Winter was no friend to Cathán, and he knew this well. He would need to seek out shelter, and he needed to do so soon. Amaryllis held no space for cheetahs to make pacts, so he had to resort to confiding in the help of lions. For the past few days, he had been scouting out the terrain in search of a group settled in somewhere familiar. The fields or the plains suited his fancy, so there was where he began his search.

After many scouting expeditions, the cheetah had finally come across the unmistakable scent of a pride. Nervously, he paced up to the borders; his heart raced, and he shook visibly. It had taken the cheetah a good while to build up the courage, but finally he called out. His chuff was nowhere near as powerful as a roar, yet he did his best to do so loud enough to garner anyone’s attention. The boy sat there, pausing and chuffing until he could get someone to heed his calls.

@Icefang ♔

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She couldn't quite put a paw on it, but something was different about the beckons for her attention. Softer like a cub's, but not quite lion-like. Icefang heads to the source taking her time as she finishes up marking a tree with her claws. A new one as she had done every so often to keep the borders fresh and avoid anyone claiming a misunderstanding for being found in her lands. Things had been good so far, and while she had been a bit apprehensive of their new home in winter, everything had been fruitful and her family seemed satisfied so far. It was just the race to pump up her numbers as large as the other older established prides. Before she had battles at her front door, but she had been training everyone as much as she could, so if there was a looming war soon, bring it.

After about five minutes, she finds @Cathán shivering at the brook's border. A brow raises as she casually looks him over. He was a poor choice for a warrior, but she finds a redeeming trait in his lanky body. Speed. She hoped he would be a valuable hunter considering he was at her home requesting an audience. Though she wondered if he had the balls to ask for permission to hunt in her home, probably hoping for better prospects than what the plains offered during this time of season. "Hello," she coos. Soft and welcoming as she stops five feet away to give him some space. The latest marks of her battle training still fresh, although the wounds are shallow and inferior. "You'd make a fine hunter." Her words are a statement with a slight undertone of command. Part of her expected him to want to be invited in and while she was unimpressed by his nervous demeanor she would excuse him by chalking it up to the cold air and his thin coat.

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Whether to his chagrin or to his relief, the boy's calls were answered. From the beyond, a figure steps forward. She blends in well with the snow, and her white pelt shimmers in the winter sun - causing Cathán to stifle a gulp. As @Icefang ♔ steps towards him, the cheetah bows his head respectfully. He is unsure of how to tell her position, if any at all, but if she is of a higher ranking he does not wish to offend her.

With her comment, the boy raises his head once more. "Thank you, I do my best. I know the land, and she knows me well, too," he nodded. Eyes studying Icefang briefly before resting back on a neutral target. He silently prayed in his head that he was doing well at first impressions, as this was a completely alien experience to him.

"Strength is not my kindest friend, but I can outrun a target like no other. Us cheetahs tire out our prey; I think we could make a powerful combination..." Cathán begun to trail off, and he shifted his paws shyly. "I am looking to seek refuge here; I can no longer bare the winter on my own. Do you know where I can go about joining your ranks?" He cocked his head, and locked his gaze with the lady of the snow once more. He hoped he wasn't making a fool of himself, as Cathán wasn't even entirely sure if prides took kindly to outsiders; moreover, how they would react to a non-lion outsider. It was a shot in the dark, but he could not hold his gun still for much longer.

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His head dips in respect towards her and she is pleased. At least other species were intelligent enough to know when to garner respect to their authoritative figures. She remains silent as he speaks knowing his words are likely true. She allows them to saturate in the pregnant silence, blue orbs unwavering from him despite the glances away and hesitation to maintain eye contact. She would let him simmer for a few minutes after explaining that he believes that they could make a powerful combination. How bold to suggest such a thing. He would make a useful addition to her pride, but to be paired up with her was a different ordeal. An honor actually.

