She was aware of the shift in leadership at the helm of the pride. Did that mean she was okay with it? No. But would she remain loyal to the Cove as long as Sunder was still a part of it? Yes. She owed her wife that much loyalty at the very least. So when she heard the summoning call from that lioness, the chimera would huff and start to make her way back into the territory. She had been remaining outside of it lately, especially after Kvare's fall from the crown and Yuna's ascension. She didn't really trust the young lioness. Especially not after she went so quickly for the crown that was so rightfully Sunder's so shortly after the floppy eared lioness had stepped down.

Making her way into the territory, Zabrina would rake her eyes over the crowd before settling on @Lagertha. She hadn't really had the chance to speak too much with Sunder's other wife, but she knew the other lioness had issues with Yuna as well. Padding over towards her, Zabrina would situate herself next to the other lioness. Aiming to catch her eye, the chimera would lean in and speak for Lagertha only to hear "It would seem that the youth now has power. What are we going to do about this?" Her voice was hushed, and her muzzle had been placed near Lagertha's ear to help aid in keeping their discussion kept quiet between the pair of them.


"She starred in one of the ones that became nothing."

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That morning, Aria retreated to a cave which produced exceptionally clear sound. He sang to elevate his mood, or process his emotions into pure sound. With all that was happening in Caladan recently, singing had become an outlet. A storm of tension had grown in the pride, and he braced himself as a call was carried on the wind. Their ears turned back against their head as they recognised the caller as @Yuna. Although he held no ill feeling toward the new sovereign (as they hadn’t met, it would be unfair to judge) he couldn’t dislodge the feeling of unease. Changes were afoot in the pride, and hopefully this meeting would shed some light upon them.

The cheetah arrived, and examined the convocation space. The stone walls provided shelter from the worst of the wind, so that one could sit comfortably despite the weather. Aria greeted familiar faces with a smile and took note of the new members present. He made a mental note to socialise with them later. He dipped his head respectfully to Yuna and @Pyrrha ♔. Currently, the Cove’s leadership was prominently female, which was no cause for complaint in Aria’s eyes. Having grown up in a female-dominated environment, the bard had faith in their governance. However, Kvare and Sunder’s absence still bothered him. Noticing that Analia had company, Aria settled down beside a dark-pelted lioness (@Khadija) to wait.

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Neeha Tollaire

The yearling moved through the cove, oddly enough promptly for once. Her feelings towards their high sovereign were not as complicated as some of her families, yet not as accepting as others either. At best Neeha was neutral. @Yuna was an outsider, yet one Kvare had trusted and Pyrrah still stood by the queen's side even if Kvare no longer did.

Arriving at the spot the former princess nods her head to the two lionesses on the rock. Though a warm smile is flashed at her sister @Pyrrha ♔. No matter what Neeha would always stand by her sister, and the pink-furred yearling didn't look half bad perched on top of the rock beside their queen. Roylety still ran in her veins, and Neeha was certain it would never stop even without the crown, even without Caladan. Though the latter was not an option, it was theirs, and it would always be hers.

The yearling found a seat among the crowd and a soft chuffed greeting to her aunt @Lagertha and @Zabrina though she didn't go to the women. Instead, she found herself taking a seat beside @Khadija and @Aria. The cheeta was unknown to her but their lead medic was not. The day she'd joined Caladan still stood vividly in her mind. She had been a princess then, royalty seeking to please her father, and now? Now he was nowhere to be seen the yearling noted feeling her chest tighten a hint of worry seeping into her mind. "Hope you two don't mind more company" she finally spoke pushing a smile onto her lips and turning her attention to the lead medic and cheeta while waiting for the meeting to start.

January Y11 || Caladan cove || Caladan Cove Yearling || 1 year

code by corvus, Art by Irish

Most faces she knew among those attendees to arrive. Those whom she knew more intimately were those she now coveted, thankful to gain friendships among the lions who'd lived their lives throughout exchanges in leadership, where now she stood. Hope brewed across the horizon, spreading across the bridges she'd lain thus far among the members here. They were intentional, each of them, in their own way, seeking their own forms of accomplishment.

