Ghyslaine

The small wheaten lioness had found the Hollow when the Mire male had challenged for the leadership here. She had waited awhile before she would come here again, wanting to talk to the leader- but also dealing with her own life changes. No longer sporting the scent of the Mire, but instead that of the Rainforest, she would travel to the borders of this strange pride. Halting a few feet away, she would let out a loud call- a call for the leader of this pride.

Aside from representing her new pride, she also had to talk to him about the ghost she had met. She had promised, Kito, that she would find her family, and Ghyslaine was nothing if not a lioness of her word. So there wise would stand and wait, and hope that the ruler of the Hollow would welcome her inquires- and not chase her off.

She sat down, her tail wrapping around her, as she stares into the territory and awaits him.

@Roan

OOC: Anyone is welcome, as long as Roan’s okay with it <3

_{art by yumpy}

Roan Hodari

i wanna taste love and pain wanna feel pride and shame

ooc: i'm good with anyone else jumping in too

The world had seemed to finally settle once more after the challenge. The cracks in the tunnels had healed over, the weather was falling back into a normal rhythm. Roan had mostly healed by now as well since his fight, though his thick coat did well to hide majority of his scars. He hadn't done much in way of visiting with other prides since the challenge, though, so a call for him at the borders was almost expected. The voice, however, was unfamiliar, but @Ghyslaine seemed to call for him specifically, so the masked man knew better than to ignore the summons.

Making his way through the tunnels, it wasn't long before the mauve lion's form stepped out of the dark entrance to Obsidian. Minty gaze landed upon a wheaten lioness, one that the Hodari couldn't remember seeing before, though the scent of Firnen was immediately detected. Having had no contact with the Rainforest since Violarum took over, this summons would continue to baffle the masked king. "Hello, miss," Roan greeted neutrally with a slight dip of his head. He'd stop with a few feet between them, a respectable distance to hold with a stranger, before allowing his haunches to fold behind him. Whoever she was, her king was not with her, so what could this be about? "I am Roan Hodari, King of Obsidian Hollows. What is it I can do for you?" For the most part, the Hodari remained friendly. He had no issue with Firnen thus far, and didn't plan to make an enemy of them any time soon.

code | art | background

Ghyslaine

She waits in an amicable silence with the soft chirping of crickets around her, happy to sit there and relax until they come. When a male, that she recognizes from the challenge appears, she offers a polite nod of her head. He speaks, introducing himself as @Roan Hodari, and she feels her jaw slack a little as she recalls the name that Kito had offered her. She studies him in silence for a moment, before offering her own name- and the pleasantries that one probably should start with before asking about a ghost.

“Hello Roan Hodari. My name is Ghyslaine Olympe, Heiress of Firnen Rainforest. Violarum, my closest friend, is the new King there.” Information that she offers- both her name and rank, information that she feels another leader should know. “I came seeking you out… actually not on pride business.” She says almost awkwardly, with a sheepish grin. “I… uh… you may want to sit down?” She trails off, curiously studying him, but also trying to figure out how in the world to broach the subject of his dead relative’s request.

_{art by yumpy}

Roan Hodari

i wanna taste love and pain wanna feel pride and shame

The woman was pleasant enough, returning with her own name and rank, which Roan took note of the heiress title she bore. As was it good confirmation to hear Violarum's name as the newest Rainforest king. How long ago it seemed now that Roan had once ruled the same lands. Shrugging the thought from his head, though, the Hodari kept his focus on @Ghyslaine as she stated that it wasn't pride business she was here for. What other business would a stranger from another pride have with him though? Was something wrong in Firnen that the woman felt the need to ask another pride for help? Already, the mauve man's head was whirling with possibilities, but then she tells him to sit down. Uh oh.

The masked lion obliges, more firmly planting his rump on the ground, though he can't help but to sit up a bit straighter than he normally would. "Is everything alright?" The king's brow furrowed as he studied the woman, as if something about her appearance would give him an answer before she could even utter it orally. Should he know her or something?

code | art | background

Ghyslaine

She smiles as he complies, his gaze fixed on her. Now, came the hard part.

“So… I met a ghost.” She began, and she cringed a little. “I know- I know it sounds absolutely crazy.” She says. “But I did, and her name was Kito Hodari.” She said. “She was very kind, and explained the whole ghost thing… but she told me of her family. The Hodari family… she doesn’t think that you know that she is there.” She pauses. “She knew of Talisa of Vermeda Brook, and so I went to Talisa and asked her about it and she pointed me in this direction.” She pauses, waiting to see how he was taking this.

“I… I believe she is your family— and I wanted you to know that she was there, in the Grotto. I promised her, you see… and I intend to remain a lioness of my word.” She would finally pause, to see what he thinks of all of this that she has shared with him.

@Roan

_{art by yumpy}

Hero didn't always show curiosity at a summons for his parents, or anyone of the Hollow for that matter, but the young prince was getting older by the day, wanting to learn more an more about his surroundings and how everything worked. When someone called for his father, the masked boy had done his best to silently follow the king, stopping to hide behind some rocks when Roan stepped out of the Hollow. The female that called for him didn't look familiar, but she certainly smelled different than them. She didn't smell like the Vermeda lions either, so that meant she wasn't exactly a friend, right? Or... what did his father call them... Allies! Yeah, she wasn't an ally. So what did she want? Hero would just have to wait and see as he hunkered down behind the rocks.

Nothing could have prepared the prince to hear the words that came out of @Ghyslaine's mouth. A ghost? They were real? Well, of course they were. At least, that's what his family always said about them. That spirits and ghosts and such were real. Some could even come back to life, but it was all just stories to the boy at the moment. But this stranger had actually met one?

