The cloudy summer dusk brought the day to it's close. Storms rolled in off the distant horizon promising relief for the hot temperatures. The air here was salty and inviting, similar yet different to the Mire's more stagnant air. She arrived at the borders of this pride and paced along them. Trepidation was obvious in her stance, and she waited for a long while before she let loose a summoning chuff for whomever ruled here. She figured, at the very least she could ask about the pride and what they stood for... and leave if she didn't like it.

Though deep within her, she wondered if this ruler would be like her half-brother. Would they force her to stay if she didn't like what she heard? Would she be free to walk away. She swallowed back a bit of nervousness, as she waited to see who they were and what they would be like.

Could she start over here? Could she make a name for herself here?

@Miaran or @Aphrodite or both of course!

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Her stomach was becoming more noticeably round with each passing day, week and month. Granted it hadn't been a month yet or at least she couldn't figure that out. And with it becoming a bit more difficult for her to move with the summer heat, Aphrodite had been keeping herself within the Cove's borders for many reasons besides the heat keeping her from traveling. But when duty calls, duty calls and when someone comes calling for her or Miaran, Aphrodite was keen to answer.

Moving through the Cove's territory at a much slower pace than she normally would. But she did finally make it and spotted the woman who had called for either crowned Queen. Her violet jewels would land on @Odette and she would give the woman a soft smile. Welcome to the Cove, I am Aphrodite Marvos. How can I help you? Ever since the challenge, Aphrodite had been cautious on who she allows into the pride and who she gives information too. But she couldn't keep everyone out.

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There is a sense of relief that she feels when the one who approaches her call is a lioness. Odette feels some tension leaking away, as she sighs softly- blue eyes taking in the female curiously. She introduces herself as Aphrodite Marvos, and asks how she can help. Okay, time to shit.

"Hi." She breathes out. "I... I'm Odette. Odette Starke." She pauses, waiting with an almost wince, hoping that the female doesn't hate the Starke's and that sharing her surname wasn't a mistake. "I... used to live in the Mire. Then..." A small pause. "I was prisoner there after Bruno lost the challenge to Luther." She admits. "When the floods came I got to escape and now I... I'm looking to find a place where I can start over." Was that too much information? Was she being too honest.

"I'm a fighter and a medic. I'm not lazy, and I can work for my place in a pride. I just... the Cove reminds me of the Mire, but it's not so... stagnant." Truly it seemed a better place to try to start over. "I just wanted to know, if you have time... what the Cove stands for?" This question is near tentative, but she holds out hope that not everyone is like Luther had been.

@Aphrodite

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Ears began to twitch at each word that hit her ear drums. She began to explain everything. Giving her name and Aphrodite would listen carefully, hearing her name and she felt like it was a name that she should know. That she was familiar with but it didn't come to the surface at all. Regardless she would not judge those by her name because of a decision their parents made. Aphrodite would settle into a sitting position and listen as she explained living in the Mire beneath someone named Bruno before he lost it to Luther. A name that boiled her blood. A man she despised with a passion, more than Harou.

When the Mire was left empty she was able to escape and decided to come here. A place to possibly to fresh and Aphrodite would give her a soft smile again. If you're worried about a place like this being a place like the one Luther held, you can let out a sigh of relief. We are not like that. She would begin, shifting in her seated position and motioning for @Odette to come into the Cove. The Cove is a sanctuary. No one is a prisoner here, we just ask that you pull your weight and help defend those that need it when they need it. We don't claim unless necessary. Like children. We are equals in this land, even with our titles, we will value your opinion before making a decision. At least she would majority of the time.

Knowing that she was a medic aswell as a fighter was good. We need more fighters and medics here so it's impressive that you are both. She would never classify herself as a healer due to the type of plants that created death. Are there any other questions?

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She half felt that she had said too much. That she had shared too many details, but there is a hint of desperation- the inability to remain stagnant and not know where to go or what to do for any longer that drove her. She supposed, here she could perhaps make a name for herself. When @Aprhodite replies, the sigh of relief is mixed with the softest chuckle and a nervous twitch of her ears. Not like Luther then.

