Asylum had to be selective with her prey, given her small stature and lack of assistance. Most of the brindle girl's meals consisted of insects, rodents, and the occasional bird. To come across a young and unprotected warthog was a rare blessing, and one she meant to take full advantage of. Already she had gotten the smallest taste of it, tainted fangs having made purchase in its flank before it broke from her attempted hold, running blindly eastward. All Asylum could do was pursue, knowing full well if she failed to catch it now, in time it would weaken, perhaps even fall down dead within a few days. While she sometimes waited patiently for weakness in her prey, she was determined to have this pig. She hadn't eaten anything in a couple of days already, not keen on waiting for a few more.

The chase would come to an abrupt halt as the warthog crossed within the borders of a pride, recently marked. She might have snuck in to pursue if not for the high-pitched squealing it was making, likely to draw any lions from miles around. Asylum would watch after it as the gap between them widened, silently fuming as she paced outside of the boundary, cussing the pig out under her breath.

@Ronin

(All are welcome, but please allow a few posts between Asylum and Ronin before joining.) <3

image by moogle/code by saph

"speech."

He had been content to be lazy that day, he had been fighting and patrolling relentlessly it seemed and the Noble felt it was indeed due that he have one day of proper rest to allow his wounds time to fully scab over and begin healing as well as to regain some of his strength and rest sore muscles. It seemed fate, however, had other plans as the sound of a screaming pig would shatter the silence. Catching his immediate attention and causing him to rise to his feet, ears forward and head held alertly. Tail would flick as he sat off towards the sound of it crashing through the swamp, perhaps one of his comrades had begun a hunt. A scent on the wind, however, would stop him. A stranger. Ronin would growl, his frustration turning to irritation as he turned sharply and headed towards the border where the scent grew ever stronger.

The warmonger would appear at the border would a slightly irritated expression, mismatched gaze raking over the young lioness. The first thing he noticed was how tiny the girl was, he towered over her without even trying. Her small stature was surprising, it even made him slightly uncomfortable though he kept that hidden as he looked over her strangely marked form. Blood stained her maw and teeth, causing him to assume that she had caused the squealing pig’s ruckus. “Well at least you’re smart enough to wait at the border.” He rumbled, slightly less irritated now that he knew she had at least some common sense. “What do you want?” He’d ask, although he was pretty sure she wanted access to resume her hunt. Something he wasn’t likely to give her. That was their pig now…at least… as long as it was within the territory.

@Asylum

code by corvus

Like clockwork, another would arrive, a large brute with visible injuries, however minor they may be. He had clearly done his share of fighting, be it from fending off intruders or even internal disputes. The size comparison was much less jarring to her though, having grown up around her father who was of equal height. She didn't cower in their tall shadows, finding she was perfectly contented to be lower to the ground, out of reach of overhanging branches.

He would lead with a question, one that she would not respond to immediately as she tried to decide if it was more meant a mockery than a serious question. It took much restraint not to look pointedly at the pig still screaming its way across the muddy mire, followed up with some quip about this lion's intelligence. It was usually an easy thing for her to hide emotion and speak eloquently, but she was all fire and adrenaline at this moment. The smart thing to do would be just to leave, but she was determined to have her meal, which she had already expended so much energy to obtain.

She already knew he wouldn't let her in if she asked, as if prides around these parts would ever be so civil. Given that he was patrolling the borders, she suspected he might be one of rank, thus capable of letting her in. It wasn't really worth the cost, but she would bait her own hook anyway. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she would speak, able to keep her voice light and emotionless, though the clear sarcasm must speak to her bubbling irritation underneath. "Kind sir.. I am decended from a squeltching pool of mud and debrie. I pray you, allow me to live among my kindred in this beautiful utopia of yours. What have I to offer this pride? Please, allow me to demonstrate one of my many talents." She addressed him, a smile offered fondly as she motioned inwards along the pig's trail. She was good at hunting, when not interrupted by pride lions.

image by moogle/code by saph

"speech."