Although Sunder's (hopefully) late arrival remained unseen, she decided they couldn't wait forever for every head of Caladan to appear. Those who remained needed to know of changes; changes which might change their course of action, perhaps giving them a chance to re-write history. Haunches settled against cool soil beneath them, peering out over those gathered, wondering where some of their numbers had gone. Glacial gaze sweeps back to @Pyhrra at her left side, gracing her with a small yet prominent nod of greeting, which is returned with a similar dip of cream lined face.

Back to the masses, these are her focus now. Those that she might lead for some future to come. "Thank you all for coming." Foremost, she wants them to know her gratitude for each individual's presence, for a pride was nothing without them. "Some may have guessed there are changes for Caladan." Now her eyes seek @Lagertha and @Zabrina respectively, hovering on the two women who so vehemently opposed her rise to the secondary throne. "Kvare has gone missing. We're unsure of his whereabouts at this time, as Sunder has spent a great deal of time seeking him out." Another pause, to let this information sink in as she looks to @Neeha, the child she'd brought news back to the pride with months prior. Among this group she spies @Aria, to whom she's grown accustomed to the cheetah's presence, but also found an affinity towards. Each of them, regardless of their feelings towards her, were important residents to Caladan.

"At this time, I am your high Queen. It's an unfavorable moment to lose someone who's held the pride in order for some amount of time, but I assure you, the changes coming are with everyone's best interest in mind." Would they believe her? Yuna assumed the wives wouldn't begin to favor her, not even if she won over everyone surrounding them. "Sunder is to be your second Queen. Caladan will see prosperity guided under women's paws." Authoritative direction now issued from her lips, expectant that the secondary queen would arrive at this point. Time creeps without the entirety of her leading circle present. "Under a unified mind it is Sunder, Pyrrha, and myself who will make all direct decisions regarding the pride's wellbeing. All three of us will hold equal power in regards to ranks, alliances, and daily pride life. I expect this should be a respected decision." Again, her gaze turns to @Lagertha and @Zabrina, measuring them in turn under a watchful eye. Of all present, those two brought the most suspicion.

For a minute she allows all to digest this news, for not even Pyrrha had known the extent for which Yuna offered leadership to those who would stand at the very forefront beside her. While she and Sunder would make major decisions, it wasn't without Pyrrha's opinion, if the young lioness were to lead the pride after her reign had long passed.

"Other arrangements are as follows: @Analía is to move to Noble while @Lagertha will move down to Gentry. @Moradin and @Zabrina will maintain their respective ranks. Ranks are to be kept by earning them. If anyone is found failing in their duties you will be demoted, or need to prove yourself through a trial of sorts." Ranks wielding more power would be obtainable to those who wished it, but she expected to see the pride working together. "We work together. We're all part of Caladan, and we should all act as though we are. If anyone should wish for a rank they may challenge for it, or discuss openly why they feel they deserve the position over another before the entire pride. Everyone who has a lesser rank will keep it." She wanted it known that they were watched, all of them, and they all had a say under this new structure. Should something go array, she wanted the entire pride unified. "I'm hoping we can all learn to live together peaceably."

Unification, peace, under one sweeping canopy, held here against the rock walls buffeted by chill winter winds. "We keep no prisoners at this time. Our alliances are wiped clean, with exception to Illyria Summit. I've met their Queen once, but I'd like to revisit them for better acquaintanceship. I'd like at least one lion who's comfortable with politics to come to me after this, so that we might cover more ground meeting with other pride representatives." While she didn't wish to maintain the alliances as they had stood, she did intend to keep all relations with every pride at least neutral.

"Should there be any questions, ask them now. Those who wish to leave are free to do so. No one is kept here without wishing to stay here." Finality draws nutmeg lips closed as a quiet mental exhaustion strikes suddenly, having bore most of this against sleepless nights, wondering if her intentions would come across well to the established residents.

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While she cannot hear what @Zabrina and @Lagertha may be conversing about Pyrrha does have the capacity to see the chimera leaning over, her lips subtly moving in quiet and hushed whispers. She in turn leans over and nudges @Yuna with a paw to ensure the High Sovereign sees their choice of company today. Let the pride see that Pyrrha has taken notice, taken a keen interest in what this pair is doing. She hopes they'll notice her gaze, wordless, their direction. See Pyrrha wants Yuna on this throne she had. And if her mother's wives would continue to fight that? They'd answer to Pyrrha.

