Following her siblings the cloudy girl moved through the lands toward her mother's call. She wasn't sure what was going to happen but she knew that there would be lots of boring stuff happening. It was her first meeting and she was keen to listen and learn what she could. She arrived and pushed herself up against @Cassine with her siblings. Mother was still hurting and she didn't want to cause any pain to her. She remained as calm as she could, trying not to attack her sisters as they waited for things to get started. She looked around and saw a lot of faces she knew and plently that she didn't. That was a good thing right? The pride was growing and that was needed.

table by k'sariya

@Ryker was the first to arrive was one that she didn't know. She had seen him fighting for them at the challenge but didn't know anything about him. Her gaze landed hard on him as she waited for him to say something or do something that gave her some idea as to why he was here. Her attention was stolen from him when @Beelzebub arrived and greet her. Amara tilted her face into the greeting slightly, about all that was able to be given from her in response. Her gaze flickers over @Charax for a moment. The lioness would prove to be useful she hoped and in time, she would learn how to be part of the pride as Bee and her sisters had. @Mithros arrived and settled near Bee but Amara watched his gaze toward Charax closely. @Apollinaire seemed to be interested in the lioness as well, well that could get messy if they both indeed wished for the same lioness. Amara wasn't ready for that level of drama within her own pride. The ever on edge @Oleander arrived and set his gaze on Amara. She flicked her own over him. She never really understood this one or Verm's ability to keep him in such check but she also wouldn't question it. It was unlike Verm to take in a stray so there must be some connection. @Baphomè's arrival earn a heavy look as she sized him up. He had hidden who he was and it set Amara on edge. She had never come across a Dieudonne that didn't announce it within moments of meeting them. She needed to make sure that Cassine was aware of this and the male's saving grace was that he jumped into action when it was required of him. @Lycaonia hadn't been at the challenge but she arrived her, Amara didn't take her as a fighter but it would have been nice to have the show of support. @Gauthier arrives as well and Amara is pleased to see him among the group. @Xerxes arrived and she gave him a nod as he settled in. The noble seemed to be getting settled in, at least the best that he could. @Ruth arrived and Amara watched the youth for a moment before her focus moved to @Cassine as she settled next to her. Amara was glad that she was here but there was also an unspoken weight that weighed on her. She wasn't made to be a leader. She wasn't looking to lead a pride and the family and it seemed that she was doing both more and more. She would have to have Cassine step up soon or the younger lioness would risk losing her postion in the family. @Louve curled up with Cassine and Amara looked at her for a moment with a touch of a smile. She had done well in her fight once again. Her gaze lifts to find a greeting from @Ursula which she returns. @Andromache falls in after her sister and Amara takes a long look at the dark sister. Of the four sisters, she saw the dark shadow the least. This might be a good thing with something she was looking to have planned out. The last sister, @Echo, arrived and Amara looked over her wounded form with annoyance. She didn't enjoy having her members beaten up for no reason and the attack against her had been just that. @Narcissa takes her focus away and her gaze becomes her normal guarded and hard look. She had seen her with Saga, watched as the pair got comfy as she got ready to battle for the home that Narcissa had made here with her family. Her younger cubs as well as her older ones were all under Amara's protection and the words of the lioness when she joined had little meaning to Amara now. Things would need to change. Her daughters come in and settle with Cassine and it seemed that they were the last to come. Amara looked around and started to make notes of who wasn't there. The biggest one missing was Verm. Had he grown so cocky that he would not answer when she called? Seems she would need to knock him off his high horse. When she called, he answered. Simple as that. She rolled her shoulders some in an effort to settle herself into things and pushed aside the pain that rolled through her sharply. She wasted no time in small talk. Let it be known now that this pride is ruled by me. It will be defended to the last member. She took a look around to make sure it was clear that they were expected to up hold this. If you are unwilling to do so, leave. Her words were stern but not harsh. The Oasis is an enemy now. Twice they have come against us and twice they have lost. She would like that record to keep up. An old enemy we hope was rotting away is back. Zoticus has taken over the forest. The Hollows is an ally against him, don't attack their members unless they aren't able to keep their end of things and feel free to claim against them if you wish. That was where things stood with Roan at the moment. The Cove is now under Sigrún rule as well. Both the Cove and the Lagoon are enemy prides as well. Stacking them up quickly and she could care less. The Sigrún have an enemy of their own, the Rike. If anyone is familiar with the family, we will talk after. The Sigrún drown their young in the ocean to please their god. Amara laid the information out there for all those gathered to hear, they would be able to take what they would like from it but Amara knew were she stood. Charax is our lead scout now and I plan to send her out to gather more information as needed. Currently there were only two prides that she hadn't touched on and Amara would need more time to figure those out. This pride isn't meant to pad soft souls, if you come across a strong lion or lioness who seems like they understand loyalty and are willing to work in the pride. Bring them here. We will need the numbers for the raids against these prides. Ranks are open to be fought for if you believe you can hold it better. Amara took care to look at each member gathered. She was building herself an army now, even if they weren't aware of it just yet. As long as you remain loyal, you will have the support of this pride. Forget that loyalty and the full force of the pride would be brought down upon that traitor. She let her words hang. She had given them a lot to process and doubted that it would all just be accepted. She waited to see who might have something to say about what she shared.

