Memories whirled about her tortured mind. Those she'd found to follow dissipated among distant thoughts, shrouded within mystery of their convenient disappearance. Now she wracked herself with thoughts of mischief, finding her herb stash dried within the hanging thicket, where she curated her poisons among the thickly knit plants, shielded from the elements as neatly as if she harbored inside a cave.

Walking across frozen lands felt far different than the thicket she'd come to think of as home. Here the world felt harsh, secreting nothing but cold unto the world, whispering promises of death should one find themselves lost. Here she strove against the chilled air under cloudy skies. Each step forward felt surreal, the landscape plummeting below until Amaryllis felt inconsequential.

It was @Brighid ♔'s scent she followed among the cold shelves of mountain's rugged terrain. Months ago they'd met, found intrigue in one another. Deep desirous petulance shivered across her lips those months ago; promises of bringing Brighid's enemies to task, without knowing the woman, carried her across this mountain top.

Perhaps her Viking soul found kinship within the pale woman. A mirror-image carved across a pretty canvas, exuding power through a confident pose of supple flesh. Such that haunted her dreams.

Gunnhildr stepped onto the borders of Illyria Summit, recognising boundaries when she smelt them; the odor mixed with Brighid's, a curious observation. A barked greeting left her throat, beckoning those who played various leadership roles to meet her.

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"Nullam sodales posuere leo, sed dictum magna feugiat eget.”


The fuck was that? His head twisted, glancing over his shoulder to view behind him before his body followed the motion and he turned around. Ears perked forward as his head lifted alertly, listening to the silence as the barking greeting echoed on the mountains. His brow rose and he moved back the way he had came, back towards the sound that sounded like a…well..he didn’t know what it was. A choking cat? He’d never heard a lion bark.

It beckoned others to it, but it sought leadership. It didn’t matter, he wanted to know what made the sound and he was supposed to guard the borders…what if this was a threat at their borders? For all he knew- it was.

Sadly, when he got within sight of the creature, he was left disappointed. It was a lioness. Pale peach in color and obviously not a threat as she stopped directly on the borders. He sighed inwardly, the heavy breath coming out in a large white puff as he lowered his skull and prowled forward, a slight curl to his lips. His curiosity was satisfied, and now? Now he had to work.

Ugh.

"What do you want?" He asked, firm, not unkind but not polite either. The tone gave the distinct impression he had better things to do right then, which he did, sleeping in his den, or even just lounging in the snow was better than this. The massive, white and grey beast came to a stop, directly in front of her, blocking her from the pride lands.


@Gunnhildr

Some pretty quote

XOXOXOXOX

code by corvus

A large creature displaced itself from the snowy backdrop, coming towards her position on the borders. Pale honeyed eyes observe a large lion, nothing gargantuan or important about him, though he walked with authority at the border, blocking her view from the mountainous pride land beyond. Brows drew down, unimpressed by the younger man’s ability to effectively keep her from spying others across the boundary, lest she move to one side or another.

Lips blow out a huff, tail snapping behind her curvaceous form as she considers the man. ”Where’s Brighid?” That was who she’d sought, tracked through the lands to this very summit. More concerned over the woman’s whereabouts than what this man could do for her, she eyed the large man suspiciously, wondering if he was trying to hide something with his body. Whoever @Styrling thought to protect only irritated her further, wishing to scar his face so that he would remember who Gunnhildr was over his prideful indifference to her arrival.

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"Nullam sodales posuere leo, sed dictum magna feugiat eget.”


The lioness did not seem pleased that he had blocked her from viewing and moving into the territory. Good. If anything, it irked her and that made him happy. He was being a good guard. Honey gaze met green eyes and he smiled slightly.

The woman would seek @Brighid ♔ and his brow raised. "She’ll come when she can." He answered, tone polite but not necessarily friendly. He shifted, so he wasn’t calling directly into her face and he chuffed, beckoning for one of the rulers to come. The colossal sentinel turned back to the woman. "In the meantime, what are your intentions here?" He asked, playing the part of guardian, while he really just wanted to finish his rounds so he could lay in his den or bask in the remains of snow. This was…not on his list of things he wanted to be doing.


