Kireena made her way along the paths of the jungle towards the borders of the Brook. She knew that her alliance with the Summit would be difficult to juggle - especially if she ended up in the middle of things.. but @Etain may be here or she may be at the Bluffs still. Kireena wanted to see to the well being of her daughter if at all possible - and intended to at least stop here on the way to wolfbron. The red giant stood at the borders, chuffing softly for the leaders as well as her daughter. At her feet rested a hide full of herbs and some remedies. She would like to have a look at the injuries from Etains fight, knowing that she had a bleeding disorder and worried it wouldn't heal well.

code by koi, manip by tabs, images from unsplash

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

(is VB Lioness at this point, just awaiting the tag change)

It hadn't been long since she'd helped bring the children to the Brook and even less time since she'd decided on a den. Her chosen den was spacious enough and she'd even found a safe space to store her herbs away from curious little maws and paws. Comfortable enough for the time being. But she did take the momentary peace to remove the soft makeshift bandage from her face and set it again after applying the mushy paste.

The call came seconds after she'd finished storing her supplies away and tied the soft fur and skin bandage around the right half of her face again. And something just...clicked in that moment. For a moment she was no longer the confident and fierce woman she'd grown into so far, but that terrified and injured child she'd been when @Kireena had first found her. Barreling across the new territory, she charged directly towards the border.

Large paws tossed up dirt as the charging lioness came into view, the right side of her face covered by a makeshift bandage made from a small dark pelt. Within seconds she nearly barreled into her mother, skidding to a halt in front of her and pressing her head against the red giant's chest. "Mama..." was all she muttered as she stood there, sides heaving, floppy ears laced back against her skull.

code by corvus

It had been a day since she had gone to the bluffs and secured the released of her family along with Etain's unexpected joining. She had been working on getting her children settled in their new den when the call at her borders rang across the air. Already? Her brow furrows as she rumbles a command for the children to remain put. Even under her rule, they needed to remain alert and cautious until the pride grew larger and there were more eyes to protect the children. Specifically her children. Ivory cranium sticks out from inside her den, seeing a flash of blonde rush past as Icefang kicks in her own gear to run after Etain. They had yet to discuss the obvious injury she had suffered at the battle and it seemed another interruption would keep the dreaded conversation at bay. Blue orbs soak in the picture of @Etain buried in her mother's chest. Icefang slows to a halt as she takes in the scene, noting that the lioness was familiar and they had indeed met before. She must of been at the challenge but she had been too occupied at her own battle to really note who had been in attendance. "@Kireena," she greets recalling their meeting in the jungle back before Icefang had settled in the bluffs and had found some of her family. "I see you two are familiar." The comment is questioning, curious on their exact relationship.

html by castlegraphics; image by sanctuare

"Oh... sweetheart.." She sighed when she saw @Etain rushing in and had barely the chance to step towards the floppy eared girl before she had collided into her furry chest. "You did good.. I'm proud of you." She rumbled a purr softly to try to keep her relaxed. It was the arrival of the ivory @Icefang ♔ and the words she spoke. A smile lifted her lips as the lioness would attempt to hook a paw gently over Etain's back in a hug. "My daughter." It came by way of explanation for why she was suddenly very close to the not-so-little female. "You gave as good as you got, I hope?" A grin touched her lips before she glanced down at Etain. She'd seen the fight - but not the aftermath. The little golden girl had fought like a pit viper and she couldn't be more proud.

code by koi, manip by tabs, images from unsplash

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

Nothing else mattered and everything else faded away. Sides still heaved as she tried to relax. She was here, that was what mattered. And the soft purring did help ground. "I tried," she muttered quietly as she did her best to squish herself against her mother, even more so when she felt her paw over her. If only she was smaller. Maybe then she could hide better against her, to make it all go away. But this wouldn't just go away, she knew that all too well now.

The arrival of her pale queen hadn't even been registered. At least not while she flattened herself against the ground to somehow squish herself under @Kireena. "It hurts..." Of course it hurt. And it was going to hurt for longer. Dual toned eyes finally landed on @Icefang ♔ when she spoke and she couldn't say much more when her mother explained their relationship. But she slowly tugged the pelt away from the right side of her face. Deep lacerations made by a vicious bite marked it now, still open and faintly weeping crimson life essence. So close to her eye, but fortunately the eye had remained unharmed, only quite swollen temporarily. "I failed....but no matter how often he comes back, I'll keep fighting him."

code by corvus

They didn't share any similarities for Icefang to truly believe they were mother and daughter. Perhaps it was an adoptive relationship similar to her and Obsidiana. Though she would never mention that directly to the cub unless asked. Her own batch that grew inside her womb held zero resemblance to her at all. Therefore, Icefang would remain silent and simply observe the pair as an obvious third wheel to their fiasco. These were her lands now and she'd be damned if anyone dare ask her to leave. Her stomach tightens in distaste watching how the gigantic blonde completely melts in @Kireena's embrace. A possible weak point and something for her to keep in mind. What would @Etain do the day her mother died? Would she fall a part at the seams permanently?

