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The days were all bleeding together, night turned into day even more quickly now that she was traveling once again. This time her travels would land her near home – this was the briefest of opportunities to try and sneak a peek at her family before she and her crew left again.

Zjarri`fol was laying on her side that morning, breathing evenly which suggested that she was in a deep slumber. That slumber ended when movements nearby stirred her to life fairly quickly – yes the life were a number of Reavers stumbling about, but her reaction was still reasonable, at least in her eyes. Now that she was awake and up she decided to wander from her group to get a drink and convince herself to relax in the water.

The blue lioness moved with the grace of a buffalo through her exhaustion and when she arrived at her destination, a sad looking body of water, she heaved herself to the ground and stretched in an almost unattractive way (considering she found herself alone she cared very little). A yawn pulled her jaws apart after her stretch finished out with a couple spasms and she noisily sighed contently. Eventually she’d convince herself to move to the water, but for now this was nice.

Ragnvard had been resting by the water. As usual the viking had been gruelling, they had travailed a very long way in order to find new land to poach. And as usual, ince they had achieved success, his reavers had gotten very drunk on fruit and mint, and were sleeping it off some distance away. Rag himself had left the party long before it got too out of hand and had wandered away for some peace and quiet. He could easily party with the best of them, but he was the Captain, and when they all suffered with sore heads when they woke up, he would be awake and aware and ready to push them hard on the way home. Being Captain didn't just mean he had to be the strongest, toughest and meanest lion of the group, but he also had to be above such mortal concerns a hangover. And since he was no God, he cheated.

He was aware of someone approaching long before they came into view, but as he was well concealed from the stranger's approach, having been laying beside a bush was was now between him and the newcomer, he stayed where he was, watching curiously. After she had flopped down like a dead zebra, he sat up and looked over the top if the bush. "It is a good day to die." Of course he had recognised her distinctive family markings and recognised her as a viking, despite her limpness.

Blue ears twisted lazily at the sound of rustling and then a booming voice declaring a familiar phrase. It felt good be so near home as to hear those words from a voice that wasn’t one of her owns crew. “It is a good day to die, amongst other things.” Finally she lifted her head and turned her pink gaze towards the lion that seemed to be sprouting from amongst the bushes across the way. She too recognized his familiar pelt, there were strong families within the pride they shared as home and he was part of one of them.

With a smooth motion she twisted herself so that she lay on her belly, upright. The position was much more comfortable and she could relax while keeping an eye on her company, not that she feared he would attack her as there would be little purpose in it – there was simply no motive. “How have you been?” The question was light hearted and rolled off the tongue without much thought. That was the purpose of this down time, to relax, recuperate and enjoy some quiet before the storm – so to speak.

Another yawn, if the pair of them had met in a different space the yawns might have been rude or considered in poor taste, but lazing about a small body of water? Definitely not in poor taste, in her mind at least.

The red Captain stood and moved around the bush that separated them. After all to participate in a conversation it was always a good idea to have line of sight on your companion. First off it was simply the polite thing to do, and secondly, it allowed for visual clues, which told a lion a lot about his acquaintance. After he had settled back down on her side of the bush, Ragnvard regarded her with an attentive expression. After all his reputation as both a villain and a charmer were well deserve, as his countless offspring attested to. Three litters by three different lionesses so far. And that was only the ladies inside the pride.

The Captain grinned at her reply, head nodding in lazy agreement. "Life is good." He responded, thinking of the Viking that had just passed. "We had a successful raid, no one got seriously injured and they are all content with fruit and mint right now. There will be one or two new songs when we get back. Though I'm pretty sure Olgerid won't enjoy one of them too much." Ragnvard laughed, clearly amused. "He fell down a hole and got stuck, in the middle of the fight." He smirked at the memory then shook his head. Regarding her as she yawned he grinned. "You are headed out I take it..."

The movement came as no surprise and had she been in the mood to do so herself she would have. Her eyes moved in their sockets to follow his motion, a smile grew on her lips - clearly pleased by the choice. "That's good." She responded warmly, genuinely praising that fact. "Ours will be successful, in the coming months." She said plainly. "Perhaps that is the only issue with a long term goal, there isn't as many rewards right away.. the end result will be glorious." Her shoulders rolled into a shrug, but her tone suggested she really believed that. "I suppose it's every lions dream to leave a legacy for their cubs to follow and bear as they earn their own way." The words escaped her before she could stop them, but that was fine - anyone who knew her knew that her cubs were the reason she would do just about anything. If they weren't the immediate reason she was at least usually planning for future effects.

