Though she had met the young woman at their hunt for the zebra, Thella was hoping to get to know her a little better in a private setting away from others. She left her den in the quiet morning hours of the Hollows and, nose in the air, sought out @Storm's scent among the many occupying the tunnels. Ah, there it is. Finally able to single it out, she followed it as she worked the sleep from her body.

As it strengthened, she slowed to a stop before reaching the woman's den and chuffed out quietly in greeting, hoping she was already awake so as not to startle her.

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Storm grumbled lowly as her mind began to stir, sensing the dawning of the day even without any rays of sun in sight. Refusing to open her eyes as she chased the last dredges of sleep, she stretched out her paws, extending her claws briefly to let the muscles breathe after stiffening overnight.

A soft padding sound flowing down the hallway, along with a slight scent courtesy of the faintest autumn breeze, alerted Storm to the fact that she would shortly be forced to awaken fully or else feign deeper rest. A quiet chuffing from her guest made her decision and she drug herself to her feet and blinked bleary eyes.

She didn't need the extra sleep so much as she just enjoyed sleeping far more than the process of waking up. With a slight grogginess, she chuffed a greeting back and then called out, "You can come in, I'm up."

Although informality with a sovereign may not be appropriate, she had recognized @Thella ♔'s scent, her brain was still too foggy from sleep to generate her usual high politeness.

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Quiet rustling as the young woman stirred floated into the tunnel from the depths of the den and then her chuff and greeting followed. You can come in, I'm up. She obliged, stepping into the cozy warmth with a smile. "Good morning, @Storm. I hope you don't mind my stopping by so early in the day and I hope even more, you might join me?"

She didn't exactly have a plan for what they would do together, but she figured they would wing it once they got going. Beyond members of the Savante family, she lacked in her relationships with others in the Hollows and more notably, with women. Cosmin was a great best friend of course, but there was something about another woman's perspective that she missed from her time before coming here.

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Storm stood up fully once @Thella ♔ entered her den. For a moment, she admired Thella's beautiful coat and strong body once again, having been quite impressed when they'd met at the hunt, before she responded.

"Good morning, Thella." She replied to the other's verbal greeting as she considered the rest.

"I don't particularly mind you stopping by this early, although I do usually enjoy a longer sleep. I would certainly be interested in joining you, what might we be doing?" Storm asked, deciding that she had no real reason to be offended by the early wake-up call and befriending those with power was rarely harmful.

While Storm had now met many members of the Hollows, she had yet to become close with any of them. She welcomed the opportunity, even if it had not come with the bonus of a potential powerful ally. Storm was not greatly motivated by power, but she did find that it could be very helpful.

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The young woman's response was a little gruff, but she waived it off; she had intruded on her space and sleep. She gestured for @Storm to follow her from the den and into the tunnels, remarking as she led the way, "I thought maybe we could start with a walk and get to know each other? Then we can see where the day takes us."

Beginning their stroll, she glanced over as they passed beneath a dim shaft of light from an opening in the ceiling. Though younger, Storm seemed to have surpassed Thella in size and she had to look up to properly meet her gaze. "I hope you've felt welcome since you arrived?" She remembered all too well how she had felt in the early days of her time in the Hollow. Many members and many of them family; it was all a bit intimidating coming from a small pride herself. None were rude or indifferent, but it was a lot to take in all the same. "Can I ask what brought you to us?"

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Storm followed @Thella ♔ into the tunnels, the residual tiredness from sleep wearing off as she walked. As they passed through a shaft of light, Storm admired the other's beautiful grey coat and realized that they locked eyes. Suddenly uncomfortable, she turned her head to look around. She didn't understand the feeling.

Thella asked if she had felt welcome in the Hollows and Storm nodded. "So far, everyone has been friendly enough. No one has been rude or harsh to me." She answered. "Settling in has been a little difficult, life here is very different than how I grew up. I'm still adjusting to your customs here."

"I was caught by a storm back at my sea-side home pride and swept away here to Amaryllis. Karsa found me in the Passage and offered to let me shelter and recover here in the Hollows." Storm replied to the second question, her eyes drifting out of focus slightly as she recalled the events.

"Did you grow up here? You seem to have settled in very well if not." She asked, turning her head back toward the other lioness. Something about the lioness was messing with her head. She hoped maybe further conversation would help her figure it out.

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"I'm glad to hear it. And please," she smiled, trying to meet the young woman's avoidant eye, "come find me if that ever changes." And she meant it; not that she didn't care before, but now that she held the position she did, it was more important to her than ever.

Through the seriousness, she couldn't control the laughter that bubbled up at mention of the Savante's antics. "Not our customs, but those of the Savante family who, while many in number, are not the only that live here. As evidenced by the two of us. Assuming that's what you mean, of course?"

