It was going to be quite the undertaking, going from one pride to the next to discuss the coming together of a band. It was to the benefit of everyone that they know of the Gold Crows and their purpose, for it could easily be what tipped the scale to one's advantage or demise when the next inevitable war or raid happened. They could even be called upon for lesser things, such as providing a safe escort or stealing someone away from their captors.

The evening air was cool and pleasing, a slight drizzle of rain dampening his dark fur and only further tightening the thick curls of his mane. He didn't mind, having been one to spend many afternoons in the height of summer playing in the ocean surf, water didn't particularly bother him.

Arriving along the clearly marked borders, or so his nose would presume to tell him, he would send a summons for the leader and anyone else curious enough to approach. He would find amusement in the way his call rang out across stone, bouncing through the cave walls and into its depths._{BG — ART — CODE}

While she was most certainly no leader by any means of the name, Juliette had heard the call sound from nearby and made an explicit interest in at least taking a peek. Rounding each corner of the tunnels carefully and finding her way out with ease thanks to the many paths that she had marked herself. Leading into the soft patter of the rain as it bounced off the outside walls of the pride's inner sanctum and she could see the figure of a dark male not too far away. His hair seemed rather unruly in the matters of the weather but he didn't seem to be itching to get out of it, either. Welcome. She addressed as she came to stand close, also appearing unbothered by the gentle pelting of nature's tears, I am Juliette, Noble. If a leader is who you seek, surely one of them will arrive shortly. For she could likely help them but she was not limitless. @Fissure @Alexander ♔

^{ART • CODE}

I am every dream
you lost and never found

There was one thing he wasn't expecting. And it was seeing @Fissure on his doorstep. It was hard to forget the male, especially given their brief, if memorable interaction after a successful hunt. The image of the beast had easily engraved itself on his mind, but he hadn't had the time to search for him. Even now, as he slipped into the scene, it was clear he had been through quite a bit since their last encounter.

There was a still healing wound on his shoulder, but it was no longer gaping and red, instead a calm, pink wound that was mending nicely. Ears cup forward as he hears @Juliette speak, deciding to come up beside her in a supporting fashion while offering her a sidelong nod of approval.

It was then his attention zeroes in on Fissure. "So my words become truth. Hello again, wara. I am Alexander, High Sovereign of the Hollows." A flourish of movement is made as the Savante bows before their company, smiling faintly. Who was he within these lands? He had not yet heard of a handsome shadow taking the throne of any pride.

+5 Patrol your borders

karsa knows he's getting bigger with each day that passes by and with that comes wanting to help and be useful more and more. it's no secret that the boy simply idolizes his father and most of his other family members so as the sun begins to dip towards the horizon, the boy sets off to follow their footsteps on the border in a patrol. yes, even in the rain. not that he would intimidate any would-be trespassers very much considering karsa would barely hit their shoulder. he is alert, ears pressing forward to catch the sounds of any visitors, thieves, snoops, or prey and eyes scanning the brush lined border for signs of people passing through.

it seems however, that karsa's diligent patrol was little needed as the only visitor to their borders seemed to be polite enough to call for their attention. his pace quickens, trying to be as vigilant as possible as the boy starts towards the stranger and finds that his job had kept him enough that both his dad and obsidian's noble were already present. "hello," he greets smoothly as he comes up perpendicularly to the party, blue eyes flickering from alexander to fissure and remaining trained on the unknown man.

""

ART BY X-ZELFA, CODE BY LARS

Unlike the group he so loved to call "family", Hadyn didn't really care for the cold or the dark. The Savante could have their damp musky earth. He greatly preferred spending the majority of his time outside. In fact that was where he had been heading, out for some fresh air, when a call echoed through the many corridors.

Hadyn's head tilted to the side as he brought up the rear. He angled to look around @Alexander ♔ with curiosity. And upon managing to get a peak at their little visitor, the baron's eyes instantly lit up. My. He breathed as he stepped out from around the other Hollows lions. How.. Red eyes soaking in the view as he momentarily hunted for the right wording. ..exquisite.
Hadyn Sorrince, Barony. One dark paw gently rising and gesturing toward @Fissure. An invitation for the other dark lion to introduce himself.

code by scorpixia♡︎

"Calm yourselves."

The titan ghoul clicks his tongue thickly with (mostly) faux disappointment, the reprimand a low rumble in his throat as he slides his way past @Hadyn, giving the lanky shadow a narrow-eyed glance both knowing and unimpressed. The same sharp glance is leveled at @Alexander ♔ with no more subtlety, once Mircea had taken up the space at patriarch's free side.

Of course, @Fissure is quite beautiful. Undeniably so. But it would likely do the Hollow's reputation better if they could all just resist the urge to swoon at the feet of pretty strangers at their borders. At least pretend to be a little bit wary, please. Fortunately, Mircea is well-versed in the art of raising a skeptical brow. "Greetings to you, stranger. May I ask what it is you seek?"

Had anyone else even bothered to ask yet?

Art & Table code by Zodiac

Fissure would not be left wanting for long, soon offering companionship in the form of a soft lioness of warm, cream-colored pelt. She stood a little taller than he, but that was not the most uncommon of things for him. A pleasure, lady @Juliette. He purred. It seems cruel that I should forget a gift of flowers for such a fine lioness, but perhaps if we cross paths again. A raincheck on flowers? This was also not uncommon for him.

