[OOC: Wut even R timelines]

She had spent a few days after Jafars accident to help get things in order, to see how he and Maia would want to have things handled while he was recovering. Jewel paused as she approached the Caladan borders, caught by the strangeness of the situation of approaching on 'official' business that wasn't related to coming from the pride itself.

She paused beyond the borders and chuffed, calling for @Avaneira and @Morrigan. The ebony queen waited patiently with her tails twining near her haunches, letting the familiar scent and sound of the ocean bring her back. The cerulean woman wondered who lived within the confines of the Cove now.

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"Speech"

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A wolf appears with a bird in its mouth
Blue feathers, my fate, the beautiful white throat

She'd only just established a new sort of foundation with the Mire when the call came upon her borders. Surprised by the sudden reappearance of @Jewel, and the unmistakably Ecrosian scent that wafted from her direction as she moved closer, Avaneira emerged from the reeds with a slender, quirked brow. “Jewel,” she breathed, her gaze swiftly looking over the other woman, checking for any wounds or signs or distress, “Is everything alright?” She'd not seemed panicked or hurried, but Avaneira could think of no other reason for the night-pelted woman to call officially from her borders. According to Morrigan, at least, there'd been an understanding that she could freely visit her sons without the need to announce herself.

Patiently, she waited for Jewel's response.

@Avaneira arrived and she smiled, her expression softening as she shook her skull. "Mostly - but also not." The ebony queen chuckled, her tails flickering near her paws before she simply decided to forge onwards. "I know you had an agreement with Jafar and Ecrosia. (Timelines.. WUT EVEN ARE TIMELINES) He had a hunting accident and has asked me to keep the pride in trust until he has healed. I wanted to check with those that had allied with him to ensure those still stood?"

She doubted the Cove Queens would argue - but then again, Jewel could be proven wrong. After all, strange things happened in Amaryllis every day. The dark woman waited for the pale lioness to decide whether or not the Cove would remain in alliance with the Mire. She hoped so - It would make it easier for Jafar to step back into his role once he had recovered.

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"Speech"

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be who you were created
to be and you will
set the world on fire

Maia did not know much about @Jewel or her family. Truth be told, she knew nothing about the lioness that she now ruled underneath, other than the fact that she had done the Mire a huge favour by stepping into Jafar's paws. Maia had been walking through her home when she had spotted Jewel leave, and being the curious cat that she was, Maia decided to follow.

Quietly, she padded behind her High Sovereign, careful to keep her distance so that the woman would not suspect anything. It wasn't until they reached Caladan Cove that Maia realized that it was the Cove where Jewel was heading. She hung back for a brief moment to observe, nervous to join her new High Sovereign on the political front of alliance making. She still felt the guilt from the outcome of her hunt with Jafar, so to be doing this without having him by her side felt wrong. But alas: here she was.

Grey limbs move out from the shadows slowly as she alerts them to her presence with a few chuffs. "Hello," Maia introduces, looking first to @Avaneira and then back to Jewel. "I hope you don't mind me being here. I'm Maia, Sovereign of the Mire."

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There was no easy way to bear the burden Morrigan now carried. To lose a child to nature herself would have been painful and wrong enough... but to have Tormund ripped from them so violently? It left Morrigan feeling as though he insides had been ripped apart with no visible damage to the outside. It took her longer now to drag herself from her den and the Greyflood could scarcely calm herself until she had checked on Cassandra to be sure she was safe.

Once satisifed, Morrigan would join her sister in greeting @Jewel, curious herself why the woman had not simply entered to pride lands to find them.

That spoke of official business, and as her son's murder was not common knowledge there would be no excuse for the Queen not to show herself. "Welcome, Jewel. It's good to meet you properly @Maia." Morrigan remembered the woman from her fight with Ismae over the little girl who had gone home with the Tolkien in the end, only for Ismae to slay Valhalla shortly after. "I'm Morrigan, Ava's sister."

coding by ferus, art by scarf

A wolf appears with a bird in its mouth
Blue feathers, my fate, the beautiful white throat

So soon had Jafar claimed the Mire that it had fallen under his grasp, but with the uncertainty that lingered well within Amaryllis, Avaneira could scarcely blame the man. It seemed that even the most seasoned and strong of them could have a pride slip through their fingers, and the bitter remind of both Zoticus and Ulla still welled like fresh wounds. Perhaps even their prey were as ruthless and unrelenting as those who sought their ambitions in challenges and murders as of late. “That is indeed concerning...I hope he recovers soon.” The ease with which Jewel delivered the news reassured Avaneira that it was, at the very least, not far too grim of an injury.