Table by Ice. Graphic by Lars.

Roslyn was running through a list of excuses for her lateness as she came to settle herself on the outskirts of the group, mentally willing a cloak of invisibility over herself. She could hear a serious lecture being given (presumably by the ones in charge) and dreaded to know how much of it she had missed before arriving. She could blame it on culture, newness, her youth, or any number of forces. Perhaps blaming it on her own stupidity would be a good enough excuse, should the scoldings prove aggressive enough to make her desperate.

By the time she was settled in, she tuned in to hear a lioness speaking about enemies. She roved her cornflower-blue gaze across the crowd to find the one who spoke: a black lioness with light speckles across her pelt. A female lead them. The oasis, "Zoticus", the cove, the lagoon–they were all listed as enemies with few more details given, and mentally Roslyn thought back to the day when Mithros had found her at the passage. Had these enemy lions been present then? Would joining them have made her his enemy?

"Excuse me!" She piped up suddenly, sporting her friendliest grin. "Qu'en est-il de–I mean, what about other allies?" She questioned softly, forcing herself back into the common tongue for the moment as she did not realize that she shared the same mother tongue as the rest of the pride by some happy accident. "Do we have other friends we can rely on against our enemies? With so many of them, it might be very beneficial to get out there and do some networking," Roslyn suggested with a pleased nod. Her heart raced with the adrenaline of speaking in front of a crowd, but she was never one to shy away from that feeling.

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|| june y7 | two years | WB lioness | at wolfbron bluffs | @Amara ||_{BG — ART — CODE}

He was greeted with a hard stare, which he met evenly. Made sense, really. She didn't know him, and had no reason to trust him (although he hoped his actions at the challenge might help that along). Vermier had been the one to accept him into the group, and then send him on a mission to prove himself, in a sense. Which had taken far more time than he'd thought it would.

And, as Amara spoke, he learned his mission and the information gained, had been useless after all. She already knew where the Sigrun gathered, and Ryker's ears angled slightly back as she spoke of the cove, and the lagoon, tail twitching once in frustration. It seemed he'd just have to take the more direct approach if he wanted to move up the ranks. Which was fine, the more roundabout way he'd been attempting had just been more amusing.

Wolfbron against the world, a long list of enemies and a singular tenuous ally. It only reinforced his belief he'd made the right choice of pride - a peaceful life was not for him and the bluffs seemed to promise a steady outlet for the restless, violent, energy that so often welled up within him.

I'm a friend of the devil I'm a dangerous rebel

Fighting my way through the sins of the street I'm feeling psycho, psycho Where did my mind go? Biting my tongue and I'm loading my gun Back to the wind, better run, better run I'm feeling crazy, crazy Go 'head and make me It's the life that I can't escape, can't walk away There's blood in the ocean And I'm losing focus I'm a friend of the devil I'm a dangerous rebel

code by corvus

Oleander sat impassively. Just another body amidst the crowd. A nothing. A no one. His gender made him lower than that. He waited for the meeting to get underway. Words that mattered little as those that needed to hear them were here already. Aside from Vermier. But these were things Vermier would know being High...

Wait, what? Since when was Amara ruler? What happened to Vermier? He hadn't spotted his patron since his return. This news had Ole glancing around. Had Vermier gone on elsewhere? He was only a Dieu through Vermier. If his patron decided to cast that aside then that meant he no longer belonged here.

What else had changed?

@Charax, she responds to him, caught in the web of his overbearing presence and with nowhere to truly run or avoid Apollinaire. Not that she would avoid him, of course. Who would run away from his careful, charming approach? He is nothing but courtly and elegant, they knew little of the ugly, warped creature that laid frothing at the mouth beneath the surface.