She listens as the female speaks, and immediately decides that she likes the sound of the Cove. Likes that they don't hold prisoners, that she could leave if she wanted, but she could also work for a name here- a place in the pride. She breaths out a sigh and nods.

"If you'll have me, I think I would like to join you." She says after a pause of silence. "I can work hard, to make it worth your time." She'll go to all the hunts, do what they need done. Just... anything to not be a useless shadow again. Anything.

She considers the thought of any other questions, and asks what could be a smart one. "What enemies and allies do you have?" She inquires, curious to know who she would need to avoid and not avoid in the neutral lands- and not wanting to make any errors.

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Aphrodite could see the sigh of relief that came from @Odette. A small chuckle escaped her jaws. I have heard many things about Luther, I am not pleased with any of them. She would admit it easily enough. Ears twisting as Odette explained that she would join if Aphrodite would have her and the Queen would nod her head. Of course you are welcomed. Are fighting and being a medic your only skills? She was curious to know more about the woman before her. There were other questions but Aphrodite would be patient for the right time.

Our current allies is the Brook and the Bluff's. She would begin to explain while getting to her paws and motioning for Odette to come into the Cove so that they could talk and walk. Andal Oasis is our number one enemy. We do have other enemies, those that resided here before us but Andal has become one of our main focus. She would continue. Aphrodite wouldn't name the Tollaire just yet, she wanted to make sure she could trust Odette. We are cautious with the Hollows so do not attack unless they attack first. And she prayed that never happened.

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She feels restless to remain standing for so long, and as @Aprhodite begins to speak her expression falls flat. "Try being related to him. He's my father's son. Previous litter to me. Half-brother." She shares flatly. "Not that either of us acknowledge that." At least, Luther hadn't when she'd been in his pride as a prisoner. Bruno had been the better King in her eyes. She took in a soft breath, "Can we walk the border while we talk?" She asks curiously, wanting to stretch her legs a bit as she talked about herself.

Assuming the female didn't disagree, she would walk alongside her, to learn the border and pause here and there at a rock to sharpen her claws, to help maintain them. "I can hunt too." She adds. "It isn't my best area but I don't mind hunting, and doing other tasks as needed." She says. "I like herbs-" a wave of her tail at a clump of cape aloe and she'd speak. "I can gather some of that, if you don't mind, and store it. Its good for wounds- scrapes, scratches, and bites." She shares, trying to show that she was somewhat adept in her fields.

"When my father was King, we were also allied with the Bluffs." She offered the information. "The Brook... wasn't one of our allies though. I don't know who rules there now." She admits- content to discuss politics, as she tentatively asks. "Did Andal do something bad?" She is curious because this female seems kind, and not one to make enemies easily. What had Andal done to deserve that status? "Sorry, I shouldn't ask. I'm just curious." She shrugs, with a weak grin.

@Aphrodite

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To learn that @Odette was a relative of Luther's was some of a shock to her. The woman before her didn't seem like anything like the man she had heard about. But perhaps that was due to her parents, and even though they shared a father, the mother could've been the key. It wasn't often you learned that it was the woman who encouraged such behaviors instead of the father. And then she asks to walk the borders and Aphrodite would nod her head, following beside her as well. She wanted to patrol the borders to begin with.

Perhaps it is a good thing that neither of you acknowledge that. Though others may still judge you for even having a relation to him. She would comment, walking beside Odette. Occasionally she would stop when Odette did and would mark the territory to refresh the markings. Ears twitching as she would listen to any questions or words that came from Odette. Some of us aren't always great at hunting but as long as we work together we will succeed. She would comment as they walked onward. We have a lead medic named Khadija if you would like to further your herbal training, perhaps she can teach you. She would state, glancing towards Odette then.