The woman would take a deep, steadying breath and would then proceed to speak light and emotionless. Ears flicked forward and then back into his mane as he detected the sarcastic use of words, even if her tone didn’t fully reflect it- her words did and that was enough to have his lip curl slightly in annoyance. When she asked to demonstrate her talents and gestured to the trail of the hog, he would smirk, “As long as you realize you aren’t leaving.” He commented before stepping to the side to allow her entry into the territory. If she followed the hog then she could consider herself claimed and part of the Mire pride. He’d hunt her down if she tried to leave….even if it pissed off the King and his ‘lay low’ mindset. “After you.” He would then follow behind her (if she chose to accept the stipulations and hunt her meal).


@Asylum

code by corvus

PATHFINDER EXP
+5 Use the terrain to your advantage (1/2)
+5 Correctly track something through a territory (1/2)
+5 Practice running or speed (1/2)

Part of her was insistent on relenting and finding food elsewhere, yet she would remain. She supposed it didn't much matter what pride she called home, she had her share of them through the months, none for overly long. Usually, she wore out her welcome fairly quickly, though not through any fault of her own. Her bite made others nervous, especially lionesses with children. As if she didn't have self-control over who she infected. Fine, let her join a pride and see how things went. If they were smart they would see the value in her gift as opposed to condemning her for it.

She would eye @Ronin critically for a moment, before bolting passed him without a word. However small she might be, she would accelerate to full speed within only a few moments. She had a lot of ground to cover to catch back up with the pig, who she could no longer hear squealing. It had left an obvious trail through the mud though, of which Asylum was reluctant to enter. Eyes would search elsewhere, noting a trodden down path that weaved its way through the Mire. Putting on further speed, she would divert from the pig's path and take to the trail, believing she could quickly relocate the tracks further in.

image by moogle/code by saph

"speech."

Ronin would watch the hesitation before she darted forward, quickly picking up speed. Ronin would trail behind her, close enough that he wouldn’t lose her, but far enough back that he wouldn’t startle her pig or interrupt her hunt. She wanted to show her skills and he was giving her that chance, but it was without his aide. It crossed his mind that this was not perhaps the smartest decision he had made since being in the Mire, her sickly sweet scent was something that did indeed bring cause for alarm but he would question her on it later. For all he knew she had a fondness for rolling in sickeningly sweet smelling flowers. Regardless, whatever caused it, it wasn’t done to attract suitors. If anything, it did the opposite….at least for him.

Barbarian
+5 exercise to gain strength – running {1/2}

code by corvus

PATHFINDER EXP
+5 Use the terrain to your advantage (2/2)
+5 Correctly track something through a territory (2/2)
+5 Practice running or speed (2/2)

Asylum never found her unique perfume unappealing, those that she bit tended to smell a lot worse off. She only carried the gift and did its bidding, resulting in her smelling.. shall we say.. a bit more exotic that your typical lioness, a scent that was difficult to place but one that might make one feel strangely. She liked to imagine it was like those sweet smelling berries that you knew were poisonous to eat.

Within the pride's confines she had gone from having been a simple rogue catching dinner, to a pride lioness showing off her agility and hunting skills to a ranked member. She didn't usually care what others thought of her, but that touch of narcissism so common in her family was pushing her harder just now. The pig tracks were becoming less shallow as he moved out of the deeper mud and onto more hardened earth.

She would catch up to him soon enough, closing the distance as he finally found left the muddied stretch of swamp, which had hindered his progress as the @Ronin had hers. A downed tree would serve her well, jumping onto it she would close the final stretch, using it as a springboard she would launch herself, almost recklessly at him, landing square on his backside. The move had either stunned him or broke him, for he did not move to escape out from under her weight. He was easily dispatched at that point.

image by moogle/code by saph

"speech."