When Etain glances at her and pulls off the bandage, Icefang studies the deep laceration that mar her face. Those would be lasting scars once the flesh regenerated itself. Shame, that she had lost but at her final words that she would launch herself into battle against the male again, a greed rose up in the high sovereign. It made her feel fantastic knowing that Etain had jumped into battle at the male's defiance at her rule and that this lose would not stop her from doing so again. At least the eye had remained intact, but to see that the wound still dripped blood was interesting.

html by castlegraphics; image by sanctuare

Kireena looked up towards @Icefang ♔ when she stayed silent, a smile of thanks on her lips before she would let her gaze pass over the wound from @Etain's fight. It was healing well - despite her condition. "You've done well to look after it, sweetling. If you want some herbs for the pain, I can bring them back here.. perhaps you can even cultivate them in the Brook's soil." The red giant would glance towards the Brook leader, hoping for her daughters sake that the retribution of the takeover wouldn't come too swiftly. "As long as your queen doesn't mind that is." She grinned, shifting to get a closer look at the wound. "Don't forget lots of liver while you're waiting for the bleeding to stop...mm?" The iron would do well to replenish what she was losing - but there were some herbs she would need to bring her to help staunch the blood. "And cobwebs will help give the blood something to cling to." She wasn't going to tell the pale queen of her daughters bleeding disorder - they had figured a way to combat it.. But still.... She would gently nudge Etain so she could reapply the dressing she had done. Skillfull - and she was proud of the floppy eared lioness. "Congratulations on your win.." She offered Icefang a tilt of her skull, and a thanks for letting her tend to the young girl before her.

code by koi, manip by tabs, images from unsplash

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

It didn't take her long to slip out from under her mother again, ears lacing back in embarrassment. That definitely wasn't how she intended to start things off. No, she wasn't that weak girl anymore. Flopping onto her haunches she thought for a moment, face scrunching up a little as she wrapped the pelt over the wound again. Not quite an eyepatch or anything, but it was working for now. "I think it could be good to see which herbs take to the soil here," she responded to @Kireena before dual toned eyes landed on @Icefang ♔ again. "If that's okay. After all, knowing what healing herbs and potential poisons would thrive here can only benefit us."

Settling back on their side of the border, the pale girl straightened her posture next to her Queen, ears preening forward a little as she listened to her mother with a small nod. "Mhm, I'm not forgetting the liver." For a moment she looked between the two older lionesses, tilting her head. "But I doubt you came here just to check on me. There's...more, right?"

code by corvus

A chuckle was wrested from Kireena's breast as @Etain stepped back and her intuition stepped to the forefront. "Astute as always..." Her gaze would lift towards @Icefang ♔ before returning towards the cream female before her. "I actually came hunting you - to tell you that we've carved a place within Aniadar for ourselves.. a band within an ancient jungle crater." She grinned, fangs bared wide as the female let the news fall from her lips. "And...to let you know that you're welcome anytime you wish to come visit... No rulers to lay claim to us or your siblings beyond myself and Sybil." The red giant would let her gaze return to the icy Brook queen then. "Though I am... personally friends with those that belong to the family from this territory - I would like to offer what assistance I can to the Brook if for no other reason than to ensure Etain remains safe." She knew it would be a very very delicate line to walk but for Etain, she would walk it.

code by koi, manip by tabs, images from unsplash

She dips her skull slightly to @Kireena, acknowledging the congratulations as the conversation switches to the mention of planting herbs and poisons. "That is fine. Just be sure to inform Arcania when you are done with your experiments." The burgundy lioness would benefit from the information and likely help Etain in testing what could grow within the brook's rich soil. At the news of Kireena's formed band, an ear would flick with interest. "Congratulations on your own rule," she mentions to the maned woman as she extends an offer of help. "You are welcome to visit @Etain anytime. We can maintain peace as long as you do not side against us." She did not hold any ill intent towards Kireena, but alliances could be fickle and in the future if she and her band attacked the brook, Icefang would have to ignore the relationship between her and @Etain to defend her home.

html by castlegraphics; image by sanctuare