[PRP] Far too close to Home (Rag x Tala)

[Epine de Rose]

The certainly had it all going on down here - or rather, they had.

The white lioness was positively exhausted and it wasn't through extensive travel so much as extensive celebrations. She had been blessed with such gracious timing that she had been able to enjoy the balls the Kizingo'zaa had thrown, the coronation and wedding with the Bahari'mtoto, and she had stumbled across a travelling band of musicians on her way here. All in all, this particular region seemed to be bustling with activity and she had barely slept a wink as a result.

Consequently, she had gotten just a touch turned around and it would take a great deal of fortune for her not to stumble across trouble here.

The other prides had warned her about this particular region, heck, even the musicians had been sure to ward her off it. However at some point as she had followed the trails back towards home she had missed one of the more obscure signs that would have indicated she had strayed far too close to a region that was regarded with caution, or extreme caution, depending on which individual you spoke to.

Oblivious to where she actually was, the lioness continued along the outskirts of the Viking homeland on her way back to her own home, sticking out rather like a sore thumb courtesy to her glaringly obvious white coat...

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

Ragnvard nodded as one of his reavers finished his report and stood at attention before him. Officially they had been on just another viking but as usual Ragnvard had alterior motives. Several days ago he had been informed that a lioness of unusual colouring had been spotted out in the roguelands. The black, red and grey description had been eerily familiar and had made the fur along his spine stand up. If it had been who he had thought, it meant the Sith were operating in the area and that was far, far too close to home for Ragnvard's peace of mind. So, he had gathered up his reavers and set out that very hour. For days they had scouted the region, searching for any sign or trail or rumour of the Sith lioness, but there had been nothing. Nevertheless, Ragnvard still felt restless. Something was out here and he needed to know who it was and what kind of threat they posed. He could deal with a lone sith, but what if an army turned up? That was a complication he didn't need.

Realising the lion was still waiting to be dismissed from his report, Ragnvard waved a paw at him and turned away, but paused to call the male back. "Head back to the pride, I have something else to do." They were already on the boarder, it was just a matter of crossing over and going back to their families and thralls. Ragnvard himself wanted to spend a bit more time here, though even he wasn't sure was tugging at him. Once the group of hardened warriors had set off along the path and moved out of sight, Ragnvard turned his back on the direction of home and started walking. He had no particular direction in mind, just let his instinct guide him as he stalked purposely through the undergrowth, his bird servant soaring high over head.

It didn't take too long before he picked up a spoor. A lioness. But it didn't have the slightly bittersweet scent of the sith, who dipped her claws in poison that possessed a distinct if subtle scent. So if not her, then who? Intrigued and not at all adverse to the idea of a new thrall, Ragnvard followed the trail. Not long after he spotted a gleaming figure in white further up the trail. They were moving without hurry, causing him to wonder if they even realised how close to the Stormborn they were. No Outlander willingly came this close to such a dangerous pride after all. Not on purpose.

Picking up his pace he started to jog smoothly after them, his long stride quickly closing the distance between them until he suddenly halted so fast he nearly tripped over his own paws.

"Tala?!"

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

Something was rapidly closing in on her - at first it had been subtle steps as though a lion or two were passing by, and then it had become more purposeful in her approach. She raised a brow at this, and aware that she may want to face the individual head on for the sake of her own safety, she made to turn round. What she hadn't accounted for, was the fact that she was greeted by the striking red coat and a very familiar face.

...One she hadn't actually expected to see again.

"Nooooo!" she gasped in disbelief. She soon began to laugh and closed the gap between herself and the 'Reaver'. Still unaware that she was in a region that wasn't entirely safe, she had settled comfortably in to greeting a long lost friend. He'd acquired quite a few scars over the course of their time apart, but he still seemed to be intact. Even his mane had gotten a little rougher, though he had somehow managed to tie it back.

"Well, it's a small world after all," she mused and with a warm smile she took a seat. Her paws thanked her for her generosity, they needed the rest, even if it was to be a fleeting one. "It's been quite some time, Ragnvard," she continued and tilted her head to the side. "How fare your adventures, hm? I'm just on my way back from my trip finally, it took much longer than I thought it would!"

Ever oblivious, she simply took his incredulous reaction for surprise at seeing her again rather than seeing her in this region.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

He couldn't help but stare at her for a long moment, both astonished to find her so close to his home, and at the fact that just seeing her again made him feel.... something. Pleasure maybe? He couldn't pin down the strange sensation, like bubbles in his blood fizzing just under his skin. Flexing his muscles in an attempt to get rid of the sensation he stepped up to her as she sat down, unable to help but give her gloriously white figure a long look over, both to appreciate her beauty, but mainly to check she was alright and free of injury or other signs of misuse. After all, she was so close to his home that it was a miracle she was still a free lion.

