Renáta sighed a deep and weary sigh, heavy with regret. Why, oh why, had someone thought this was a good idea? Sure, they were all blood related, but there had to be some god up there that was laughing at her and taking joy in making her life an absolute misery. Lifting her head she scowled her fiercest scowl up at the cloudy sky above. Hoping to broadcast her displeasure at any nosy Deity that was up there watching. Behind her, her two nieces squabbled. Not loud enough to allow her to turn around and clobber them both over the head, but in hard, hushed whispers that were just barely audible. Enough that she knew her patience was not going to last for the entire trip.
Eventually, after some time of travailing silently and fuming to herself, she spun on the two younger females, paw raised and her fangs out. "WILL YOU STOP!" She roared at full volume, right into their faces. This had the pleasant side effect of both releasing some of her temper, and causing the two brats to stop talking and stare at her with wide, shocked eyes.
"I will not tolerate such behaviour on this viking!" She hissed at them at a slightly less ear-splitting volume. Though her ferocity was not at all diminished. She waited pointedly for both disgustingly orange girls to nod their accent before she turned around and resumed leading them. When Ragnvard had come to her with the suggestion that a Viking was just what she needed to let off a little steam -his hint that her refusing to have sex with anyone being the reason she had been so short tempered lately hardly helping matters- she had told him in no uncertain terms to get lost. However, apparently he had said something to their parents, and when her mother had come asking if she wouldn't mind taking the two girls out for their first viking, there was no way for Renáta to refuse. After agreeing, she had known instantly that she would only hate her brother more for his part in her suffering.
Behind her, the two half-sisters glanced at each other, then glared. They looked so alike, having the same bright orange coat inherited from their father, and the same golden eyes, though Tiamat's were set in a blackness that made many of the pride deeply uncomfortable near her. They also had a similar temperament, being both bold and brassy. But while Tiamat was always looking to stick up for the weaker pride members, Hectate was typically angling for an advantage over them. Ever since they were both members of the cub-gang the Ankle Biters, they had been causing collective chaos in their dislike of each other.
Renáta had been dismayed to realise that sibling rivalry was one gene that dominated in her family. Thinking of her brother only soured her already dark mood and she strode onwards, faster than before. Leaving the two girls to hurry along to catch up with her, still bickering, though silently this time. The shuffles as they bodily shoved at one another still enough to set the blood in her temples to pulsing. The only thing that would have made this whole experience worse, was if her -ugh- nephew Raum had tagged along. But thank goodness he was already a reaver... and for the time being, none of Renáta's business or her concern.
He was thoroughly enjoying the day. It was slightly overcast and with a strong wind, but that seemed to be the norm for this area. It certainly made a change from the burning heat of the desert lands or the utter dryness of the Ithambo. Now that had been an ... interesting place. Not a speck of colour in the entire pride, aside from red. He figured they had to be related to the Firekin, for red to be so dominant. But otherwise, they were all hues of brown. From the very palest cream to the darkest coco. Brown, brown, brown. Fine, there had been the odd white and black, some yellow too, and even a single blue one, but she was clearly the anomaly. Certainly they had been extremely hostile to outside males, he had been chased off before he even had time to ask where he was. It was only a passing vulture that had warned him afterward that the land was owned by the Ithambo and they disliked intruders. Having made a note of them, he steered a wide birth around the pride and continued on his merry, solo, way. Some time after, he had met a small band of rogues who had told him of many interesting places, they had also warned him of somewhere called the Stormborn, who apparently had tried to take them as slaves. They had escaped only by leaving behind the bundles of furs they had been transporting. Apparently they were merchants of some kind or another. They had offered to take him in, but as usual, he had declined in as pleasant a manner as possible and gone on his own way. Now, he figured he was close to the aforementioned 'Stormborn' land, though far enough away as yet to not have come across any sign of them. Though if he kept travailing in the direction he was, he would reach the pride itself eventually. Not that he was planning on getting that close... He had no desire to be a slave to some brutish oaf after all.
Having been focused on what was going on behind her, Renáta almost missed the bright flash of blue and rainbow hues as something up ahead moved between the bushes. But thankfully her training kicked in and she crouched low, with only her head up enough to still see what was out there. Behind her the two adolescents very nearly didn’t stop in time, nearly standing on her tail before realising something had changed. Tiamat nudged her half-sister and both looked forwards, intrigued, at least until a sharp hiss from their Aunt made them duck down in imitation of Renáta’s posture. The reaver debated on whether to tell them to stay put while she investigated, but she knew it would be useless to even suggest it, they would not obey her. Both were too curious for their own good, or hers. So, after watching the strange and very brightly coloured lion as he wandered along jauntily for a minute or two, she stood up and swiftly jogged to cut off his approach. Tiamat and Hectate following close behind her.
When a large and heavily muscled lioness suddenly stepped out from behind some bushes up ahead, the bright rogue stopped dead, his head coming up sharply. She was instantly joined by two slightly smaller females, though both were still fit and lean and almost as muscular as their older leader. He detected a distinct familial resemblance between the two younger ones, siblings maybe? And he supposed the brown lioness was their mother then. Judging from the size, obvious strength and the scars that covered all three lions, he reckoned that he had found the infamous Stormborn. Or more accurately, they had found him.
Right then… to stay or go?
The decision was made for him when one of the younger ones, with wing markings on her sides and unusual black eyes with gold irises, darted round from behind the older lion and came jogging towards him. He saw the disapproval on the brown one’s face but no fear… Interesting. Clearly they thought just one of their number was equal to him. And from what he had heard of this pride, they were probably right.
“Hello there.” He tried, hoping a more diplomatic greeting would prevent any ideas of capturing him for their slave trade.