The meeting begins and Pyrrha fluctuates between nodding along gently to the things she already knew, or had had discussions with Yuna over already. It was their time to form Caladan. A great deal of the heiress's attention is shifted to focus on the other Caladan lions who had gathered in attendance. Looking at their reactions, trying to discern what they might be thinking and feeling. Especially when it came to the slight switch in ranks between the gentry Analía and her Aunt noble. Interesting. Pyrrha is unsure of the motive, if there is any besides to reward Ana for the work she's put in. She hopes there's more to it than that... That would be fun.

"If I may, I'd like to extend thanks and appreciation to Yuna for her willingness to stand in while Kvare is missing. While you help and defend the pridelands you give my mother a chance to continue her search." The feelings are sincere, the time she's chosen to express them however is very intentional and somewhat self serving. A subtle expression of power, a note between the lines that Yuna's reign was legitimate and welcomed by the heiress. At least until, and if, the day came that Pyrrha wanted to question it herself. From where Pyrrha sits she reaches over a paw to briefly place it on Yuna's while turning a smile the High Sovereign's way.

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Late. Sunder was never late to pride meetings, but on this occasion things were different. She spent late nights searching for Kvare, and had barely managed to rouse herself in time to make it to @Yuna's summons. She trails in towards the outskirts of the gathering on the tail end of Yuna's declarations. Immediately her gaze would sweep across those gathered, finding both of her wives together, speaking amongst one another. Her gaze would linger upon @Zabrina and @Lagertha for a moment before she'd wind her way past the others, moving to take a seat to the right of Yuna. Her visage would shift to land on @Pyrrha ♔, giving her daughter a subtle nod before turning her attention back to the pride. Yuna had made it clear that there would be some shifts in the ranks, one of which Sunder was almost certain wouldn't go over well. Her gaze would land on Lagertha, contemplating what her wife's reaction would be to moving down to Gentry. However, this was still a needed position to be filled. One that her wife was more than capable of handling. "If I may, I'd like to extend thanks and appreciation to Yuna for her willingness to stand in while Kvare is missing. While you help and defend the pridelands you give my mother a chance to continue her search." She nods in agreement with her daughter, finally allowing her voice to rise, to be heard. "Yes, Yuna has been most helpful in allowing me to search for my husband. This search remains ongoing, anyone that might have information on where Kvare was last, please bring it to me. Ultimately, this pride will be cared for by the three of us. We work as a unit; we are to be respected as such. I trust you all to do just that, and in time new relationships may be forged. This will be a new beginning for our Cove, but know that we all have you in our best interests. We want our home to continue to be just that, home. If anyone does have concerns, now would be the time to voice them." And with that her gaze would sweep again across those gathered, lingering lastly on her wives. Would they calm? Would they support her? This was a situation none of them had planned for, yet it was the new direction that their lives were taking.

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I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

Of course they would not stand as just the three of them for long. But blazing verdant gaze hardly left the other woman even as more scents became stronger. Unmoving, though not unblinking, the scarred shieldmaiden stood in silence. An uneasy silence proven by twitches of muscle and lips, features that never quite found rest. Though, had she rested? Maybe she hadn't. Or maybe she had.

Pale ears flicked when one scent drew closer to her than the others. Only then did her attention truly shift, turning to the chimera at her side. Hushed words of the other wife reached her ear and she found herself responding to @Zabrina in kind, few quietly purred words for only her to hear. "We will see. For now, we will see." Though perhaps her hushed words to the other lioness were meant to simply mean to see what this meeting was about. First asses the situation and wait, get all the information and then act. And she'd not missed the way @Pyrrha ♔ was watching them. Though she didn't comment on it, she knew she'd find the younger lioness eventually, for a long overdue talk.

Unfortunately, it were the words of the High Sovereign that stoked the fire of her soul, still burning through her eyes. The moments the words were said, the pale warrior queen was moving, striding towards @Yuna with a brutal grace of a warrior queen charging into battle right beside her fighters. Though for once there was no growl. No hiss or snarl. Only a tone much colder than normally used when addressing anyone around her. "I earned my place here long before you even set a single paw into this territory. You have what you wanted now, don't you? Now you get to strut around feeling all superior because you were handed what you think you deserve. But maybe you should respect decisions made by those who came before you."

