[PRP] Saraneth, The Binder (Sara x Ulfric)

[hibi-tea]

How long had it been since Saraneth had wandered from the pridal lands in search of her new herbs? She was not sure right now. In fact, she was not sure in which way the pride was anymore. What she had found, her newest discovery, was quite potent and quite, well, deadly. Sara had only a small taste of the poison to study it and she had been thrown into a spell of sickness, confusion and loss for what could only be described as weeks.

After that it was an almost obsessive trial and error to figure out what could counteract the potent poison. One spell of sickness after another until she finally knew what she needed to put it to bay; to use it against whoever she willed. She would soon find that the maybe months she had been missing were much, much longer. So much so that the pride had now gone through not one, but two warlords. For she had left and Aesir had still been in power.

In the distance she saw something she could only presume was another cat like herself, maybe lion or leopard for it was large. She stood there, bags of her herbs in check and her ringers nestled against her chest. Hopefully they would not be hostile as her last companion had been. She did not want to have to use her herb on another for that meant having to retriever more, and it was not a trip she wanted to make again.  

[Lithiasaur]

hibi-tea

Ulfric was worn, his long journey going on much longer than he had thought, though it had been filled with triumph and he carried with him a pouch, makeshift as it was, full of the severed tails he had taken from his foes. He never fought anyone that did not present a challenge to him, unless he did so to draw out someone else: he used hostages and weaknesses to prompt the raw, angry strength that some lions hid, but he did not see any merit in attacking or killing an innocent for the sake of it. He did not harm cubs and generally, outside of his homeland and those that had no other purpose, he did not attack females.

Only those that challenged him, or he felt needed to be challenged, met his claws and teeth.

He spotted the lioness soon after she spotted him, and regarded her at a distance. She was wearing a strange harness of some kind, and she had an air about her that was almost familiar. Perhaps it was just natural for one Viking to recognize another. He had not been in the pride long enough to know her from before she left, of course, and had never met her before. Still, there was something about her that made him head in her direction, instead of ignore her completely.

"What are you wearing?" He asked gruffly, blunt and to the point. He was not much for beating around the bush or pleasantries: he was not out to make friends. Just allies, and that was different.  

[hibi-tea]

Lithiasaur

She did not recognize this male by sight, but she certainly could tell by demeanor. He was either someone of great dignity and power, or possibly Stormborn himself. And since he did not recognize her and just asked her about the bells strapped to her chest, he was someone who was possibly new. So far out here? Possibly Reaving. She only hoped he didn't try to take her as a trophy. That would bode bad for all.

"Bells," Saraneth replied, holding her head up in a manner who befit her for someone who was of course of her stature. Or at least the stature she assumed she still owned. "I use them for my Priestess duties. That is neither here nor there, though. I am Saraneth."

The green lioness dipper her head to the lion before her in greeting, but could not properly dip as she usually would. She would lose her packs and the last thing she needed was that. Rolling her shoulders for a moment to adjust her things, she surveyed the lion before her.  

[Lithiasaur]

hibi-tea

Ulfric watched her quietly, thoughtful, sizing her up in his serious way, but not looking outwardly threatening. Imposing and poised, yes, but not growling or seeming like an immediate danger with a short fuse. He did not have one, thankfully enough, and kept himself composed at all times.

"Priestess? From the Stormborn? I have not heard of you."

He knew about the rank, of course, but her name was unfamiliar to him. True enough, he did not spend much time with anyone other than other reavers and vikings, or those that wanted to be. He had no real reason not to believe her, though, and nodded his head at her in return for her greeting.

"Well, what brings you this far from the pridal lands, then? I thought it was left to the Reavers to come out here."  

[hibi-tea]

Lithiasaur

Saraneth nodded her head to him slightly, not daring to move too far forward for fear of losing the grip of her pack, "I am indeed of the Stormborn. Although, it seems to have been some time since I left as I do not recognize you, and I have had contact with almost everyone."

Saraneth shuffled to help redistribute the weight of her pack across her body. The bells across her body sounded duly as she moved, but the sound wasn't and unpleasant sound, simply unimpressive at the moment.

"I sought herbs," She explained, which surprisingly wasn't a type of falsehood considering the fact her dangerous gains were indeed a type of herb. "Ones not grown in our lands. Considering the nature of my gatherings, I did not fell it fit to leave to the Reavers. Pridal healings and offerings are of a priestess's domain. It should only seem fit that I go forth in search as a result."

"I apologize if this is presumptuous of me, but I take it you are out Reaving with Warlord Aesir, then?" Saraneth asked, wondering who was all in his company.  

