The fury he felt burn with fire for @Kvare not giving him the courtesy of telling him that his sister was ruler of the Summit was still there. Especially when the Tollaire knew that the Summit was already on the cautionary list with Caladan due to previous problems and enemy status between the prides. Keligan would deal with him later. But when @Morrigan ♔ spoke, spitting her venom at him and he flicked his ears back into his mane against his skull. @Sunder was first to speak about Caltáriel not being in the pride lands and it was the truth. @Talisa ♔ said nothing but instead, the fury was there, behind her eyes. He stifled a growl in his throat because they knew nothing. They didn't know the aftermath of the situation and apparently Caltáriel didn't return back to the Summit after leaving with Lucanus. Which made it interesting. @Isla ♔ then spoke up to the other lionesses, first to Morrigan and then to Sunder. And she laughs. Praying silently to the Ancient Spirits to keep him stoic and behaved, he finally spoke. "Caltáriel isn't here and she never was. Lucanus has her in the Oasis, the last I saw. She had the freedom to go back to the Summit, but apparently based on your accusations of her being here, means that she never went back to your mountains." Shaking his head slowly with a ticking sound of his tongue, "When that day happened, I was not King. I was under advisory of Gauthier. The Summit once was our Enemy. It was a war and did was I was instructed. I stole from our Enemies. A rare deal after your pride tossed my pride mates over the edges of the cliffs and your Lead Fighter broke my nose. When Gauthier got swept out to sea, I won the Cove. Everything became a blank slate. I didn't question Gauthier or the way he ruled things. As his Gentry, I did what I was told." Frowning to the Leading Ladies, his bobbed tail flicked behind him, flash of elongated fang as he continued, "If you want Caltáriel, you have to ask the Oasis. Because the last time I saw her was with Lucanus and I haven't seen her since." It was the truth. He hadn't seen her. The Dove had flown away. "If you don't believe me, ask Kvare. He is the Heir of Caladan and knows every crook and cranny of this place. Feel free to look yourselves. She has never stepped a single paw in my lands." But with the accusations that she still was, it made this visit of theirs even more rocky. Would this cause them to gain neutral status between the prides or keep them at enemy status?

i

have known anger before war or walking / i have known fear before i have known love

---

Kvare should have told them sooner, but the time between his last meeting with Morrigan and now had left him with little room to breathe. His ascension to the role of Heir had filled his days, his wards demanding attention and his duties driving him well beyond the border. The information were not so easy to let slip in idle conversation—he could only imagine its depth and brevity were he to let loose that simple fact as if it were nothing. Yet, he regretted not having done it now; it would have been a far easier conversation alone with @Keligan than it would be here, now.

He'd already felt sick to his stomach. But when @Morrigan ♔ moved forward with accusations lingering in her biting tone, Kvare felt as if he may vomit.

Kvare was thankful, then, that it were @Sunder who spoke next. Kvare struggled to maintain an even face, eyes steeled and expression stoic; yet, even he could not help but spare a glance toward @Talisa ♔, the only lioness not thrown into the intensity of this meeting, reacting just as Kvare did himself to all that unfurled between them. But he could not run from it forever. The name was unknown to him, but apparently not to their King; he remains silent as Keligan explains himself, the pieces of the history that came before the tenuous partnership of Kvare and Keligan splayed out in the open for all to hear. This mystery woman the root of their disdain, riled up by the fact that he, too, now resided here, under this man's same banner.

I concur, he finally says, and he is unsure if his words come from a place of pure genuineness, or if he were too trying to save face in front of the King he'd upset. Despite his increasing power, Kvare were still just a boy, in some ways; he was imperfect, with neither the skills nor decorum to save face here. Not yet. I have never seen a woman with her name set foot in these borders.

Art by Rabbit, table by cala

With her wife and daughter stiffening beside her, @Isla ♔ confirming her own suspicions of who he was, it was only the saving grace of @Sunder, apparently Keligan's Queen. Quite a lovely one at that but Morrigan could feel the steel beneath that curvaceous body. Morrigan would give a nod of approval at the news that Caladan at least held no prisoners. That did not exactly mean they were against claiming, but it was an improvement at least. If nothing else, Morrigan had decided the Queen of the Cove was an alright candidate for an ally and she wondered if @Talisa ♔ had picked up anything otherwise.

