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 Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 4:25 pm
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Her head whipped around, pallid eyes narrowing at the male. She glared at him without really seeing him. Only after a beat or two of staring did the flick of his tail make sense; only then did she recognize the self-assured toss of his mane. Who was this guy? Was he...flirting? Seriously?
It was a gesture so unexpected, so unbelievably normal, that it was hard for Ealhild to be angry at him for it. Not like he knew what was going on. Poor fool didn't even know where he was.
"It's a border you want to turn and run away from, friend." The lioness straightened, her eyes focusing on him for the first time. Scores of anger, pent-up and directionless, burned in ghost-pale eyes. They left their guest only briefly, drifting down to her paw: where she traced a line in the dirt between them, marking the border as if it were as simple as a physical boundary. "Step over this line, and at first you'll feel your stomach growling, even if you've recently fed. Forty paces in, and your tongue will thirst for water - like you haven't drunk in days."
Eal's jaw set, and her mouth pursed into a thin line. "Spend the night, and you'll wake in the morning weak with hunger. If you manage to kill in that state - buck or badger, doesn't matter - you'll eat until you're sick. It won't matter. You'll still be hungry, even as your belly bloats before your eyes." Her bitter expression changed, becoming a pained smile. Behind her, a white-tipped tail lashed, proof of the anger still roiling behind her eyes. "Run, rogue. You've come to the lands of the Myrsky Syntynyt, and there's nothing beautiful here now."
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:35 pm
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Well, he was still here. And she'd thought her speech had been rather intimidating.
Eal hadn't counted on this much chatter when she'd stormed off, and anger-fueled adrenaline was beginning to wane. If she was going to stay and talk to this stranger, she would much preferred to be sitting while she did it - but she realized just as quickly that that wouldn't do. Weakened as they were - tired as they were - Freeborn as she was - she was still Stormborn. This was still a rogue on their border. Ealhild would hardly be able to look her father in the face if she showed weakness.
She braced herself, ignoring the way that she swayed on her paws. The only other sign of her growing fatigue was the way her head sank slowly, steadily, beneath hunched shoulders. "I don't know," she replied, hating how sullen she sounded. "Where do curses come from? A pissed-off god, I guess. I'm not allowed to leave the lands to find out." It was a good question, though. Were there Reavers who were safe from this terrible feeling? Were they roaming because of it? Fleeing, when they could be helping their home? Her brows bunched over the bridge of her muzzle, hinting at a barely-contained snarl. The thought made Eal furious all over again.
His words soothed the fury a little. The lioness shot him a grateful smirk. "You've got one thing right, guy - no one is strong as a Stormborn." Her head even lifted fractionally, pride evident. And then the hunger kicked in, twisting her stomach into a savage growl...and something as silly as pride went belly-up, humbled by pain. "Unfortunately, strength isn't everything." Her tail lashed again, and the wince as the words came out of her mouth made it unclear what hurt her more: starvation, or the admission.
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 6:06 am
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She took in his eyeroll and matched it with a long stare of her own. Not glaring; there was no malice in those pale eyes. Just contemplation. "You have a point." For someone she might have considered taking as a thrall if only she were a proper reaver, this strange lion asked some good questions. It was the cubs that chased her away, yes - but the females were Stormborn as their males. What had they done to deserve this? This was clearly an unnatural hunger - the unaffected lion standing across from her was evidence of that. So was it really a god at work? And if it was, what had the pride done to them?
"It's not a matter of smarts. If the hunger ends at our borders - think it through! The curse is on the pride. Moving won't do a thing." Ealhild's brow furrowed, lips twitching into a frown. "And even if I'm wrong, these lands are our home. Been our home for longer than I can imagine. There are some of us who probably wouldn't leave all that easily." It didn't answer all of his question, but she didn't exactly want to admit that she wasn't high enough rank to leave. Not to an outsider. Not when they were so vulnerable.
But he didn't seem so bad. Strength of heart... Eal chuckled. At least he understood quality when he saw it. "Pretty words, Gudina. I'm Ealhild. And I hope you're right." The nod that followed her name was, judging by her half-smile, one of burgeoning respect.
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 6:30 am
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"Are you really?" She drawled, that half-smile lifting into a smirk. This male was either a thrill-seeker, too morbidly curious for his own good, or genuinely had nothing better to do with his time. Who could say with rogues? Regardless, she'd be curious to see just how well he would do, waiting around the outside of their territory. Maybe she'd even come by to see him now and again, when she needed a bit of a break...and no one was paying attention.
"Well, watch yourself out here. Step back if you find yourself getting a little hungry - and watch out for members of the pride coming back home. If they have braids in their manes, give 'em wide berth." Wouldn't do, after all, for some eager reaver to spy her new pal and take him as a thrall before she got the chance. As soon as this all blew over, after all, she would become a real reaver. And then -
The thought sobered her quick. Nodding to Gudina, she turned away before he could take notice. Listen to her! Wondering what they could have done to piss off a god, and here she's already dreaming of taking some stranger she'd only just met for a slave! Sure, she'd treat him well, but... Well, not all Stormborn did. There were a lot of things that they didn't all do.
Tail lashing as she walked away, Ealhild decided to take a little more time before heading back where she belonged. She had a lot to think about, and all of a sudden, the hunger wasn't the only thing turning her stomach.
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 6:35 am
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Gudina had been off on his own since he was an adolescent he loved his family very much, but he needed to find adventure and love in his own way, he could just stay in the pride lands and never see other lands. It just wasn't where his heart was right now, someday he might return home and kiss his mother again, but for now, he wanted to see what else was out there in the world. He walked along by a stream and looked into the distance where he could see mountains and cliffs. The sky was open and rain fell onto his dark coat. He had faced many types of weather since he had left home and he figured he would face many types of weather before he decided to settle down somewhere. 
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