He had never been a sand cat. Perhaps the farthest thing from it, preferring the rocky terrain of a mountainside rather than the soft sands of a beach, but Roan knew he needed to know more about these lands. The fogs revealed a path that lead to a beach. Black sand seemed to stretch for miles, but what caught his attention most was the rocky outcroppings along the tidepools. The closest thing he might find to mountains for the time being, it felt nearly instinctual to climb over the uneven surfaces. One could never forget their origins, right? And as he navigated over the boulders, the Hodari remained vigil to his surroundings. Even if he was not keen to indulge in the luxuries of swimming in the waters at the moment, the boulders did provide a nice vantage point to see what all this coastal region had to offer. Now if he could just find use in this information.

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by WolvesWoodGlenAdopts | Background from unsplash

It had been hard to get away from her betrothed. But she explained she wanted to explore, and begrudgingly he’d allowed her to go. So she’d made her way upon the beach. Finding the blackened rocks soon, and after a few moments, spying a male upon them. Hesitantly, she would approach, and she chuffed. Curious as to why he was standing in them, rather than indulging in the pools, as many likely would. She did not speak, instead standing several feet from him and looking at their surroundings. It was certainly pretty here. Head tilting as she looked at the other, in a way giving him the side eye. Though not in a rude way. Hoping this was a nice man, and she’d not stumbled upon someone who’d want to hurt her.

@Roan

we get colder... as we grow older

manip by Rowan | code by twesh

He analyzed the coast for little more than simply the desire to learn it's layout. Information, even just the most basic of details, was important to know in such a new and foreign land. Going into the last exodus, at least there had been history known already from Copree and stories passed down in the generations. Here, though? It was a blank slate.

Roan's surveying would be briefly interrupted, however, when a chuff came his way. At first glance, he thought it was Faelyn, but it didn't take more than a second more to realize it was a stranger. Even with all the lions who had migrated from his homelands, this woman was yet a figure he had never seen before. Perhaps a native? In any case, maybe she was worth greeting if only to see what she knew about these lands.

Returning the chuff, the Hodari carefully made his way back down the boulders. His large and fluffy frame remained neutral in posture as his gaze remained mostly on the uneven terrain until he was close enough to converse. "Hello," he offered with a small nod, sounding polite enough to not raise concern.

@Pistis

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by WolvesWoodGlenAdopts | Background from unsplash

The man scrambled over from the rocks, coming at a normal pace. His returning chuff neutral. Though Pistis was still somewhat tense, she did not let it show in her large frame. Although, much like her betrothed, he still towered over her by quite a bit. His eyes continued to scan the horizon, even as he spoke to her. She paused for several moments before speaking, “hello.” Her tone was polite. Having mimicked his own words right back to him. Though she wasn’t sure what exactly to say, and so she looked back to the rocks and sea beyond it.

“If I may ask… what are you doing here?” A few heartbeats passed, before she clarified, assuming he may have a question, “Not that this is my territory or anything. I’m just curious.” Pistis wondered if he would humor her or become defensive. Time would tell. She’d spoken quite a bit, for a quiet creature such as herself. Allowing the taller man to do the talking. Her heavily scarred hindquarters met the sand as she sat, tail and subsequent blue tail tip curling around her pristine white paws. Making sure to keep the other in her peripherals as she looked at the sea.

@Roan

we get colder... as we grow older

manip by Rowan | code by twesh

Being that the stranger had been the one to chuff to him first, Roan may no attempts at starting whatever conversation might ensue. At the very least, he expected names might be exchanged, but other than that, he was just as much of a loss as Pistis was. Luckily, the woman managed to find a topic that was not too unnatural to entertain. A question of his endeavors before a clarification was tacked on. Ah, well at least that helped decipher that this particular area was not necessarily a territory owned by others. In such a new land, though, what was considered a viable pride location?

"Scouting. I suppose that's the most concise answer," he offered briefly while returning his minty gaze to the stranger. "My family and I have only just arrived to these lands. I am keen on exploring and learning about what the lands have to offer." Namely, he wanted to know if they were dangerous, if only for the safety of the young and injured of what remained of his "pride," but Roan wasn't ready to divulge such insecurities at the moment. "And you?" A brow would raise in a simple means of returning the same question upon the woman. Would she be as open as he was?

@Pistis

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by WolvesWoodGlenAdopts | Background from unsplash

The other seemed to speak as little as she did. Which was sort of a relief. She had a hard time with those who talked a lot, though she would always listen to them. The other’s green gaze fell upon her as he spoke. Her dark rimmed ears perked as she listened. He spoke of his endeavors and of his recent arrival, along with his family’s. So new, just like she was. Pistis was curious where the natives were, as it seemed only that there were an influx of lions from the same area. Though Gwyn had more knowledge of the place than she.