Eyes slid coldly back to @Keligan as it was his turn to speak. "You conveniently seem to forget that every drop of blood that sanctified the Summit that day belonged to either trespassers who were aptly warned, or my own warriors defending their home. And Roarke was the most polite of them all if I remember correctly. If anything you should be thanking him for showing you mercy." At the last word Morrigan remembers her relief that neither of her brothers had shown up that day. It was among the only reasons she was here now.

She looks to him at the thought and he gives her the same reassurances, giving him a deeper nod as she trusted him to tell her at least, causing her anger to ebb at least a bit before she looked back to the Cove King. "Did she at least seem content to leave with this Lucanus?" Had he been her knight in shining armor, or just something worse? She ignored the implied insult of her cousin not returning to the Summit, as Morrigan held no expectations for her family to be treated like subjects in Illyria. She only need to know they were well and free.

coding & image by flea

Talisa was quiet but pensive. Listening to every word that was said and looking at every muscle movement in each one of the Cove's leaders. Firmly gazing upon each one of them as though trying to get a read on them and the slightest twitches. @Keligan expressed a lot of things, essentially putting it out there that the lioness they were looking for had never even touched the Cove's sandy shores. Squinting, inhaling and looking constantly between the gathered party... well, she felt as though she was picking up on several different signals.

@Morrigan ♔ and @Isla ♔ were a lot more aggressive in their finger pointing's than Talisa ever would be and she was happy to let them put the pressure out there. I think, she interrupts as her gaze moves from her wife to the Cove's High Sovereign, that you should be the one to talk to the Oasis and see to why she never came back to the Summit. The problem started with you challenging for her, it only seems fair that you rectify this situation that you have put us in. Her eyes glance over to @Kvare and @Sunder and wondered what they might make of this heavy suggestion. Surely it was clear to them that the women of the Summit were not about to leave here without a clear solution and this problem had stemmed from him.

ART • CODE

I think, that you should be the one to talk to the Oasis and see to why she never came back to the Summit. The problem started with you challenging for her, it only seems fair that you rectify this situation that you have put us in. Sunder was just relieved to see that @Morrigan ♔ wasn't nearly as enraged as before, her own flopped ears perking lightly as @Talisa ♔ then speaks with a suggestion. Of course Sunder didn't like the idea, but if it meant placating the women then Keligan would need to bite the bullet and take on the request. Plus, she was almost certain he'd be interested to know of the woman's welfare. "If it means resolving this issue between our prides then I don't see a problem with Keligan paying the Oasis a visit to check on the welfare of your family member. However, will you take his word if he returns without her? I would hate to see him put forth the effort if there is just going to be distrust in his words regardless." She questions then, after all she wasn't about to send her husband on a wild goose chase if it was all null and void to begin with. She thought that she was being reasonable, but she wanted the women of the Summit to confirm entirely that they would believe him whenever he would return with whatever news the Oasis had to offer them. @Kvare @Isla ♔

art by hush

It's the principal of the matter, or can you not understand that? Anger rose up her throat with her words. She didn't care whether or not Caltáriel ever stepped a toe within Caladan's borders or if she had been whisked away by another lion they did not know of; @Keligan had stolen her and somehow that whole point was being overlooked. Her attention was barely on the others as she spoke, all her focus on @Morrigan ♔ and what she was saying while eyes stayed narrowed and shifted between the trio of Cove lions.

And then @Talisa ♔ offers a solution and Isla was far too eager to respond, uncaring if she spoke over @Sunder: I will accompany Keligan to ensure what information he receives is true. Her focus now shifts to him fully, tail tip twitching behind her while muscles tense. Do we have any objections? Skull turns slightly toward her Mutters, a brow rising to see if the Queens would agree or disagree, eyes never once leaving his face.

