"It's his common montra." Caleb said.

"Always trying make things easier." Ellie said with a role of the eyes. Her eyes though were picking up more than the lioness infront of them. She was noting the little pebbles on heaps. The smell of ocean water was everywhere. She looked at Salman. He was looking ahead she hoped he noticed.

"That smell. What is it?" Ellie asked. They were inland she shouldn't know what an ocean was. And this clan didn't have to know that their only allies loved near the sea.


(I love Ellie, Salman and Caleb. Definitely my favorite trio!)

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Snowfall flicked an ear in confusion, noting the sound of approaching pawsteps. Valoras would be back soon. "You've never smelled seawater before?" She glanced back at Ellie, who looked genuinley confused.

"I know we're pretty far inland, but you guys don't have any saltwater springs?" Snowfall instantly regretted her words, wishing she could claw them back. Of course they didn't have any springs, they didn't live in a ravine. A slight rustling in the undergrowth alerted her to Valoras's arrival, as he fell silently into step with the group. And he had brought company. Two other lionesses, one of them Lethe's bodyguard, had joined Valoras on his return trip, flanking the three visitors. Finally, they had arrived at the ravine. It was well decorated, some of the smoother walls covered in deatailed murals, drawn in a beautiful colored bluish paint, made from crushed rock and shells. The den entrances were decorated in flowers and feathers, with more of the pale white rocks scattered around the ravine. The pride was out in full force, cubs playing in some of the lower levels, tailtips just visible as they scampered into and out of smaller caves and tunnels. The lionesses were lounging around, some sharing bits of fermented marula, others just finishing off a couple decorations, still other passing around pieces of a strange looking kind of prey. Lizard, maybe? Or snake?

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"Nope." Ellie replied. "Salt water sounds familiar though."

She tried to keep up the conversation, but instantly felt hemmed in. She smiled at Snowfall, but when she looked back Salman and Caleb were already seemingly chatting amongst themselves.

"Why would you have salt water, um...so far in?" She asked. Her sense of worry was returning though and crashing in all around her. Were they going to be eaten by the northern tribe?

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Sorry about basically vanishing lol, been having a few issues with school so i won't be back till the 14th or 15th

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That's fine! I've been busy...just checking in now

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(Sorry for the long wait, I got distracted trying to prep for artfight)

Snowfall moved forward, the silvery white stones smooth and cool under her paws. Valoras kept up his position by the ravine entrance, with Lethe's body guards standing close behind. Ellie and the others still seemed nervous, and Snowfall surreptitiously gripped one of the smaller bits of incense, tucking it behind one ear, letting the scent relax her a little as she continued to speak.

"I'm... Not entirely sure. Lethe was the first one who found it, after he had gone hunting for snakes deeper into the ravine. But it's a nice addition, and a good way to get salt if we ever need it for drying meat. It certainly saves us a trip to the sea." Snowfall chuckled, but her gaze flickered to one of the tunnel entrances, which, unlike the others, was much more simply decorated, adorned only with some of the small white stones. Lethe should be finished with the preparations by now.

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Ellie eyed the incense. Incense? She calmly looked back at the boys, no longer talking, but their gaze was fixed on something else. Ellie looked forward, a simply decorated cave.

"Oh, look at those stones!" She said. "So pretty! And my favorite color!" Salman was next to her and ina way only siblings could, she knew he understood all of her concerns. They need to play along long enough to not die, but just enough to escape.

"Are these for the celebration you mentioned earlier?" Salman enquired.

(No worries! Artfight has had me distracted to!)

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Snowfall tensed slightly, before forcing herself to relax as she trailed the siblings towards the cave entrance, a slightly concerned expression flickering across her muzzle. Sparing a quick glance down at her soft, scar speckled pelt, Snowfall moved to block the cave entrance, her tailtip twitching slightly. Lethe wouldn't be pleased that she wasn't able to get decorated for the festival, but she was certain that he would be even less pleased if his visitors intruded on his preperations.

"The stones?" Snowfall was confused for a moment, before she quickly took up the change of topic. "Aren't they nice? The cubs love to look for them in some of the deeper tunnels, but we have to make sure they don't get into any trouble." Snowfall smiled for a moment, turning to respond to Salman. The other lionesses had drifted off to enjoy the festival, but Valoras lurked nearby, quietly chewing on one of the small lizards that had been passed around, flicking the scales at some of the older cubs, trying to prompt them into a game.

"These ones aren't, but the stones around the other caves are. Lethe likes to decorate his tunnels, especially this close to the celebration." Snowfall glanced up at the sky, noting the sun's position. It was almost time. Noticing her glance, Valoras rose from his spot in the shade, shaking his fur out slightly as he stepped towards Salman and Caleb.
---
Valoras kept his gaze steady, a unmistakable slight swagger in his walk, paws already stained slightly by the bluish paint, small flecks of crushed beetle shells still visible. He didn't have much decoration to wear, mostly just filling in whatever job Lethe required of him, so he preferred to keep it simple, small dots of blue on his shoulders and face, almost like the pattern on a snake. A slight nod of the head let Snowfall know that he had things ready, at least on his end.

Valoras stepped a little too close to Salman, ears twitching slightly as he glanced down at the small stones Ellie seemed so enamored with, a slightly uneasy feeling shifting in his chest. Did Lethe have to decorate with these every year? The one dignity he could afford to give the dead, and Lethe scattered them about like they were little more than rabbit bones. And Snowfall, making up some story about cubs running after them. They were only bits of rock, covered in and smoothed by the salty water of the underground spring. Surely that didn't have to be hidden from their visitors, did it?

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There was something wrong. Something very wrong and Salman could sense it. Ellie and Caleb stood on either side of him. He didn't know what they were thinking, but Ellie's prompt certainly wasn't about the stones. She meant to keep it normal. But normal was not what their hosts were after.

A thought trickled in, what if Ellie was right? What if they were cannibals? And he, out of his own selfish curiosity lead them right into it. He didn't frown. Actually he didn't do much of anything except watch Snowfall. She hadn't answered his question. And in doing so she confirmed there really was something wrong.

He looked up at Valoras as he stepped closer. Ellie looked up too. A soft curious look. He smiled at her and then at Caleb. Caleb, quite, but constantly thinking looked annoyed at how close the other male was. Salman took a step away. Maybe it was an accident? Salman was a big lion. However with how everything was going so far...maybe it would be best to escape now.

As if reading his thoughts Caleb took a small step forward. "Im sorry, but, um before we continue is there a...ah, gosh I hate it when I have to ask strangers...where do you do your...ya know...I, um don't want to interrupt your ceremony with normal needs." Caleb chuckled a bit. Salman looked at him and shoved back surprise. Usually Caleb rushed into things head first, but actually being smart about this. Salman was impressed.

Ellie pressed against his leg and looked at Snowfall. "Sorry...now that he mentions it, I probably should too."

Salman looked at both of their hosts. "I apologize, we had been walking for some time before we even got to you...and they are still young."

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