alaric was not a fool - he knew there were some from ecrosia that would not be happy to sit idly by. he knew that they hated him for winning the crown -- a notion he had hard a time wrapping his mind around, is it was just the nature of the world. he had as much of a right to a position as any other, and he would do whatever it took to keep his family safe.

it was why he scaled the bluffs, now, with barely healing wounds and the marks of his battle clear upon his pelt. pain was secondary to the importance of his visit to this pride, where he hoped to cement his first alliance. alaric remembered well erna's words, and hoped she was correct that the ones that lived here were not allies of the sigrun. this was his small piece of leverage, and alaric could only hope it was enough.

he stopped well clear of the borders and called for the leader.

@Amara @Cassine

where innocence burns in flames

i'm frozen to the bones

image by yumpy, code by corvus

she was never one to pass up the opportunity for a little bit of information gathering — especially not when it was being served to her on a shining, silver platter! how polite of @Alaric to come to them, for if it was the other way around, the man may have been waiting a long time. It was for all of these reasons that cassine wasted no time in making her way towards the bluff’s borders, shoulders rolling as she prowled forth, teeth pricking ever-so slightly at the edges of her lips as she went.

thankfully, it did not take her long to find him, eyes scanning over his battered physique as she slowed to a halt, leaving a few feet of distance between them. despite his win, it was blatantly evident that he did not walk away unscathed. "you’ve seen better days, haven’t you, cheri?" the parisian hummed, brows furrowing momentarily in faux sympathy, before her expression smoothed back out into cool, taunt edges. she had no interest in games, nor did she care much for politics — but he had proven to be quite the troublemaker, so it garnered her attention well enough, at least for the duration of these next few moments. she was, however, a dutiful little being, and so instead of saying more just yet, would patiently await the arrival of @Amara — whatever he had to say, surely she would want to hear it too.

table code by ferus

Politics were not her place, and so she would not intervene. But protection and awareness of the borders was high within the scout's interests, and so she yields to his call and the scent that had come barely a fleeting moment before - cautiously, planning her approach so she might near from behind. It is less an endeavor for intimidation and more to ensure the man did not lead followers; her whiskers flared against dry earth to try and catch any suggestion he wasn't alone. With her ashen stomach low Charax stops, a healthy distance from the familiar man - watching for the arrival of Amara.

_{— art by yumpy}

ooc: You can skip him, just here to leer!

If Apollinaire missed out on a political event, a meeting of high stature, then there was something very, very wrong! Ever since his reunion with his sweet family, the heathen was always looking to be a foot ahead of everyone, looking to involve himself in anything and everything. What drove him was mostly his extroverted nature, but also his knack for drama.

He enjoyed a good ol' political show, especially when it was bloody and had the opportunity to grow even bloodier. His slender figure waltzed into the scene with swift movements, standing a meter away from @Cassine, while his crimson eyes trailed from the battered stranger to the marbled woman behind him. He licked his lips, though it wasn't certain if it was spurred by the mouth-watering aroma of torn flesh or by the sight of @Charax._{BG — ART — CODE}

A call at the border raised her hackles as she marched toward the male who summoned her. She wasn't keen on any visitors right now. She came to see that he wasn't allowed to stand alone at the borders which was good. She always enjoyed seeing her pride at work and after the fights they had been in at the challenge she knew they were ready for whatever happened. Amara came to stand among her pride members, her golden gaze landing on the lion she watched take over the Mire. She had no doubt in why he was here, an alliance, though she knew nothing about him and she doubted he knew much about her or that she knew he had won. She didn't attempt to hide her gaze as it walked over the wounds that Jafar had laid on him. Her own wounds much further along in their healing but still visible. Something we can help you with? She asked flatly as her gaze came back up to his face. Never one for the normal small talk, she wanted things to move along and get over with. If he was seeking an alliance, he would have to earn it. It wouldn't be like she had seen before, with empty promises and forgotten loyalty.

Table by Ice. Graphic by Lars.

A simple call and yet look how many came! Alaric studied them each in turn, his lips twisted wryly at the words of the blood red female. Venomous green eyes settled on her first, and he grinned. “Perhaps, but I’ve also seen worse. The prize was worth it.” Alaric would have bled a thousand times more for the crown he now wore.

The male earned another appraising look, and he recalled Ernas words about the leader of his pride and her people. This was a show of strength above all else, and he respected it.

