The woman was mouthy and he quite liked that. He was never a beast to tell a woman how to act or think - unless it endangered he and his. The dark woman had the grace to offer them a chance despite Zsolt's bold moves. A smirk curves across his lips, despite this - Alexander wasn't about to let his son take the brunt of any sort of bullying.

He made a mistake, even though they didn't know it, Alexander knew it wasn't done maliciously. "I have instructed my pride that should someone seem to injured or close to unconsciousness, therefore for deciding themselves, then we are to defend them and bring them home. Vultures lurk in these lands and are always keen to take advantage. It is a temporary solution and anyone in such situations is freely allowed to leave." He finally explains the logic behind his son's attempt to take the woman home.

Thankfully he wasn't here to impress anyone aside from the rogue herself. @Zsolt falls silent and makes no attempt to argue with him, which he is grateful for. A single ear sweeps toward @Tiamat then, a chuckle escaping his lips, "Sometimes, but usually we do try to play nice." The beast teases back lightly before his focus turns back to @Curse solely.

"The Hollows is a cavernous pride, the walls surrounding us offer protection from our enemies as well as any severe weather. Despite the crown on my head, we are a Matriarchal kingdom as well. Our medics are rather skilled as well, so you would be well taken care of. Aside from all of that, we have food and easy access to water - and you look like a woman who would one day be interested in taking a rank. I admire ambition." He rumbles, offering a slow, crooked smirk.

[[not me over here dropping all the prides into a random name picker 'cause i can't decide lmao]]

There was another one smelling of sea and sand that came to join, this one offering the cove. Curse's ears twitched toward the woman as she spoke, though she still kept half an eye on the grey male until he backed off, chastised. Once he didn't seem an immediate threat, her attention broadened, considering each of the group in turn as they offered what information they felt like sharing.

@Tiamat got a slight smirk at the 'smart cub' comment; Curse was always glad to be remembered. The smirk faded, however, as the paler woman continued, revealing what had happened to Scilla in her absence. So...her stuff probably wasn't still there, then. Which was...fine, really. It wasn't like she couldn't ever find a new zebra pelt to sleep on, but the skull had been a gift and she was a little sad to lose it. It was also a little upsetting to learn the place had been abandoned, which sort of tarnished the idea she might have had about the rough king.

Medics were mentioned, and she shrugged one shoulder, "I just need a few good meals." Maybe more regular access to water wouldn't hurt either.

Red guy offered an explanation for his son's behavior and...well, okay, she couldn't really argue with the logic there. She probably did look close to death, and even she had to admit to herself it was taking more energy than she cared to expend at the moment just to stay proudly, stubbornly, upright. Of course, for all she knew, he could be lying to lure unsuspecting women into his pride and trap them there, but he seemed genuine enough she didn't actually think that was the case.

It was all a lot more attention than she'd been expecting, and they all sounded like decent places to live. She wasn't even so picky she'd rule out a swamp if it was stable and secure. Hell, her first home had been a literal field of bones.

As they finished their pitches, she'd stay silent a second or five, mulling everything over, only to nod to herself as if coming to some kind of decision. "Right. Okay. Nothing's standing out as a better choice than anything else, so here's what we're gonna do." A paw raised, a toe pointing at each representative in turn as she continued into a round of 'eenie meenie miney moe'. Childish, maybe, but it usually did the job.

"--and you are it," her pointing landed, surprisingly, on the Hollows pair, and she paused a second before laughing. "Oh that's fuckin' funny. Okay. You win." With a grunt, she heaved herself back up to stand, "Thanks, everyone, if this doesn't work out, I'll...I dunno, pick another one of you at random or something." Unless it seemed they took offense to that kind of approach. She really didn't have the energy to put a lot of thought into things, or draw this process out more than absolutely necessary.

Determined steps carried her forward, to pass the red man and his son, "C'mon, big boy, show me your caves, then." Still hadn't gotten his name, which reminded her she hadn't actually offered her own. "Name's Curse, by the way."

