The sky was heavy and gray. Snow fluttered from the swell of winter wind, the red rocks of the Bluffs dusted with pristine white. Half-frozen grasses unfurled in the massive pawprints, their trail leading long behind them from where they had entered Amaryllis under the cover of darkness. The winters here were far more bitter than those of their homelands, their travels having spared them the cruelties of harsher landscapes; but how fitting this place seemed to be, ragged and weathered and quiet in this dead of winter. His head lifted, a large waft of collective scents alerting him of the border they now encroached.

They were tired, worn. Their thinness a tell-tale of their roguishness; scars littered his frame, his hair disheveled and unkempt, crimson strands falling into his face and swooping across his forehead, dancing at the edges of his eyes. The tips of his toes had long grown numb in the cold, his thin and sleek fur ill-suited for the bite of winter that had swallowed this place. It was quiet—too quiet. He could hear the whirring of wind, but nothing else.

Ça y est? He asks, pausing to turn back and look at @Aislinn as she approached. He wasn't sure what he had expected. While the appeal of the Bluffs was obvious enough, some strange part of him thought of a far bloodier kingdom; borders decorated with the corpses of their ememies, rivers running blood red like glittering veins. How romantic an imagination.

And yet, the sweet satisfaction of a job well done manifested as a smirk that unfurled across his dark lips. Aislinn had asked him to bring them here, and thus he had.

---

¹ This is it?
+10 Learn something about pride/group/family relations (0/2)
+10 Pass along information that might be important (0/2)
+5 Learn the extent of a pride’s border (1/2)

it was her first snow. the gooey yet chilly thing that was underneath her paws made everything harder to see. now, all of the bluffs looked the same. what's worse, her favorite past-time of chasing small animals were now dashed to dust thanks to the weather. but the cold also made her more willing to act out her monstrous side. the little demon inside faustine grew hungrier as time passed. she was salivating more now, the previous thin dribbles now globs of saliva dripping down onto the snow-touched earth as she stalked her way out. faustine was bigger, but she still saw the world in the lens of a ghoul child. and, when there was someone trying to disrupt her world, she would be quick to confront them. covered in dirt and mud and some blood that was not hers, faustine looked more menacing than child. small legs eventually carried her to where two lions stood - a male and a female. licking her lips, faustine made sure to stay well within the boundaries, before she puffed herself up. êtes-vous ici pour vous joindre? are you here to join? she couldn't care less about not speaking in english this time. the language sounded rough on her tongue and made her want to scream the more she tried to sound each syllable out. this would be a better way to suss out potential foes from allies. if they understood french, then maybe they were dieudonné or a friend; if they didn't - but that was her stomach doing the talking - then she could ask her maman and grandmere to make them their meal.

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

In the back of her mind, chaos still reigned. Loss buried itself deep in the gut of her for Keiran was akin to a twin. His absence was stark and, yet, it fueled a passion in her gut that sent her forth to claim what little ties to her direct bloodline she had left. Audric her uncle blood of her blood. Dieudonné but more in away that proved fate had a wicked sense of humor. Road-weary but the sheer motivation to return pushing her forth — dragging her uncle in a way. Finally, they arrive. Pale hues stark against the winter snow, her uncle's unique appearance dark as she is light. He inquires and, on a tired huff, she nods. mhm. the noncomittal sound hums in the back of her throat. A dark figure with bloodied eyes appears on her arrival and she peers down upon the bold inquiry with electric blue eyes.Oui, ma chérie et quel pourrait être votre nom? aislinn's soft albeit tired voice asks gently.

yes, my dear and what might your name be?

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Amara's fresh wounds were raw as she moved toward her borders. She had caught the sight of two moving toward her lands. Raw wounds or not, if they were looking for a fight she would give it to them. She arrived to see her granddaughter not having learned her lesson about being near the borders. The high sovereign made a note to make sure this didn't happen again. At first, she didn't see the familiar lioness, the male's form taking up her field of view as she moved closer and came to stand over @Faustine who was far too close to the unknown male. Every inch of her was ready for a fight with the male. It took her a moment to focus her gaze on @Aislinn but when she did, her body relaxed. She didn't know her sister-in-law all that well, having spent only a little time with her before she was off wandering again but she trusted her enough that she wouldn't bring harm to the family.

Amara shook her body a little to let the tension go before she looked down at Faustine under her with a stern look. She is your grandfather's sister.* She gave them both an answer to something that was unasked but was needed information. She looked up at @Aislinn, she couldn't remember if Aislinn had been around when her brother passed away or not but it was important information but she wasn't sure if this was the best time for it. *You are welcome here always. Once you are settled. We should talk. She shifted her focus to the male. You are?*

OOC: *french

image by rabbit, code by anyu

Surprise was he to see a cub patrolling their borders. As much as he knew the fickle nature of youth, he had anticipated a more adult presence to meet them here first; certainly, they would not be far behind, if it were truly Dieudonnè that ruled this place as @Aislinn had promised. Glowering gaze lowered to meet the little cannibal, his teeth glinting in the fleeting dusk light as the sun slowly began to set behind the red rocks. Are you here to join? she asks, and Audric's wordless gaze turns toward his niece as she answers.

Suddenly, he is thankful she is here; not that she were anymore talkative than he, both weary from their long travels, but Audric had always been particularly awful at making nice.

To his brutal delight, @Amara was not far behind @Faustine, arriving hastily from behind the princess and easily addressing his companion. Though he had yet to meet properly the members of their family that had fractured and settled here, Aislinn had told him enough on their journeys that he could put the pieces together. Was this his mate? he wondered, the familiarity with which the star-speckled Queen had with his niece leading him to swift conclusions, though he was yet to voice them.

