Common

It was oddly satisfying to Nyimara, to see the change in emotions as they coursed through the tawny woman’s silver blue eyes. Hope. Hope she recognized, for it had been the same hope that once alighted her own eyes when passing strangers in the dark loomed near. Sorrow. Yes she remembered the feeling of sorrow for it still cut into the jagged wounds in her soul time and again. Disbelief. Yes, there was disbelief in her eyes now as the recognition of Nyimara’s presence began to break through the initial surprise. Suspicion. The last of which she expected. Tigerlily had not been one of her favorites. She had seen the close bond that developed between the dark haired woman and her bear-king lover. She did not forget the mornings of sulking beneath the cover of dense jungle and watching in silent rage as the two pressed together in a tender lover’s embrace. Never would she forget the taste of her own blood on her tongue as she bit back the venomous words and calloused emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. For Bjorn, she remained silent, like the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

As the suspicion began to plant a strong hold over the pale faced woman, so too came her questions. Nyimara found herself relying heavily on her quick wit now, tamping down her own sharp tongue for the look of feigned innocence that fell so perfectly into place. Tigerlily questions her now, questions the truth of her own words and Nyimara tilts her finely dished head back towards the distant shoreline. Ears fall backwards in dismay as for once the veil breaks and the true pain that she felt over the Inlet loss dances across her face. ”It is true the Inlet is his homeland but…. We could not hold it.” she murmurs softly, turning her head once more back to face Tigerlily. Once more the mask of indifference falls neatly into place as she lifts her head in the most dignifying manner. ”Warsaw and his sons were too much for us alone. We are all that is left. Ysabel aligned herself with Solomon’s herd and together they drove us out to retake the throne. Defeated, we sought solace from the Arch… attempting to recoup as nearby as possible.” she replies in a quiet tone.

For the first time since her birth, the look of pure adoration washes over Nyimara’s features as the conversation turns now. ”I… I was soon to give birth. A daughter. Skogsra…” she continues, pausing a moment to let her words settle between them before continuing again. ”I could not make the swim. Bjorn would not risk us.” she murmurs blinking up once more at the dark haired woman. Yes, yes… let her see. again the beast’s voice murmured in the dark recesses of her mind. She had hoped that Tigerlily’s blind faith and loyalty to Bjorn would be enough to draw the woman to the Arch. Hoped that the mere familiar face that Nyimara presented to her was enough to encourage her to race towards Tinuvel in hopes of reuniting with her beloved bear-king. However as the past memories began to seep into the tawny woman like rain on a sun-parched earth, so too goes Nyimara’s hope that Tigerlily would follow in blind faith. Ears fold backwards as the memories of Luthien flash through her eyes. Blood pulses like the drumming of ocean waves as memories of the blood and screams of rage renew themselves in her mind. So intense are the memories that Nyimara must shake her head to force the rushing tide back into the recesses of her mind. ”We both felt the cries of war that day Tigerlily…” she begins, her dark eyes blinking up at the taller woman beneath the vein of thick silver forelock. Lips curl upwards as she fought away the odor of decay and blood that ghosted through her. ”Your body screamed as loud as my own and yet still you returned to him just as I did. Bjorn called us to him and so we answered.” she murmured.

Once more the mask of indifference slides into place as the pale haired woman turns her gaze once more towards Tinuvel. She wanted to know why Nyimara might lead her back to the bear king? Why should she follow her willingly? The truth is simple enough and jaded in its accuracy. ”You are a woman of the north Tigerlily, a strong asset that can be quite useful when a foe threatens the safety of those you hold dear. Why would I not seek you out?” she continues pausing for a moment to blink innocently up towards her. ”Bjorn needs you.”

The words are vial on her tongue and yet she forces the disgust and hatred down to the beast, letting it ravage such feelings and thoughts in his razor claws. Though she still longed for him, Bjorn was gone and she must look out for herself and her daughters. Whether Tigerlily knew it or not, she would be there. The fly in the spider’s web. While Nyimara danced on the edges, she would lead the pale faced woman straight to the beast and hope his interest might be sated for a time longer. ”We need your strength.” the words were not a lie. Nyimara had learned from the failure of the Inlet that strength arose in numbers. When Warsaw and his herd returned with the damned Ysabel at his side, it had been their numbers that caused the first flickers of fear to color Nyimara’s vision. She smelled the stench of their odor and felt the tremor of their hooves as they pounded upon the frozen tundra. They needed strong mares to fight invasion should the decision ever arise again.