If winter had shown her anything, it was that she needed help. Loathe as she was to admit it, but it was the truth. If Rhys hadn't found her in the desert, who knows what would've become of her? And it was because of that knowledge that she had decided to seek out a pride. The first one she'd approached hadn't worked out. Perhaps the second one would.

And that was why the red and white lioness found herself climbing the peak this day. She didn't know ow much about this pride - but if it piqued her interest enough perhaps she'd join it. At least for a little bit. Sitting down outside the borders, Órlaith would send out a summoning call for those who's scents marked the borders. At least both the scents strongest one the markers were distinctly feminine in tones.

Maybe this time would be different.

@Brighid ♔ @Anya ♔

actions. "speech."

Art & Table Code by Zodiac

polite and pretty at her borders. brighid likes that. she approaches with little haste, a leisurely stroll as she drags her side along the pines at the scent line, reinforcing her ownership. the marbled queens wraps herself around a tree, gaze pointedly settled on @Órlaith's splotched face as she approaches. brighid trills in greeting - the sound courteous and stately, her paws crossing one over the other as she finally stops a respectful distance from the sitting woman. the queen blinks away the flurries gathered on her lashes as she hails the stranger with a dip of her head: at your service.

"welcome to the kingdom of illyria," brighid says, pointed teeth prickling at the bottom of her lip as she offers a reserved smile. it is not unfriendly, but does not bare much warmth. @Anya ♔, perhaps, would be better for that with her flaxen pelt and porcelain features (though brighid knows that the empress is also not one to be trifled with). "i hope your journey was not difficult." her gaze flickers to the clouds, heavy with the threat of snow despite spring's grasp over the valley. "what brings you to my borders?"

art by ryuu, code by javs

She would not be kept waiting for too terribly long, as a lioness approached. Her legs were coal-touched, and she held a regal air about her. Perhaps this was one of the queens who ruled this land. Hopefully things would go well, and not disastrously like her previous encounter with royalty. Her curly and fluffy coat was puffed up against the cold, and she had noticed the ease at which she had traversed the still snowy peak.

An ear would flick at the trill of greeting as the other stopped a short distance from her. "Easier than I imagined it would've been. This kingdom intrigues me, to say the least. Does it remain this snowy all year round?" She asked, her thoughts wondering if it stayed this icy cold at all times. However, the topic would soon turn to what brought her to the borders. "I was interested in perhaps joining, if this place suited my fancy." Órlaith said, flicking her tail as she spoke.

@Brighid ♔

actions. "speech."

Art & Table Code by Zodiac

"it only yields to those who are strong enough to make it up through the peaks," morrigan's reminder of the fortress sits heavily in her mind - it sifts out the weak before they can even make it to the border. orlaith's supposed ease of navigating north is a testament to her ability to survive the harshness of what illyria could dole out. "i've not ruled here for long, but i imagine the frosts will gradually lessen as the season change." the queen doesn't expect the mountain to bloom, but it will be nurtured beneath the sun and her hand. "i do hope you like the cold." a small quip, a flicker of ease and her visitor is teased with a tooth lined grin that is gone as quickly as it appeared.

"i am queen brighid and we are a young pride. there is a name and a place for everyone here. all members of the kingdom are expected to work to support yourself and your neighbor," it goes without saying that they are a community. brighid focuses less on herself and more on what the young woman has to offer and if her idealistic society is something that steers her away or piques her interest. "so long as you contribute, attend our gatherings, and do not bring harm to illyria, i am not keen on managing your personal affairs." she pauses there, "if you were to join us, you will be assigned a duty given time to settle in."

there are other ranks among her council, but loyalty, trust and the glint of drawn claws would be needed to take station there. brighid waits patiently, watching @Órlaith's reaction carefully. boasting her kingdom has proven easier than expected and it matches the picture-perfect postcard that she wishes to portray. she stays quiet about the punishment for dissenters and her ideas of eviction that would come for anyone that threatens to shatter the peace she wishes to construct.

regardless, she trusts if orlaith were to join, she would never know the crushing violence of the law.

art by ryuu, code by javs

One could hope that the mountain would at least get a little less harsh in the warmer months. Obviously it had to - otherwise how could a pride even survive up here in the first place? An ear would flick as @Brighid ♔ continued about the pride and the essentials of living there.

"And if for whatever reason, someone doesn't follow these ideals you have set out. What happens to them?" Órlaith asked. She wanted to know all caveats possible with this pride before deciding she wanted to join it. Didn't want to join only to get caught in a problem. "And if someone decides to leave - re then allowed to without fuss?" She added on, curious as to if lions were allowed to leave as they desired.