The king would arrive next, a lion Fissure had observed without shame throughout the combined efforts of a hunt they had shared in. His compliment had been warmly accepted then, had he been a less seasoned lion in the game of flirtation, he might have even blushed at how forward the red lion had been. King @Alexander ♔ is it? A title truly fitting of one with such a lavishly tended mane. You only need some of the finest furs and trinkets to stand above the noble families I served back home. Fissure could of course provide such items, should such things be of interest to him and his family.

An older cub would arrive next, similar in many ways to the red king. Fissure could only assume @Karsa was a son, but he could be related more distantly. In any case, his presence meant Fissure would need to keep things professional. Good evening young scout. You do well to practice your skills so early in life, it shall serve you later. He offered with a nod.

A dark male strode in next, unique in appearance to put it mildly. Fissure had seen his fair share of lions, decorated in every manner. @Hadyn seemed as though he would fit in better among them as opposed to the lions of Amaryllis. Oh? Are you talking to me? I am truly flattered. He remarked with mock surprise, though he was genuine in accepting such praise.

Last, but not least was @Mircea. This lion was more level-headed and prepared to talk business as opposed to batting compliments back and forth. Fissure welcomed the distractions, but he did have a lot to do and the rainfall was only going to get heavier within the hour. He would nod to the male before clearing his throat.

Gentlemen.. my lady.. I am Fissure, leader of the Gold Crows. We are a newly established mercenary band, set within the heart of Amaryllis. My warriors are ready should you ever have need of them. Of course, we did not pick sides, we are strongly loyal only to our contract. I may offer other services on the side, I have a talent for wine and crafting, but that is unrelated to the Crows. He began, waiting briefly before he might go on to say more, looking for reactions._{BG — ART — CODE}

Alright, so the last thing that she expected was to be flirted with... especially in front of so many other pride members. Though she supposed it wasn't super alarming given that he seemed to be complimenting others as well so it didn't make her feel as in the spotlight. Thankfully with @Alexander ♔'s support by her side she is quick to feel comfort. Knowing that her duty as a Noble was, thus far, adequate. Her High Sovereign called the dark beast "Wara" and so she stored this away for the moment. Letting her gaze fall to the others that had approached.

@Karsa, one of Alexander's own, joined them and offered an easy greeting. @Hadyn was next and she didn't know him very well but it was clear that his attention was most certainly elsewhere. Thankfully @Mircea arriving he seemed to be above the flirtatious cooing of the party and that eased her somewhat. Juliette was all about admiring what was pretty in life but she was also a tad bit more serious when it came to strangers on the borders. More skeptical and cynical than she should have been, probably.

Eventually she allowed herself to comment on @Fissure's words, ah.. but flowers die and have little use other than their beauty. Best to bring food, to sustain my hunger. She warns him, giving him the option that should he truly wish to bear gifts to her door then he would do far better to feed her rather than to give her something that would die in a day or two. Juliette wanted something that could sustain itself and meat was something to aid in her strength.

Banking on what she had assumed his name was, he introduced himself as "Fissure" which caused her a bit of confusion. Did Alexander having a nickname for him?? It didn't seem like Fissure had previously known Alexander and yet, he had addressed the male... had she heard wrong? Apart from that, he offered what sounded like a third party knife. A soldier to wield for the highest bidder and would serve no allegiances aside from the word of a temporary boss. Interesting.

^{ART • CODE}

I am every dream
you lost and never found

The beast is quiet as the others arrive and speak their greetings and opinions. As always, @Juliette was first on the scene and he was always impressed. A warm, inviting smile is offered to the woman. His affections growing for her day by day. He looks to @Karsa for a moment, happy to see the boy being so vigilant in his post. The young Savante was shaping up to be a fine Prince. Pride swells in his chest, but he attempts to not get too distracted. @Hadyn arrives next, and the King withholds a low growl as the Baron offers his own flirtations.

Instead a roll of his eyes is offered to the male. @Mircea arrives and asks a rather good question, one he albeit been a bit forgetful to ask. As was the effect of beauty sometimes. Smirking faintly, those blue eyes shift back toward @Fissure as the smaller, curvy male with flowers in his mane began to speak to him directly. Flattery. It could and would get you everything, that was - if he was suspectable to it.

Alexander certainly was.

"Perhaps I should obtain some of these fineries." He muses, laughing warmly in the back of his throat, the sound vibrating his broad chest. Attention becomes more serious, however, as Fissure speaks on the subject of his arrival. Mercenaries, hm? Intriguing. A tilt of his head is given, thick strands falling along his face with this motion. Those blue eyes are intent, studying their visitor closely.

"What sort of payments do you require for your contracts?" Oh, Alexander. Curiosity may yet kill the cat.

it's not that karsa doesn't trust this man. after all, his father and the rest of the pride members who had shown up to greet him were keeping things laid-back and pleasant. however, one could never be too certain with strange visitors peddling their products from door to door. as the attention is turned briefly to him, he nods in agreement, blue eyes flickering to the scraggy area behind fissure to see if the stranger had brought any companions along with him. "i know." he responds matter-of-factly. a keen nose and sharp eyes would do him good, that was part of the reason karsa had taken up learning the lay of the land not just around obsidian, but around the entire valley. the boy says not another word as the conversation between fissure and alexander picks up, but he does (subtly, he hopes) creep away from the group to check behind an outcropping of rocks for hidden friends or any would-be eavesdroppers, barely catching what the visit was about. mercenaries. even more reason not to trust him right away, karsa decides.

""

ART BY X-ZELFA, CODE BY LARS