She hadn't made it to the challenge. Being a rogue had proven as dangerous as it was appealing, and what chaotic events of Amaryllis often drew the eyes of greedy and and conniving men, those who would no sooner claim a pretty face even if it spelled disaster for their alliances. Thus, she laid in wait, and listened for her father's final call that he had in fact won, and that this lovely little hole in Amaryllis belonged to them. She had wasted no time stirring into action, leaving her indulgent roguish life behind in favor of them once more. Always.

Her paws were careful on the hard ground, the bitter cold of winter seeping through the mouth of the Hollow as it stretched well over their heads. She isn't sure when @Csitri's path converged with her own, but the long drawing moments of talking and catching up had made it felt like a blissful eternity. A silence had fallen over them when they finally arrived, a nervousness not at being at the borders, but as the prospect of this novel strangeness, this newness far unlike what they had known before. The strange laws and rule of this land had not completely bent the will to their grand takeover, and Ismeria was more than content to learn and play by their rules.

Hmm, she crooned thoughtfully, rubbing her chin with a damp paw. The snow crunched underfoot, but it had begun to thin out where the harrowing reach of the cave blocked the wind. In the dim low-light of the snowy evening, it seemed dark, gray. Do you think some flowers would liven this place up? Unless father preferred the creepy way it had fitted its former cannibal King so well.

Art by Milkyfleur, table by cala

The Hollow's king caught wind of not one, but two familiar scents. It made his heart thrum with elation. Smiling brightly, his massive form moves through the tunnels of the Hollows. Despite his size, he is able to sweep through the caverns with an unsual, untamed grace. Each step is calculated, yet heavy. There is purpose behind each breath, each thought that swam through his mind. Alexander was a man fulfilled, at least for now, and he would do everything to take advantage of that.

Blue eyes settle on the familiar forms of @Ismeria and @Csitri - two daughters that made him more than a little proud. They had been raised together. For a time, Ismeria's mother had even nursed Csitri before she'd decided to leave and return to her homeland, effectively leaving Alexander to raise them all by himself. He had help from his siblings, of course, but times had been perilous and war on the horizon did not help. Thankfully, it hadn't harmed his bond with them too much, or so he could only hope.

"Sziasztok, gyönyörű gyermekeim." Hello, my beautiful children. To say he was a proud father would be an understatement. He would boast about them until the end of time. "Ismeria, I am so happy to see you here." He had just barely caught the end of her words and it had amused him to no end. Teeth flash in an amused smile, "And if you wish to decorate with flowers, I will not object." The Savante hums, moving to bump his head to each of their heads tenderly, a purr vibrating his broad chest.

While it would have been her preference to have come sooner, to have reveled in the wilds of this land before her father secured a throne for them, she delighted in the fact she was here now. Though she'd not been able to see the events surrounding his ascension she had heard of them through the gossip of passing lions and on the breaths of bird flocks as they began their springtime journey back north. By the time Ismeria had made her way to the Hollow, the dust had already begun to settle. It wouldn't be long before Meria would seek to rustle those same feathers, to dip her paws into the inner workings of these strange lands from the safety of @Alexander ♔'s pride.

At the very least, she'd have a warm place to lay her head, and the family she'd loved and missed by her side every night. That alone was reason to celebrate.

I couldn't miss out on the fun, she smiled impishly, lifting a slender brow. Though truth be told, Ismeria had longed for the company of her family; the few visitations she'd had since her arrival to Amaryllis simply wouldn't keep her going, despite her wanderlusting nature. Have Zsolt and Raluca arrived yet? She was far different from the twins, in both personality and virtues, but Meria had always cared for them in the way a doting older sister would; and though they'd slipped from her grasp somewhere along the way, she was certain that if they were not already here, they would be coming; and if she were to beat them, perhaps she could find them dens and decorate those with flowers, too.

Surely they would love it. They'd have to.

Art by Milkyfleur, table by cala

In her attempts at becoming one with the pride and its members, she felt like she was doing relatively well. That being said she was still paranoid and still a little defensive sometimes about the littlest things but she was doing everything that she felt she was supposed to do as a member. Attend things, that was important. Like hunts so that the pride would have food. She understood the more basic things but sometimes even the most obvious things were elusive to her.

