Seems so long I've been waiting, still don't know what for

She had to admit she was nervous about making this request. While she had done nothing that might upset the pride, the simple act of leaving one could sometimes be a trial, as Luther had made clear to her. She had never spoken with Amara or any of her kin during her stay here, but the very idea of a female-dominant society went against her own upbringing and understanding of proper behavior. She would not cease to show submissiveness around males and she wondered if she might be resented for such weakness.

She had planned for this since spring, yet only now came looking for @Amara, at the very heart of summer. In her possession was a small bundle of plants, quite the variety of them, none common in the Bluffs, or anywhere else in Amaryllis for that matter. Setting them down, she would send up a summons for the Queen, or anyone of suitable rank. She had waited for the sun to reach the horizon, but even in the temperature drop, it remained unpleasantly warm. While winter was a difficult time for a rogue, she longed for summer's end and the cooler weather that followed with it.

The voice calling for her wasn't familiar but it was within the lands. Amara was quick to make her way to see who it was and saw a slightly familiar lioness. One that she had seen coming and going a few times over the last months or so. Brought in by another but still a member. Amara approached with as much ease as her aging battle torn body would allow her too. She looked the lioness over, the coloring of her seemed familiar to others she had allowed her before and they all seemed to leave. She raised a brow as she spoke, Something I can help you with? Would this be an easy thing or would Amara be dealing with the backlash of a member who wasn't doing very much?

image by rabbit, code by anyu

Seems so long I've been waiting, still don't know what for

The moment had come, a lioness adorned with scars on a portrait of black and starlight. Bordeaux was not entirely sure what she expected the Queen of the Bluffs to look like, but she wasn't far off in the sense that @Amara was intimidating. Part of that was simply in her power of authority, but she was also considerably bigger than the pastel girl.

She felt for a moment that all the moisture in her mouth had dried up, swallowing several times and licking her lips before she would finally speak. "Good day highness. I come bearing valuable gifts from my stock of medicinal plants.. as a thank you for housing me within your home. Your resident healer should know how best to use them." She informed, dipping her head in a bow and never fully lifting it, or her eyes throughout. "It is also an offer of apology, as I wish to return to my life as a rogue. I have many who need my healing skills elsewhere, and I would not wish to bring animosity to your home should you have enemies that might oppose my healing their rivals." She explained.

She was not sure what the lion she was currently caring for meant to others of Amaryllis, but given the tension at the challenge, and the poison used to weaken him, he clearly had enemies. She would tend to him regardless, she was one not given pause when it came to helping others in need. While it was a risk she was willing to take, she didn't wish for her decisions to come back on those who had not agreed to her taking them.

Amara looked the lioness over for a long moment in silence after the herbs were given and the request was made. Her gaze narrowed slightly. Amara had always protected her members, even those who might help or tend to those she didn't agree with. Amara had members saved by healers of an enemy pride before. She might not like it but she had never flat out stopped it either. Our enemies will be there, healed or not. She reached out to pull the herbs closer to her. I won't keep you here if you do not wish to be here but that isn't a real reason to leave. Amara's gaze leveled on her. So what is the reason? Amara wasn't really one to beat around the bush with anything and had no issues asking out right when she thought something didn't add up.

image by rabbit, code by anyu

Seems so long I've been waiting, still don't know what for

The queen did not seem satisfied with the girl's reasoning. There was more to it than that, but Bordeaux thought it was the one that would most appease her.. seems it was not. Her tail would twitch and shift in nervous agitation as she considered what else to say. She could speak of the differences between them, but what she knew of Amara's family was only gossip and assumptions.

No, she did not want to potentially upset the lioness if her information was not accurate. She would decide just to speak her truth and hope it was enough. "The thought of unintended consequences towards others for my decisions would weigh heavy on me, should they be of concern to you or not." She said quietly. "Beyond that.. I came here mostly out of caution. I know the difficulty of survival in the winter months on your own, I was too young, I knew I wasn't ready.. so I sought out a pride. I favor my solitude, life in a society has never been something I had a talent for." She went on to explain.

"If you feel it necessary I gather more of my herbs to gift to the Bluffs to pay off what I owe for sheltering here." An offer, anything to appease her and ensure Bordeaux's release was acceptable.

What else was there to say? She didn't want to speak on how different their views and practices, it might only be received as an insult somehow. She didn't know @Amara at all, thus her reaction to anything was impossible to guess.

Amara listened. There wasn't much else for her to do. She was trying to build up the pride and yet, it seemed that as more came in just as many would leave. The High Sovereign shook her head at the offer for more herbs. Lionesses are valued here in ways that others do not. Should you find yourself in a position that you do not wish to be in, you are free to say you are a member here. Amara offered her some protection in her name, in the known standing of the pride. Should anything change, you are welcome to come back. She gave her a long look before she reached down to pick up the items given to her and waited for the lioness to take her leave. Amara wasn't keen on turning her back on others, even if she did just release the lioness from the binds of the pride.

exit via watching unless more is needed.

image by rabbit, code by anyu

Seems so long I've been waiting, still don't know what for

It seemed Amara and the Brook looked after their own here. Had she not already decided what she wanted to do going forward, she might even have reconsidered at that point about going. That she might even use the Bluffs as a shield of sorts when not a member of the pride was a surprise to her, if she actually would do that was to be seen, hopefully it would never come to that.

"I.. thank you lady @Amara, that is very gracious of you." She said with a bow of her head to the queen. "I will keep your offers in mind as I go forward. Should any of yours need a healer, they might find me around the waterhole in the evenings." She offered, it was really the least she could do.

With that said, she would turn and begin heading away, to her small corner of Amaryllis. She could not help but feel a mixture of joy and anxiety that came with life as a rogue.

/ exit Bordeaux