@Amara appeared, then, and his attention settled fully on her. “My name is Alaric Starke, and I’m the new High sovereign of Ecrosia. I expect you know why I am here so I will not waste your time. I seek to hold the pride I have just won, to secure a safe home for my soon to be born cubs. I understand we may have a common enemy, and I would like to broker an alliance between our prides.” he had more to say, but that was enough for now. Alaric put it all out there and hoped it was well received.

where innocence burns in flames

i'm frozen to the bones

image by yumpy, code by corvus

others came, as was to be expected. the parisian’s gaze slipped casually between both @Charax and @Apollinaire as they made their way to the edge of the borders, wondering idly whether the display from the bluffs would impact @Alaric's choice to pay them this little visit — they did tend to travel in packs, after all, if he hadn’t already noticed. the man’s words, however, were met with nothing more than a thin, wry smile from cassine, who was content in feigning interest through the lulling of their chatter until the real conversation was underway.

@Amara's arrival was note with a subtle twitch of the woman’s whiskers, taking note of her healing wounds and the clipped nature of her words, before the attention turned back to new king of the mire. "a common enemy," she parroted briskly, expression remaining flat other than the sharpened glint to her gaze. The dieudonne could have all the suspicion in the world, but she wanted to hear him say it, rather than beating around the bush. "i’m guessing you’ve caused quite the mess, if you’re already worried about security.” another brief quip, assuming that amara would be more than happy to press him further on the matter. Of course, there was the golden question that loomed between them, haunting across the focused stare of the parisian — but they would get to that, surely. their trust was rarely given after all, and would surely never come without a price.

table code by ferus

It was her every intention to stand back and observe until the marbled woman has a vague feeling of needing to fulfil her agreement with Amara, who had made known her desire for any information Charax could obtain. Though the clay woman knew of Alaric, she had little of true interest to share, but still she crawls; tense and cautious, rounding from the backdrops to stand slightly more directly within the group - somewhere by Apollinaire.

She awaits a signal for the freedom to speak to @Amara, “Alaric of Andal Oasis. He fought the red-haired High Sovereign for Obsidian Hollow earlier in the year, unsuccessfully. He has since claimed Ecrosia Mire in battle, once home to his self-proclaimed ‘enemies’,” she pauses briefly, “Seemingly gained by the forceful claiming of a lioness on Alaric’s behalf.” Such was the way with Amaryllis, the grey woman of Ecrosia was intent to shout his wrong-doings from the rooftops when he had issued a challenge for their home.

ooc: feel free to skip!

_{— art by yumpy}

The high sovereign appreciated that he seemed willing to get things moving but beyond that, she gave no thought beyond it as his words spilled out. She took it all in as Cassine laid the ground work for him to spill what common enemy they had. She flicked an ear toward her for a moment before Charax spoke up. As she spoke, Amara slowly turned her gaze toward the Lead Scout. This was useful. This was worth it. The information gathered filled in several things for her. She knew that those gathered would likely have some feeling learning where the man had come from. An enemy pride. Amara lightly flicked her tail, her body void of any tension as she looked between the three for a moment to cue them to do the same, before slowly returning her gaze to the new leader. You fought Roan and then Jafar. They are allied together. She stated with little emotion but let it be known that she knew the leaders in both prides. If Cassine remembered she would know who Roan was, attached to family but not. An ally of her mothers. What caused you to break from your former pride? The Oasis had been a thorn in her side and this one came from the same sands. Had he arrived here without a new title, she likely would have attacked by now but for the moment she remained steady. She would use this to learn what she could about the inner workings of the pride there.

Table by Ice. Graphic by Lars.

Alaric had never thrived in politics. He was a simple creature with simple needs — the intricacies of alliances that stretched beyond the personal were beyond him. Wolfbron was an enemy of the Oasis, and they were not in good terms with the Sigrun from what he knew. With a Rike for his wife Alaric could not hope to stay in the shadows any longer — with children on the way his allegiance would not be secret for long.

So when @Cassine questions him he does not balk — he gives what she asks for with a knowing smirk. “Indeed. I have no love in my heart for the Sigrun that stretch so far across these lands.” their reach seemed inescapable, though perhaps that was only because of who he kept in his bed.

A female he does not know speaks, then, and seems to know more than he would expect. A shrug rolls across his shoulders as he keeps his attention on @Amara. “claiming is common in my homeland. Evidently I pissed off the wrong girl by attempting to do so here.” Would that stop him? Hardly. He would do it again, though perhaps not if there were allies present.

But there is the million dollar question, no? “My wife is pregnant, and I sought a crown for our future. She would not be welcome in the Oasis — and nor would I be for taking her as mine.” The Oasis could not give him the safety he wanted, so Alaric took it himself. “I have ruled many years in my life and it was time for me to do so again. My challenges were not personal. I was merely trying to keep a somewhat low profile in the pride I lived in until I could secure my own throne, so I chose prides that were not allies of them.” He had nothing against Roan or Jafar, not even now when they looked at him with such hatred.

where innocence burns in flames

i'm frozen to the bones

image by yumpy, code by corvus