Like how sometimes when lions came to the borders, it wasn't just leaders that had to greet them but if it were someone looking for an invite into the pride then they needed someone of a bit higher rank. Which was, currently, not Ember. Not that she wasn't thinking about it occasionally but more or less because she didn't want to publicly humiliated when it turns out that only family can hold them. Obviously, that was her own assumption that she was playing off of given how little she knew of prides and their hierarchy.

So when she happened to spy someone from a distance, Ember had begun wandering close and closer to them. The scent was female, that she could figure out by herself, but rogue -- leaving her to assume it was business or joining. Neither of which she was capable of handling and yet she was drawn to the exchange nonetheless. Paws continually moving forward even when her brain kept telling them to halt because as soon as her fiery eyes set a closer watch on the small, figurine Ember couldn't look away.

A growing yet nauseating feeling began to claw at her stomach, feeling as though she had tossed herself around in the spin cycle far too many times. Throat felt small, insignificant and out of order as she crept quietly towards them and breaking that distance between them. For a moment she looked to @Alexander ♔ and the sick feeling dissipated if only for a moment before they returned to @Ismeria and it grew stronger.

Eventually the distance between them would make her obvious and so she swallowed her ick, held her head high (but not too aggressively) as she approached and gave an almost gentle, hello to the tiny but well-patterned beauty. Much to her sudden surprise, she realized that she had far less interactions in her life with women and none of the one's she had come into contact with were post turning two. Men were always attractive but... this was different. Ember was a bit dense sometimes but not here, not now.

^{ART BY LARS, CODE BY CALA}

A low laugh escaped Alexander as he admires his offspring. @Ismeria had always been rather lively - keeping everyone around her going even when things seemed like they were about to end. Like all Savante women, she was a light in the ever encroaching darkness - a blessing to he and his kin.

Dearly did he love her and it was shown in the way those blue eyes gazed down at her. A proud father, if there ever was one. Zsolt has, but I have not seen Raluca yet. Soon, I am sure - they are never far from their twin. Another arrived, much to Alexander's surprise, but it was also pleasing to see.

At first, he was unsure on what might be going on in @Ember's mind, but the way she spoke, and looked at his daughter, it caused his curiosity to pique. Clearing his throat softly, he motions with a paw toward the large woman, This is Ember, one of my Gentry, if she so wishes. He muses, wondering how the sudden rank offer might make her react.

She would've been fine conversing alone with her father, content to ask her questions and prod for answers she'd been so desperately in search of. It would be almost too much had someone let Ismeria talk freely, with all the ins and outs of their journey here so far not yet shared with her; perhaps it were @Ember's presence that saved @Alexander ♔, a demure smile slipping to her lips as the folded-eared lioness encroached upon their small gathering. Hello, she says, and Ismeria's lips curve into a pleasant grin. She smelled of the Hollow; clearly not one of their family, but one of theirs nonetheless, and one Meria would be pleased to call a pridemate.

Wow! she breathed, taking in the sheer size of her, I've yet to meet a woman so large and—and beautiful. Bold as she was, Ismeria always made sure her compliments carried in a genuine manner. She would have been content to ogle Ember more were it not for the sudden intrusion of the King's voice, and Meria turned her icy blue gaze toward him. His news brought a small crinkle to her brows, her lips curving downward into a concerned frown. Zsolt was here...but now Raluca? How strange. Hmm, that is strange. I could have sworn they were attached at the hip. It had taken Ismeria a great deal of her childhood being the third, striving hard to carve herself out of the mismatched littermate she'd always been. And though she'd blossomed into adulthood with a strong sense of self-identity, Raluca and Zsolt had always that special bond she could never quite match.

However, her concerns were pushed away as Alexander introduced the clay lioness beside him. Such was the dance that Ismeria had mastered; pleasant in the wake of good news, despite the questions and inquiries that lingered just beneath. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ember. My name is Ismeria, one of Alexander's daughters. Quickly, she spared a glance back toward the Obsidian King. I would like to see what this country has to offer—under your banner, of course.

Art by Milkyfleur, table by cala

As the behemoth woman stood there mostly quiet beside @Alexander ♔, her gaze was dominantly upon the lioness. A creature in front of her that truly felt was drying up her mouth and unleashing ten million butterflies into her stomach. An individual that had done next to nothing except for simply exist and already Ember felt as though she would murder herself just so this woman could live. So when her High Sovereign eventually talked and even introduced her, she barely heard him give a rank to her.

