AELITA ❁

God, she was exhausted. How many miles has she walked? The only answer to that was the ache deep in her paws. The nights were short and cold, she looked up at the lazy sun. What good it did for her. Every icy gust would cut through her pelt as she crossed the sandbar. Every time the wind blew some sand was flung into her face and eyes causing her to squint. This really sucks. There was no foliage or trees to cover her. There would be no benefit to turning around To keep going forward was all she had. After some time she finally made it to the mainland. By now the sun was far past dusk and the chill turned to a freezing bite. Her already short stride became shorter as she braved the cold. Deeply inhaling, many layers of others began to flood her senses. She looked ahead and saw some prints in the sand. This was a high-traffic area. Good? Right? This had to be the place. Amaryllis? The one the leopardess mentioned.

Being as sheltered as she was Aelita had no sense of danger. Any experienced lioness would feel alert and cautious going into such an area. Her lack of knowledge of the lands also gave her a false sense of security. She, however, was excited. You would think that something so petite would be wary of the possibilities. The idea of being imprisoned was beyond her. All she worried about right now was, would they like me. Would anyone receive her? The fear of being useless crept up her neck. She was extremely nervous and stood there hesitating. Her eyes wide and looking around, attempting to soak up the area. There was a lion off in the distance and another pair of lion and lioness in what appeared to her as a serious conversation. No one seemed to pay mind to her.

The young woman began to walk forward, deeper into the passage. Her posture wasn’t the best, her head was low and her ears pinned with worry in her doe eyes. Fear of rejection was making her want to creep away. She steered left as quickly as the lioness could muster to seek shelter against the rock wall. It wasn’t much but it did block the most frigid blasts.
SPEECH CODE!

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It was rare she checked the passage as the sun set past the horizon, but Icefang felt the urge to recruit now more than ever before winter hit. The frequent blasts of chilly air were a reminder that snow would soon be upon them. An opportunity for someone to come for her throne if the pride was weak from a diminished food supply. She wanted to keep the border patrols up and ease her mind with having more members to help protect the brook. Seasoned blue orbs scan the rock walls searching for any rogues that might be sheltering from the elements. It isn't long before she picks out the gray form noticing how petite it seems as Icefang closes in to pause a few feet away. She notices the low posture and anxiety that cripples this yearling's form and gives her a soft chuff in greeting.

"What pretty eyes you have," she comments noticing the interesting mixture of gold and blue in one. Normally she was used to solid tone irises or duo-toned reflected in both orbs. The girl appeared on the verge of shivering and so she would use that as a main point in her proposal. "I am Icefang X'uekai, the queen of Vermeda Brook. Your name? My home offers plenty of warm dens that need to be filled if you are searching for a new home." Of course, they all came from somewhere if they had not been born in Amaryllis. Years ago she had been in a similar position. Anxious and confused as she searched for the remains of her family. It wasn't until she had found Arcania that Icefang had settled and found purpose within the lands. Now she was here extending her reach to new strangers that stumbled in just as she had.

@Aelita

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AELITA ❁

A gentle chuff would bring her attention to the woman before her. It didn't take long at all and the younger lioness could not hide her surprise. Her eyes widened and she could not help but smile at the compliment. Her eyes darted away, mildly embarrassed and unsure of what to say.

" Aw thank you!" she would chirp, her eyes briefly darting back to the other before finding something else to look at. God, she was so nervous. Just look at her! she would tell herself. So she did, Aelita struggled with eye contact. It was either not enough or far too much. Either way, it was somewhat unsettling for others and she hated it.

As Icefang extended her offer Aelita grew even more so surprised. For some reason, she felt mild guilt. Did she look that pitiful? What if they figured out she was weak? But the term Queen did catch her attention. The location itself was enough to pique her interest. Brook? Where water ran, plants grew and where the plants grew Aelita wanted to be.

"You are Queen? What is your King like?", she would shuffle her feet in discomfort. The concept of a matriarch was foreign to her. All the girl knew was a man in power. That man was not a good one, so the idea of being ruled by another did scare her. Lita did not travel this far to end up in the same situation again.

"And.. um.. is there herbs?" Her voice dwindled down at the end as she quickly lost confidence in the idea of being a medic. Embarrassed.

"Oh goodness im sorry! I wasn't trying to be rude. I'm Aelita, Lita for short if you don't feel like saying the whole thing haha." She finally looked at the lioness. Observing her stature and coat. It was pretty, but the contrast between the snowy pelt among the other features was different than the other lions back home.

