She'd been training for this, preparing ever since the first inklings of a plan had come to her mind. She'd never had anything that she'd earned for herself, always riding on the tails of others. Not that she'd minded serving as ruler beside Alizabeth all those years ago, but she hadn't earned it. Now she wanted to. It was the final rub in the face of her Casimir heritage, which had said for so long that she was lesser just because... why, she lacked balls? She'd like to see a man try to give birth. Not that she'd done that either, but still.

She'd almost set off out of the Bluffs in pursuit of her goal that morning, when she remembered the metaphorical chains that bound her. Dys was never particularly good with rules, but in this case she supposed she needed to make an exception. So she'd left the pride with another goal in mind, returning hours later hauling her quarry, one of the dama gazelle's unique horns clutched in her jaws. It wasn't the Dieu's preferred meal, unfortunately, but she'd had to make do on short notice and in what she could drag up to the Bluffs by herself.

Dragged being the key (and literal) word there.

She sat down beside it to catch her breath, not wanting to appear out of sorts, and only once she had did she part her jaws and call for the reigning ladies, so respected by family, pride, and the lands alike. Or at least, they had better be.

@Louve ♔ @Elaine ♔

@Dysnomia

if there was one thing she disliked about the bluffs it was their penchant for attracting the most ambitious. while louve promoted it, encouraging it in the public eye, she loathed losing those same abitious members when they sought their own crowns. it was inevitable, most of the time, and yet when Dysnomia calls for her she does not expect it.

perhaps it was because the woman had been here for so long that she seemed as much a part of the bluffs as louve herself. or, perhaps, it was merely wishful thinking, that one who had lived her so long would be content to stay.

still she comes and greets her with a chuff, shifting her gaze only briefly to the prize at her paws. then she sits and waits, trusting that dysnomia would not keep her waiting long.

She was patient. Near infinitely so. Eight years of patience. And really, what had it gotten her? A mate that had never truly been hers, now gone, a family the same way. Nothing to speak of, save for this place really, the bluffs that she had called home for years now, but that would also never truly accept her because she was not and never could be Dieudonne. It rankled, and yet she was also resigned to it. Always she looked up to other women, never was she the one looked up to.

That would change.

It was Louve that came to her, causing her head to bow in deference to the matriarch and high sovereign. A gift, for you, she said, gesturing towards the gazelle she had brought. I know it isn't your preferred meal, but I hope it will suit. And if it didn't then, well, let the rest of the pride have it. She didn't care what @Louve ♔ did with it after this.

I've found myself a bit... restless, lately, she continued, not about to waste the woman's precious time. That wouldn't earn her any points, and she would need all of those she could get. I was to be more useful to the pride, and to the Dieudonne. As I see it, the best way to do so would be to eliminate the stronghold of one of our enemies. I was considering the Lagoon, as I was born there, but perhaps the Mire would be a better choice. I would disguise my scent, of course, so if I failed the retribution would not fall back upon the Bluffs. Only there did she pause before she offered one last thing, Unless you've a better idea of where and how my skills can be used. She was a sleuth after all, skilled in espionage and information gathering. Perhaps there was some way she could be better utilized.

Elaine was a little late to the call, she had been on her way back from a hunt and arrived as quickly as she could. She arrived to hear what @Dysnomia had to say and she felt her heart sink a bit. The lioness had been around as long as Elaine could remember and it was harder and harder to find those who had been. While Elaine knew they weren't related, the darkness of their pelts and the spots that covered them both likely gave that look to anyone who was an outsider to the family.

The Mire is a greater threat to us than the Lagoon. The Rike will likely come for us soon. She wouldn't say no to the Lagoon if @Dysnomia truly wanted it. As much as she had tried, Isla seemed content with pushing her away and thus, pushing away any protection or control that Elaine might have been able to have to keep things away from the Lagoon.

If it is a pride you are looking for, go for it, but if it is helping the pride to be aware of what is coming, having someone within the Mire who can tell us what is going on would be very helpful. Elaine glanced in the general direction of the Mire. A spy within their ranks would help them greatly. It wouldn't come without risks. She looked back to the older lioness. She didn't want to place any of her members in harm's way if she didn't have to but she also knew that those within her ranks were some of the toughest around.

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Louve's gaze flicks once more to the offered give with a small tip of her head, a silent thanks. There seemed to be no need for further acknowledgement, though her lips do twist in a wry grin as @Dysnomia recognizes their preferred diet.

Then, thankfully, she does not waste time. Launching in to what she had called this little meeting for, which hardly surprised the queen. As loathe as she was to see such a loyal member gone she admired the ambition. @Elaine ♔, of course, is there; and she has thoughts of her own to add to the discussion.

"Ma sister ees right -- the Mire ees more of a threat to us. I do not trust the Rike, and I am also wary of 'ow close z'ey are to z'e Brook." There was plenty she wished to know from inside the pride, and having a spy in place was... appealing.

"Both options come with risks -- attacking Luther will place a target on your back of course, but were you to be unearthed as a spy... I expect z'e target would be just as significant, assuming you could escape unscathed." Of course there was a fervent gleam in the queen's eye, eager for all the possibilities, but she would not make this decision for her. Dysnomia would have to decide her own path, here.