He observed her with a kind expression, studying the ever so subtle twitch of her curves beneath her marbled flesh. Unholy thoughts swarmed his mind, her mouth-watering aroma overbearing him. He took reigns of his addiction, remaining composed and proper - as per usual. "A beautiful name, mon chéri," He complimented, then his attention was stolen by the start of the meeting.

The High Sovereign, still injured, looked to experience slight discomfort from her wounds. Or perhaps it was just her face that was always sour. Everyone had their quirks, he presumed, and Apollinaire was grateful that the Dieudonne Queen was not a frail woman. She had her priorities straight and knew how to achieve her ambitions and defend her own.

She started by mentioning the Oasis lions. It was expected, considering their imprudence to come barging into the Dieudonne stronghold, reaching for a crown that was not for the taking. He liked the idea of having enemies. The word made the dinner bells ring loudly in his head. Hunting was always made better with a side serving of punishment for the prey's insolence.

Not one, but two enemies. Zoticus was a stranger's name, but the Dieudonne man was keen to memorize it. He always found interest in politics, and so he listens intently. Four enemies, he counts. Plenty of fish in the sea! Unsurprisingly, his companion's - Charax's - name is mentioned. She was the Lead Scout. Not only extraordinary but also resourceful! He loved women with brains. The heathen felt his mouth water.

The prospect of raiding and ascending in stature made Apollinaire's ears perk up. Splendid! How wonderful! He's just arrived, and already so many opportunities! The neat man awaited his turn to speak, but first, a girl's voice ( @Roslyn ) chirped above the crowd. His sanguine gaze shifted towards the female, who began speaking in French at first, and quickly piqued his interest. Another relative? Who knows. She offered a valid question. There had been no mention of allies.

Once he found a slot to speak, Apollinaire cleared his throat. "If I may speak, ma reine," his voice rose higher, firm gaze settling on @Amara. "With zhe prospect of future battles, I would like zho offer my combat leadership insight upon zhe realm of leading raids and wars. I believe I have zhe experience zhat may come handy zho you and zho your subjects," he paused, bowing his head in a courtly manner. "Zhat is, if you will have it, Votre Altesse." He was but a humble subject!

The Dieudonne adult was quiet during the proceedings of Amara. His ears attuned to her and her alone, thinking to all the things that were required of him as well as entertaining the idea of what was expected of others. Throughout this he hadn't realized that his recruit, @Roslyn, had slipped in and had been listening. Perhaps he might have taken a seat next to her to cement his hopeful confidence that she could belong here. Though, he might have ignored the voice that called out to Amara if not for the fact that it was spoken in french. Eyes turned to look upon the lioness that he had recruited and found himself shocked and surprised at this newfound revelation. Should I have known this? Speaking french had almost, if not always, been a very Dieudonne thing and he wasn't quite sure how his kin would react to a new stranger among their ranks that knew it well.

For what it was worth, he allowed the meeting to proceed forward without any peep from him. Still shocked beyond words but what had been said was of little value to him as he had already surmised as much simply by existing within the walls of Wolfbron. So as soon as the meeting was over, he dismissed himself. exit mithros.

table by sentinel

OOC: Caelum is late bc I am late xD // May or may not post again.

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He had come into earshot just as @Amara began speaking, and as he heard the hatred in her tone, he was glad he didn't miss this meeting. Things were afoot; excitement was in the air. Rage. It was delicious. It was all delicious.

Caelum had never been part of a war before, but this. This excited him. He could attack and kill other lions without consequence? Sign him up.

He had come into the clearing just as Amara had finished her speech, but he had heard most of it. He dipped his head to the queen and flicked his tail in interest. Some lions began to leave already, but Caelum lingered out of curiosity. Where would he fit into all of this?

code | image

louve watched more arrive, marvelling at how many they were. they were a strong pride, a strong family, and she was thrilled to be a part of it. severine pressed up against her and she offered a rumbling purr, turning her head to bump her forehead against her sister's shoulder. otherwise she was silent, gaze turning back to her mother with bright focus.

it was... a lot. they had enemies -- many of them -- and louve shivered with the anticipation of what that meant. wars. fights. she would be a glorious warrior, a true dieudonne, and she made a mental note to one day track down a sigrun scum and end them. or perhaps zoticus himself. or maybe she could gnaw on seneca again, that would surely make maman happy.

with nothing to add herself she listened to the questions and the answers, waiting until her mother dismissed them before slipping away in to the night.

-exit-

_{BG — ART — CODE}