Eventually her head lightly shakes as she turns her head to him and stares with large doe-eyes. Oh! She rumbled awkwardly, clearing her throat. Would honored I be.. she stopped, eyebrows furrowing, Honored would.. Eyes flit quickly to @Ismeria as she struggled to find words before finding that that only made her tongue feel heavier so she decided to attempt to lock eyes with him instead. I. would be. honored. Pronunciating each word carefully so that she didn't stumble awkwardly around them but little did Ember know that that wasn't the worst (best?) of it.

Her eyes quickly turned to the adorable little chocolate chip haven woman as she expressed in exclamation that she had never met a woman so large and so... DID SHE SAY BEAUTIFUL?! The most breathiest, awkwardest and airiest chuckle came out of her mouth as her shoulders drooped and a weird smile crossed her face. Ismeria... the name moved out of her mouth with such grace that one would never know that she was a hardened, opposite of a socialite woman that hardly ever expressed her emotions clear as day and yet here she was.

She was a daughter of Alexander, no less. Ember had never known that he had any children, not that she had ever asked him specifically. He mentioned a large family but for some reason, she hadn't pictured him with children. Especially not a pretty daughter like Ismeria. Pleasure's m-mine, she bowed her head and attempted to control herself but oh, how she wanted to kick Alexander out and away so that she could get to know this woman better. But she couldn't! Could she? No. She couldn't....?

+5 - Learn a character’s full name and rank (Ismeria, Princess)

^{ART BY LARS, CODE BY CALA}

Alexander smirks softly, his blue eyes ever attentive and capturing the little details of other's body language. He cannot help but notice the subtle, yet almost too obvious changes in @Ember and her reaction to his daughter. Curious...

He quietly listens to Ember accept her new rank, then observes the interaction between the two girls. Ears perk a bit, but quickly does the beast find himself uninterested in lingering any longer. It was clear these two needed to get to know one another better, and it warmed his heart to see Ember meeting more of his family and becoming more integrated.

Wonderful, I am happy to hear it. I should excuse myself, however. I have...some patrolling to do. Welcome home, my daughter, you will be a princess. We can speak more later about your duties. With a feeling of elation in his chest, the beast slips away from the two, but not before offering his daughter a gentle, fatherly kiss to her cheek.

/exit Alexander

Ismeria stifles a small giggle as @Ember's flustered words, but there is not unkindness in her eyes. Rather, there is cute amusement, pleased that the large woman in front of her were not simply made of stone. Her air of nervousness lingered, but it did not quite clash against Ismeria's easygoing nature; rather, the Savante fed off it, allowing it to churn her own feelings of warmth and anticipation. Not often did she elicit quite such reactions, for many of the lions she'd happened upon in her journey here had been far rougher around the edges and far less easy to please; sparing a brief and thankful glance toward @Alexander ♔, her smile only ever deepened. He'd found a good one in this girl.

Her reveling only paused when her father handed down her rank, the pleased look in her eyes suddenly transforming into something excited, giddy. A princess? she squeaked, a paw coming up to place her palm against her cheek. I will make you proud, father. Then, her soft blue gaze turned back toward the lovely Ember. Would you show me around?

---

Exit (w Ember?)

Art by Milkyfleur, table by cala

The girl felt resolutely flustered by every small movement that either of them made, but more so the light woman in front of her. Never in her life had she struggled to put words together but had only ever struggled to find the will to say anything. Yet here in the presence of @Ismeria she felt like her tongue was trying desperately to speak seventeen language at once and hope that one of them was going to be correct.

While she was now the rank of Gentry thanks to @Alexander ♔'s generosity, she was focused now on the fact that her newfound crush was a princess. A strange feeling washing over her as she felt as though she was supposed to bow but she hadn't bowed for Alexander so... it would probably just look stupid if she did it for her the queen in front of her.

Yes, yes! she said, surprisingly enthusiastic and feeling even more smitten and nervous now that Alexander wasn't even here to curb it. I would love to, because she was ready to be the strong, confident and able-bodied colossal woman that she was born to be so that this beautiful, flawless and adorably tiny woman could see that she would do anything to make her happy. exit with ismeria!

+5 - Learn a character’s full name and rank (Ismeria, Princess)

^{ART BY LARS, CODE BY CALA}