t get enough. And he hadn’t even had all of her… yet. No wonder Rugær had chose her, or rather, was it she who chose him? Shaking his head, he tries to hold her closer- enjoying the moment together for what it was.

/exit

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