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Though Asper was - well, had been - a part of Ru's band, when he was summoned to the High Priestess's den, he wasn't sure what to make of it. He'd never been summoned to Brynja's den, and he would have probably happily lived the rest of his life without ever knowing what it felt like to be summoned to Brynja's den. It was a terrifying prospect, if he was being completely honest with himself.

Upon announcing his presence, he was met by Yakuti, who told him that Brynja had a job for him. That had come as a sort of relief, as he hadn't ever really been sent out on a job for any lion in particular. The task itself didn't seem too difficult. He was being sent out after a lion, and he was to capture that lion and bring him back to Brynja. He was also under strict orders to explain how very well the lion would be treated, and also to explain that the lion was a seer and that his visions would be very valuable to a very important lioness in the pride.

It really didn't take Asper long to find the red-maned lion. Yakuti had mentioned that Gruvan had known exactly where the lion was, and so Asper was able to beeline directly towards him.

He remained a fair distance away and eyed the vibrantly-colored lion, trying to get a sense of how to go about approaching the fellow. This was going to be the oddest 'capture' he'd ever done.

Asper rolled his shoulders back in a blithe stretch before he made his appearance. He wasn't entirely sure how this was going to play out, and that was fine. He was a big boy and there was little doubt that he could take care of himself. He'd always taken care of himself, and his brother, and his cousins. His cubs. Now his mother and aunt and father and --

Shaking his mane out, Asper forced himself to focus. He kept a fair distance away from the lion, not wanting to either startle him or frighten him. He really wasn't in the mood to go chasing after the other lion, who looked completely healthy in his own right.

"I am Reaver Asper of the Stormborn," he called out, schooling his voice to sound as non-intimidating as possible. "I've been sent here to find you."

If that didn't sound creepy, Asper wasn't sure what possibly could. It was what he'd been told to say, though, and Asper was always one to follow orders.

"You are not in our lands now, no," Asper cleared his throat and took a few steps closer. "But you are close. And yes. I have been sent to find you. You, specifically. Our High Priestess, Brynja, has sent me here to retrieve you. She has a seer who.. saw you. In his visions. I do not know the specifics of that vision, but because of what he saw, I am here to bring you to her."

He wasn't sure if he was making sense, but he was doing the best he could with what orders and information he'd been given - which hadn't been much.

"You will have to ask her when you meet her. I do not know much more than what I have been told, only that you too are a seer, and Brynja would like to have you."

Was he ******** this up? Probably he was.

"She will treat you well."

Asper hoped that helped.

Gods, he was making things more confusing. Asper was half-boggled himself, but he decided perhaps it was best to slow down and explain things as best as he could.

"You are a seer, or so I am told. You have visions. Brynja has two seers at this time already. One sees conflict of different sorts. He is the one who saw you - though I do not know how or why you came to him. The other seer sees weather, or so I've heard. She is the newest seer. Brynja uses their powers as her own, and views them as very valuable."

Asper shifted on his feet.

"She's sent me out to claim you. To take you as hers. You would belong to her. You would be treated well."

He didn't want to say that he'd take the seer against his will if he had to, but Asper absolutely would do so.

"We are a strong pride. Some would call us barbaric, but I think we are ...resourceful."

"I'll tell you one thing for certain. Brynja's seers may hold the rank of thrall - what we call slaves, essentially - but they are treated better than most Captains in the pride. Most thralls find themselves working from sunup to sundown doing disgusting tasks like cleaning kills, gathering for their masters or mistresses, or even more unsavory things like seeing to the needs of the Reavers in the pride."

He didn't want to get into too much detail with that, and he hoped Luken wouldn't ask.

"Brynja's seers are treated like... beloved pets. Fed. Housed. Protected. Free to do as they like, essentially. She is ... a unique lioness, High Priestess Brynja. I would say she's the third highest-ranking lion in the pride, and the highest ranking female bar none. You would be happy with her, I think."

In all honesty, Asper did not know the answer to that question. He had no idea what would happen if Brynja found herself displeased with Luken. He did know, however, that the lion would likely never be allowed to leave unless she freed him, and Asper wasn't sure that Brynja was the sort to do that kind of thing.

So he lied.

"No, you would be free to leave," Asper offered a slight smile. "There are others like you in the pride, though. Not all of them Brynja's. A pawful of lions in the pride have visions since they are seers like you. Some of them freeborn, some of them thralls."

Asper cleared his throat. Lying left an unpleasant taste in his mouth. He wasn't a liar. He was an honest lion, always had been. He'd raised his sons to be the same way, and he'd raise his newfound son and daughter the same way. The only reason he lied was a fear of failure, and what Brynja might do to him if he came back without this lion.

"Will you come with me of your own free will, then?"

Asper narrowed his eyes just slightly, a furrow of confusion wrinkling his brow. It was an odd request, but as long as it meant that Luken would come with him, that's all that mattered. He simply wanted this to be done with, and once they returned to the pride Asper hoped that he would never have need to deal with Brynja and her ilk ever, ever again.

"You may," Asper conceded, clearing his throat nervously. He had little doubt that he'd be able to hold his own should things go south, but he really hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Falling silent, Asper merely watched the other male with a slight hint of wariness in his eyes.

All in all, this had been the easiest capture that Asper had ever been faced with. It was something of a relief when the other lion finally spoke, and Asper would have been lying if he said that the few moments that Luken spent gazing off into nothingness hadn't been more than slightly strange.

Whatever. His job was almost done, and he only felt a little bad for lying to the purple-pelted lion. Okay, he felt more than a little bad, but delivering the lion was what he had been tasked with, and there was no way in hell he was coming back with nothing to show.

"Follow me."

It really would not take them long to reach the borders of the pride. Once there, Asper would deliver Luken to Brynja's den, and then hastily take his leave. The less time he had to spend around the High Priestess, the better.