Your God is not here

The young man had finally made it to the towering twin stones, the gateway that welcomed him to his future. He did not yet know the name of this new land... all he knew was the scent of lion-kin in the air. It had been many lonely years for him as a vagabond, and now... as he stepped almost hesitantly through the gateway... he felt a renewed energy. Hope - he might even venture to call it.

Still, he did not want to get such hopes up too high. He knew - as well as anyone - how muddy the waters become when dealing with others. Though his loneliness seemed to be coming to an end, might he simply be paying for one pleasure at the price of another? He kept his head held high, his regal pose and pristine appearance hard to miss.

Yes, he had traveled far... but he needn't look the part of a mere wanderer. After all, though his home usurped and his Father dead... he was still of Royal blood.

His guarded, icy gaze scanned along the countryside as he glided gracefully through the passage. Watchful, he waited to be approached, as he knew was customary at the entrances of lion territories... at least, it was back home.

code by corvus

I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

And he did not have to wait for long for someone to arrive. It had become second nature to the pale lioness to venture to the passage, to watch and sometimes approach when she'd deemed a new arrival suitable. Though her focus had been torn between so many things, she'd found herself lingering near quite often.

Her slender form had been resting on a rock, emerald gaze turned to the waves crashing to the shore. Were it not for the twitch of her ears, she almost could have been mistaken to be some sort of statue, created by something not quite like lions. Though when her gaze wandered, it landed on the figure appearing through the gateway, just as her head was turning.

The faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, pale furred form slowly shifting to slip off the rock before she moved closer. Looking upon her, one would expect what she appeared to resemble, delicate elegance, a pure light. Yet each step was calculated, betraying the warrior as much as the scars on her body did, as much as the look in her eyes did. The warrior queen was not hesitant in her approach, yet also not arrogant. She moved with purpose and confidence. The confidence of a woman who knew who she was. A queen without a crown.

It was short before him that she stopped, at a distance that didn't warrant yelling, yet allowed for their personal space to be respected. "Welcome to Amaryllis, stranger."

@"Dragomir"

code by flea, art by irish

Your God is not here

The young man's cold gaze was drawn to a particularly fair maiden who had taken an interest in him, slipping from her raised perch of stone to make her approach. She looked upon him with a calculated emerald gaze, sizing him up as he did her. Her scars betrayed a violent past, yet the confidence in her movements told him she was often the victor.

Her commanding presence caused a invasive image of Drago's own mother flitting across his mind's eye before he dismissed it. He reminded himself, as he came to a stop, that he was nothing but a rogue in this land... and he knew that lions and lionesses whom lingered at the land's entrance must hold a rather esteemed rank if they served a pride.

He did not know if this woman was a Queen, Royal, Noble or the like... but regardless, he would swallow his own pride and take a gentleman's bow to her. " I Thank you, dear woman." He would answer, a bass tone wrapped in a thick Romanian accent. "But I wish to be no stranger. Know me as Dragomir of the Vulpes Family. - I have... traveled far." He said simply, raising himself back to that tall and composed stature.

@Lagertha

code by corvus

He half considered turning around the moment the rains began to fall. Bruno trudged along that sand bar with a curled lip, glancing occasionally to the barren heavens as if to ask why. Droplets seeped stubbornly between the thick tresses of his pelt as the new king made his way toward the gathering place, the majority of his thoughts made up of a slew of curses. This was when he spotted their silhouettes.

"Might I know you as 'Dragomir of the Vulpes Family,' too?" Bruno asked the question to announce himself, olive gaze glistening with a joke not quite uttered.

"I am Bruno Stärke, of the mire pride. What do you seek?" He questioned him, attempting to come to a stop a few feet away from the pair and linger in waiting.

---

|| september y10 | three years | EM high sovereign | at maua's passage | @Dragomir @Lagertha ||_{BG — ART — CODE}

I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

His mannerisms and the accent. It intrigued her. Yet nothing about her steeled gaze betrayed her thoughts. Her tail tip flicked behind her, her head tilting ever so slightly to the left. Muscles played under silken, well groomed fur as she rolled her shoulders, straightening her posture again after a brief greeting. "A pleasure, @"Dragomir"." Though others might have chosen to use their charm, she kept her tone polite, friendly and even kind, yet let the warrior shine through in everything. "You may call me Lagertha."

Her own introduction was cut short at the arrival of another. Emerald gaze shifted to @Bruno ♔, lingering for a moment as she gave him a nod of respect with a subtle smile in greeting. Though her attention returned to the rogue quite quickly. "I m of the cove, if perhaps you seek a home at the shore."

code by flea, art by irish

Your God is not here

A rather slender male came upon the scene then, his pelt of the same shade as Drago's own, and as he arrives he would command the scene in it's entirety. As the rain's picked up, drenching the lot where they stood, the newest arrival spoke.