At his question, she would oblige him with an answer, “I’m here to take a walk, get some fresh air, I can only stay in a cave for so long.” She was a lover of the outdoors. A smaller aspect of her personality, but an important one nonetheless. If she were in an area, she preferred it to be slightly chilly, but not freezing like her homeland. After a few moments, she would offer further, “I traveled here with my fiancée.” It was simple, not further expanding who he was. She wasn’t sure if many liked The Casimir, or if they were more… infamous, as she suspected. Again, her soft voice would speak, “I’m Pistis Nephus, pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

@Roan

we get colder... as we grow older

manip by Rowan | code by twesh

While she made no comment on his answer, Roan appreciated the lack of prying. With such a new land opened up to them, the masked lion couldn't be too careful with strangers. Nothing seemed of concern about this one, though, thankfully. Polite enough, cordial. Pistis gave no reason to be overly cautious of her. Her own answer prompted an understanding nod from the mauve lion, vaguely recalling his first few months of life spent among a cavernous pride. Maybe that beginning was why he liked the wide open sky that a mountain offered over anything else.

With a glance spared back to the horizon, Roan offered a light chuckle. "I guess the expanse of an ocean is about as far away from the confines of a cave as you can get." Plenty of fresh air and space to move around here. It was his attempt at making light chitchat, pathetic, but an attempt at least. More than he could usually say. His attention would return at the mention of her own traveling companion, that being of a fiance. With a subtle twitch of his ears, Roan didn't know why he was suddenly disappointed by the news of a fiance. His mind didn't often jump so easily into these types of thoughts, but knowing now that she was off limits either way was a new feeling. Maybe it was because she reminded him a bit of Fae. In any case, Roan barely missed a beat when the stranger went on to introduce herself. "Roan Hodari," he offered with another dip of his head. "Please to meet you as well, Miss Pistis."

@Pistis

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by WolvesWoodGlenAdopts | Background from unsplash

It would seem they were both in agreement on the fact they trusted the other thus far. Pistis didn’t feel threatened by him, he was polite so far, a gentleman, if anything. They were also in agreement about the outdoors being better than deep caverns, most of the time. Though she’d always been used to the outdoors, mountains covered the vast majority of her home. But flat land was good too, you could see much more this way. Sometimes the mountains got in the way of your eyes, so you couldn’t fully appreciate the scope of the lands.

A small laugh came from her at his words, polite, yes, but also appreciative. It was true. Which is why she’d come here by herself. To get some space. She noticed the twitch of his ears at the mention of Gwyn, but didn’t comment on it. Perhaps he’d had bad luck with love himself. She used to think bitterly of others in relationships, truth be told. She couldn’t deny the other wasn’t bad looking, and agreeable, but he didn’t have the sort of connection she needed to become a blushing woman. To her, she hadn’t really realized that with Gwyn, she would probably be with him and him only for the rest of her life. She’d been raised amongst men and women who sometimes had multiple spouses. So she wouldn’t understand the notion of her being off limits.


At his introduction, she dipped her head to him as well. “So if I meet any Hodari, I should assume they’re your kin?” She would ask politely, wondering if they were a large family like the Casimir. Gwyn had tried to explain the family tree to her one time, but it left them both confused. Pistis was from a big family herself, but she’d left them all behind. Her eyes would turn back to him, offering a warm, if a bit forced, smile.

@Roan

we get colder... as we grow older

manip by Rowan | code by twesh

Roan told himself not to linger on the thought of others outside of this conversation. A fiance was unimportant at the moment when there was much to learn about the lands. What could he learn from this woman about the area, if he could learn anything at all from her. At the very least, she might be nice to just share a conversation with, something that didn't involve the loss of his home and some important members of his family. The masked rogue would nod to her question, offering a light smile of his own in turn. "That's a fair assumption. A handful of us have traveled here recently, though we all look pretty different from one another. The name is likely all you would probably be able to tie us together with." The mauve lion actually found himself chuckling a little at his last statement, as the thought mulled around in his own mind. They all really did look quite different from one another, what with all the different bloodlines being introduced and adopted kids. Heck, he was masked and mauve while his sisters were gold and pink. He recalled his grandfather once mentioning how majority of the Hodari men usually had white manes. Well, even that didn't seem to be the case anymore.

"And what about you? Do you have much family in these lands?" It seemed polite to ask about the woman's family as well, even if she had not asked so directly about the size of the Hodari's clan. At the very least, it might offer a look into what other lions make these lands their home.

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by WolvesWoodGlenAdopts | Background from unsplash