@Gunnhildr

Some pretty quote

XOXOXOXOX

code by corvus

witch, martyr, zealot, assassin - woman. there were many a thing that brighid could call @Gunnhildr. between the sultry intensity and danger that was her craft, the queen had been delightfully charmed into the spider's web, sending prayers to a god who she knew so little of. any a deity to be worshipped and hailed with such praise must have been worthy - and in exchange for future blood spilled, her soul at the end of all things, brighid had found knowledge and encouragement to conquer in the palm of gunnhildr's hand. "she is welcome here," the queen says as she arrives from behind the man, seeking to carefully brush her shoulder along his side as she comes to a halt beside him. its an acknowledgement, quiet praise, hidden in the brief raspy curl of a purr. the porcelain queen does not dissuade him otherwise, quite pleased with his patrolling although she is blind to styrling's loathing of working. "gunnhildr," a greeting that is cool, casual as she shifts her attention to the peach furred woman. she is nowhere near as defensive as the fated day that they had met where the woman curated poisons that could undoubtedly drop her to her knees. "i ask that you don't curse @Styrling." there was power in the tongue and behind those sharp, angles features brighid imagines that it also lies within her fangs. and after a moment's pause, her lips twitch into a simper, whiskers flittering. "i did it." the mountain, her path, her truth, her destiny: she earned it. she bled for it.

art by drifty, code by javs

Persistence held on the edge of the young lion's ability to impede her quest to find the woman she'd met, and found intrigue in, months ago. Eyes flashed a warning, not unused to bloodshed by her hands. She's here, then. Confirmation of the woman's whereabouts came with the nonchalant gesture the younger lion offered, impatience brewing underneath for the stranger's persistence to bother her. "To join her." Why else would someone of Gunnhildr's pedigree waver on the borders of a pride land?

Just as she thought about carving a piece of @Styrling's flesh from their bones, there came the ghostly woman herself. A queen who'd taken the sip of Odin's bitter promises and taken what was always promised to them without the wretchedness of a man's inhibitions. Lips curl in an unexpected, genuine manner at @Brighid ♔'s welcome, level gaze casting back momentarily to Styrling before the summit queen's voice disrupted things again.

Laughter tumbles from her lips, a bitter tasting thing sounding raspy without much use. "Worry not, he is safe, for now." Wicked gaze falls upon the younger man once more, though she doesn't dislike the man, for all that he'd done his duty deterring her from the pride's entrance, but now there are two women with matters to attend.

"Congratulations," past times she'd cheered with youthful enthusiasm for men to rule various lands, before she'd found they were all sickly mules. Now she coveted those women who dared to overpower those who felt superior to the feminine sex and gender. Brighid stood as proof they were every bit as powerful as any masculinity before them.

"You're a true viking. I've come to join your clan, and pledge my loyalty to you." It would be a first. Gunnhildr roamed free of ties for all the years she'd remained among Amaryllis's lands, changing that felt surreal, outside the realm of her fickle fealties before this, before Brighid.

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"Nullam sodales posuere leo, sed dictum magna feugiat eget.”

The woman would explain that she was here to join the pride and he nodded, "very well." He had no such sway as to grant her that so unfortunately for him, he would have to wait with her until the Queen or someone with those powers arrived. Thank the stars, he didn’t have to wait long.

‘She is welcome here’ The words came forth just as the Queen brushed against his side, the feeling…uncomfortable. The oversized snow cat shifted back, taking two long strides in reverse to give them ample space to…do whatever they were doing. He regarded them curiously, a lazy glint in his eyes as he sat his rump on the cold ground. At least he didn’t have to guard anything now. @Gunnhildr was her name, his brow lifted with surprise at what the Queen said- not to curse him.