@Kvare

ART & CODE BY DEE

Keligan looked at @Morrigan ♔ as she was cold towards him. A frown placed upon his blackened lips as ears flicked back. "I understand that I had it easy with Roarke. A broken nose and not being tossed over the cliffs." At her question about Lucanus got him to nod. "She seemed content to go with him. But I had only assumed that he would take her back to the Summit like he promised. I left while they were still talking in the Pit." It was the truth, Lucanus wanted to win her freedom for her to go back home. But apparently that hadn't happened. Or else Morrigan wouldn't be here. Then @Talisa ♔ gave the forced suggestion that Keligan go to the Oasis himself and fix this situation. With @Isla ♔ following suit in saying that she would be going with him to make sure there were no falsehoods. @Sunder was trying to place this tender moment from exploding. Periwinkle gaze looked first to his wife and @Kvare before moving to shift his gaze between all three of the Summit Leaders. "I will go to the Oasis when the time is right. It's not like I'm exactly welcome there." Thanks to him beating Nephthys for the Cove, he had cast all those who were of the Oasis away from his borders. But rumor had it that the lioness was not around anymore. It mattered not. He was sure that Scorpius wouldn't just hand over Caltáriel to Keligan without something in return. It was a delicate balance. In his mind though, he was seething underneath his skin at Kvare still. Especially because he hadn't told Sunder about the theft at the Hollows challenge. Clicking his tongue, he exhaled before shifting to stand. "I will leave it at that. You can either accept it or not. But Scorpius is already not happy with me, I will wait for the right time." He was in no position to totally deny the lionesses from their request, after all, he had stolen a family member of the Leaders. But he would rather not have Leonie on his ass, remembering the Andal Heiress, or the High Sovereign on his throat. "But it will be her decision if she wants to stay there or go back to the Summit." He wouldn't force her to leave the desert pride if she was truly happy there. Not knowing if she was a prisoner or a willing member at this point. Turning to leave, he left the ladies with the Cove Queen and Heir at the border. EXIT

"I'll just visit the Oasis myself then," Morrigan said coldly as @Keligan told them all he did not think now was the appropriate time to visit Andal. "I have some reparations to make their for the actions of my eldest daughter anyway." Unlike others present seemingly, Morrigan had no fear of the consequences of her own actions. As he departed Morrigan looked after him for a moment with an unreadable expression before returning her focus to her brother and the Queen. "I'll get the answers I need and meet with you again, @Kvare. You as well if you wish it @Sunder." Taking a step toward the path that lead away from the Cove, Morrigan looked to her wife and present daughter. "Shall we go home?" With a respectful dip to her fellow rulers, Morrigan would turn away from the throne she had once held for the one that was truly meant for her. exit morrigan

coding & image by flea

SUNDER

There was a mounting level of frustration rising through Sunder but on the outside, she remained calm and collected. She listened to Keligan alongside her, a flopped ear ticked in his direction. Her attention however was solely on @Morrigan ♔ as she instead mentioned travelling to the Oasis herself to discover the whereabouts of her family member. Keligan was quick to take his leave and Sunder was left with Kvare and the others on the borders. She contemplated everything that was being said before speaking finally, "Kvare and I will repay you a visit in the Summit in the future. To touch base." She says softly before offering them a goodbye, "Safe travels." She would rise then to make her way back through the territory, ignoring the dull ache in her gut that warned of impending tension.


exit.

code by flea, art by kim

Isla seemed to have been overlooked, and with @Keligan's reply a silent snarl curls her lip. It falls just as quickly as it rose when @Morrigan ♔ began to speak, glad that her Mutter felt some the same as her daughter in some semblance. As much as she wished to speak more, Isla would make herself refrain and instead would give Morrigan a nod when she asked if they were ready to leave. More than ready, she says in response, uncaring whether or not the others from the Cove heard her. Their King didn't seem all too keen on helping a pride that could more than easily turn them upside down so he deserved some sort of scoff in return. Isla would follow after her mother, giving @Talisa ♔ a quick glance to make sure she, too, were following before settling step for step next to their High Queen.

exit Isla.

ART & CODE BY DEE