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She hadn't exactly expected to get both of the sisters in response to her call, but she couldn't say she was opposed to the attention. Of course, she dutifully bowed her head to @Elaine ♔ as well, ears pressing forward as both spoke. As she had presumed, they both spoke of favoring retribution towards the Mire over the Lagoon. Truth be told, she wasn't interested in ruling over the Mire. It was dark, full of muck, and she had no doubt that even if she was victorious over Luther he would just come back again and again until she tired or, more likely, he caught her on an off day. But the other idea proposed...

A wicked smirk settled on her lips as she nodded in agreement. Then it will be done. She was almost touched by their concern, though it did occur to her that it could simply be from a place of not wishing for fallout to hit the Bluffs. If she did this correctly, though, then not only would the Mire lions never know of her subterfuge but even if they did it wouldn't be traced back to the Bluffs. She would make sure of that.

I am not your Lead Scout for nothing. I will be careful with my infiltration, she replied. And should he place a target on my back, it shall be on mine and mine alone. A promise in no uncertain terms that regardless of what happened, the Dieudonne sanctuary would stand unscathed.

@Louve ♔

Elaine may never really understand the depth of fire she was playing with as she listened to her sister and @Dysnomia. Sending someone to spy on Luther was a bit crazy but it wasn't the worst thing, right? If she was uncovered, would there be anything they could do to save her? She had been a member for a long time and as Elaine looked her over she couldn't help the feeling of dread but it was also something they really could use. Knowledge of what was going to come their way would allow them to finally be ready before things get spun up.

If you are sure. We would be in your debt. Elaine wanted to make sure that she knew that they would find a way to pay her back, she wasn't sure how but Elaine would figure it out. She looked toward the Badlands. Meet me in the badlands in three months. No matter what you have learned. Elaine wanted to make sure that Dysnomia was doing ok and that would be needed even if there was nothing to share. At least to see her, check her over, and send her on her way. We will need to be careful even in our meetings to not share more than needed but I will want to see that you are well. She looked at Louve, her sister seemed ok with the plan but did she share any of the same concerns?

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Louve is quiet for a moment, contemplative, weighing the pros and cons of such a significant mission. "You'll need to be free of z'e bluff smell, per'aps spend some nights in z'e freelands." To be extra sure, though she trusted that @Dysnomia was smart enough to figure that out. "You 'ave lived 'ere a long time, Dys. 'e may recognize you, but I 'ope not. You might want to use another name, even, oui?" Anything to keep her safe.

"Not z'e badlands," she says to @Elaine ♔, "they're too open. Z'e hidden grove, per'aps, be'ind z'e waterfall?" Surely they both knew of the place, and Louve wanted to be certain they would not be found. Or at least less likely to be. "Eef you do not come we will assume z'e worst -- t'ree months from z'is day."

And they would go from there, assuming all was going well.

I am certain, she promised @Elaine ♔. Another name? That was surprisingly simple enough. Daeva Casimir, she answered smoothly. A name originally given to her sister, but one she would now claim for herself. Her surname, dug up from the grave she had buried it in to be worn as a cloak. Any who knew the name wouldn't question the falsities that would come out of her mouth about believing men to be superior, something she knew the Rike believed in fervently. It was hers by birthright but she had shunned it for so long that it was odd coming off of her tongue.

The Badlands- no, the grove. She nodded in response to @Louve ♔'s words, wondering just what would happen if she didn't show for the meeting. Would she simply be presumed lost, perhaps briefly mourned and then forgotten about, or dismissed for being so foolish as to be discovered? She wasn't going to find out. I choose to believe he's too focused on himself and his own family to recognize me, she replied, though of course she would be wary. She would have to spend some time while she waited for her scent to fade to consider what she would say if he did recognize her.

I will see you in three months, she promised the pair, unwilling to even consider the alternative, as if by not doing so she could keep it from happening. And then she turned to leave the barriers of the pride that had now been her home for years, at least leaving on a mission and not in the midst of a storm, like those who had chased her from the Lagoon several times.

-exit Dysnomia-

Elaine nodded at her sister's input and change of location. Somewhere they could talk would be better and not just a life check that Elaine had been thinking of. She would go alone, not pulling Louve into this and making it harder on her sister. She also wanted to make sure that her sister remained safe if Dysnomia ended up being followed.

Elaine locked the name away with a nod. She could only hope that the lioness was right, that the Rike had been focused on other things and not the members of the Bluffs. Not the markings that the lioness in front of her shared with her mother. Those markings were well known now but she could only hope that it could be explained away.

She nodded. Thank you. It seemed right to thank the lioness for the risk she was taking for the pride. I will see you soon. She watched her leave, something heavy settling over her. I hope this goes well. She speaks softly to @Louve ♔. She wasn't sure she wanted the lionesses' death hanging over her and knew that if they had a spy in their own ranks, she would not hesitate to kill them. She doubted it would be different for those within the Mire.

exit

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