A quiet morning dawned on the dunes that were, to Léonie’s relief, no longer dusted with snow. She was somewhat bitter knowing that summer would soon end and that they would once again be troubled by winter, and had considered waiting another day to summon the hairballs together so she could sunbathe instead, but eventually that nagging voice in her head had forced her to her paws. The sooner she could speak with the twerps, the sooner she could bask on those beautiful dunes.

Her dark paws carrying her toward the heart of the territory — the oasis — the desert Queen called for her children and niece to gather together.

@Lucía @Güelle @Jude @Diego

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Lucía had been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever. She knew that realistically she was leaps and bounds ahead of her brothers and cousins. She was the only female, the only rightful heiress to the Kingdom that lay before her feet. She was more than ready to take the role and had been biding her time. She would wait as long as it took until she was given her rightful position. Which meant a lot of 'ass kissing' to get what she wanted, which Lucía didn't mind doing. Not if it meant giving her the slightest advantage. She would attend every hunt, every pride meeting, every little excursion to show that she was determined and destined for this future. When her tía called, she was quick to answer. But her pace was leisurely, graceful as she glided across the warm sand to head towards the Queen. Lucía had always idolized @Léonie, she would always be on a pedestal before anyone else. She arrives with a broad smile, flashing her teeth at her tía before she'd rub up against her side with a rumbling purr. "tía, when can I finally tell the boys that I'm the heiress to the Kingdom? Can we just tell them already, I'm sure Diego might cry a little, but he'll be fine. They'll all get over it." She muses with a lash of her tail before she'd sit off to the right, settling in the sand to wait. Amusement flickering across her features all the while.


erudite exp
+10 - Discuss pride or family relations with another character (Trying to get Léonie to admit that she should be heiress to the Oasis LOL)_{BG — ART — CODE}

"Oye!" The fiery orange Miroslav makes his arrival with all the noise and bluster that was to be expected of him - indeed, perhaps it was the only way that such a colossal tornado of a boy could arrive. He's not tested many other approaches. Diego bounds across the whispering sands he's still getting used to with a near-audible 'thudding' sound, seeking to shove his masked skull reproachfully against @Lucía's slender shoulder with an unapologetic amount of force as he slowed to a halt beside her. "I'm not going to cry, cuz. Men don't cry."

And what was he, if not nearly a whole man already? He'd spent far too long staring at his reflection in the oasis yesterday, excitedly taking count of all the new tufts of fluff sprouting into the beginnings of his very own mane. It bore all the makings of something very impressive, if he did say so himself. Papá would surely agree, whenever he finally made it out here.

"Besides, that isn't really true - is it, Madre?" Though maybe the boy's eyes are a bit too wide and questioning to match his supposed confidence when he turns his orange gaze upon @Léonie. Would they really keep secrets? From him?! Oh, how dastardly that would be! "It's the strongest one who should get the Kingdom. Obviously." The curve of his lips and the upward tilt of his chin makes it obvious too, who he thinks the clear winner should be. All while remaining perfectly oblivious to the insult his assertation implies.

Diego certainly doesn't have anything against his elegant cousin, but well...Lucía may have been older, but she still looked laughably tiny in comparison to him and his brothers. Even Inigo! So what was wrong with pointing out the obvious?

I'm pushin' you back but still you ain't gone

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Although Jude would have loved to be lying in a large open space of sunlight, he knew better than to test his mother's patience. When she called, he answered. It was as simple as that. Unlike his brother @Diego, Jude was far shorter. And instead of carrying a vast amount of bulk he was lean and lanky, meant for agile endeavors should he ever need to get himself out of trouble. He lazily saunters towards the small gathering, surprised to see that he out of all individuals was one of the earliest to arrive. He watches with amusement as his brother leans into their cousin, smothering her with just his body mass alone, and then moves to plop his own haunches down as he sits with legs splayed to the side, leaning back comfortably. He picks a few pieces of meat from between his canines before shifting his attention back to their mother, "I didn't think size mattered, it's how you use it. Am I right madre?" He waggles his eyebrows in amusement before lowering himself further, this time flopping completely on his side as his bobbed tail would twitch once behind him. His toes spread and wiggle as he stretches his legs out, a wide yawn overcoming him before he continues onward. "Tell me again why we are up so early?" He glances from his mother back to his brother and cousin, waiting for someone to give him a very good explanation. They were just lucky the sun was hitting his back just right in this position.