She listened to @Storm's recounting of her arrival and was overcome with pity. To be thrust from your home and awoken in a foreign land to an unknown stranger must have been frightening. "I'm so sorry for that, Storm. And I'm glad it was Karsa that found you. He's a good young man, which can't be said for all across these lands. Does that mean you won't be here for long?" She knew well what it meant to long for home; if she could go back, she would. Would have long ago, if she was honest. But there was nothing for her to go back to and she had found so much here. So many reasons to stay.

"No, I did not." An apt question, given her thoughts. "I found solace here at Alexander's paws; he graciously welcomed into his home when I needed it most and I have given him—and his family—my loyalty since then." She kept her eyes forward as they walked, not wanting to make the young woman any more uncomfortable.

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Storm forced herself to meet @Thella ♔'s eyes as they spoke, refusing to give in to the strange feelings she was experiencing. She could figure them out later, without risking ruining her burgeoning friendship with the lioness. She nodded in response too the other's assurance, she would certainly speak with Thella about any issues that arose in the future. Inside her chest, her heart throbbed and fluttered at the idea of seeking the lioness out. Storm stomped down on it and acted like she wasn't having a weird response to the other's concern.

Thella clarified that the customs of the Savantes were not the customs of all the residents of the Hollows, which allowed Storm some small relief. She'd been concerned that she would need to learn and obey all of the Savante customs to fully participate in the pride.

Storm watched Thella's face as Storm regaled her with her story and saw that the other's sympathy was real, not offered out of social obligation. Her heart warmed and then froze solid when Thella asked if she would be leaving. "I.." She began and then stopped, her feet coming to a standstill as well. She'd hadn't given it much thought really, hadn't considered that she even could return home. Somehow, the thought held more sadness than happiness. As much as she did miss her home, even her mother despite their many fights, she really liked it here. She felt more at home here, more free from the ties of tradition.

"I don't think I'd try to go back, even if I knew how to. I think... this place has become a new home for me." Storm said softly, vulnerably.

As Thella gave her own story, Storm nodded again. "I want to give them my loyalty as well, for very much the same reasons." She replied.

"So..," Storm began, shifting to a less uncomfortable topic and beginning to walk once again. "What do you usually do around here? I know you're the Sovereign but what does that mean in the sense of daily duties, and what do you do when you're not specifically acting as Sovereign?"

She then followed up her question with more conversation, "I've been looking for more things to do, ways to be more helpful to the pride. I've been checking our the territory and participating in hunts, and observing the others and trying to get to know as many as I can, but it doesn't feel like enough. I don't feel like I fit in yet." She confessed. "I feel like I haven't found my place. Sort of... like a bird finding a stick for it's nest but it doesn't know which spot to put it in yet." She elaborated lamely, ducking her head in embarrassment. She was hardly ever this open to everyone, something about Thella just made her so comfortable, like she could tell her deepest secrets to the lioness, if she had any.

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The young woman trailed off as soon as she began and it took Thella a few paces to realize she had stopped. She turned around with a quizzical brow to see a storm—befitting of her name—in her expression. There must be more going on than she's willing to yet tell. "It's completely understandable," she replied, retracing her steps to sit at her side and reaching to place a paw lightly on her shoulder. "We don't always choose our home. Sometimes, it's a calling and we just know it's right."

@Storm's affirmation of loyalty was both surprising and pleasing. "Good! We're here to help each other thrive. You treat the Savante—and those that aren't—with respect, and you'll receive the same, in kind." She smiled and released her hold, walking once again and relaying her duties. "Patrols, for one. Not only myself, but many of us take frequent walks along the border, ensuring our scent remains strong and that there are no nearby threats." As they were doing now. "I also strive to make sure our members concerns are taken care of. If someone has an issue, I hope they feel comfortable enough to bring it to my, or Alexander's, attention. And when I'm not performing my duties—?"

She had to think about it a bit and, meanwhile, Storm was, conveniently, bringing up a concern of her own. "Haven't found your place, hmm? We must fix that then! Are you much in the way of combat? We always need capable fighters in our ranks and I could show you a few pointers if you'd like?" She paused just as they reached their meeting hall the large spacious cavern that had seen many spars within its walls. Perfect coincidence.

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Storm listened intently as @Thella ♔ confirmed that it was not a bad thing to not feel the pull to return home. It felt like a weight off her chest, a burden she hadn't known she was carrying. She continued listening as Thella continues talking, taking note of the duties that the lioness described. She noticed that the other seemed to have trouble with her question about activities outside of duties, but didn't pursue it as
Thella answered her confession of feeling out of place.
"I know a few tricks, Fighting skills weren't a priority in the way I was raised. I know about enough to try to get myself out of a fight, not even really enough to defend myself. Unless you count hunting skills, I'm decent at that but a wild beast is very different from fighting a lion. I'd really appreciate some pointers." She told the lioness, also noticing the convenient placement of the meeting hall.
"Would you mind giving me some instruction now?" She asked, gesturing to the hall questioningly.

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