"It has.." He managed to recall his manners in time to answer her, despite wanting to shout at her to run away, run far away from this place, or to go back with him and be forever under his protection. For the first time in a very long while he felt a chill in his heart. What if someone else found her? There were plenty of bands out all year round, any one of them could return and find her here. Then she would be their thrall and not his. He tried to paste on a smile, yet his natural cockiness was lacking as he shifted, as if to shield her from the direction where his own reavers had gone. "It is good to see you." He offered, surprising himself when he realised just how true that really was. It was good to see her. If only he didn't have this pressing fear over her safety. "Walk with me?" He asked even as he moved closer, desperate to get her walking away from this place. "I want to hear all about your trip, but we need to move from here. You know this is the Myrsky Syntynyt right?" He simply couldn't help himself, and he knew this was the most abrupt he had ever been with her. "Please Tala.." He added, hoping she would just agree.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

He was already shooing her away? She cast him a woeful stare at the thought of being dismissed so easily, though she soon brightened when he indicated he did want to hear what she'd been up to. So the fuzzy monster still had a little bit of heart even if he was being brisk. Still, she couldn't help but give a groan as she pulled herself to her feet and hobbled after him - oh but to sit down again, why was he so insistent that she move anyway?

Maybe he was embarrassed.

She paused mid-step, ah, perhaps he actually had someone special waiting elsewhere and she was going t throw a spanner in the works. Well yes, that would be terribly inconvenient for him wouldn't it? She tempered her disappointment and padded after him once more, planting the smile on her lips. However when he mentioned where she was, she gave a slight squint...Myrsky what now?

"Mrysky... No," she shook her head and then blinked. "Oooh is this the creepy slave trader place?" she grimaced. "What would you be doing around slave traders?"

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

He hid a wince at her words, having been about to explain just where she was and why it was a bad idea to linger. Of course he was extremely proud to be a part of his pride, and to be a Captain within it. (He had mostly wiped the shame of his failed Challenge for Warlord from his mind now.) But the way she said that? As if it was a shameful thing to be strong and proud of his heritage.. Slowly turning to look back at her he tried to smile but knew it appeared strained. He was such a good actor around everyone, but with her? It seemed all his skills deserted him, and he couldn’t figure out why. It was maddening, but he couldn't seem to stop that either.

"That's not quite how I would put it..." He tried, slowing his step so she would catch up and even pass him a little. Better if he were the first thing one of his kinsmen saw, it would make them less likely to attack. Not that he was worried about loosing, very few could beat him. But he didn't want her hurt, or at any risk whatsoever. "They are warriors and fighters. Nothing at all like those filthy pirates." He half snarled that last one, the old ancestral hatred far from fading, even if the other pride was long gone now, its members scattered across the roguelands. Catching himself he regarded her again, only now realising how sore she looked. "What happened to your paws?" He asked, more than happy to change the subject and escape having to tell her this was his home. Even though her obvious disapproval stung him deeply. He had always been proud of who and what he was. He was Stormborn! But for the first time in his life he didn't want someone to know. He hated the conflict within him and he wanted to blame her for it, needed to. But....

Shaking his head to dislodge the worrying thought he refocused on her. "So what have you been up to since we parted? Did you get to the ocean?" He hadn't forgotten their long and varied discussions, and was genuinely curious as to where she had gone.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

"There aren't any pirates any more," Tala pointed out wisely. She'd heard enough on her travels to know that, she even knew about the mermaids as well. She was a touch disappointed that the mermaids had gone as she imagined they would have been a curious sort. "And they stole things, not living beings," she continued. "But I wouldn't consider anyone who strips another of their freedom to be a warrior or a fighter," she mused thoughtfully.

"Just a bully," she concluded. She'd sooner have her possessions stolen than herself, but if Rag had needed to make his point, he'd made it. She rather liked her freedom and didn't really feel all that inclined towards losing it because some ridiculous male wanted to puff up his chest and strut. "You can't even inspire loyalty that way, one day they might creep up while you're sleeping and ziiiiiiich," she made a motion with her claw across her throat.

However, when she noticed his strained expression she shook her head.

"If that's your thing, then that's your thing, it's not as if I can tell you all to stop being cruel," she pointed out wisely. "No matter how much you might feel you need to over compensate by hurting those weaker than you, it's ultimately not my fight," she wrinkled her nose.

"You know if you have someone waiting for you I can make my way on my own, I just must've missed one or two little sign posts," she murmured, ignoring his query about her travels for the time being. She had an inkling that this might have been his home, but for now she wouldn't finish drawing her conclusions.

Still, if it was his home, then it would probably be best if she left him to whatever pretty thing he had acquired...

Tanakako