It was early evening as Nadia made her way through the dense forestry. It was a relief to be out of the hot sun, the air was cool instead of being plagued with humidity and Nadia felt her body relax the more she walked. Eventually her surroundings opened up into a serene glade, the sound of crickets chirping in the background causing a soft smile to rise on her lips. She moved a few paces forward before lowering herself to the ground to stretch out, meanwhile she sent out a few chuffs around her. She had told Ashelia to meet her here in hopes that they could reconnect. It had been far too long since they had seen one another. Dark eyes watched the swaying grasses and the gentle fireflies that lit up around her, enjoying the peace and serenity that came with nightfall.


+5 - Study the landscape of an area (1/2)


@Ashelia

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

Graceful steps carry her away from the familiar sands to the strange greenery beyond. She has ventured out this way once or twice, and tonight she comes again. Nadia had chosen this as their meeting spot - which was strange, but the ebony woman had always been different. A far cry from the strict ideals that the Azars lived and died by. The warmth of the day fades, leaving her softly shivering, as dusk falls over the land with a hush. Fireflies mark the way and soon she is at the spot - and there, among the ever-growing shadows, is someone familiar. A quiet chuff rumbles from her throat, lips curving upwards, as she moves towards @Nadia. This place is beautiful, she remarks once she's at the shadowed womans side - sunlight eye curiously peering at the trees looking far in the distance. How did you come across it? It seems that Nadia has done more exploring here than Ashe had - and in one ways than one ;)

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It was a bit of time before Nadia was joined by her confidant and that was fine with the obsidian lioness. She didn't mind the time to herself in the darkness, enjoying the glow cast off by the fireflies that flew nearest to her. Her dark limbs stretched out comfortably in the grass as she made herself comfortable, eventually the chuff of Ashelia drawing her attention and causing a natural smile to immediately take place on her face. "This place is beautiful, how did you come across it?" She spoke and Nadia then shifted her weight so she could face her friend completely, drawing her body up into a seated position all the while. "I could say the same about you.. I managed to find it in my travels back from the desert.. it provided immediate relief and serenity, I guess you can say it's quickly become a favorite of mine." She said then, tail gently wrapping around her front paws as she paused. There was much that she needed to catch Ashelia up on, after all Nadia had been quite busy recently. "I've met someone .. ironically enough he has melanism .. perhaps that was why I was so drawn to him. But gods Ashelia I've never been this attracted to someone I think .. ever." She contemplated aloud, after all it was still something that she was trying to wrap her mind around herself - this animal magnetism that she and Magnus seemed to foster between one another. She certainly hadn't ever felt this way before, but she definitely wasn't mad about it. It invigorated her, made her the happiest she had been in a long while, and even as she thought of him she caught herself smiling before glancing back to Ashelia, gauging her reaction.


+5 - Study the landscape of an area (2/2)
+10 - Pass along information that might be important (1/2)


@Ashelia

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

a smile thrums her lips, easy as always with nadia. the woman had been a confidant when she'd needed it most - a shoulder to lean on when times had gotten rough. nadia was always a safe harbor in a storm: she existed outside the azar's tumurolutus power struggle, and that in itself was a balm of relief. their friendship had certainly started simply due to politics, but it had morphed from there - and for that, ashelia was forever glad. easily she reclines upon supple hips, letting a small sigh slip from parted paws - enjoying the feeling of sitting after the bit of travel. she was still unused to such exertions - as she'd been sticking close to the oasis lately. still, it was aways worth it to come see nadia - who, now she realized, smelled... different. unlike before, a scent clung to her - just as the inky darkness did. curiously her brows furrow, though she doesn't question it just yet. instead her ears tip forward, listening to her friend speak. i'm glad you've found a place that brings you solace, she murmurs with a small smile, meaning every word. she knew it'd been hard for nadia - and nadia's brother - to live in the desert as they did, their afflictions making daily life difficult.

but that's not all nadia has to share. ashelia listens intently, quietly prompting the other woman to continue on with an oh? and a quirked brow. it didn't seem like she needed much encouragement though, speaking of a man - just as dark as she was. she smirks to hear it; perhaps nadia's attraction was simply because this dark man looked like her. he certainly sounds like a catch, she hums, curious. her own... experiences had been rather lacking, due to her position and responsibilities. nadia, however, seemingly did not have those hangups and ashe has often heard of nadia's conquers and exploits - hardly thinking anything of them now. did you at least get his name? she asks with a quiet laugh, before sinking to the ground below. letting the soft grass cushion the soft swell of her stomach as she stretches her paws out before her with a graceless yawn. if they were going to be gossiping, she might as well be comfortable.

+10 - Discuss pride or family relations with another character (1/2)
+5 - Observe and study a new scent (1/2)

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It felt unbelievably good being able to relax and have girl talk with Ashelia again. It was almost like they were swept back to when they were just cubs, using one another as an escape from the harsh reality that they lived. She peeked a sidelong glance at her closest confidante, a smirk curving her lips upward as Ashelia's "oh" reached her ears. She had her on the hook now, and she knew that her curiosity wouldn't let her leave this conversation without hearing more. Her ears flicked forwards, turning her full attention upon Ashelia as she spoke. "he certainly sounds like a catch, did you at least get his name?" Ashelia asked her and she smiled before rising, moving to carry her form ever closer to her friend. Lowering herself back to the ground she laid comfortably beside her, stretching out to allow her front paws to lay gently on top of Ashelia's. "His name is Magnus Sigrún, High Sovereign of Obsidian Hollows .. where I've taken role as his Gentry." This time she really beamed a smile, of course Nadia was happiest in a position of power, when you came from royalty it was really all you knew after all. "We've been .. intimate." She said then, her voice hushed a bit as she glanced around them. Nadia had had more then a few flings in her time but for whatever reason this one felt different.


