Back again. Life was strange. Willow didn't know what lured her back from the 'outside' because there was nothing in Amaryllis for her anymore. She wasn't entirely sure there ever had been, but at least she'd made a couple friends before she'd left. Granted, it was one of those friends she missed the most.. but she knew the likelihood of seeing him again was nonexistent. It was better to pick up the pieces and move on, even if it meant returning to the hellish place she once called home. Willow needed a fresh start, deserved a fresh start.

She just needed to get out of the passageway unscathed._{BG — ART — CODE}

The closer to her due date she got, the more she found herself at the passage, their pride was still small, and the need to find others to help protect the rain forest and her cubs pushed her onward. The lioness keeps an eye out for anyone, and finally she spots a lion in the distance, picking up her speed, she trots over and gives a friendly smile. " Hello there, and welcome ."

She dips her head, greeting the girl with politeness, "I am sovereign of Firnen Rainforest, were a small pride at the moment but we've got open ranks and it makes a beautiful home."

With careful steps did he roam the passage and while he was looking for able-bodies mostly that were interested in truly being a part of a pride, sometimes those two were not exclusive to one another. Morrigan deserved lions that wished to promote loyalty rather than an innate desire to run at the first sign of danger. The lioness that smelled to be the rogue was a bright and beautiful gold, with icy blue eyes and the other was a dark brown with gray-ish hues thrown in with wild markings. @Levana introduced themselves as Sovereign of Firnen Rainforest and he felt his inner demon chuckle. That was once my rank. Not so long ago. Though, he was quick to express his attention to the more important presence, @Willow.

I am Jafar Casales. Gentry to Illyria Summit, willing to extend an invitation to my pride. We are a strong and capable force to the north. Jafar knew of Morrigan's triumphs and wished to express that she was a strong figure but so was her pride and her family. It may be hard to have expectations but we do want lions who are willing to give their loyalty over time. Preferably quickly but Jafar would take what he could get if the sunray-colored rogue was willing to try.

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

Coming to the passage he wasn’t all too sure how this was going to play out but I figured he could at least try. Maybe he’d be lucky and come across another Yu? Maybe not. He had crossed through the passage when he arrived unbothered, unseen, unrecruited so it wasn’t a laughable thought that others had as well. Not like the family kept tabs on each other or was chained to each other either.

In any case as he walked he picked up the sounds of someone speaking and followed the voice to two pretty ladies. One smelt like a pride the other hadn’t a scent attached to her so he assumed a rogue. "Hello. Dagge Yu. Lagoon Gentry." He started looking between the two before addressing @Levana "I assure you m’lady any home with your presence is beautiful." He was friendly but still spoke with a stoic look upon his face. Flirting wasn’t his strong suit. Yet the meathead still knew how to address nobles and royalties. Turning to @Willow now he looked her over calmly. "You as well miss." He started to speak not totally sure what to say about his home to sway the girl. "The lagoon is pretty. He got sand, nice cool breezes, shady trees and nice folks. There is opportunity within our ranks as well depending on what you are seeking." He wasn’t lying but he wasn’t being super detailed either. One never knew who was listening.

He then turned to @Jafar and gave him a nod. Like this guy. He was the Lagoon’s enemy wasn’t he? Or maybe not he wasn’t doing anything to make Dagge bite him so he behaved himself.

"SPEECH"

code by scorpixia♡︎

A woman approached, immediately diving into her worst nightmare: politics. Well, politics in a roundabout way. Willow knew all too well that Amaryllis was a breeding ground of wars over insignificant squabbles; family feuds leaked into everyone else like a poison. Did anyone even remember where the first war had originated? What they had been fighting for? Did anyone know why their enemies were their enemies, or were they just stuck in generational bullshit afraid to stray from the path?

Either way, Willow wasn’t exactly the best candidate for a pride. Still, she listened to the lioness politely before a man arrived and introduced himself, stating what he was looking for. Unfortunately, it was another buzzword that she liked to avoid: commitment. Willow’s lips twisted into something between a frown and horror before another man sauntered up, picking now as the time to shoot his shot with the first lioness and casually sweeping her into the compliment at the end. Her frown turned into a scowl: wow, you really know how to make a gal feel special, don’t you? she said, her voice flat as a ten-day old bottle of opened Coke. Don’t let me stand in your way if you want to keep hitting on her, she said, gesturing towards @Levana with a paw. It wasn’t her fault and Willow didn’t blame her, but she was downright pissed that @Dagge had seen her as an afterthought. She dismissed him.

I won’t commit my life to a stranger, she said, returning her attention to @Jafar. That’s quite a bit to ask from someone you don’t even know the name of, don’t you think? Willow certainly thought it was and it left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth. Asking for so much so soon didn’t give her the feeling she would be doing anything other than providing a mindless soldier for whoever his leader was.

That left Levana, but she wasn’t terribly sold. I don’t think any of these prides are gonna work, but I might swing by this forest later. May I pass? She sighed, irritated and eager to find somewhere to simply rest._{BG — ART — CODE}

The lioness' response was fair but irritating, the Casales showing no signs of it on his face as he remained stoic to his poker face at all times. He dared to address to her that he asked for that of members he wished to recruit because he didn't just want an extra number or an extra mouth to feed. He actually wanted to encourage someone he recruited to try and that couldn't be so readily promised, just as @Willow wasn't ready to pledge to a leader when she hadn't even given her own name. It was fair, in a way, but Jafar was logical and did not wish to recruit someone just to be an extra mouth.

By all means, he took a step back and away from her and opened the floor that much more for her to scoot on by. Without waiting any longer to see what would become of the lioness, whether she instead deigned to turn around and change her mind to the Lagoon and the Rainforest, Jafar moved back off to venture further along the Passage. Reworking his words perhaps might be a good idea but he would hold strong to his belief that he was not just going to recruit someone for an extra number. With a nod to @Dagge and the unknown @Levana, he made to leave. exit jafar.

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}