"Anything exciting happen during your raid?" Had there been she was sure he'd have already spouted on about it, but one could never assume to know to much. "I've heard rumor that before my time as Captain that the group my band has joined had already seen some fighting near an abandoned prideland." True, she had already been grinning, but with these words her grin grew larger. "The thought that perhaps soon we could see some action ourselves is a treat enough." The blue lioness chuckled as she rambled on.

Then realizing she had asked a questioned, but didn't stop chattering enough for him to answer it was likely unproductive. "Sorry." She muttered a apology, a small laugh followed.

Ragnvard liked a lady with confidence, it spoke of the spirit necessary to be successful in a world as competitive as their pride. Her comment about legacies was certainly a surprise, it was not often a topic of conversation between reavers out on a viking. But it did line up perfectly with his own opinion on that subject. After all, everything he did, everything he worked for, was done with the knowledge that it would all pass down to his heir. An heir that he had hand picked and hand trained for the honor of carrying on his work. He had started a dynasty, and he fully expected it to be continued after his death. Ramn was an adolescent now, a healthy, muscular youth with the right mix of cold determination and iron resolve that Ragnvard wanted. The kid was appallingly handsome too, which was a bonus in his opinion. He would eventually have many ladies chasing him which just meant more cubs of Rag's bloodline and that much more security for his legacy to survive. Grinning at the blue lioness he nodded his agreement. "Indeed. These things must be planned and prepared for. Though I for one plan to live a long time as yet." He added with a low chuckle.

He was about to answer her question when she resumed speaking. Not that he minded. Information was just one more advantage in the world of claws and teeth, and he had long ago learned to listen to everyone. You never knew when specific information would be of use, after all. He had heard of some squabbles out in the desert, but his own band had yet to go that way. He had been more focused on the Land of Bones and the Red Coats of the Sand Pride. A pride of warriors intrigued him but he had yet to meet one, only their cast-offs.

Her apology made him laugh and he shook his head. "Do not worry, tell me, what are your plans when you move out again!" While his own band was on the way back, he could easily gather a fresh group if there was something interesting going on out at the abandoned pride.

Zjarri`fol was delighted by how her words were received, clearly they were on the same path of thought when it came to bloodline. In that moment she thought of her recent litter - a lone male amongst a number of truly strong willed females. Though she loved them all, her pride and joys were those females that all seemed bound and determined to do their mother proud. It was her own personal goal to continue to produce strong females for the prides future in hopes that females kept moving forward with establishing themselves among the men - of course Svana herself, becoming Warlord, helped to solidify the idea in her mind - females were just as powerful. "Planned and prepared." She chuckled along with him. "You're right, I plan for this, but I don't plan to die for quite some time."

Her rambling wasn't becoming, but the way he listened appealed to her. In fact he didn't budge a muscle, even as she inserted a question for him and promptly ran over it with something that would have been akin to word vomit. "The fighting has since settled. We've been to a couple prides since then - one.. that you may not believe me on this, one that ingested plants and had one fatality with a number of others left ill." She snorted at the idea - at the time she'd pushed for aiding them, but the more she rolled over the idea of what had happened it did seem a tad ridiculous. "They've recovered, but still. Here's to hoping they've learned from the experience, one fatality should be enough to deter them." Another snort.

"Our plans have settled for the time being, but it seems I've piqued your interest?" She smirked slightly. "If I hear of anything new I'd happily seek you out, if you'd like to participate." A thought prodded the back of her mind to address this invitation with Tethys and ensure that it'd be welcomed, but in her own mind she assured herself that there was no such thing as to many paws.

He listened with genuine interest as she described a plant-eating pride. The whole idea was just..... weird. Sure reavers ate fermented fruit, but not because they wanted more fibre in their diet, but because it made one high as a bird and had the most amazing head-spinning effect. Getting drunk off one's tail was just as noble a past time as fighting was. But eating plants? He pulled a face as she described it. "Where they trying to be herbivores or something?" He asked incredulously, before grinning at her offer. "I'm always ready for a good fight. If you know of one, I'll happily come along." He would even go on his own, after all some of his most interesting trips had been after he had sent the band back home and he had lingered in an area. One of his more personal habits that the pride didn't now about. In fact it was one such visit post-raid that had led him to Tala.... Swiftly pushing the Pridelander lioness and his newest litter from his mind he grinned. "You know where to find me." He replied, chuckling.

The face that he made was an accurate depiction of what she was feeling on the inside. “I’d like to say they were attempting for some new found discovery, unfortunately it went way wrong. Too bad I hadn’t considered throwing around the words ‘herbivore wannabe’ myself.” She chuckled. “Though at the time it would have likely been dark humor.” She recalled the situation with a small amount of sadness as she witnessed the adolescent escort them to his dying mother. Zjarri remembered the way he walked, it was a weak strut that carried him slowly to darkness – at the time she didn’t realize the adolescent had also been influenced by the plants, but still.

