Near the gaping maw of the lands, she stakes her claim — like a gargoyle waiting for trespassers to come closer to where she perches with baited breath. It's been too long since she haunted these lands. Much must have changed in that time, and she wanted to know what that could be — all of it.

If she were to make her mark upon the world, she first needed to know the chess game she was about to play. Languishing upon a rock, Ludivine remains quiet for the time being, curious as to who may wander through her path — someone headed for the passage, perhaps? What a worthy person they would be. Though hunger gnaws at the pit of her stomach, urging her to do something more than just wait, she knows she must continue to play this game... For now.

Until the Queen can finally move across the board.

Erudite Experience (x2 EXP Event)
Ludivine is looking to learn more about the current state of the prides. This is an All Welcome for any other Erudites (or related tasks) to get some experience based around this!

(0/2) +10 Learn a character's full name and rank (double xp event)
(0/2) +10 Learn something useful from someone else (double xp event)
(0/2) +40 Discuss pride, group, or family relations with another character (double xp event)
Jiera had been on her way to the labyrinth to seek out some herbs when the scent of another caught her attention. It made her body freeze, muscles tense while green eyes glanced around her. It wasn't the the healer was afraid of others, she just liked to ensure that she always had an exit strategy whenever she came across a stranger. With a deep inhale and exhale of breath the woman continues onward, only stopping once the other lioness comes into view.

Chartreuse body moves with a slow pace as Jiera releases several short chuffs, announcing her presence. She couldn't read this one, of what this woman was about, so remaining a safe distance was her goal for the time being - her herb gathering would have to wait. "Hi there," comes a sweet tone, a greeting to the other. While waiting to see if she'd get a response, Jiera takes in an inhale of breath, seeing if she could catch a pride scent upon the woman - but coming up with none.

@Ludivine

ART BY ERA, CODE BY LARS, MODIFIED BY GUNNER
*DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION!*

She's gone a bit too far into the dark today. She isn't sure she can fin her way back, the scents seem to criss cross over each other in places and Pyrrha has turnd herself around multiple times trying to find an exit. But panic is not yet setting in- she falls back to thinking and to listening.

Amongst her own woven scent there are others and then- a voice! She follows it until two appear in her vision. Hi. Her voice is small, matching her size and young age. But it has strength. She's not unwaivering in the face of the unknown adults. Thus far they seemed like well behaved adults, and Pyrrha admitably prefered even their company over continuing to be alone and wandering around in the dark.

code by me

Claws tap to a beat against the stone underneath as Ludivine waits, like a hungry predator poised and ready to strike. But for now the beast banging at the cage walls within can wait — sometimes some things are more important than just pure violence. Much as she recoils at such a thought, it was her strategic mind that has gotten her this far, not just her brute strength.

The scent of another finally reaches her and she turns her pink gaze towards the natural maw of the cave, watching as @Jiera draws closer — enough distance, however, to flee if necessary. The thought draws a curve into her lips as Ludivine tastes the air — only the scent of the natural world greets her.

“Greetings,” she purrs back in response, warmth embracing her tones “you smell of herbs.” An observation, but one that might spark a conversation. She very rarely came across healers... Or assassins, whatever the stranger may be.

Another voice, much softer than the first, rings out in the caves and draws Ludivine's gaze to @Pyrrha ♔ next. A moment of hesitation floats across her vision as the instinctual want to hunt flows through her like adrenaline at the sight of weak prey. It's a young lioness that easily looks like a meal, but she's lucky enough that the scent on her pelt is enough to keep Ludivine flat against the cold floor — Caladan. The place she once called home. There's enough fondness there that, for now, she chooses to spare the youngster of her prey drive.

“I recognize the smell of salt on you. You are from the cove, I assume?” She greets back, her gaze drifting between the two of them for a moment. “I am Ludivine Dieudonné — vagrant,” for now, she adds internally, “who might you two be?” Any information is helpful information.

Erudite Experience (x2 EXP Event)
+20 Discuss pride, group, or family relations with another character
+10 - Learn a character's full name and rank (Jiera, Rogue)
+10 - Learn a character's full name and rank (Pyrrha, CC Royalty)

(1/2) +10 Learn a character's full name and rank (double xp event)
(0/2) +10 Learn something useful from someone else (double xp event)
(0/2) +40 Discuss pride, group, or family relations with another character (double xp event)
She gives a meek smile at he mentions of her scent; herbs she certainly did smell of, especially since she had been tilling her medicinal garden earlier that day. "I do," she confirmed with the same tone she used to greet the other, "I'm a healer." Perhaps knowing that she was the one who patched up the hurt would keep her safe from being harmed - maybe. It was wishful thinking.