---

bard/beatnik exp
+5 - Socialize with 2 other characters in a thread (Leonie/Diego)
+5 - Sunbathe
+5 - Slack off or shirk one's responsibilities

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The peach-coated boy had barely arrived before hearing his cousin speak about her being the true heiress to the Oasis. While his instinct as brother was to argue with her and make her upset, he knew that it wouldn't be the right play. It wasn't "nice" and he desired to be nice, even when his boy brain told him not to be. It wasn't like he actually wanted to be the Heir to their Kingdom because he didn't, but he had also been told by his father that there were certain expectations of being his Heir. Of carrying on the Casales name and bringing it forth into the world; the expectations were both present and still have yet to take fold but he knew that the Oasis might not be his but somewhere out there was.

So holding his breath and his haughty words, Guelle moved to take a seat next to @Diego. Casually attempting to shove his shoulder into his brothers. Grimacing to @Jude and dropping a nod to @Lucía. He hadn't been super close to his cousins growing up but he had always tried to be respectful while also mimicking their playfulness and tactics whilst interacting. Their gathering left him a little speechless and out of the loop, not knowing why they were summoned but only time would tell what Leonie had planned for them now.

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A smirk stretched across Léonie’s muzzle to see @Lucía arrive before the boys and with a snicker, she pressed back into her touch with an affectionate, playful rumble, even as her son was teased. Before she could do more than snicker, @Diego interjected and approached, the force of his bump forcing her to catch and brace herself against his bulk. She did so with a laugh and reached to run her paw across his head, as if sweeping sand from those new sprouts of mane. In truth, she only brushed more in.

@Jude arrived and, as expected, made himself comfortable while making his own comments about whether or not size was what mattered most. He also inquired as to why they were awake at such an early hour and Léonie directed another smirk at him. “Sorry to wake you, Sleeping Beauty,” she verbally prodded him. “But you’ll see. Even if it’s not your thing, it’s good to know what’s going on.”

Finally, @Güelle joined them, at which the dark imp straightened her posture and sighed. “Scorpius is taking some time away from all of this. Sedona and Apollo’s absence is a heavy weight the whole family, and until he’s not so burdened by it, I’m going to hold down what I can. But I’m going to need your help,” she revealed, watching their faces carefully.

“You’re all old enough to help with hunts and visit the Passage, if you’re up to it. Just know going there means you can run into other prides — some of them we’re cool with, but there’s some real twats out there. Some of them will want to claim lionesses and cubs just ‘cause that’s what twats do, and they’ll try to beat the shit out of you for saying ‘Dude, that’s not cool’. But we’re not going to grow without more members, and sometimes you have to fight for them.” The dark imp allowed her focus to pass from hairball to hairball, to see if she could make out what they might have thought about her spiel so far.

There was a brief pause to let it all settle in, then she flashed Lucía and Diego a smile. “As for who gets to be heir … Well, Diego, sorry kid — it isn’t all about strength. … okay, actually, I won’t lie, it REALLY helps to be able to squash your enemy into submission, but there’s more to it than being strong. Any asshole can claim to be a king, or a patriarch. It takes courage and the strength of the heart to be a true leader,” she informed the yearlings. “Look at the asshole that was here before you. He claimed to be a king, but all he did was sit here in the sand, get fat, and knock out a few hairballs. No one will remember him as a worthy king, just some dickhead who bailed when push came to shove. But leaders like Morrigan? She’s defended her pride time and time again. She’s their Queen and she ultimately, serves them. THAT is leadership.” Another pause, and then, “So, what are you all going to do to serve the pride? The family? ‘cause the one that keeps us at the center of their heart — ultimately that’s the one that will be our heir.” There was, of course, Scorpius’ input to consider, but Léonie wanted to end the little get together on a good note.