+10 - Pass along information that might be important (2/2)


@Ashelia

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

nadia gets up, shifting her position, and ashelia rumbles a quiet purr of approval. it's almost enough for her to look past their surroundings and think, instead, they were back home. that nothing had changed from then to now - that their families were still alive and in power. such thoughts were useless, though, as the very air around them was different. smelled different - and so did her friend. @Nadia is happy to explain the scent change, as she mentions obsidian hollows and its newest gentry. the scent of the pride seemed... stale, almost, even in the evening air. it smelled of darkness and dampness, and she's glad that the oasis has no such odor. congratulations - it suits you, ashelia says with a small smile - clearly pleased that their positions matched once more. and just like before, they lived under different banners. maybe not everything had changed, then. she cannot help herself, and she laughs a little when nadia lowers her voice and continues her gossiping. they've been intimate? color ashe shocked! oh, i can hardly believe it! you - wooing a king? she says, her tone a playful tease - even if there's a nugget of truth to her words. nadia had always been... well. less picky with her conquests. ashelia, on the other hand, had little experience in these kinds of matters - but she's certainly heard nadia talk about them enough. plenty, plenty of times. hopefully it won't be awkward for you - living in his pride when you are done with him. if it does, you're always welcome in the oasis pride. she asks, expression twisting close to smugness. for ashe assumes that this is just another instance of nadia being nadia - where she's found a handsome man and brought him to her bed, before quickly growing tired of him. the concept of nadia catching feelings obviously hasn't even occurred to ashelia.

+10 - Discuss pride or family relations with another character (2/2)
+5 - Observe and study a new scent (2/2)

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Nadia was more than excited being able to share this information with Ashelia. After all the two ladies had always been rather close with one another, and being able to talk about things that were weighing on her was a relief. As younger girls Nadia had always been the more wild of the two, but how ironic was it that it seemed she was the first to be settling down between them. "I never would have anticipated fraternizing with a King .. but I'm not mad about it." She mused then, her paws gentle kneeding Ashelia's forearms out of habit. "And what about you? Do you have any romantic interests? Surely there must be at least one." She prodded then, after all Ashelia was certainly easy on the eyes, the woman would have no trouble gathering more than a few suitors at her doorstep.


@Ashelia

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

her friend's excitement was palpable, and certainly ashelia could relate. she had felt much the same when ebrahim and her had earned the title by willing to scuffle with a family member. idly, ashelia wondered what nadia had to do to get her title. when the ebony lioness continues, ashelia cannot hold her tongue and she laughs - even as @Nadia kneads her forearm. truly? you never would have? she arks a brow, doubtful that nadia hadn't considered it once or twice. this king of hers must truly be a catch. still, her humor fades as she grows quiet in the wake of nadia's questioning.

such a topic was often brought up, yet ashelia's answer never seemed to change. perhaps one day, ashelia says with a small smile - though it is certainly sharper than the one she'd worn previously. she could think of rielus and croon about the familiar romantic notion that always curled in her chest when she thought of him. she could, yet it would be soured by his absence, a grave she never got to dig. she could think of @Nadia's own brother, striking and moon-kissed, yet he is gone, too. an engagement dashed on the rocks the same moment her father had been. she could even think of alex, the rogue new and intoxicating; she could, yet their orbits never seemed to cross for long.

all this, and more, she could comment on: the long, tragic story of her lovelife - and lack thereforeof. alas, she says nothing of the sort and instead continues, waving a paw to shoo the subject away. but - i have been busy. i suppose i will just have to listen to stories about this king of yours. she continues easily, seeking to smooth away her own dour thoughts.

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She could hear the skepticism in Ashelia's words but then again that was to be expected, after all Nadia had had plenty of men in her past. But for whatever reason her relationship with Magnus just seemed different. She couldn't quite put her mind on why, but she just felt in her core that it was a genuine connection, not a lust filled one. Nadia listened quietly to Ashelia, patting her paws gently with her own. Ashelia had had a few crushes here and there but nothing ever really seemed to stick, and Nadia had been trying for what felt like years to hook her up. If only her brother had followed her here, then things surely would have been different. But there was still hope, after all he had known exactly where she was headed, she had told him before she had left at least. "Well I know you are quite busy .. but perhaps the right one will come along, especially when you least expect them to." She said with a softer tone, hoping to convey to Ashelia that it was really truly what she believed would happen for her.


@Ashelia

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

ashelia lets nadia knead her arm for a few more moments, but the moment that the newly-christened gentry squeezes her paw with her own, ashelia smiles and pulls her arms back. readjusting herself to settle into a cat-loaf position as ears tip forward, catching @Nadia's kind, but ultimately useless, words. it was a band-aid, nothing more - offered surely out of a place of pity than sympathy. her chin tilts still, offering her friend a kind smile - even if it doesn't quite reach her eyes. perhaps, she parrots with a roll of supple shoulders. perhaps she was not intended to be loved. it would be a cruel fate, but certainly one she deserved. with a small noise (both to change the subject and to shoo away her own souring thoughts), ashelia moves to stand. it's late, and i should be getting back. she says, serving as both an excuse and explanation. i'm sure i'll be seeing you soon, nadia. take care. she could go back to her king, and ashelia could go back to the oasis - alone, as she often was. at least before she'd had rielus, an ever-present shadow, but there is no one tonight.

exit.

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