Green gaze flicked to the strange woman, regarding her with another wariness now. Was she a witch, did she delve in curses and blessings, or just the former? Would she curse him? He relatively managed to hide the tension that formed in his shoulders, as well as the sudden relaxation of that tension when she said he was safe, for now. Thank the stars. He didn’t want to be cursed. @Brighid ♔ would breathe that she had done it, and he looked away, pretending he wasn’t there, this was obviously a private moment. He should perhaps leave (nothing he would rather do than that). The stranger would pledge herself to their cause (Brighids cause, not his). After a moment, he would clear his throat.

"So you don’t curse lions?" He asked, working up the nerve to get a direct answer (hopefully). Then his gaze would shift to Brighid, wondering if she was going to dismiss him. "I’m sure you two have some catching up to do. I’d be honored to show Gunnhildr around afterwards?" No, he really wouldn’t…but wasn’t he supposed to ask? To offer his services? He just happened to be doing so in a way that they were likely to reject.

Some pretty quote

XOXOXOXOX

code by corvus

there is humor, pride and relief alike - a slew of emotions that she had not expected in this one, simple visit. @Styrling is spared and she is graced with the presence of another comrade. their meeting had been short, yet intentional, her fealty sworn to a god she had never known, her curiosity and trust in this divine intervention placed in @Gunnhildr's capable paws. the woman is still a mystery to her, but amaryllis has been a journey and brighid is certain that eventually, they would unwrap the layers of scorn and shame and anger that had left them different and yet so alike. again, brighid finds this place has changed her. loneliness was becoming a thing long forgotten. gunnhildr swears allegiance to her and brighid responds in turn with a low dip of her head. it is an honor to be both accepted into the fold of odin and found worthy of being in command. "the kingdom of illyria is pleased to have you." i am happy to have you, its unspoken, but the curl of her lips is genuine, grateful, at introducing yet another to the fold. "we are young, growing - building a foundation of unity and strength," they have yet to stand as a force to outsiders, as quiet as things have been since her rule, but that never lasted long. did it? "i am certain we can find a suitable place to harvest your wares." as unforgiving as the mountain was, life thrived. as styrling pipes up from behind them, concerned, still at the premise of being cursed, brighid's lips flicker briefly into an entertained simper. he had been obedient thus far, but she supposes if he is ever out of line, an appearance from the bronze lioness would set him straight. she will leave it to gunnhildr to address his question, though brighid is content to allow the maiden to her own devices in this right. "yes, thank you. i will see that gunnhilder settles in comfortably." relief for styrling, a small sign of appreciation at his aptitude. wallflower, pls feel free to have gunn set to whatever occupational rank you feel suits her best. smoooch.

art by drifty, code by javs

Often she is painted as a witch, melded into being through the tales of others who find her interests quite appealing towards that sort of oddity. Yet she is no witch, Odin would forsake such delving into black arts, lest she were a seer, and a seer she is not.

Before the witness of the young lion there is allegiance pledged tried and true to Brighid - who had found herself ruler of a country through endeavors of glory. This gives Gunnhildr faith within the pallid woman, drawn to her side as a steadfast employee, as mentioned by the matriarch. "The soils are good here." Higher altitudes meant little grew, but within the valleys of the summit heralded fertile loam. "Wherever you should need them, my skills are yours to use." Fealty meant she would die upon the pyre before forsaking Brighid, something she'd not foreseen within her path. Time changed all things for better or worse, perhaps this would develop into a mutual betterment for both their lives.

Frothy brown gaze shifts to @Styrling as he inquires about curses, something that causes a brass laugh from Gunnhildr's throat. "Not in the way you think." How she adored leaving room for interpretation within answers, to always leave others wondering about her.

There is catching up to do, thus she grasps Styrling's invitation to converse with Brighid, though is not opposed to the youth showing her the layout of this new found home. "As you please. I'd like to know where the important things are." -exit via conversation & following Styrling around the pride lands?-

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