Ronin would follow, studying the lioness as he ran. She was small but incredibly fast. Even though the terrain was new to her, she handled the muddy swamp with skill as she closed the distance on the hog and would use a fallen log to end the chase. Ronin would slow, jumping over the log and coming to a stop. The beast was winded a bit, trying to keep pace with her, but nothing that he couldn’t hide by a few deep breaths. “Impressive tracking skills” He would remark, but he would then shrug. “The kill was average.” A slight smirk would tug at his lips, suggesting that he was somewhat teasing her. “Is that all that you have to offer? Good tracking, fast, and adequate hunter, or is there something else you are good at?” He’d question, pretending that he wasn’t that impressed with her skills.


Barbarian
+5 exercise to gain strength {2/2}

code by corvus

Asylum was pleased with herself, the smell of her kill setting her empty stomach to growl at her impatiently. She would do nothing just yet, only crouch over it a lightly pant for a bit. She would eye the male as he approached, feeling a certain distrust and agitation. Society would take some getting used to after a feral life of seclusion. He might not be interested in stealing her food like a common scavenger, but she was instinctively very protected of her precious food supply.

She would settle some, though it seemed she would be without a meal for a bit longer as the male spoke to her about general pride roles, uses and such other garbage. She would give a small huff as he insulted her beautiful springboard dive onto a fast moving object, but he seemed to say it in good humor. I should like to see how gracefully you can jump off a stump. She mused quietly. He might sooner break it and be sent barreling forward involuntarily. She would get up and move towards him with reluctance, keeping herself between it and @Ronin. You expect more from the lionesses in your pride? She questioned. She wondered what sort of males lived here that would be dissatisfied with only free meals on the daily.

I have.. another talent all my own. She said, inching close and closer to Ronin, that he might have a better look at her. As he hadn't said anything after picking up her scent earlier, she couldn't be sure if he was aware of it yet. He did seem a little slow so it wouldn't really surprise her. A gift given only to my kin, those of us born with it in our blood. It is something that I carry absent consequence to myself. It might kill a large brute like yourself, if you are too weak to fight it. A little bite is all it takes. She doubted a lion his size and in the prime of life would succumb to it, usually it was the young, the old or just those that had been weakened in some way. Would he believe her? She would prove it to him if he asked, out of her own curiosity. She was always intrigued to see how it effected different lions.

image by moogle/code by saph

"speech."

The small huff would earn a slight smirk. He couldn’t help that her kill was subpar for his standards. Who cared if she had gracefully jumped off a log, the end result was the same- graceful or not. Her words would cause his brow to raise, “maybe one day.” He’d comment back, showing no desire to prove anything to her in that moment- he wasn’t the one that had something to prove. Reluctantly she would move towards him, placing herself between him and carcass. He shrugged a shoulder, indifferent. He wasn’t that hungry. When she spoke he would nod. “We all hunt, not just the lionesses. We all fight, not just the lions.” He would answer, watching her with curiosity. How would she react to joining such a violent pride? Only Violarum would be happy to have a woman in his bed and free meals. Well…Maybe Alaric too…

When she mentioned another talent, he would tilt his head curiously, gaze saying ‘go on then’ as he waited for her to explain this other talent of hers. He was not an idiot, he noted how she inched closer to him, but he did not stir or shy from her proximity, he merely took the time to let his mismatched eyes roll over her tiny form. Nostrils would wrinkle slightly at the sweet aroma that came from her and he really hoped her talent wasn’t rolling in whatever fucking shit that was. He listened as she explained that it was carried in her blood, but she was immune. When she mentioned killing someone as large as himself, his expression would sharpen, though not with fear, but with interest. Another weapon to use against their enemies. “And if it doesn’t kill, what does it do?” He asked, shifting his paw forward with a nod. He knew he wouldn’t succumb to it. He was strong, healthy, and in his prime. He also had Nusura and Patch to help with any symptoms. He was acutely aware that he could ask her to bite anything but that wouldn’t tell him everything he wanted to know. He wanted to know what they would feel so he would know how to exploit an enemy while they are weakened.


@Asylum

code by corvus