Since their passage thread died, and they were already possibly going to FR... WHY NOT

Winter in Amaryllis was harsh, and by the time that they made it to Firnen, Taraji was thin, exhausted, and just ready to... be somewhere. When they neared the border, she looked to @Carina, for a long silent moment before she would call out, with a roar that sounded a lot more grown than she felt. Of course, being an orphan, and not knowing where any of your family were did have a way of making a cub grow up quickly. She made sure to stay respectfully from the border, her eyes on the forest ahead, studying the strange terrain that was so much different from the sandy shores of the Lagoon.

In silence, she would wait, hoping that they wouldn't wait too long... but she supposed at this point, the time they did wait didn't matter. She didn't intend to go anywhere unless she was denied a chance to prove herself here.

"Please allow Carina to post first!"

"THEY SAY TO THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK, SO KNOW WHEN I FUCK YOU UP-- I THOUGHT ABOUT IT."

code by corvus

The lioness followed after @Taraji carefully and despite her limited experience in fighting, was prepared as ever to defend her friend's child from danger. Not quite ready to let her fall into any unnecessary danger and feeling that they were making the right decision in coming here. If anything, she could be a Medic for these lions and from what she kept being told -- they were in high demand. It meant that there was a priority and perhaps might give them an "in" even if they might be quite full. If it were up to Carina, she would chastise the girl for thinking herself an orphan but the truth was... that was what she was. Tiamat was gone, their father having long since left which only left her to watch over the kids. The one's that hadn't wanted anything to do with her had departed but Taraji hadn't been able to escape her. Whoever was here, Carina hoped would be able to take the two of them in.

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

She heard the familiar call and her heart tripped. Kireena rose from where she had been resting to venture towards the borders, noting the familiar forms of @Taraji and @Carina before she let her bi-colored gaze land on the pair. "Welcome to Firnen.." Her tone was soft, a little flat but she hoped the pair would get the hint - this was NOT the same Firnen she had once tried to invite them to.

"The new rulers will be along shortly.." She stood within the rainforests borders, her splinted limb - healing well thanks to Sybil's care still an obvious outward sign that not all was the same. "Good to see the two of you again." Her gaze lingered between the two, hoping that Carina at least would understand the unspoken words.

ART BY VASILIA, CODE BY LARS

She's swift in her approach — a denizen in the night, patrolling the borders close enough to have heard the call ring out. She slips gracefully from the shadows of the foliage as she approaches the trio that linger on the borders, interest captivating her at the sight of them. Thought she doesn't know what business they may have, it's interesting nonetheless to have two rogues toe the line so closely. She draws close quick enough to hear the last words of @Kireena — ah, so she knows them, does she? How curious. Her mind drifts to the obsidian brute that had, similarly, wandered to Firnen due to his connection with the red lioness.

Perhaps she was worth her weight in gold after all.

“Bonjour,” she greets @Taraji and @Carina with a dip of her skull — and a flash of her fangs. A minute detail in her posture to make it clear she was the one they wanted to meet with; now here she was, in all her glory, to hear the stories that they might weave for her.

@Carina is her constant companion, the only one she has left. She seeks any counsel she can from the female, and yet she respects that she doesn't tell her what to do in a way that is overbearing and bossy. So they wait, at the border, and when the first arrives it is the huge female- @Kireena from the passage. Though they'd not made a choice then (because dead threads) she smiles hesitantly at her, and the expression fades, at her strange tone- the words. Yet, Taraji is young, and does not know what to make of them, and so she considers the words. The new rulers... so something had changed?

A female arrives, and Taraji's attention is swept to her. The dominance of a Queen, is obvious and for a second- a flash of a moment, her heart pangs as she considers her mother and her own Queenly stance. She speaks, and the word is strange foreign.

So the yearling takes a steadying breath and speaks, aloud with more confidence than she's ever felt in her life.

"Hello. You have a lovely jungle." She offers, with a polite smile. "We met Kireena in the passage before but it has taken a while for us to decide to come to the rainforest, and make our way her." She explains. "I am Taraji Anatu. My mother was the Queen of the Lagoon, until she... the ocean took her. " She says clearly, concisely. "We've come to ask about joining the rainforest." She adds, with a look to Carina.

@Ludivine

"THEY SAY TO THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK, SO KNOW WHEN I FUCK YOU UP-- I THOUGHT ABOUT IT."

code by corvus

Carina should not have been surprised by the attendance of @Kireena first. The immediate feelings she had were filled with relief at at least knowing someone she had talked to before was present within these walls. Though, she couldn't help but feel like there was something that the lioness wasn't saying. Every word seemed distant or trailed off, like there was something to know but Carina couldn't find whatever answer lurked. Good to see you, too, Kireena. At least the red woman could maybe put in a word that she could somewhat vouch for her being a healer and not setting up a lie.

The lioness that came next was maned, not a phenomenon that she was unfamiliar with, but it was maned in such a way that it almost did not look like one at all. It simply looked like her neck had excess fur. The only thing offered was a single word that she only recognized through broad teachings to be hello. Hallo, she offered back and could feel the inner workings of her mind trying to piece together the intricate details of what was now a very strange meeting. The posturing and the sizing, the teeth flare... it waved the flag of authority and yet, the presumed leader had said next to nothing.