How easily she welcomed Aislinn into the fold. How scrutinizing she was of the stranger who had journeyed with her. And yet, Audric had no malice—he would have expected nothing less.

Dieudonnè, he replied, his voice clipped and short, indifferent. There is a tenseness about Audric that never seemed to cease, a steely expression that could not easily be shattered. For so long had the large camaraderie of his littermates gave him the surrender of not having to speak, being able to fade into the background. But he had chosen to leave them in favor of this, and thus faced the repercussions of his independence, thankful that he still had Aislinn through it all. Son oncle.

---

¹ Her uncle.
+10 Learn something about pride/group/family relations (1/2)
+10 Pass along information that might be important (1/2)
+5 Learn the extent of a pride’s border (2/2)

The arrival of Amara pauses any further conversation and Aislinn watches as she approaches, a familiar figure. Audric speaks with his clipped tones upon Amara's inquiry, warmth and grief rolling in her gut at the circumstances. Kieran should have been beside her, welcoming her back (though she likely wouldn't have left at that stance), but this is the reality she must accept. She would have to visit his burial grounds once she spoke to Amara of where he rested. There were things she needed to speak with him about as well. Thank you, Amara. she returns warmly, respect in her accented tones. oncle, c’est.... était la femme de Kieran, Amara. Reine ici. she informs her uncle briefly.

uncle, this is....was kieran's wife, amara. queen here.

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Amara looked the male over as he spoke. Claiming his surname and then his attachment to the lioness she knew. Amara's focus shifted to @Aislinn as she felt a strange feeling settle in her gut, a feeling she had long ago shoved down. Grief wasn't a good look for her and it wouldn't help anyone for her to be so consumed by it that she left her family and pride to be without her. She listened as she was introduced to the male and the words cut deeply. It was the first time she had heard someone refer to her to another as was Kieran's wife. Though she knew the male was still with them in some way, just not the way that mattered. The way that could give them with the comfort they desired. She spoke to them both Louve is matriarch. She earned it. It was her way of letting Aislinn know about the change in the family dynamics and to tell her that her brother's cub was now leading the family. What would their mother think? And also that Louve fought for the spot, she didn't just get it because no one else was around. You are both welcome to stay here. She looked down at @Faustine, This is Faustine. Louve's daughter. There are three more females and one male running around to nip at your heels. Amara was sure that they would run into the gaggle soon enough. They are not supposed to be so close to the border. She gave her granddaughter a long look before turning inward. Come. She pawed Faustine's rear to make her move back into the pride land as she waited for the other two.

*All french phone post

image by rabbit, code by anyu

There was a sadness that lingered in either of their words, a sudden, grieving expression unfurling upon @Aislinn's face quite unlike he'd ever seen before. But Audric can sympathize, as much as he can, unable to think the pain and fury he would have felt if any of his littermates were to die without him. But ever are they to not let these feelings linger for long, and as his niece introduces him to @Amara, and the Queen in turn continues to inform them the changes in their family, a deep heaviness begins to dwell in the pit of his stomach. A great great uncle? he sighed, exasperated.

His eyes briefly turn down to @Faustine as Amara chides her, her initial presence having put off the weary Dieudonnè. But Audric had every intention of reserving his judgment; this were Kieran's granddaughter, after all, and Aislinn had spoken well of the nephew Audric had never gotten to meet. His gaze finally lifts, sparing his niece one final look before falling once more on the star-speckled form of the Queen. He offers only a single nod, keen on meeting the new Matriarch as he was to lay his head and sleep away the weariness and wornness of their travels.

---

Exit Audric with co.
+10 Learn something about pride/group/family relations (2/2)
+10 Pass along information that might be important (2/2)
+5 Learn the extent of a pride’s border (2/2)

ah. oops. it seems faustine may have earned @Amara's ire. she tried her best, though! she didn't bite anyone, even though she was hungry and both lions looked...fat. her presence here was merely to scare them a little, or to welcome them, whichever one these two family thought she showed them. the little girl could only give her beloved grandmother a toothy grin, before sulking back to stand between amara's front legs. she didn't know how to respond now but to watch, hoping the hunger inside would quell a little. she could learn about her relatives, she realized, and study how they spoke to each other. mama and papa always acted real good and decent in front of other adults. and faustine - who looked up to them and to amara - wanted to be like them and more. [exit via watching]

ooc: permission is given to pp her later for amara only if desired<3

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

There is a breath of silence that settles after Amara's words, Audric's stoicism a character trait she has accepted and understood all the same over time. In a twist of loss and grief, the gutwrenching feeling of loss, a bond between niece and uncle borders unhealthy. Aislinn victim to moments where vision doubles and Audric is Kieran; memories collide in mannerisms that pain her gut. From her brother's adoration and knowing he has left pieces of himself behind, Aislinn's dark lips pull into a faint smile as Amara introduces the young child and shares knowledge of others. Neither of us has ever truly listened well, I'm afraid. Aislinn admits with a soft laugh. She and Kieran caused their mother much grief with their schemes, curiosity, and inability to follow directions that they deemed boring. A head tilt as her bright eyes shift to her uncle but the acceptance is apparent in the loosened curve of his shoulders. Gruff as he is, she is well aware he would never show whatever is going on behind the blank expression in front of strangers — family or not. A breath tinged with relief softens her own shoulders as she nods at Amara's invitation, moving behind her uncle to follow her sister-in-law into their home.

exist aislinn with co

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