It was her wife's presence that gave her enough pause, even her gaze softened ever so slightly as she so boldly stepped past their new high queen to brush her muzzle against @Sunder's cheek. A tender gesture among raging fire to offer comfort. "I will find you later, min kärlek." my love. Softened words whispered for only Sunder to hear before she once again stepped back. "I trust my wife's judgement on all you've said and my support for her and the family will never change. But I do not have to prove myself to someone who has not yet proven herself against a challenger for the Cove and knows nothing of what I have done for it." And with that, she turned around and returned to where she'd sat.

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Eyes transfixed on @Lagertha's as she eyed her upon her entrance, Analia giving a gentle bow of her head in greeting before looking back to Yuna. More and more came to gather and @Moradin, of course, came to sit beside her and despite the sudden upset in her stomach she nodded her head. I was saving it for you, and the other spot would be for Eisa but she had yet to see her red-coated sister among those that had already arrived. A slight spot of worry gathering in that already unhappy tummy of hers as she swallowed that concern and blinked away what worries she had.

The winds brought her gaze to look along the crowd some more, obviously not having done anything about her worries. Finding the eyes of @Imago upon her and giving them a bow of her head in solidarity. Ana would always provide a friendly front to everyone and was willing to give them the best of herself until they (truly) showed their colors. Everyone was good here unless shown otherwise and no one was an exception. She had enjoyed every one here even with the chaos and disruption that had peaked as some events of the pride.

With @Yuna now beginning she felt the shift in energy as she watched, not at all bothered by the change in leader ship. How could she be? Analia had seen Kvare and Sunder switch spots like they were playing musical chairs, at least two times since she had been in the Cove so to have new leaders now did not surprise her in the slightest. Though, the concern of Kvare's whereabouts did rattle her a little bit... perhaps he had gone to take care of that male that he had threatened himself and would bring more unnecessary destruction.

Though, it could be said without doubt that she had not expected to be promoted to Noble over her position as Gentry. For a second, she was elated — before she connected the dots that that meant Lagertha was being demoted to the now empty position she had left behind. Ana's eyes swept to the wheat-colored woman and felt her skin tingle, her eyes water. Tension building in her body as she recognized that looking to the demoted lioness had not been the right move.

Analia turned her head to look at Yuna, took a deep breath in and held in before releasing it slowly. Every part of her tried to escape this guilt that she felt for rising, the part that was eating away at the excitement that she had been noticed and seen. That her devotion and her level head had awarded her a slightly higher rank than the one that Kvare had granted her. So she set her gaze proudly to her High Sovereign and nodded her acceptance of the promotion as well as a silent acceptance that she was happy to escort Yuna to the other prides if needed. While she was firm in her expression that she was strong, it would be most clear to @Moradin or Eisa if she were here that she was very much so battling her self internally.

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Lurking in the background as he had since his arrival, Masten had watched as the pride gathered, his lips curling in disgust as the lion that had beholden them here didn't even bother to arrive. In fact, the news that he was missing had the youth's smile twisting sharply into something menacing. If only he'd been old enough to do it.. He would have done it himself.

Still the words from @Yuna about not keeping those here that didn't WISH to be had his attention and with that, the plum child would leave, ambling not only from the meeting where he'd hidden at the edges of the pride.. annoyed at those that had given up on mother. Now with his newfound freedom.. he would find her.

//Exit meeting & pride//

"You embarrass me Lagertha." Pyrrha rises up, frowning deeply after the woman she called Aunt in her youth had her little tantrum. She cannot bring herself to use the familial title. This is not how Pyrrha's family acts. "Handed? She beat you. We all saw. She is more proven than I am in my rank. Come on back then- tell me how I'm unworthy too." She dares, she steps forward after the once noble and lets her frown grow deeper, her ears plaster back and tail lash against her ankles. Daring the gentry to turn back, to give Pyrrha the same treatment she's just given Yuna.

"Let me be clean to everyone. You disrespect Yuna, you disrespect all of us." She looks back to the form of the brown wife. "But if you and Zabrina would like to continue your outbursts that is fine, just stop wasting our time. Because we have my mother's husband to look for and a pride to run and I am running out of patience for you... Aunt." Vitriolic anger is met with a cold steel stare of judgement down Lagertha's way. How dare she defy what Pyrrha and Sunder support. They do not decide who is worthy. I do. I am the judge who matters. And she will ensure that the pride knows her opinions here and that to defy Pyrrha's wishes is ill advised. It is not the decisions of those who came before who mattered- it was the decisions of the one who will come after.

code by me & art by rabbit