"To join you need to speak to the high sovereign and seeing as I'm already here..." She trails off enjoying any little bit that her own presence might make him uncomfortable. Even in her seniority she hadn't forgotten the joy that others' caution brought her. "Speed would make you a good scout as well. Perhaps it would help to keep your bones warm," she hums, a slight curiosity in her gaze. Had he considered such an endeavor or were his skills mainly on bringing down prey? Her mind flickers to the promise she had left Luther. That she would send him a messenger when war landed on her doorstep. Perhaps this was the messenger. An incoming omen? She could only wonder. "What is your name?"

@Cathán

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"To join you need to speak to the high sovereign and seeing as I'm already here..."

Cathán cannot help but to thank his lucky stars when she drops that bombshell of information on him. He feels relief flood over his body that he had previously been so courteous in her presence, yet nervousness overtakes it once more. Hopefully he had made a fair enough impression for her liking. The boy slowly fixes his posture, and puffs out his chest to feign confidence.

His rufescent eyes peer over @Icefang ♔'s form, and he cannot help but to notice her posture. Silently, he reprimands himself for not noticing it sooner, but how could he have? Lions were all too confusing in their ways for him, but she did have some "regal" way about her. Cathán takes in her words carefully, and considers them for a moment. A scout?... It wasn't a notion he had pondered before, yet he can't say it was completely out of the realm of possibility. If that was what it would take for him to get a spot in their ranks, then he would gladly bite down on that bait.

"If it so suits your needs, I suppose my abilities could be used for that, too. I can travel a great distance before I tire myself," he confirms with a nod. "Distance wouldn't be an issue for me, and I assume that prides wouldn't suspect much from a cheetah..." Cathán draws on, and then pauses. "I think I could take on that challenge," he concedes. Once more, he stares at her; reticently, he tries to garner her reaction to his words. Do all lions have it this rough getting into a pride? The cheetah flicked his ears abashedly, and felt a twinge of humiliation at that sudden thought; perhaps he was being too impatient. The boy was too young, and far too inexperienced to be used to these sorts of situations. Indeed, patience was never a cheetah's strong suit.

Her next question leads him to believe he may be in the homestretch, however. Cathán has to struggle to keep his tail from swaying with eagerness as he asks for his name - could this be it? He bows his head, and states: "Cathán Ó Síthigh. But, you may just call me Cathán, your highness." Yeah, no shit, genius... he thought with silent resignation. The cheetah cocks his head to one side, "If I may ask, what should I call you?" Cathán inquires. Trying to hide his apprehension, the boy does his best to be overly polite to the icebound Queen before him.

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She nods at his slight change in position. A silent compliment at the fake confidence. It would do for now, but lucky for him he was in her paws now. She could mold him into something formidable. A cheetah that mothers would warn their children about. To keep their voices low and eyes on a swivel, in case he was lingering ready to divulge their secrets or steal their prey. "I have room for both in my pride, so we shall assess your skills and go from there." The option was truly up to him, but one thing was for certain when it came to living under Icefang. You would work and be put to the test, often. Even her own blood was unexcused from slacking off.

"This way then, Cathán" She rises to her paws as she turns to begin leading him to the dens. She would have to let the rest know to leave the cheetah off their hunting list as he got settled in. The prospect of one of her members attempting to add him to the food cache had crossed her mind, but she figured it would only be a temporary concept once he proved his ability to reside inside her borders. When he asks of her calling, she throws the two syllables over her shoulder. "Icefang." With that, she would beckon him over the invisible border with her scarred tail.

/exit Icefang with @Cathán?

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The boy nods in the wake of her invitation, and a sense of calm repose fills his body. With her gesture, he cautiously crosses the Brook border. "Thank you, Icefang. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to serve you." Cathán bows once more, and then slips into the distance alongside her. The once palpable fear which filled his body is no more; he is ready. Ready to start anew, ready to embrace unfamiliar traditions which once intimidated him.

He will not let his worries overcome him. No, not this time. Silently, he makes an oath to better himself; to prove himself worthy to @Icefang ♔. Cathán vows that he will not disappoint her in this decision, yet he knows he has a lot to catch up on. Intermingling with the lions will be interesting, to say the least.

With a newfound sense of determination, he sets off to join the Brook's ranks.

-Exit Cathán-

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