Jiera's attention is drawn toward the strawberry furred lioness that joins them, gaining a nod of greeting from the chartreuse lioness. Ears twist as the first announces herself as @Ludivine Dieudonné, seeming to use a type of language Jiera was sure she had heard before. Nostrils flare as she sniffs the air casually, gaining the salty scent of Caladan that wafted from the other. "I'm Jiera." She was never the one to introduce herself with a last name, and if the two women were pride smart they would know that she had no scent of one clinging to her. Gaze rests on the last lioness expectantly, wondering if she would introduce herself like they had.

@Pyrrha ♔

ART BY ERA, CODE BY LARS, MODIFIED BY GUNNER
*DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION!*

The one recognizes the smell of sand, driftwood, and salt that was quintessentially Caladan. Pyrrha nods as affirmation to @Ludivine, quick and to the point of confirming the older woman's suspicious. There was nothing to be gained denying it by any means, and only favor to gather in whatever common connection or reason existed that this stranger knew the Cove.I am Pyrrha Tollaire, daughter of the Cove's rulers. Her voice is quiet but stable and steady. She does not seem to be scared, or intimidated, by the presence of the two older strangers. But at the same time she's soft and not at all demanding of spotlight, not boosting her title and place.

@Ludivine @Jiera

code by me

Healer. Well that was interesting. She didn't meet many of those in her travels, even though she knew how good it was to have one on your side — even if it meant stealing one. She listens patiently as the first lioness introduces her — @Jiera — followed by the second, @Pyrrha ♔. A soft hum leaves her throat as she commits the name to memory, a quick of her lips at the yearling's confirmation she was of the cove. And not only that, but a child to the rulers. Well, she knew one of the rules now didn't she?

“What an honour. The cove used to be my home once upon a time,” she purrs with a grin and a flick of her tail. “Haven't found your own home yet?” she continues as her attention turns to the rogue now.

Erudite Experience (x2 EXP Event)
+20 Discuss pride, group, or family relations with another character
+10 - Learn a character's full name and rank (Jiera, Rogue)
+10 - Learn a character's full name and rank (Pyrrha, CC Royalty)

(2/2) +10 Learn a character's full name and rank (double xp event)
(1/2) +10 Learn something useful from someone else - pyrrha is cc royalty (double xp event)
(1/2) +40 Discuss pride, group, or family relations with another character (double xp event)
"It's nice meeting both of you." Jiera's attention sweeps to @Ludivine and then @Pyrrha ♔ right as she tells the two where she's from - and not only that, but her status, as well. She gives a nod to show she was listening, unsure how to feel in the presence of royalty. She hadn't been apart of a pride in so long now that it felt kind of... odd when she did come across figureheads, but nonetheless she would treat them how she would treat anyone else. "What's the cove like?" The healer inquires, tail tip twitching in curiosity. It's then that Ludivine questions about Jiera not finding a home for herself which causes for her muscles to stiffen just a fraction. "No," she begins with a rather somber tone, "it seems every time I join a pride it disbands one way or another." And having to go through the process of learning how the leaders led and what their rules were was just so draining to the woman.

ART BY ERA, CODE BY LARS, MODIFIED BY GUNNER
*DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION!*

Her gaze sparks a bit curiously. This woman used to live in the cove too? Pyrrha is at last at that point in life where the world begins to expand infinitely. There isn't just her home and her family. There is a world beyond filled with many things and many souls, like these two here. That alone was a tough enough concept to grasp. But some of those others would know her home, it has been theirs too before. They may know her parents, may know the same nooks and cranies that Pyrrha has just begun to learn and memorize. You make it sound like it was a very long time ago ma'am, and you don't look that old. It's a compliment, the child grins while speaking the line.

Bright alert eyes turn to @Jiera then. There's ample sea food, and so so very much sand. The weather depends on the ocean's whims. She glances to @Ludivine, wondering if she'd have anything to add about the Cove.

code by me

She grins — wide and, what could be considered friendly for her — at the yearling's comment about how she didn't look that old. A flick of her stubby tail as a chuckle rumbles in her throat. Salmon-coloured eyes rove across @Pyrrha ♔, taking her in: her size, her youth, the too-big-paws for her body. A guess of her age...

“Before you were even born, most likely,” she finally answers. The other lioness in their small group, @Jiera, asks what the cove is like, and she's quiet as she listens to how the youngster chooses to describe the desolate stretch of godforsaken land. Pyrrha turns her attention back to Ludivine once she's done, and with lips stretched into a thin line, the fluffy cannibal merely nods her head:

“Very sandy.” There was a reason she chose not to return.

Her ear flicks in consideration as the rogue admits she hadn't joined a pride yet due to their tendency to fall apart... Indeed. The last time Ludivine had been in the lands, it had been filled with chaos as prides were challenged left and right.

“Pity,” she remarks, although doesn't expand on why it's a pity. “Perhaps you'll feel inclined once I claim a pride of my own. I don't intend on losing it,” she replies with a simper.