08-26-2016, 02:35 PM
LET ME IN THE WALL YOU'VE BUILT AROUND.
WE CAN LIGHT A MATCH, AND BURN IT DOWN.
It takes mere moments before the heavy sounds of rhythmic, graceful beats can be heard rumbling through the woodland floor, reverberating through the many individually typed, hollow trees and the dense, moist soil beneath. His fiery eyes watch carefully; the brush is thick and seemingly impenetrable - easily cloaking what may hide away within, stirring a weariness within his tired bones. The muscles that line his broad body tense slightly, his weight shifting from one side of his body to the other as the bleak sunlight peers through the heavy foliage, illuminating the scars that litter his dark body.
Soon, deep, soulful brown eyes meet his own, and he finds himself within the presence of feminine authority, her physique lithe and slender but heavily lined with toned muscle. Her skin is as dark as his own in many places, but patterned with as many spotted markings along her spine as he himself had scars. The intensity of his stare does not falter as he observes the line of her jaw, the ridge of her furrowed brow and the slender line along her neck where a tense muscle lie, clenched. Her words are simple, yet laced with confidence. As they should be - a Queen should never waver.
His chin tucks close to his chest as he dips the girth of his heavy neck towards the soil below, a careful eye observing another female that emerges from the heavy thicket, alabaster with splashes of copper to accentuate her wide, curious eyes. She remains silent, as do Maribel and Josie - who linger close but quietly at his side. He tilts his cheek slightly towards her, a nod to her in turn. Respect is something to be given openly, until given reason to strip it away - he has come to them, seeking answers, but no prowess he possesses will keep him from proper formality and honor.
"Lexa; I am Offspring - and these are my envoys, Josie and my daughter, Maribel." His voice raises within the heavy, humid air, soothing the gravelly tone caused by dry disuse. Though he had not known her personally, she was a familiar face, nonetheless - a valiant warrior in a battle lost to all. He did not feel the need to tell her his title; he had a feeling she already knew. "We have come from the Tundra, seeking answers, and to answer any questions you may have."
He pauses now, silence lingering between the weight of his words.
"Senseless war has taken too much from us all - and to repent, we seek to strengthen both our own bond and that of our allies. Change is in the midst, and so is the unknown. We are plenty in number and strength; we may be willing to exchange devotion and loyalty in return for your own. In the very least, we seek neutrality in a time of uncertainty." He trails off for a moment, a steady eye meeting hers.
"As you may already know, we are allied with the Chamber and Valley both - though bad blood has stirred in the past, we all seek to move past old bindings and amend anew. If an alliance with the Tundra is something you might find yourself interested in, but our own alliances cause concern, we would exchange our own loyalty if a treaty of peace can be extended between your kingdom and theirs. Is this something that you and your Sisters desire?"
OFFSPRING
THE FIRE AND ICE KING OF THE TUNDRA