“Lucía,” she continued and looked at her niece. “While your dad is out, you’ll be a Noble. You’ll still have the authority to go out and represent the Oasis. Or, if any of you are still feeling impatient— ahem, ambitious— and want to beat each other up for a trial-run at being heir, be my guest. Just keep in mind what I said, and know the responsibilities that come with it.” Now, she wondered, would any of them step forward and rise to the challenge?

@Lucía @Güelle @Jude @Diego

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Sure, he offered without hesitation to his dearest mother. Knowing without question he would do whatever was asked of him. We can do that. How hard could the Passage be? They just had to advertise their pride and then get lucky. Oh. The sudden realization of luck playing a large part in his retraction into his brain. Remembering that he didn't really have any luck at all and thus, the Passage probably wasn't a good idea for him. But, he supposed he had better luck of getting someone if he showed up than if he didn't show up at all.

Hey, uh — he started and cleared his throat immediately after, if we gotta fight for 'em... are we fighting to have 'em? or are we fighting so that they don't go somewhere else? Guelle felt he knew the answer but he wanted @Léonie to say it so everything was clear and something wouldn't be questioned later. Though even as their mother (and aunt) expressed what it meant to be a leader, he felt he had that. The heart. Guelle could lead hunts and be friendly, more often than not he went out of his way to help anyone that needed it or offered whatever he could to make sure someone was alright. However, he knew that his siblings and cousins were just as qualified, too.

At the prospect of being Heir, though, Guelle felt that twinge of just wanting to buckle up. Did @Jude, @Diego or @Lucía really want to fight for it? Or were they just looking for a hand out?

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Lucía

Miroslav

Her cousins were all but ignored as they slowly trickled in. It was often nothing more than a show of testosterone as they all gave each other knuckle sandwiches or compared strength with one another. They were nothing more than a bunch of dumb boys, the job of an heir obviously belonged to her because she was tons smarter than each of them put together. If she had her money on any of the boys potentially outsmarting her it might have been @Güelle. The silent broody type were always the ones to look out for. Jude's comments caused her nose to scrunch slightly, see, testosterone. It always made it's way into the conversation somehow. Her ears would flick forward with interest as @Léonie finally began to address them all. "Scorpius is taking some time away from all of this. Sedona and Apollo’s absence is a heavy weight the whole family, and until he’s not so burdened by it, I’m going to hold down what I can. But I’m going to need your help, You’re all old enough to help with hunts and visit the Passage, if you’re up to it. Just know going there means you can run into other prides — some of them we’re cool with, but there’s some real twats out there. Some of them will want to claim lionesses and cubs just ‘cause that’s what twats do, and they’ll try to beat the shit out of you for saying ‘Dude, that’s not cool’. But we’re not going to grow without more members, and sometimes you have to fight for them." Lucía did her best to steele her expression as her aunt spoke of her mother and brother, it was not something that had gone over lightly with the young Miroslav. She shifts her weight slightly, keeping her signature poker face as her aunt continued.

She speaks of what it means to be a true leader and at the mention of Morrigan she sits just a little bit straighter, a little taller despite her very tiny stature. She knew exactly where she was going with this. If they wanted to be a good Leader, they needed to be exactly like her. Morrigan had equal measures smarts as she did beauty and brawn. She was something to be admired, that much was certain. "Lucía, While your dad is out, you’ll be a Noble. You’ll still have the authority to go out and represent the Oasis. Or, if any of you are still feeling impatient— ahem, ambitious— and want to beat each other up for a trial-run at being heir, be my guest. Just keep in mind what I said, and know the responsibilities that come with it." Her ruby gaze lit up with excitement. A shiny new rank, sure it wasn't Heiress but it was a damn good step in the right direction. "Of course tía, I'll make you very proud." She assured her before her gaze would move to land on each boy present; she wanted them to see just how much she was pining for that Heir crown, none of them would be able to stand in her way.

exit.

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