the red rock was brilliant even when it wasn't covered in blood.

she'd been here some time before, nothing but a pale face in an angry audience as the sovereign of the bluffs defended her home. it had been a spectacle to see the woman down the massive man of the plains, as skilled as he was, and it sits at the back of brighid's mind as she approaches. they are both women and savages, unafraid of breaking the mold and protecting what is theirs. there's history written all throughout the crimson dusted ledges and the summit queen wonders what will be told of her and @Anya ♔'s visit this evening.

which would end favorably or in disaster, considering the tell that the wolfbron women were not fond of the mire.

she would not suffer their hate unless it transcended barriers and prides - best to get it out the way now rather than badmouthing and backstabbing.

it was no matter. brighid could weaponize ignorance just as well as she could her own claws.

as the sun begins its descent, brighid peers back over her shoulder at the blaze of orange streaking the sky. soon as they concluded this visit, they could begin the trek to the summit before their path was left studded by nothing but starlight. a curt nod to the empress as she awaits any word from her first before she calls to the leaders of the bluffs.

@Louve ♔ @Elaine ♔no fear before the fire, creature of desire
true as mary magdalene

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY JAVS

Her husband had many enemies, a consequence of his ability to wield power, she thought. She simply did not imagine she would be walking to their doorstep. It was only fortunate she carried the scent of the Summit now.

Even now, she recalled how quickly she was attacked when the murk of the mire wafted off her fur. She did not have particularly high hopes for this meeting, but all the same she recognized its importance. The alliances of the great prides of Amaryllis had shaped the valley many times before. It would be unwise for them not to also take part.

Already she began to think. Perhaps, however, there was still something to gain from this.? Remember, she whispered beneath her breath. We seek non-aggression if nothing else. It seemed to be the best outcome for now.

I am the killer
in your mirror

He trailed the pair of ruling women of the Summit like a silent shadow. Just far enough back not to be caught - but close enough to keep an eye on them and the goings on. As he crept upward, his hide covered in a faint layer of mud to dull the otherwise brilliant shine of his coat.. the red clay and dust helping him to blend in with the terrain... he frowned at @Anya ♔'s caution to his mother.

Lips peeled back in a silent snarl as his mental eyeroll was near loud in the silence. Who did she think she was cautioning @Brighid ♔ in the ways of negotiation? As if his mother wasn't of sound mind enough to sus out for herself what it was they were here for. He kept silent, however, his silver gaze narrowing on the Sovereign. Perhaps he would bend his mothers ear about her at a later date. Find out where she really stood within the hierarchies of the Summit.


Rhesk is attempting to hide

---

+10 Learn something about pride/group/family relations
+5 Study the landscape of an area
+5 Infiltrate a group thread without getting caught

table by ryuu

there had never been a true alliance between the bluffs and the summit and yet she had not been overjoyed to see morrigan fall. the woman had long earned louve's respect, even if they stood on opposite sides of an age old war; the dieudonne was smart enough to recognize it was not truly her feud to carry. so while they had never promised anything to eachother she had not mind the woman's rule, appreciating a woman in power at all, let alone one with such significant skill on the battlefield.

so there is a caution etched in her bones when she approaches the borders to find not one but two faces of the summit, women she had seen over the years but knew overall quite little of. not enough to form a strong opinion one way or another, but enough to face the meeting with some level of hesitance.

"welcome to z'e bluffs," all the same her greeting is measured and calm, easily donning the political smile for now. "i am louve." though surely they already knew that.

beyond this she is quiet, waiting for the inevitable explanation, wondering if @Elaine ♔ would join this little gathering or not.

@Anya ♔ @Brighid ♔

ooc:

The scent of Illyeria had him moving rather briskly towards its source, he did not know where they stood be he would be six feet below before he allowed chaos to greet his cousin without him beside her. @Louve ♔ had arrived before he did and like a red snake he slid into view, silent while yellow eyes flicked between the two women. His nostrils flaring to take in their scents, and to try and see if he could smell anyone else. Remaining in a standing position at his cousins left flank giving her enough distance needed to launch an assault or defense if needed. The Gentry was silent finding no need to introduce himself unless asked, they had asked for Louve, not him.



Tripfire is standing guard at Louve's left flank as his is duty (he thinks)

ART BY ARTIST, CODE BY LARS

anya's discretion does not fall on deaf ears. brighid does not want to inherit an enemy out of affiliation, but she also does not wish to stomach disrespect for the sake of saving face. it's a difficult balance for the woman made warrior and before the marbled snow cat can say anything more, the queen of the bluffs is arriving before them.

non-aggression, brighid reminds herself, especially as the hound arrives to take station at the sovereign's side. icy eyes slip to the red guard for a moment, but she does not move, only inhaling a breath sharply. she eats up his posture, his proximity to louve, the scars grazing his pelt before the word rattles in her mind again - non-aggression.

her tail tosses, sweeping against the empress' flank in silent warning.

watch him.

"thank you," brighid turns her attention back to the yellow gaze of the dieudonne queen. so far, she had nothing but polite, if a bit short. "i am queen brighid and by my side is empress @Anya ♔. we have come to introduce ourselves as the summit's newest rulers." an oversized fang pricks at her lip as she pauses. "a kingdom shrouded in mystery often does not gain much favor. we are here to rid of ourselves of any ambiguity."

brighid metaphorically exposes her wrist, allowing the bluffs lioness the opportunity to inquire any and everything of them. they will not hide, they will not lie, but brighid will also not spare her fangs if others are bared. a glimpse of a smile is offered to @Louve ♔, fleeting and tight-lipped - much too formal to be considered warm.

---

@Tripfire @Elaine ♔

ice, please don't be discouraged to get elaine in! just wanna keep the thread flowing.no fear before the fire, creature of desire
true as mary magdalene

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY JAVS

My prey is praying. There's no escaping.
I'm the Hunter. You're the HUNTED!

Of all the things that Elaine wasn't used to, being summoned by leaders at their borders wasn't high on the list. It wasn't common, most stayed away for one reason or another. Mostly they all already knew each other and had fought in some war or raid or something. Lines were set and few crossed those lines. This voice was new and Elaine kept to the shadows at first. Watching as Tripfire came up next to Louve. She allowed him to take her spot as she listened, learning. The new leader to the Summit. Isla's mothers had not been able to hold the Summit any longer, leaving the Bluffs to truly be the longest-standing pride.

After hearing what was said, she moved from her shadows and came to stand on Louve's free side. Welcome. I am Elaine. My sister and I... she dips her head toward Louve lead Wolfbron. She watched the pair closely. Tell us about yourselves and what you see for the Summit. You both have stepped into a role that many have hungered after for many years. Did they know the number of hounds that had been after the crowns they now wore? Did they know the history of the Summit? She wasn't sure she had seen either of them around very much, unable to firmly put their faces or names to any event.

table & image by ryuu