Regardless - she would not be revealing her true identity to anyone in this pride. Perhaps a small pride would be easier to remain anonymous within... "Rhynne Holt. I'm a Huntress and I'm decently good at tracking things through the land." She said, effortlessly sliding into her alias as she spoke. It was second nature at this point.

actions. "speech."

Art & Table Code by Zodiac

and if for whatever reason, someone doesn't follow these ideals you have set out. What happens to them?

"i would see them escorted from the summit myself." brighid finds it a sufficient enough answer, though there's something dangerous in her gaze that suggests @Órlaith not trifle with her generosity. she will not hesitate to remove the disobedient or anyone that threatens her and anya's reign. "anyone looking to part from illyria may seek an audience with me. this is a pride, not a prison," a community: a quaint little town with white picket fences lined with barbed wire just out of view. she is equal parts diplomat and dictator. "all things can be arranged."

a name is sent her direction and the woman nods curtly, regarding her introduction with importance. perhaps, she was teetering closer and closer to the line of stepping foot into illyria and beginning a new chapter. "rhynne, scouts are valuable in the mountains. we would be thrilled to have you."

and there, she leaves it up to rhynne to sign her name on the dotted line.

art by ryuu, code by javs

Perhaps she could trust this woman, and perhaps she was simply a wolf in sheep's clothing. But the fact that two women ruled this land was already a checkmark in a box on her list of things to look for. "You would not keep someone against their will if they decided that life on the mountain no longer suited them, yes? And if they had nothing to offer in exchange - would you still allow them to leave?" She asked, wanting to make absolutely clear and have @Brighid ♔'s word essentially that if someone did wish to leave that they would not be kept against their will. If that happened to her... well she had friends who would like to see her free from someone's control.

"I have heard tales of prides within these lands that have held lions against their will for no reason than they lived under the previous ruler." Órlaith ("Rhynne") said as she aimed to watch Brighid's face to see the Queen's reaction to her words. Internally, her suspicions would be heightened as she spoke of scouts being valuable in the mountains. What was she hiding? Perhaps she could feed Rhys some information while remaining in this pride.

"Consider yourself to have a new member - if I have your word that should I decide to leave the pride in the future that I will be free to go, no strings attached and no ultimatums." Órlaith would say, wanting to make absolutely certain that if she wanted or needed to leave that she could do so easily.

actions. "speech."

Art & Table Code by Zodiac

"this is not a prison." brighid repeats. rhynne's line of questioning leaves her curious, however, her chin tipping up slightly and a tattered ear flickering upon her head. perhaps it was an old experience that came to haunt her, maybe it was pure caution, or ... rhynne had a knack for trouble that was hidden somewhere beneath the surface of that pretty face.

and then, she mentions other prides having resorted to unsavory behavior and she responds in the negative, "i have no interest in anyone that does not want to be here." lions that were not happy caused more harm than good and brighid was not keen on keeping prisoners for the hell of it. resources eaten, drama, tired eyes. "you need not worry unless you find yourself crossing the summit and its members." its a warning, almost.

"you have my word, rhynne." and brighid is an honest woman. "i only ask that you share your discretions or otherwise with me." she steps aside, opening up the pathway into the territory and exposing the snowy land of her new home. "let's get you settled. i know some warmer dens." its a reference to rhynne's previous question about the weather, and brighid smiles slightly, certain that she would rather somewhere less snow washed.

---

so sorry for the delay! you're welcome to have @Órlaith labeled as a scout <3

art by ryuu, code by javs

She did not make a habit of promising things she did not know. She could not guarantee that she wouldn't get herself into trouble - but she'd do it in such a way to avoid bringing trouble back elsewhere. And without anyone figuring out she truly was in the process.

An ear would flick as she listened to @Brighid ♔ speak that she would not make others stay if the didn't wish to be there. She would hold her to that statement should she ever need to leave the Summit for whatever reason.

"If I ever desire to leave, I will hold you to your word." Órlaith/Rhynne said, flicking her tail as she spoke. As Brighid spoke of knowing warmer dens, she would follow the paler lioness further into the Summit. She would not always be there at her den - and it would simply serve as a basic base if she needed to recover.

-exit Órlaith-

text. "speech."

Art by Drifty | Table code by Zodiac

"hopefully, you will find illyria to your liking," it would mean more if rhynne decided to stay and hone her potential within the kingdom. she seemed desperate to understand that her freedom would be warranted and it is just as suspicious as it is curious. brighid wonders what could have cautioned her so in life, but decided that is a conversation better suited for when their newest scout is settled in. comfortably close, brighid pads alongside rhynne, leading her to the towering peaks of the summit where the stone fortress kept a few particularly rocky dens that would be insulated just enough. welcome home.

/exit

art by ryuu, code by javs