This night reminded him of the night half the pride had been swept into the sea.

What once had been a distant promise on the horizon had now arrived, and well into the night Kvare lingered awake, hurried into some empty den just as the storm hit. He'd been out patrolling when the tempest stirred up the sea, sending its tide well into Caladan territory and encroaching on the shore. He'd just about turned to make his way back to his den when the worst of it swept across the pride, forcing him into a large and empty cavern. Though it were not quite amicable enough to be made into a den, it made a fine shelter, and Kvare watched intently as the storm swept through.

Tiredness clung to the darkness lingering beneath his eyes, a yawn threatening to drawl from his lips as the temptation of sleep nearly caused him to take the rest of the night there. However, he was intent on waiting out the storm, wanting to return to his den where Novalie was surely sleeping and Tilly was waiting nearby. Thus, he blinked away the bleariness in the corners of his gaze, struggling to see past the tempest as it whorled just outside, flashes of lighting sprawling across the distant night, thunder shaking the cliffsides that rose behind him.

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@Keligan

Art by Drifty, table by cala

The storm hit quickly against the shores of Caladan. The flashbacks of the day that destroyed the Cove and scattered the pride, leaving it empty ran fear through his mind. The waves crashed against the shores, tossing debris from the sea onto the sands. Rushing on his way back to his own den from his patrols on the opposite end, the path was blocked by the rising tides. The mixture of the rains making the water higher than normal. The lion was soaked from the storm as he stepped into an empty den. Or so he thought. Shaking the water off of himself, it sprayed everywhere. Then he saw @Kvare waiting within the protective cavern as well. Heavy weather out there. He could only hope that it would clear soon. In the coming days was the naming ceremony.

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Eyes widened in surprise as @Keligan's voice broke through the cacophony of thunder and rain. Kvare's gaze turned to see the soaked King not too far from him; the den was tall, but shallow, and the far edges of it were shrouded in darkness. It was just enough to shield them from the rain for the time being, and provided an adequate enough shelter to give them reprieve for the moment. They were just uphill enough that, hopefully, the tide wouldn't reach them.

Indeed, he replied, his gaze returning toward the storm as it swelled just outside. His fur had long begun to dry, but his whiskers still twitched at the electricity swirling in the air. Long had the night grown dark enough that it was difficult to see the sea beyond the rain, so Kvare turned his head back toward the speckled King. Guess we'll have to wait for it to pass. And, perhaps, hopefully power through the eerie feeling of familiarity it brought, the sense of dread it enveloped over them.

Art by Drifty, table by cala

The storm raged on behind them, outside of the cavern, the thunder rumbled and the lightening crashed. The water dripped from his mane onto the ground beneath him as he stood there. @Kvare was already starting to dry, which meant that he had sought shelter long before Keligan had. The cave wasn't ideal for long term living but could be a good place to hold supplies. Glancing around, he noticed the structure more before looking back at the Noble. I thought of that night. When those who couldn't scatter were swept off into the sea. His worry of the repeating event hung heavily on him.

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Kvare thought of that night, too, and at first it frightened him. But as the storm settled into its rage and he did not hear the crashing of frantic paws and the cries of lions trying to escape, he eased; though its memory was burned fresh in his mind. His lips pressed into a firm, thin line. He let the silence linger only for a brief moment before he finally spoke. It is eerily similar, he commented back to @Keligan, his ears falling flat against the sides of his head. Do you feel like these storms are becoming more common?

The winter had been particularly mild up until the storm that swept half the pride into the sea, but since then, Kvare could have sworn there were more and more thunderstorms sweeping up and down the coasts of Amaryllis. It reminded him, sorely, of when those disasters swept through Amaryllis, destroying half the prides and giving birth to new ones. It couldn't be that bad, however, he thought with an anxious drawl.

Art by Drifty, table by cala

The memory was etched deep within both lion's minds of that night. And he shuddered inwardly at the thoughts. I wasn't here last Spring, so I'm not sure if it's a common occurrence here. Clicking his tongue, it was muted by a crashing thunder behind him outside of the cavern. Flicking his ears back against his skull, he mused. I will have my sister make an altar for the Ancient Spirits for the protection of the Cove. With us gaining members and my children venturing out of the den now, we could use it. Keligan wasn't ignorant of the more and more common storms coming as of late and it made his slightly uneasy.

@Kvare

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He would've been content to forget about it, if he could, but the memory is burned in his mind. A deep frown settles on his lips as he casts his gaze out toward the sea, sparing glances toward @Keligan here and there but otherwise content to watch the storm as it drove through the Cove. It showed little signs of letting up, but also did not intensify; instead, it just continued onward, with no signs of when it would secede. Certainly, the King would be itching to get to his den with Sunder and his children; just as Kvare was aching to get to his own.

Though he'd been here just a bit longer than Keligan had, he too had not quite known just how long that time stretched, certain that he'd not come to the Cove until the tail end of the last spring. Thus, he relents, and instead keenly peers over toward the King as he talks of his sister. Rituals, altars...all things that made very little sense to the Tollaire man, but he was not foolish to believe that spirits and deities couldn't exist, and that even if it were mere placebo, there was something to be said about protections and prayers. We should fortify the borders, too, he contemplated softly, thinking of things he was far better versed in. I can start moving boulders along the borderline, and blocking caves that lead in and out of the territory. There weren't many vulnerable places, but the storm had washed away whatever protections there were before, and Kvare was keen on protecting them from outside threats, while also keeping the newly-venturing cubs safely inside.

Art by Drifty, table by cala

At the mention of strengthening the borders, Keligan looked over at @Kvare at the suggestions. Musing, periwinkle gaze went back to the storm that was still raging on outside of the cave. That's a good idea. Boulders would be harder for the tide to take back out. Blocking the caverns that have a separate entrance into the territory is also a good idea. Turning his attention back to the other lion before adding, I've appreciated all of your help lately. I know it's only been a few months. A lot had already happened since he won against Nephthys. The birth of his cubs, friendly terms with previous allies, more members willingly joined the pride and he found his sister.

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He eased with @Keligan's approval of his suggestions, an anxiety he hadn't realized that had crept up suddenly falling away. Perhaps it were the rain, he considered thoughtfully, though he had long known he'd been under the scrutinizing eyes of the King, and it felt as if his hard work truly paid off. At the very least, Kvare had found a great satisfaction in his work, and had come to realize that caring for and building up a pride meant a lot more than sitting on an empty throne, claiming women and ordering soldiers about. Had he become a King himself by mere circumstance of luck, his rein might have been short; now, he had something of a more even head on his shoulders. Well, I've learned a lot goes into keeping a pride safe, he began, It's a lesson I need to learn if I ever hope to lead my own someday.

Yet, even though Kvare were destined to be a King himself someday, the wait for it seemed far less daunting than it had before. He leans back onto his hinds, rolling his shoulders in a quick stretch, jaws parting in a yawn; if he were still alone, perhaps he could have fallen asleep here after all. Of course, well after I've proven myself here, he continued with a slight chuckle, My grandfather was the soldier of a King before he became one himself. I hope to follow in his pawsteps.

Art by Drifty, table by cala

The differences between the two lions was how they were raised and how they were as adults now. The storm raged on outside but Keligan's attention went to @Kvare rather than what was happening with the weather. Watching the Noble stretch and yawn, the King shuffled himself slightly into a sphinx position. Tell me a bit about your background. The lion in front of him was a mystery, as was a majority of those within the lands. He really needed to learn more about the members of his pride in general. But this one in particular, he held the highest medium rank currently and Keligan pondered on promoting him again. But he needed to know more about Kvare before doing that.

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