SPEECH CODE!

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She was young that was for sure. Icefang watches as the duo toned yearling's gaze darts around and the ghost of a smile falls upon her features before disappearing just as fast. The older, regal queen remains silent as she observes and analyzes her prey company. She might be timid now, but under her wing she knew she could build her into something formidable. Someone to be respected and maybe one day feared. For now, she would tolerate the jumpiness and inability to maintain eye contact comfortably. She gives a happy 'thank you' to the compliment and Icefang's ivory cranium dips slightly in acknowledgement to her manners. At the next question, she remains neutral not allowing her expression to give way to the grief she had dealt with since her litter had been born six months ago.

"I do not have one. The authority belongs to me." It reminded her that she would need to fill up some of her other ranks soon. She had a few heads she could consider to rule besides her and upkeep her laws. Though that was a matter for when she got home and something to decide before winter showed up. An ear flicks at the mention of herbs. "Yes, a couple of my members are growing gardens within the territory. I'm sure they would like to show you and could use some help." She had always left those things to the others. While Icefang's pelt was riddled with scars from her battles, she had failed to learn much about the plants that helped to heal or the ones that could be used for death. Her head cocks slightly at the mention of both names. "Which would you prefer?" Either was fine and it was not a matter of which calling that Icefang felt was easier. It was @Aelita that had to deal with listening to the name picked.

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Once again, Roussel finds himself wandering from the warmth of his home by the light of the moon, frost nipping at his mahogany heels as they padded over rocky cliffs, rusty dirt, dying grass, and eventually - pale, shifting sand accompanied by the bite of salty ocean air. The Passage, again. And why not? His last visit had gone rather well, if he did say so himself. Seeing as he has yet to chance upon a meal to warm his blood this evening, he might as well see if there'll be another to lure back into his family's ranks.

He certainly hopes he'll find something worthwhile out here, in any case. It would a shame to freeze his ears off for what amounted to be a not-so-lovely stroll.

@Icefang ♔'s startling pale coat attracts his attention first, drawing the boy's curious paws closer, pointed ears perking forward when he realized she was speaking to someone - a girl painted and striped in shades of grey, a pool of molten gold glowing within one pale blue eye. How delightfully unique!

"Bonsoir!" Good evening, he greets them both, turning towards @Aelita with the best smile he can manage amidst this cold, trying his darndest not to shiver. "I am Roussel Dieudonne, of Wolfbron Bluffs. We don't have a King either. They are terribly...old-fashioned, would you not agree?" He suggests with a bubbling laugh, a polite way of declaring the idea of a patriarchy as 'backwards-thinking.' If a man were to rule, it should be only so he can better serve.

"And while I have not noticed many gardens about, I would be happy to show you some delightful spots you could brighten up with one. If you would like, mademoiselle...?" Similar to Icefang, he would wait for the other yearling to confirm her name, mostly because he has missed pieces of this conversation. He rather doubts the girl would be pleased if he called her the wrong thing.

First impressions were vital, after all.

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AELITA ❁

The more they spoke the surer Aelita became. The Queen before her was not like the others back home. She carried herself with a different type of energy than the ones under her father's rule. More dignity? More identity. She was her own person. The answer was nearly unfathomable. A woman in power? True power? With no one to answer to? Others would answer to her? The idea was enthralling.

"Wow, that is so cool." she would whisper with admiration. Well I supposed you could call me whatever comes to mind whenever you think of me. So long as it isn't mean. A foreign language would reach her ears causing her to turn her head towards the source and squint in confusion.

"Huh?", she would look at the male who was only so much bigger than the previous Queen. She would smile back briefly, clearly forced. She opened her mouth to reply but he started to talk again, and she did not want to be rude.

"Roussel?", she would repeat back to gain a little more familiarity, "Hello, I am Aelita." His offer of her building a garden mildly tempted her, but he was a man. Men in her experience lied. Or at least her father did to entrap the naive women. The very idea that Icefang could be the predator here did not cross her mind. However, Roussel's comment on how outdated patriarchy was did baffle her. Her head would tilt as she processed. A man to serve but not be served? It sounded too good to be true.

"Well, where is you guys call home? What is [i]your[/l] queen like? What is it like? Also! Thank you both so much for extending these offers. It does mean quite a lot to me." It made her feel good. She would dip her head in gratitude as she spoke, sitting down and curling her tail over her paws. Her eyes would brighten as she smiled, looking happy but expectant of them both.