“Who isn’t ready for a good fight... or any fight for that matter.” She laughed fondly at the idea of battles. They were the prides pride and joy for the most part, save for the handful of lawspeakers and priestesses. Though they were typically fighting a more unique fight to their respective trades. “We’d warmly welcome your strength.”

“Even if I didn’t I’m sure I could utter your name and the crowds would direct me to you.” True, she was giving away compliments, but they had been earned in her opinion – yes she was trying to raise the next strong generation of females, but that didn’t mean she didn’t recognize a strong individual (male or female). Zjarri`fol would have also been lying if she didn’t think that he’d be a great candidate to help her produce more strong females. That part remained a mere thought for the moment.

He noticed her brief shift from playful to solum, but allowed the moment to pass without question. A lion's thoughts were their own, after all. And while he recognised her, he didn't know her, so he wasn't about to pry. She moved on however and he grinned back in return. Fighting was always fun, sometimes it was even a challenge, though such a thing was rare these days for Ragnvard. It was why he went out so often, looking for a better opponent, someone who could actually make him work for a victory. Ever since the festival where he had deliberately lost to his trainee in such an obvious fashion, taking quite a few hard hits as if they were nothing, few were willing to challenge him on the practice sands. That was the downside to a reputation as strong as his. But rogues and Outsiders were fair game and usually hadn't yet learned of the futility of facing him. Ahhh... the good old days... Chuckling he shrugged. "Just say the word, and I'll be there." Her next comment, offhand though it was, made him laugh, a rich, easy sound. "True indeed... for better or worse." He agreed. He was certainly well known in the pride, but the opinions on his character truly differed depending on who you asked. He had even heard some tales where he apparently murdered whole prides on his own, impressive though they were, he had still to work out just how those had gotten started... Someone had a truly inventive imagination, apparently.

"So you are headed out soon?" He asked, going back to her earlier words.

Left to her thoughts was what she had needed - it gave her a chance to gather her wits and carry on like it barely even happened. Everyone had something and she was sure that woul dbe her something for a while.

"Good to know you're reliable." She snickered softly. "Yeah, we'll be heading out soon, won't be soon enough though." Zjarri gave a brief sigh. The sigh was content, she did enjoy her down time, but the timeline was unclear - they'd set out when they needed to and that would be that.

"You?" The question was quick. "I mean, you've just come back, but if you're anything like me I'd imagine you already have plans? If you're still around I'll have someone get you, but I can't give you any formal date - it'd be an on call basis." She smiled gently and looked to the water, her reflection stared back at her and she yawned slightly, relaxed in the situation.

He watched as she yawned again. Damn but she was making him feel sleepy now. "I may stay around the pride for a while. My reavers have been out a lot lately, and I have three adolescent offspring I wish to start training." He grinned at the thought of his spawn. Three stormborn litters, all of them strong and wilful. "They have all been training with other pride members of course, but they are progressing into more skilled combat now and I want to oversee them. I hope that they will be going out no their first Viking soon. Well, my son Raum already has, but he could do with more experience anyway." Ragnvard grinned, clearly proud of his offspring.

It was about time that she got some more rest - a vikings best friend (or at least she would have argued). "Well hopefully it all works out that I can turn to you." The blue lioness dropped her head to her paws, resting it there and was even tempted to close her eyes, but in that moment she became very aware of his presence (not that she wasn't aware before) but the reality hit that she barely knew him. So she held off on closing her eyes.

"That makes sense - train them as you think they ought to be trained at the level they should be seeing." A half-assed nod followed her statement. "It'll be the same situation when my own grow just a bit more and when I can have them accompany me outside of the pridelands." Of course her cubs were old enough, but she hadn't had a chance to see for herself how far they had come.

"I'd like to rest now if you don't mind - you're welcome to join me, but I'm a touch more exhausted than I'd had imagined." She admitted.

He realised she was flagging when she dropped her head back to her paws. Clearly she was about to fall asleep on him. He wondered what she had been up to that had worn her out so much. But... the idea of a nap wasn't a bad one. He himself could do with some rest after the stresses of managing a large group of violent stormborn reavers. "I'd be happy to train them alongside my own, if you wished." He offered, knowing that she would have heard of just how strict of a teacher he was. Strict, but successful, which was always the goal.

"Of course, I won't disturb you further. I'd like to stay here though." He watched her thoughtfully as she got settled. Their talk of cubs and training them into reavers had got him thinking. He had three adolescent litters now, it was past due that he had more cubs on the way... His Prideland litter didn't count as they were not Stormborn and would not be training as reavers. Yes..... it was well past time....

Settling his own head on his paws he watched her as she slept, before finally closing his own eyes and slipping into a light doze. The slightest movement would wake him but for now, this was just right.