She spoke of her father once again. About the allies he had, naming the Bluff's as one and Aphrodite wasn't surprised. Icefang rules in the Brook now. She would explain. Ears twisted on top of her head as she once more stops to mark the borders, and glance once more towards Odette as she asked about Andal. In truth, I am the cause of it. They were our allies but when one of their children attacked one I was in protection of, I intervened. She would admit, though shame was not in her voice. Nor was pride. No, don't apologize. If you are curious ask and I will try to give you my best answer.

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Odette knew little of Luther, knew little of him other than he seemed abrasive and aggressive. He had kept them prisoner rather than letting them go and find their own way. Had let them starve, for seemingly no reason- had demanded they not contribute to anything. She had thought her half-brother little more than a fool. His reign ending in the floods was both mercy and justice in her mind. Aphrodite's words come as she scores her claws along a rock, sharpening them and she would pause in the act.

"I'm sure it wouldn't serve me well, but... anyone who knew my father knows he has a lot of children. We kinda can't help who we're related too." She says with a small smile, the slightest quirk of a lip. As the female speaks of hunting, she nods - "I haven't hunted that long," She wasn't that old really, "But I know that teamwork is really the only way to bring down some of the larger creatures. We had our share of those in the Mire." She shares. She was not daunted by the idea- nor of the idea or working in a team.

When @Aphrodite mentions the Lead Medic, Odette's folded ears prick in interest. "I will have to seek her out and pick her brain." She agreed, curious and interested in meeting this medic- to see what she could learn from her. She took the lack of contradiction from the female as permission to stop and gather some of the cape aloe, gathering it to her in quick nips- before bundling it at her paws when Aphrodite spoke of pride relations. Icefang rules the Brook and Odette works to try to place the name... it rings in some sort of familiarity, as if she has heard it before but she cannot place it. Then she is told of how the issues with Andal arose and she listened carefully.

"I think it's brave of you to defend a cub when they're in your care." She says simply, though she doesn't understand the nuances of the situation fully, she does mean that. Perhaps that was the softer medic side of her- the side that would protect. "I will keep an eye out for them, though I won't look to cause trouble." Unless they cause it first, the words are unspoken but they are a silent promise in her mind. Odette wouldn't find trouble or cause it but she would not run from it either.

She took in a deep breath, and asked another question. "Have you heard of a Ciara Starke?" She would ask about her sister, and then "Or Alaric? My father?" Her sisters had vanished long before the Mire's fall, and so had her mother- presumably they were off exploring together somewhere, but she wondered about the two she asked about. Wondered where they may be, and if they were well. Any news was... helpful, she supposed.

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@Odette's words rang true. Aphrodite knew that the family you were born into was not by choice, what mattered to her the majority of the time was the family that she had chosen outside of her blood. You speak the truth. She would muse, glancing to Odette before they started walking again. She began to speak about teamwork, of how it was the only way to bring the large creatures in hunts and Aphrodite would nod her head. Milano, our lead hunter, has been leading quite a bit of our hunts. He is good and enjoys the teamwork of the pride mates that join him. She would compliment the lead hunter.

Why did you not return to the Mire under Zahra's rule? She would ask politely. She was curious, perhaps Odette had fond memories of her father but Luther tainted them. Stopping to watch Odette gather a herb that resided within the Cove. One that Aphrodite didn't collect because of its location. I'm sure you can find her within her den or in the Cove. She hardly saw the Lead Medic leave the Cove, let alone did she see the woman at all. Aphrodite did her own healing.

Aphrodite watches Odette with curiosity and intent as she continues with her collection before speaking again. I believe that no child should be attacked if they haven't done anything. She would admit. Zinnia had done nothing but ask a question. A question that had put her in the position to be attacked and Aphrodite - perhaps without her claws - intervened. That had been the key. She had used claws.

Smart move. She would echo. And then a familiar name echoed in her ear drums and Aphrodite blinked at the woman. Yes I have. When I was living in the Oasis she showed up at our borders, bruised and maltreated. I healed her injuries and claimed her into the pride. She had done all of that to keep Ciara safe and then - little did she know - Luther ended up joining the Oasis after her own departure. As far as I know she still resides there. She would add shortly afterwards.

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