@Icefang ♔ @Roussel

SPEECH CODE!

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Icefang nods, a soft hint of a smirk at her face at the girl's admiration. It had been some time since she had met someone who was impressed with her title. It felt nice. "@Aelita works for me then." Perhaps if they developed a relationship past acquaintances then the high sovereign would shorten it to the aforementioned nickname. Her full name was fine though, she had zero reason to stray otherwise. Things are going well until she hears that French accent once again. Although this time it is a deeper baritone greeting them. Icefang holds in her frustration, the urge to frown strong but she remains composed as @Roussel joins them. Ah, it had always interested her to see a family line where the males were submissive. If only the nature of the X'uekai had been that way, but she had managed to conquer the patriarch's heart and in a sense commanded the respect she held now. Though that had been mostly through her teeth and claws rather than title. As long as her age didn't diminish her strength.

While she is tempted to rain on Roussel's chance by mentioning to the young girl that the pride is housed by a family who has a taste for their own kind, she remains quiet. Despite the frustration, they held an alliance that she did not wish to taint. At least for now while she was still establishing her own stronghold. However, an ear twitches when he mentions that they do not have a king. Her attention turns to him, her tone inquisitive. "Is Apollinaire no longer at Louve's side?" Could he really say there was no king when her mate stood next to her side? She hadn't heard him speak much during her time in the bluffs, but it had indeed been a commotion when he had fallen to Ryker's paws only to be resurrected while Louve screeched her pain.

Aelita's next question beckons her to add a bit more of information. While it wasn't necessarily directed fully at her considering she had mentioned a bit about her home already, she would still take an opportunity. The challenge was not over yet and she still had this newcomer's interest. "The brook is sheltered inside a large forest. The hunting is plentiful and water easy to access. I don't expect much besides helping to keep the pride fed and defending the borders. My numbers are smaller than the bluffs, but steadily growing. I used to live there, Louve is a fine ruler." Now to see what the addition to their party had to say.

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Hmmm? Had he interrupted something? Of course, Roussel is just as free to flaunt the temptations of his home here as @Icefang ♔ is. It's impossible to miss how the excited, hushed tones of the rogue girl so suddenly ground to a halt as soon as Roussel made his presence known, her gaze pinched and smile stiff when she graced him with a look.

It's a tad bit disheartening, in all honesty. Was there something on his face? And here he'd thought he'd looked rather fine this evening.

The points of his ears and shoulders both droop just the slightest bit, but he presses on all the same, nodding along encouragingly when the syllables of his name were repeated back to him. "It is a pleasure to meet you, @Aelita." She is not quite as...steely as the lady he had last encountered in the Passage. Whether that was a positive or a negative was up for debate, but she at least seemed interested in what he had to say. Or maybe 'curious' was the more accurate word, with the faintest hint of perplexion. And she wasn't the only one.

"Hmmm?" He glances towards Icefang with some confusion when she questions him, clicking the pieces together a moment later with a light chuckle. "Oh, non, Souverain Apollinaire remains where he always has, splendid as ever." Whatever 'splendid' meant for a creature that had risen from the dead. "But even he serves our Queen. Or would you say a gifted title is all it takes to truly be a 'King?'" Of Wolfbron? Of the Dieudonne? Such a thought seemed laughable, though there is a genuine curiosity in his question.

His father would never have tried to name himself such a thing, back when Helah was Queen. No matter what fancy titles she could've given him.

Ahem. It is, however, Aelita's questions that are most important here. He allows the Vermedan Queen to speak her piece first, offering the girl a pleased smile as he notes how she seems to have perked up. "Wolfbron resides in a mountain range to the north - but not the type that's cold and icy. Our mountains are the lovely red ones, with plenty of flat spots perfect for sunbathing during the summer. And you won't find a grander view of the sunset than from there." He would know. He's watched the sun pass in all its splendor many times. "Our Queen, Louve, is both strong and cunning. She expects the best out of all of us - the Bluffs is an excellent place to pursue your ambitions, under her protection." Especially if one happened to be a woman.

"Beyond that...We hunt well and we keep our lands secure, though it's been a bit quieter lately. Some of our friends chose to move to greener grasses." He adds idly, sending a slight smirk in Icefang's direction that belied the innocence of his tone. All in good fun, of course.

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