and we don’t need saving

We’re hell raising

Sapphire gaze beholds her chieftain, watching avidly for a change in expression, though it never arrives. Yet @Alaric appeared to finally accept her choice, Sláine's ears perched forward as the wheat hued lion stepped back.
The tension that had coiled in her chest relaxed a little, her pale lips remained stuck in a smile even as she admitted to herself that perhaps some part of her had thought him capable of attempting to force her. A small slither is perhaps disappointed that he did not, but that was more driven by her innate recklessness that surfaced every so often.
As her King slipped away to wallow in the water, Sláine found herself unfurling, drawn marginally toward the male in an effort to join him in his relaxation. Though she remained at enough distance so as not to make him forget himself.

"I hae been hunting. Ye can help me tae take it home after if ye like." Her nose gestured to the carcasses she'd laid out upon the rocks, a cheeky look across her expression, knowing it would irk him to be roped in to a chore.

code by corvus / image by kim

he watched her, keeping the frown from his face as much as he could. he watched her, and tried not to all at once, knowing full well he only had so much willpower. he remembered too well their last meeting, and he wondered if he would ever be able to content himself with being just friends.

slaine moved closer through the water and he wanted to snap at her, to call her daft, to tell her she was a damned fool. he was the king, after all.

petulant child he was.

she spoke and he was drawn back to the present, to the carcasses laid on the shore that he had paid no mind to. now he notices them, smells them, and grunts as she gives him a job to do. "you did good." because he was a king, and she was a member of his pride.

alaric wasn't a total loss.

the thunder of the drums, dictates

image by yumpy, code by corvus

and we don’t need saving

We’re hell raising

She nodded, accepting the praise given with ease. Her body ached from all the tension, both from hunting and denied desire.
Sláine let her rear lower so that she sat down in the shallows, water bubbled up around her pale chest and speckled shoulders.
For a moment the lioness allowed silence to linger between them, @Alaric had not stomped away in anger, so she imagined that he possibly wanted some kind of interaction eventually, personal connection, possibly. Even if it were not the type he had originally hoped for. He hadn't even asked her just who it was that had taken her interest, perhaps he knew already. It wouldn't have been hard to guess.
Eventually, her feminine voice sought to put an end to the quiet. "Th' pride is growing, that must make ye proud. Ye hae grown a loyal following in a short time."

code by corvus / image by kim

It was only just barely that he resisted rolling his eyes -- not out of disrespect, but because he had never much cared for idle conversation. It was part of being a King, though, and so the wheat man gritted his teeth and managed a nod.

"Aye, i am. I never... expected it really." This admission catches even him off guard, having not imagined that he would show any vulnerability. He shrugs in an attempt to lessen the impact of it. "I am pleased, though. More members, more safety for those that live here." Namely his wife and children, but that went without saying.

He gave her a quick look, and then settled his gaze on the water. "I appreciate your loyalty."

Baby steps.

the thunder of the drums, dictates

image by yumpy, code by corvus

and we don’t need saving

We’re hell raising

Sláine listened to him and nodded, indeed, who would have thought a swamp could be such a hive of activity? But it was, the relative silence from the days following her initial arrival in Ecrosia were long gone.
"Aye, though we could dae wi' more fighters." Perhaps the woman was wrong, but it seemed they'd had an influx of healers and women, few that she had seen fight just yet. Though she supposed there was nothing at all to say they would not equally take up arms in defence of their pride.
The gaze of her king found her once again and Sláine stilled underneath it. It was not so easy to shake off the stirring of physical memory, though it would eventually fade.
But instead of being forced to shun his desire, Alaric surprised her with a statement of gratitude. The female's nose twitched, eyes creased followed by a smile. "O' course. Yer my chieftain an' ye hae been good tae me. I will set my claws wherever ye should wish."

code by corvus / image by kim

"Indeed. And I feel like the men are outnumbered. Not that I can say I entirely mind..." A teasing wink in her direction. "But more fighters would be good." When he had taken control of the Mire he had known of no healers -- now it seemed they had more healers than fighters.

A small frown, then -- "I cannot say I am as comfortable with poisons as I am with tooth and claw." A shrug, then, as his gaze turned to the carcasses stretched out nearby.

"Thank you, @Sláine." gratitude, even if it is awkward. "Shall we bring these back?" A jerk of his head that way, moving before she really had an opportunity to answer. The longer they lingered the closer they tread to emotional territory, and the more his willpower lessened. It was time to be home, in the Mire.

-exit with slaine?-

the thunder of the drums, dictates

image by yumpy, code by corvus

and we don’t need saving

We’re hell raising

The more @Alaric spoke, the more Sláine felt that he was a lostling stolen from the clanlands. She smiled, reminded of her fallen friends, finding herself suddenly breathless with the feelings of regret. She missed them all. At least she had Ecrosia, a mixed bunch of ragtags bundled together, just as it should be.

His talk of poisons perk up her ears, immediately causing her to think of Brynja's threats. Sláine frowned for a moment, agreeing with her Sovereign. "Aye, I agree about poison." Whilst no doubt effective, it was a coward's weapon, Sláine thought.

The lioness rose up at his suggestion, letting the warm water cascade in droplets from her blue fur. "Lead th' way o' Sovereign o' mine." She grinned, deepening her accent as she teased him.

In truth she would be glad of the help to move the stash home.

-Exit with Alaric

code by corvus / image by kim