He recognized his own surname spoken as the same that the ghost had. So it was a family member? Hero could barely contain himself at all this information. His little butt wiggled until it just became too much to withhold. The prince burst from his hiding spot to run up alongside his father, but his icy gaze looked to the stranger first, as wide as they could go. "You met a ghost?! I wanna meet one!" Hero bounced on his paws in his own excitement before his head whipped back to his father. "Can we go meet her, Dad? Canwe?Canwe?Pleeeaasseee?" A wide, innocent expression crossed his face, wanting to endear his father to take them right here and now to go meet the ghostly family member.

Table by Amanda || Base || Background

Roan Hodari

i wanna taste love and pain wanna feel pride and shame

Roan tried to prepare himself as best he could, already thinking the worst, but what comes out of the woman's mouth was hardly a crazy thing. Had the masked man not grown up always knowing about spirits, had he not met several of them already, the mauve lion might have looked at @Ghyslaine funny. Instead, there is a sense of understand that starts to melt his expression. While Roan didn't fully know about Kito's whereabouts in Amaryllis, if she was even still around, he did know about his father's run in with the woman after the flood in Ecrosia. This Firnen woman would help to finally connect the pieces as to what happened to the matriarch.

Patiently, the Hodari took it all in stride, but before he could say anything, a little shadow appeared at his side as Hero burst onto the scene. It would seem that the prince was enraptured with the idea of meeting a deceased relative, all too eager to go see the silver lady in the Grotto. Roan simply chuckled to the boy as he patted a large paw over his head. "In due time, Hero. We'll take the whole family." With the boy quelled, Roan returned his attention to their guest. "Thank you for bringing me this information, Ghyslaine. It is not a crazy thing at all. My family has long believed in the spirits of our dead relatives. I've had the honor of meeting a couple over the years myself, but never Kito." Not yet, anyway. "My father told me about her appearance in Amaryllis after the flood in Ecrosia, but we are not natives to these lands, and so I never knew if there was a spiritual place here like there was in our homelands, if she had managed to stay." Now that there was confirmation of her place in Amaryllis, though, the Hodari would be itching to see the woman again. "She is my grandmother," the masked man nodded, confirming the familial connection. "Thank you for bringing news of her return to me. I'm sure my family will thank you as well." With that, he gave his son a little nudge and a quick look as if to urge the boy to say his own thanks, but otherwise, Roan couldn't wait to tell the rest of the Hodari about Kito.

code | art | background

There is a blur of shadow, and then as she feels her gaze leave the king… she realizes that is a cub who has arrived. @Hero Instantly, she smiles, her heart melting as the young male speaks to… his father asking if he can come with. She lets out a soft chuckle, her eyes soft as they shift back to the King of the Hollow. She almost feels the teasing question leave her- can I keep him? He was adorable, and for a moment she envied the hollow king.

At @Roan ‘s words , Ghyslaine inclines her head, mentally noting to herself that she needed to return to the hollow to let Kito know of her success as well. “She is a kind lioness, and it was an honor to do this favor for her.” She says softly, dipping her head to the pair of them. “I hope you find her. Everyone needs their family around them.” She says softly. She cast as a kind smile to the young cub, and back to the king. “I’m not here on official business, but I’m sure in due time we may come to discuss the standings of our kingdoms.” She pauses. “In the mean time, I wish you all well, and hope that you find Kito, when you’re ready.” She said, eyeing the grandson of the ghost she had met.

Ghyslaine rose to her feet, and offered Roan a deep inclination of her head- a sign of respect for the reigning ruler, before she would take her leave- heading home, her mission fulfilled.

ART BY ROAMER, CODE BY LARS

Hero's practically buzzing form was steadied by his father large paw on his head. An icy eye peeked out from beneath the king's tones before Roan put his paw back on the ground. While talking to @Ghyslaine, though, it appeared that Kito was not their only spiritual relative. So why hadn't the boy met any ghosts yet? The mere idea of talking to someone who had lived a whole life already was fascinating to the boy. The young prince just couldn't wait to meet his great-grandma. For now, though, he remained quiet at his father's side. Hero could hardly take his gaze off of the stranger, however, instantly idolizing and envious of her ability to converse with the spirits.

"What's the grotto?" the boy suddenly questioned the woman with a tilt of his head. A brief glance looked up to his father as well, curious if he knew where this place was either. Hero didn't get out much, after all.

Table by Amanda || Base || Background

Roan Hodari

i wanna taste love and pain wanna feel pride and shame

The mauve man simply smirked as his son managed to settle down for a bit while @Ghyslaine went on. "We will take whatever family we can get," the Obsidian sovereign chuckled lightly. Considering how large their family used to be, every additional member, dead or alive, was a welcomed experience. To bring Kito into their fold, even if she was stuck in the Grotto, could only aid the Hodari's solidarity further. Roan could hardly imagine what sort of stories she might be able to pass down to his kids, and to hear something like that straight from the source was better than hearing it from him or even Dero.

Before taking her leave, the Firnen woman gave mention of the standing between their prides, even if this wasn't official pride business they spoke of. "Feel free to swing by whenever you wish with Violarum. I'd be happy to discuss relations between our prides, or I may make a visit myself." Whoever got to it first did not matter, but if the Rainforest was filled with others like Ghyslaine, Roan didn't see a problem with a possible alliance. Little would he know that it wouldn't be Vio's for much longer, though.

As for his son's question, even Roan wasn't 100% certain of the spiritual location. "It's in the mountains, right? In Freyr Peak?" questioned as he looked to Ghyslaine for confirmation. He'd been there before, but had never realized it was a spiritual place. At least Kito, nor any other spirit, had ever come to him, not that he had called for anyone either.

code | art | background