-exit w/ @Alexander ♔ & @Zsolt?-

@Myra @Lagertha

code by corvus

No regrets

and yet, every regret

She'd not be opposed to the dark lioness choosing the Lagoon. Bolstering the ranks of an ally would after all be a good thing as well. Though she did find herself intrigued on how the rogue would choose.

They all had said their piece, offered the same yet varying things. In the end it all came down to the choice. Yet no matter what was chosen, they'd all walk away and return. @Myra intrigued her, though she was not quite sure if it was simply the scent of the Mire or perhaps the woman's appearance. Whatever it was, she'd regarded her with a polite, respectful nod and perhaps a lingering look. Such interesting, intriguing people at the passage.

Her tail slowly curled against her leg, the tip flicking ever so slightly as she listened to @Alexander ♔ make his own speech after trying to sort out the small situation caused by his son. Well, that was interesting to know. Emerald gaze wandered to @Zsolt once more and the pale woman found herself showing him a challenging yet oddly charming smile.

When @Curse made her choice, Lagertha found herself quite amused by the way she did choose. Certainly not what she would have expected, but she did find it to be a good way of choosing if nothing stood out for what one was looking for. "Cove's always open if you change your mind." She gave her a friendly grin before slowly stretching and turning to ever so slowly brush past the two Savante. Only then did she pause to glance back at @Tiamat with a smile. "Walk back together?"

Exit w/ Tiamat?

code by corvus

Alexander was more than a little surprised when the woman began playing what seemed to be a little game. Was this to pick her new home? A tilt of his head is given, but he says nothing, simply observing the interaction. Finally she stops - on him. Surprise filters through his features, something he can't help. Never would he had of guessed she'd end up going home with him and @Zsolt after the rough start on all of it. He was pleased, however, and amused that it seemed the Mother might have unintentionally had a paw in this. Would he regret bringing this woman home, or would she prove to be as interesting as he suspected her to be? Turning toward his son, he'd chuff softly to usher him home, moving to help @Curse should she need it, "I am Alexander, by the by." He introduced calmly before focusing his attention on the path ahead.

/exit Alexander

Tiamat rolled her eyes at the childish game that the young woman played to make her choice. Smart cub clearly had not turned into smart adult. Whatever the case, it seemed she was leaving empty-pawed again today. This was beginning to grow more and more frustrating as time dragged on. Why was she the only one cursed to come here and recruit? Besides Dagge, of course. She could not forget him.

If anything, at least today she had learned a little more about the Hollows.

She didn't bother to say anything to the retreating Hollows members and their new recruit. Instead, she dipped her head politely at @Myra again before smiling at @Lagertha. "Sure," she accepted the invitation. It didn't hurt to get to know more of the Cove lions a little better, since they were physically closest in terms of allies.

/Exit with Lagertha

code by anyu, art by CelestialDrift

Myra watches the monochrome woman's unusual method of picking her new home with a brow arched high above her reptilian eyes. She doesn't even bother trying to suppress the snort that bubbles up. The huntress is left unimpressed, in a word. Well, if the half-starved rogue truly cared so little about where she ended up, it was more than fitting that she should end up with the brazen males of Obsidian then.

"Good luck." Is all the farewell she offers to the retreating beasts and their new recruit, her tone as dry as the desert sands. There really hadn't been much to this excursion besides luck, had there?

With a brief nod to Tiamat and Lagertha both, Myra would turn with a sweeping gesture of her long tail, setting her paws firmly back on the path to home.

/exit Myra

SENTINEL

He kept his silence even when everyone else began to talk and speak their fair share of words. He listened instead of putting his two cents into it. Ears twisting as he watched with mismatched jewels as the woman began to play her little game before pointing at his father and himself. He felt the same surprise as Alexander did and blinked it away long enough to be ushered back home though he lingered on Curse's free side to help her if she needed it. All the while, the whole trip in fact, Zsolt kept his mouth shut already knowing that he was in big trouble once they got home or at least a good stern talking to.

exit!

we have come into the night

plunder & raise & war are nigh

code by corvus