Permission was asked to know Dragomir also, and the joke was lost on him. Instead, although it was not apparent in his expression or his stance, the younger man was taken aback by the request. Surely a formality, but curious all the same.

with a stoic icy gaze upon the other man's figure, Drago would dip his head and lift a paw ever-so-slightly from the ground so an open paw pad was upturned. - A gesture that said 'be my guest' -

The man spoke of a pride named 'Mire' before asking Drago what it was he sought here. the woman who had appeared first then offered her name, and the location of her pride as well. If he were in the correct time or setting he would have scoffed at the choice he had.

"I am pleased to be meeting you both." He started, turning to nod once at @Lagertha and once to @Bruno ♔. Then a sly smile drew at the corners of his maw, a fang or two poking from under his lips. "I am sure both prides being represented here are quite the pinicle of lion-kin... But I must say, a coast does sound rather luxurious compared to a mire."

Drago then turned specifically toward the male who had asked a question of him. "As it were, a dwelling is what I seek. A place with which to pledge my allegiance... preferably one who might be needing of a Cleric?" He hoped the distinction was made in their minds that he was a Cleric and NOT a medic. Put him in a den with a sick lion and they would both die, surely.

code by corvus

He watched with interest as the lion gave a bowing gesture, his mane somehow both lacking and full at the same time as it rustled gently. Oh, but things went downhill from there. 'Dragomir of the Vulpes Family' was quick to question the merits of the mire rather than take his presence for what it was – gracious – and Bruno twitched his whiskers with agitation. It became apparent to the lion rapidly that this was no great loss, though, as Dragomir explained he wished to go somewhere in need of a cleric.

Prides need a cleric like I need a hole in the head. Youthful spite hissed at the forefront of his thoughts, though the leader was seasoned enough to know that this debate was not worth his breath.

"I cannot say we do," he mused as if in consideration. Rather, he thought they had a few too many nonsense-chanters within their ranks. "Enjoy your luxurious coast," he wished him, and Bruno was already turning to leave.

---

-exit- @Lagertha @Dragomir_{BG — ART — CODE}

I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

Ears perked ever so slightly as she listened. A cleric, intriguing. Though it was something she was still not too familiar with. From what she knew, those who were called Clerics, were those with the deepest bonds to the deity or deities of their lands. Something she understood more and respected.

Her gaze briefly wandered to the Mire's King as he spoke, arching a brow. But she certainly wouldn't question his choice in withdrawal. His loss, could potentially be her gain. And so, her attention returned to @"Dragomir" quite quickly, a hint of amusement sparking in her eyes. "Anyone is welcome to join us, if they so wish," she said with a small smile. "And I for one like the idea of having a cleric among us. We do have two, but in my opinion there can never be enough. After all young ones can benefit from learning about various belief systems."

code by flea, art by irish

Your God is not here

The darker pelted man left in a huff, and although Drago had not meant to insult - it would seem that he had done just that. Still, the man had pretended to consider Drago's candidacy before rejecting him... though out of politeness or some other reason, Drago could not tell.

He then turned to @Lagertha, and although she was kind enough - it sounded as though they were a bit over-run by clerics in her pride. He and his father had been the only two in the land back home. He had never had to share his title with another, and now it would seem he would have to share it with two others?

Drago gave a bit of a sneer, something he did not particularly mean to show. "Ahh, well... I appreciate the offer. Really, I do. I just don't know if I'm ready to practice with others of my trade just yet." The last man he had ever performed a ritual with had been his late father, and the idea of sharing such a thing as clergy with a stranger... it made him rather sad.

"I'm sorry to have wasted your time. I think I will remain on my own for now. Your home does sound lovely, though." He apologized, dipping his head once more so that his mane licked at the ground, before holding his head high once more. "I bid you farewell for now, but perhaps we will meet again. I hope it is a pleasant reunion." And with that, Drago turned to make his way into Amaryllis - still alone, but perhaps soon he would find his place here.

Exit Drago -

@LilacxSorcery

code by corvus

I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

A low purr slipped past her lips, head tilting ever so slightly. If the sneer bothered her in any way, the pale furred warrior queen didn't let it show. Instead her expression remained just as it had been before, a mask of polite kindness.

"You did not waste my time at all. In the end, only through communication do we find our way from time to time." Her expression changed briefly to show a more comforting and friendly smile. "Not being ready is perfectly alright and I will not press you. You follow your path, as do I. And perhaps if the gods are kind, they may lead us towards each other again."

With a last smile towards @Dragomir, she slowly turned and made her way back to the Cove.

Exit

code by flea, art by irish