[Lithiasaur]

hibi-tea

"Aesir?" Ulfric had not been involved in the Stormborn for most of its political drama, and even now, he did not chose to involve himself. Not yet, not until he was ready. His name needed to be made separately to the rest of it. He shook his head slowly in answer to her question, having nothing else to offer her on the topic. He did not know, not really, what she was talking about. He had only learned some small details from passing rumors.

And he did not deal in rumors.

"I am on my own, for now, to build my name. I will form a band when I am back in our lands, and have settled some small matters out here. I do not travel with many, when I am out here, and have been away from the pride lands for some time."

He was new enough still to not know everything that happened before his time there, but he was sure no one had ever made mention of this priestess to him. She puzzled him, but she did not seem like she was a danger to him. He looked at her very seriously, as was his general expression.

"Do you need assistance, or an escort back to the pride?" Ulfric was nothing if not respectful of those that deserved it, and members of his pride, or those of some rank, fell into that category until they outlived their usefulness.  

[hibi-tea]

Lithiasaur

"I see," Saraneth replied, understanding Ulfric's decision to come out here by himself in attempts to bolster his own name. One way of doing so would be to bring back Thralls on his own, or with a small band. That talk always traveled fast within the pride itself.

"So you and I are in similar positions then," Saraneth commented absently before turning her attention back to his question. "Yes, I would be most grateful for an accompaniment back to our lands. I have managed to make it this far on my own, but have lost much of what I sought as a result. A hand in keeping what herbs remain in my possession would be beneficial for all."

Saraneth studied the male as she spoke, noting the obvious tact in his demeanor that many of the Stormborn Reavers tended to lack. It was good for males like him to be part of the reaving bands, or have aspirations to Captainhood. One could only hope that good examples of appropriate behavior would rub off on them as some more often than not were too mouthy and distasteful to hold a conversation with.  

[Lithiasaur]

hibi-tea

Ulfric nodded his head. He had nothing to lose by helping her, as he was walking back to the pride anyway, before starting out again to further his progress. He could help her back, and would gain a favor by doing so. Priestess or not, her use of herbs was interesting to him, and he did not want to close the door on a potential ally.

"Let us go, then. It should not be too long a journey. If you do not mind, you could tell me more about your position in the pride. I have not spoken with a Priestess before."

He was interested, at least, in learning who she was and what she was doing before she came out into the rogue lands.

The large male led the way, setting a leisurely pace for her, in case she was not capable of a lot of effort. He was not sure how physically capable she was, so he was being polite. Ulfric saw nothing wrong with being a lion of tact and morals, and holding himself to a higher standard than most tended toward. He thought an even head and a keen eye were more valuable than pointless brute strength and crude behavior.  

[hibi-tea]

Lithiasaur

Saraneth nodded her head to him and began their trudge back to the Stormborn lands. She was well capable of keeping the pace he had set for them and was not too concerned about the state of her cargo as a result of it. Frankly, she was also happy for the company. Having spent so much time away from the pride she hadn't run into anyone she particularly knew outside of the pridal lands, and it wasn't as if her Thrall, Maer, could simply waltz out to find her. Although, she was not too happy when she realized that Nawiri had not bothered to find her either.

"It would be my pleasure," Saraneth replied, beginning her explanation of duties to Ulfric starting with the ones that mattered most of all: the caring of the pride's members.

Saraneth told him all about the regular things she does such as caring for wounds, helping with birthing, bestowing blessings, etc. She also mentioned a few of the things that other priestesses in her position did not do. Rituals and spells handed down to her by her mother. Small things like love potions, trinkets for bravery and luck, as well as spells for strength and vitality.

She did not, however, tell him of her darker powers or for what the believed purpose of the bells across her chest were for. He would surely hear rumors from the pride itself when they returned, about the good she's done and the terrible things she can supposedly do. But that was neither here nor there and this was a pleasant conversation that didn't require such delicate matters spoke of.

As they walked she answered every question he had to the best of her ability, or her comfort and watched carefully for when he had finally had enough of her explanations and bantering. She would only have him suffer her to his content, after all.  

[Lithiasaur]

hibi-tea

That'll be a wrap from me I think.

Ulfric was interested in hearing her explanations as they walked, and he listened with a respectful quiet when necessary, and replied or asked questions when prompted. He was genuinely invested in learning more about this pride he had come to call home.

The trip back to the pridal lands thus passed without Ulfric really noticing the journey itself, as he had good company that kept him interested. He did the hunting while they journeyed, and was a dutiful companion without being like a servant. He held himself proudly at all times, but he was also a respectful and patient sort.

He was the kind of lion that did what needed to be done, and offered no complaints, regardless of how hard the work might be.