From behind Jewel appeared @Maia, a woman she'd not yet met. Whether she was appointed by Jafar or Jewel was unknown to the Wolf Queen, but mattered little in the grand scheme of things. So long as everything within the Mire was well under control and still aligned with what Avaneira had anticipated from Jafar's rein, there would be little reason to ruin a good thing. Just as soon as Maia arrived, @Morrigan came up beside Ava as well, eliciting a soft smile from the smaller of the sisters as she nodded in greeting. “A pleasure to meet you, Maia,” she began again, “I am very interested in retaining the good ties between the Cove and the Mire. Should you need a healer, we can send Parvati to assist you.” Jewel knew the lion well, and knew of their aspirations to become a medic; perhaps it would bring the rising healer some comfort and experience should Jafar be of need.

Jewel would listen as @Avaneira, @Morrigan arrived and @Maia. The ebon queen stepped to the side to allow her co-ruler to stand even with her. She saw no reason to demote the masked woman. She was - after all only a temporary figurehead.. It wasn't truly her pride in the end. The Cove queens would speak and Jewel smiled, tilting her skull in appreciation. "I'm glad - I had hoped that things would remain unchanged between the prides..But wished to make the trip regardless to keep our allies in the loop of things."

With as tumultuous as the lands of Amaryllis had become, Jewel didn't want anyone to have any nasty shocks if they tried to send an envoy to procure help and it wasn't the leader they had come to expect.

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"Speech"

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be who you were created
to be and you will
set the world on fire

Maia stood quietly and nervously at the Cove's borders. She was acutely aware of how the surrounding women were nothing more than strangers. She'd never had to do anything political before, and she felt a sense of dread when she approached pride borders. Before she could return to the Mire, though, the conversation of alliance had to be had.

Ablaze eyes turn to see @Morrigan enter the clearing, and Maia vaguely remembered her from when she had found Bijoux in the Pit. It was nice to place a face to a name. It is good to finally meet you properly, too, Morrigan. I'm glad that this time, it is under more amicable circumstances. She remarks with a smile and a dip of her features to the Cove High Sovereign.

@Avaneira addresses the grey lioness next, and she offers the white woman a smile. Likewise. Forgive me, but I do not know your name. Regardless, though, it is nice to meet you. I have never been to the Cove before, so I appreciate your hospitality.

Jewel speaks of their alliance, and she is pleased to find that nothing had changed between the two prides, despite the abrupt change in leadership and the turbulent times that the land faced. Forgive me for asking, but what are your current standings on the chaos and threat of war that hangs over Amaryllis? Maia asks with a hint of curiosity, looking to the two sisters and then to @Jewel for reassurance.

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"We appreciate it. I've never known you to be anything but strong and loyal, Jewel, and what I've seen of Maia was the same. We can certainly assume to be on friendly terms always. I may still visit the Mire soon, if you were permit? Our mother lived there during the flood..." Morrigan didn't wish to say out loud she still searched for signs of a body or any sign at all, but it would have given her peace (and a reason to revisit because lmao leadership change again) to check one more time. She would allow Avaneira a chance to say anything else she might need to after getting an answer from the Ecrosian Royalty. "If there is nothing else, I should go and check on my wife again. We have recently lost a child." The sovereign dipped her head respectfully to the two women before turning to leave unless stopped. exit morrigan

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[OOC: Wrapping up because.. _timelines_ WTF"

Jewel smiled, tilting her skull towards the two Cove Sovereigns before she looked to @Maia with a soft expression. The dark queen knew that the safety of the Mire was paramount - but worried like the other feline did what the implications of the turmoil of the land meant for them. Still, they were small, cloistered. Perhaps they were truly not that important in the grand scheme of things.

Still - she was glad at least that the Cove seemed interested in keeping their ties strong. It boded well for her to continue to speak with her children and to check up on her sons. Though - she was surprised that neither boy had come to her call - she also wasn't as the call hadn't been for them. Not really.

"Take care of your family, Lady @Morrigan. I look forward to our next visit." She frowned, knowing well the sting of loss of a child and turned, giving Maia a nod. If she wished to remain - she wasn't going to complain but the loss of a child made talks of politics even more difficult.. It would be a discussion better left for later.

//Exit//

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"Speech"

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