// No EM, IS and WB as i got characters there

She had left Amaryliss many moons ago, she was driven by the wish, by the blind hope of finding her parents. Of finding them anywhere outside Amaryliss..of course, she was but a mere child who didn't have a good grasp of common sense and reality. But now she learned that on the hard way, with delusion she was lucky enough to find the way back to Amaryliss, back to where her journey started. It was a sign of defeat, and her eyes were expressing frustration.

The night was young but rainy, a heavy rain was falling over the dust trail that connected the outside world with Amaryliss. The young lioness now a year old made her way toward the lands where she was born. The rain didn't seem to bother her at all. It was part of god's gifts. The stars had guided her all the way here. Her dark abyss pelt made her blend a bit with the night's darkness as she walked forward.

code by corvus

Renfri had already been nearing the passage when the rain began, too close to call it a night and head back without at least checking the place out to see if anyone had wandered in under the cover of night. A scent wafted towards her, damped slightly by the rain, but it was evident that a lioness was near, no pride scents to be found. Fresh blood, and she was the first one to greet them, it would seem. Her eyes scanned the area until she found the dark figure looming ahead, much larger than herself. She moved closer, until the moonlight illuminated the girl's features enough for the Heiress to be able to more clearly see the youth in her face. “Welcome to Amaryllis.” She called out her greeting, pausing to see how the girl responded. The Queen liked to bring home all the stray cubs she came upon, but Renfri wanted able bodies, not more mouths to feed and children to rear. There was a benefit to raising them yourself, of course, but that was a long term investment and they needed the reinforcements now. Yearlings were the grey area, though. The right ones could hold their weight while still being more… easily influenced. She hoped this was a good one. @Khadija

Art by Navarre - Code by Vasilia

Rain fell in the dark of the night, coating the sandbar passageway in darkness. Tiamat was restless, and though she could have stayed in the warmth of the den with her cubs she found herself wandering, her steps carrying her through the torrential rain. It was not a long journey, but she was soaked by the time she arrived.

It was not a scent that alerted her to other presences but a sound - a voice calling out a welcome in the dark of the night. A voice that she recognized, and because of that recognition she was drawn in, like a moth to a flame. It took her eyes a few moments to spot the two abyssal figures in the darkness and the rain, but eventually she found that she was approaching the sovereign of the plains (the one who had thought to call her a fool, and had thus made an enemy) and a stranger. The stranger was no more than a young girl. There was something about her that made Tiamat think she had been here before, however. Something in her demeanor, perhaps?

"Yes, welcome," she said, echoing @Renfri. "But you aren't new here, are you?" It was a guess; a stab in the dark from her hunch.

@Khadija

image by rabbit, code by anyu

// sorry for the wait, wasnt feeling well enough to write at all

It didn't take a lot for her to attract attention towards herself. It didn't bother her, in fact, it pleased her. Much like her father, she enjoyed being in the center of something, not as substantial as him but it was there still. Soon she adopted a professional and collected demeanor. And soon she started to talk, trying to show confidence and security on her speech. "Greetings miss. And I thank you for your warm welcome." She had heard her father and mother talk, they talked with honey on their speech, and so she tried to practice that art too. Soon a second lioness came their way. "My name is Khadija Al-Najma, daughter to Sahir and Kismet. They used to rule the Cove where I was born." Perhaps that would help answer any questions. "I am indeed a returning citizen of Amaryliss, as I was born here." She then gave them the opportunity to introduce themselves perhaps and maybe state the reasons of their exchanging words with her.

@Tiamat @Renfri

code by corvus

Only one other recruiter arrived, the Queen of Scilla, @Tiamat. She was glad there was not a large crowd, and no reason for any conflict, even if her and her other companions in Lorien were the first ones to instigate most of the passage drama they got involved in. It was a reflex for the woman, and one she would have a hard time breaking if she ever bothered to try. Most often she welcomed chaos, but that evening she was tired, and hoped the rogue would make her decision quickly so that she could return home to rest. “A pleasure to meet you, @Khadija. I am Renfri Saxe, Heiress of Lorien Plains. My husband, Aeistrios had led the Plains for a few months now, but we are growing fast and have plenty of open ranks for those who wish to move up.” She didn’t know if the girls family still resided in Amaryllis, but she did know for certain that they were not the rulers of the Cove at least.

Art by Navarre - Code by Vasilia

"I vaguely recall the Cove from my time in the Mire," Tiamat said when @Khadija divulged her origins to the two lionesses. Her tail flipped lazily against the rocky sand of the passage floor, blatantly ignoring @Renfri completely. Her dislike of the Plains pride was no secret at this point and she had no qualms about making it obvious. "They were closely allied." Though not aware of all of the specific players, Tiamat had been aware of the general alliances during her time there.

"I am Tiamat, queen of the Lagoon," she introduced herself with a dip of her head to the young girl. "It is not the Cove, but it is similar, and we are allied with the Mire as well," she offered. Hopefully, the similarities would aid in gaining her a new member today. It was also possible some of the girl's family might still live in the Mire or be somehow associated with it. "There are plenty of ranks and room to grow your skills in the Lagoon."

image by rabbit, code by anyu

She was glad she had been given good choices, any of these two prides seemed convenient to her wishes, wishes or becoming a great lion like her father once was. But as known of her making decisions wasn't easy, she wanted both but she cant be in two places at once. "I am but a yearling but my am training on the healing arts, along that of defense and fighting. If any of these suits you." She then takes a deep breath. "The very reason my family left the Cove was the ocean and it's dangerous nature. A storm struck our home and since then I don't feel safe being near it. This means I will have to go with the Lorien lady. But this doesn't mean I see the lagoon any bad or unsuitable, I am sure the pride is of great beauty but I cant come up in good terms with the ocean so close," She did her best to sound convincing which she seemed to be mastering her silver tongue or so she wanted to think. She then turns at the Lorien woman. "I will go with you, please do tell me your laws and everything I must know so I make of me an exemplary member."

She then leaves inland hopefully guided by Renfri.

exit with Renfri

@Renfri @Tiamat

code by corvus

Ah, how she loved when these things moved along quickly. The girl gave her skills, healing and fighting, the combo being a personal favorite of Renfri’s to see in recruits. They could never have too many of either, especially with how much trouble the Plain’s often got into. She went on to explain that a storm was what had driven her family from their home in the cove, and she did her best to put on a sympathetic face even as her own smug satisfaction set in as she saw where the words were leading. “Of course. I will tell you everything you need to know while we make the journey home.” In the same fashion that the Lagoon Queen had ignored her, Renfri did the same, turning to depart with @Khadija without so much as a glance in the other woman’s direction. -exit- @Tiamat

Art by Navarre - Code by Vasilia

Just like that, a decision was made. She could have pressed a claim, forced the girl to come with her, but what was the point? @Renfri made the same show of ignoring her as she had done to the other woman, but there was no sign of a reaction or even a hint that Tiamat cared. And she didn't. The plains was beneath her. As the two took their leave, heading for the Plains, Tiamat stayed. She would spend some time looking around for other potential pride members before she called it quits and headed home. Soon she we need to talk to Alaric about his position with the Plains. And make it clear that she would not support an alliance with them.

/Exit

image by rabbit, code by anyu