Once young @Taraji was finished expressing their intentions and who she was, Carina cleared her throat. Allowing her head to lower in respect and gratitude for giving them a moment of @Ludivine's time. I am Carina Zvezd. A friend of zhe late Queen of zhe Lagoon and ward for Taraji. Or was she considered a Guardian? What was the difference? Whatever the case she was there to protect the young Anatu and make sure that she received the best care and comforts. I am a skilled medic and can teach anyone who wishes to know more. Being a healer had been her duty since she was just a young cub and it was a trade that she excelled at beyond most others. Not only that but she was an excellent teacher.

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

The red giant was glad that @Taraji and @Carina seemed to pick up some of what she was putting down. When @Ludivine arrived, the lioness tilted her skull towards her new leader and stepped to the side, letting the other two speak before she lifted her voice. "I can speak for Carina's healing - she would be a good addition.. Especially with how many wounds our pride gets.." Kireena chuckled, her lips twisting into a smile as she laid down another hint as to what the changes had been.

"I'm sure Taraji will prove as skilled as her mother." Kireena didn't know anything about Taraji's mother - but if the woman was the lagoon leader at one time, then she had an an innate strength to her blood. The woman fell silent again, wondering if her words would help or hinder the joining of the pair.

ART BY VASILIA, CODE BY LARS

Ludivine receives @Taraji's compliment about the rainforest with a small grin, but doesn't audibly reply as the other begins to explain what had brought them to Firnen's borders. A passing comment about once being royalty of the lagoon — taken, by the ocean, a statement which does not draw much sympathy from the cold hearted queen, even if her stoic expression does not betray such apathy. A simple nod of her head, of understanding. Her gaze then sweeps over to @Carina as the second stranger begins to fill in the gaps of the story.

Of their request.

A ward of the other, which meant keeping one happy would keep the other happy as well. Ludivine stores that information in the back of her skull as her brow lifts in curiosity; a medic, is she? Firnen seemed to be in the habit of attracting all the medics lately... Good. It would bode well for a pride that would one day make a name for itself in blood. Keeping injuries at bay would be important.

“I'm happy to meet you both,” Ludivine purrs in response, lips finally twitching into some semblance of a grin. Her gaze drifts from the pair as @Kireena finally speaks up once more. A reference, it seemed, for the two rogues — the comment about number of wounds causing her grin to curve much more wicked now, her attention once more returning to the pair at hand.

A breath, in the form of laughter— “Indeed. This pride values strength and proving its name in any way possible. Healers will certainly be of value to our prized fighters.” A moment of pause, to let that sink in. Would it still be the kind of pride they'd be interested in?

“Respect the leaders, your pridemates, and our allies. Don't bring trouble back to the pride that you can't handle yourself. That is what is asked of you here. Does that still suit your fancies?” she questions with a toothy grin.

Erudite Experience
+5 - Learn a character's full name and rank (Taraji, Rogue)
+5 - Learn a character's full name and rank (Carina, Rogue)

This almost seems too easy, and though Kireena's strange words give her a sense of trepidation... the yearling is eager to be at home somewhere. When @Ludivine speaks, she studies the monarch for a moment- and then looks to Carina, giving her a subtle nod- as best as she can before them. They can try this place, she thinks. "And should we decide we don't fit in here... is there a process for leaving?" She asks, carefully- considering this aloud, while trying to meet the Queen's eyes. Because truly, if they didn't fit in... why would they stay as if they were a thorn in the paws of others. "I can do my best to become an asset to the pride." She says, with a nod and a look to @Carina. Leaving the final say to her friend, but giving her the ascent that Taraji thinks they should try this place out.

@Kireena

"THEY SAY TO THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK, SO KNOW WHEN I FUCK YOU UP-- I THOUGHT ABOUT IT."

code by corvus

Even with @Kireena's subtle hints her and there, it didn't take much to figure out what she was conveying. While Carina couldn't guess that the maned woman was addressing the change in leadership, Carina would not have guessed that the lioness was trying to warn them of their nature. If anything, it was what she was used to. Lions fought; they warred and they rioted but that was why she was a healer.

Because if she couldn't (or wouldn't) be a warrior, then she could at least serve her uses as medic which was how she had even ended up on the path at all. Tiamat had fought for her at the passage when she was only a few months old and even if it had been a fight for a claim on her, she knew that the stronger lion had won. Even at that age, she knew that she needed to be with the strong and not the weak. Just as she wished for @Taraji to be under strength now, too, and she had a feeling that @Ludivine (new as she was to Carina) would prove a useful hand of guidance.

Consider my skills at your disposal, should her young ward fully decide that the Rainforest was where she was wished to beginning honing her skills and growing into herself, of course. Even if not, Carina would gladly lend her skills to those that might offer something to her in return. Like safety which was a common ask for those she healed not within her immediate circle.

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}