Elaine watched them keenly, aware of the smaller things they were doing and how they were with each other. @Lathan arrives and she gives a small nod. It's a shame he ended up on Icefang's side of things, she didn't mind looking at him when he was around. Useful for that it would seem. @Thella ♔ was next but it was @Nazar's reaction to her title that earned him a long look. Only if it's at the end of a fight. Her reply was even but held the slightest hint of amusement. No one had ever bowed to her because of her rank, she always made them bow at the end of her teeth or claws. Another arrived, it was clear they knew each other but Elaine had no idea who the male was. His scent was from the plains but Elaine had mostly stayed away from there.

The female of the bunch turned away from the males and focused on the gathering of those offering lands. She eyed the males for a moment before returning her focus to @Kyra. Wolfbron Bluffs is led by myself and my sister. My family has ruled the lands for many years now. We are a female-driven pride. We tend to be in plenty of fights and do not have any need for any who can't offer the pride of something to help either by fighting, healing, or hunting. Beyond that, we offer the same thing as every other pride. A place to live, food, and protection. She looked toward the other two that had gathered. Elaine knew that her home offered a lot more but it wasn't for everyone and she didn't want everyone either. She wanted the best.

ART

Silver gaze absorbed the interactions with interest. Thirsty for whatever knowledge he could glean from the ones he had approached- and those that offered their homes. @Thella ♔ came and offered the tunnels, he resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose. He couldn’t imagine wanting to live in tunnels, he didn’t mind the dens for the most part but to be surrounded by earth all the time? No thanks. He glanced to the group gathered, but he didn’t get to assess their reactions for long before a Plains lion appeared. Lathan looked him over, he was older, but he was also massive. He spoke, but it was names that were picked up by pointed ears, causing him to turn back to the two males. He knew them. Well…that was unfortunate for him. He couldn’t resist the smirk that tugged at his lips though as the others greeting the Plains lion. They were kin. It made sense that they would all go to the Plains and the banter between them was simply amusing. It was the woman that would turn and speak to them, seeking more information about the prides that sought them. Elaine spoke of the Bluffs, to which he listened to casually, but with interest. Then it was his turn. "Much like the Bluffs, we are ruled by a woman as well. She came from the Bluffs before taking her own pride. The Brook is not made for the weak either, we expect everyone to pull their weight." Aside from topography, the Bluffs and Brook were not so different. He left out that those of the Brook weren’t cannibals like those in the bluffs, that wasn’t his secret to tell. @Kyra @Nazar @Roman @Elaine "Speech."

Art by Rabbit and code by Shazaki

Thella noted she wasn't the last to arrive, gaze flicking to the man who came shortly behind her. The unmistakable scent of the Plains clung to him. Ghyslaine... I wonder how she's doing, she mused silently, filing it away as a mental note to inquire before they parted ways. It didn't take long to discern his connection to the newcomers, either. The instant recognition in their eyes, the greeting exchanged, and the simple, yet significant moniker: brother.

Their reunion naturally took the spotlight for a moment, but Thella's attention shifted when @Kyra turned her back on the scene, addressing the pride representatives with her own purpose. Thella listened politely as @Elaine and @Lathan spoke, absorbing the political nuances that, until recently with her ascension, she had ignored. The Bluffs, ruled by two queens, and the Brook, which shared a notable tie. She wondered how privy Alexander was to these connections.

When her turn came, she smiled brightly. "Obsidian resides beneath that large mountain," she began, gesturing toward the peak just visible beyond the nearby range. "We live under the leadership of Alexander Savante, with myself at his side. We welcome many into our fold and have been fortunate to enjoy a time of peace, undisturbed by much outside influence—if that's something that appeals to you." Her gaze swept to the men behind Kyra, who seemed to have dismissed the proceedings in favor of their own interests. Her smile remained but there was a measured shift in her tone as she added, "Everyone can find their own purpose there, should they choose to stay."

@Ilarion ♔ @Roman @Nazar

art by moogle, code by lars

@Roman is the first to speak, and Ilarion - near-forgetting that there were other lions outside of his kin even present at his point - would focus on him, returning the grin with a lopsided one of his own. "The alternative was dying young, brother." His attention slid down the dark frame of the younger brute, landing pointedly on the bare whip-like appendage that was supposed to be a tail. Yikes. He'd be sure to make a few barbs about that later, when they were away from strangers. For now, there were more pressing matters to attend to. @Kyra pointedly refrained from speaking to him, which would have caused drastic offense - and it still stung, a little - if Ilarion hadn't been so well-versed in the ways of the Rurik. She didn't seem to want to be here, or even want to be with the boys. She must be a prize of theirs. Their rituals were unconventional to some, but for the clan it worked and so Ilarion would not question it. She did not look hurt, or particularly downtrodden, so he didn't think he had to probe into the ethics of the arrangement. Judging by her sharpness, it was more likely that she had them scuttling around scared, and not the other way around. @Nazar came in close, and Ilarion jostled his shoulder up against that of his younger sibling with the sort of agreeable warmth reserved only for kin. I've missed you both. "Fortunate I did not crumple to dust before you could find me, then," Ilarion rumbled, appreciative of the fact. His attention slid back to the unfamiliar lioness as Nazar introduced her. "Ah. That makes sense." For a moment, his attention settled back on Roman. Lucky boy. Then it shifted to @Kyra. She might not want to know him, but he would not be so rude as to speak about her instead of to her. And so he sidestepped back toward the other representatives, waiting for a pause in the conversation. He would address her, just as the others had. "I am Ilarion Rurik of Lorien Plains." 'Noble' wasn't mentioned here - he imagined the boys would scoff at the frilly title, and for a split second he was a dashing young soldier trying to impress his little brothers and sisters again. Swiftly, Ilarion would move on. "The Plains pride is led by Queen Ghyslaine and her council. There are plenty of opportunities to climb the ranks, if that appeals to you. Merit is based on what you can give back to the group. Laziness is not welcomed, but you don't strike me as the idle type." He got the sort of vibe from her that, perhaps, appealing to an ambitious nature might serve him well here.

But what did he know?

"What's your name?"

ART BY NORTHFOXX — CODE