Sunbeam Lair your weeping shades of cozen indigo

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Anouke woke to the sunlight pouring in through the crevices in the ceiling, just as she did every morning. Her jaws parted and stretched into a massive yawn, a soft whine escaping her throat, and she licked her dark, velvetty lips after she had closed them. She stretched her body next, pushing her paws in front of them as far as they could reach, then standing and leaning this way and that until her sparse muscles had lost their stiffness. The rains had ceased, leaving in their wake sunny mornings smelling sweetly of spring. Down here, in the caverns, the fresh, inviting scent of the coming warm season seemed ever stronger than she had yet experienced. 

She knew what she was going to do today. The ink-splashed maiden exited her makeshift den -- a small inlet carved into the stone wall -- and headed into the lair's inner forests. Her nose twitched, searching for signs of @Asterr. It was unlike her to actively seek anyone out, but as she was attempting to shed her shy shell, Anouke would look for the Chieftess. After a relatively long while of searching the wood, she decided that perhaps a song might help her find the woman she sought. Throwing her snout towards the pockets  of sunlight above, a call rang out from within her, asking specifially for the kind leader to hear and to approach her.

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My apologies for the long wait, @Anouke!

Down through the ceiling’s various openings, the sunlight descended, spreading itself out and over the land. It warmed the water, as well as caused for the light to reflect off of the lake’s surface in a glamorous display. There along the shore laid the Chieftess, her slender body stretched out just beyond the water’s reach whilst soaking in some much-needed vitamin D. Her coat, darker than an assemblage of obsidian, surely felt like fire to the touch, for it absorbed the heat and light alike without releasing anything in return. From her parted lips there fell her tongue, her pants short and quick as she sought to relieve herself from some of the heat; it would be far easier to simply relocate to a shadier area, but she refused to do so, the sun having been missed throughout the duration of the winter months. It hadn’t been until a song was sung for her that she shifted into an upright position, which was later followed by her standing up and heading off in search of the minstrel.

Meandering along familiar paths, she ensured that her legs were always moving in the direction whence the call originated. At the end of her journey, she spotted a pelt not unlike her own, but with eyes like Vinca minor. A smile pulled at the corners of her lips whilst her tail gave a few slow wags, greeting Anouke first with a nod of her head. “Good morning, Anouke,” said the dragoness, the smile resting across her lips having weaseled into her voice. “Are you well?” She supposed that there was likely to be a reason behind her being summoned there, but she felt no need to rush to the point. The day was young and the weather glorious, so why not stroll through the pleasantries whilst the chance to do so was there for them to take?

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@Asterr, sorry about the terrible wait!

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A very large smile broke across Anouke's dark lips as the other woman appeared from within the trees. It did not take long for her to arrive, leading Anouke to marvel once more at the attentiveness and kind nature of the Chieftess. Still not completely aware of the ways of Ryujin, the girl quickly assumed a submissive posture, dipping her maw politely. "Hello, miss," she spoke readily. "Th-thank you for coming t-to see me!" She felt a hearty thanks was due, meeting the pretty eyes of the equally pretty leader. A tinge of envy overcame her. She should like to be so beautiful, but it was not something that she could borrow from Asterr. Her own looks would never change, it seemed, because no matter how much she ate, she never could seem to earn curvature to her frame such as that which Asterr displayed.

Trying to forget her envious notions, Anouke hurried to answer what had been asked of her, her posture  remaining unaltered. "I'm w-well, yes, and you?" Her expression brightened with a swift wag of her tail. She wanted nothing more than to get to know the ebony leader, and so she followed Asterr's lead in going through the motions of meet and greet.

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The way in which the tribe operated, with each member being just as important and equal to the next, was something not often known by the newer members. This the Chieftess had come to realize long ago, and therefore was no longer surprised by it. So, as the girl’s posture began to display submission, Asterr simply smiled and gave a slow shake of her head. “You need not make yourself appear to be any less of an individual when we are together,” she stated, her voice soft despite the corrective nature of her words. A smile tugged at the corners of her maw, the expression simple but not, brought on by thoughts of life and the dominant-submissive battle. “You are welcome,” she said shortly after. “I will always arrive when you call for me, just as I will for each and every other member of this tribe.” It was her duty as their leader, as well as something that she happened to take joy in doing.

Well, she was, much to the dragoness’ relief. Often did she worry for those that are new to the lair, curious to see whether they settle or find themselves unable to call it their home. “I, too, am well,” was her response, her eyes gleaming with silent joy. “Are you settling in well?” Although wishing, still, to hear the reason behind her having been summoned, Asterr held back from pushing the matter. She would wait, play through the basic pleasantries, and see if the topic might be brought up by Anouke herself.

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