tembovu

Navy blue eyes fell on Elsa as she came alongside him, a lopsided grin covering his broad muzzle at her cantankerous words as he resisted the urge to tug her slowly-growing mane (not nearly as buzzed as when she first arrived in the Edge). His gaze shifted forward, head nodding in greeting to Tilney’s bow and noting how exhausted the finely antlered nurse looked. One ear tilted to catch Elsa’s jealous growl while the other tilted skyward, feeling the gaze of another on his haunches. He was not given time to turn a questioning look to Elsa, as Iona landed nearby and roughly dislodged ice and water from her wings; the King chuckled at her rough words, though his hide twitched as some frigid icicles landed, darkening buckskin to dark brown. He nodded briefly in reply to her hello, before turning to catch Lyanna’s smile and polite nod. Freyja, another newcomer to the Edge, stood just beyond Tilney and the King returned her nod, looking at her through the man’s crown of antlers.

Though his attention is drawn to by the disappointment that radiates from Alysanne— and he noted the absence of Evangeline’s, his other Moon Doctor. Cobalt eyes linger on Aly for a few moments, regret manifesting in a low whine of Mbwene from her place in the trees (she was not coming into the cold wind), before drifting beyond the piebald sisters to Dacianna awkwardly standing behind them. He offered a smile of greeting to the gold-decorated Riftian.

His grin extended to Roskuld, and he is mildly surprised to see the Sparklight attending the meeting. She originally sought shelter for Frostfall, but perhaps she wished to stay in the herd? He immediately searched for Mauja— would he go greet the mare he offered leadership to?—, but his ears fell back with disappointment as he cannot find the spotted man.

The celestial mare approached the back of the gathering crowd, and the Elephant noted both Katerina’s smile to Elsa and stout avoidance of his own gaze. Lips pursed, unease growing. It grew further still, as Tsavo joined the crowd with lips as tight as his own when her gaze alighted on Elsa. Despite the displeasure pulsing through their bond, Mbwene ambled over to the African-borne mare and lion cub (cubs were much less intimidating than full-grown lions), ears waving in greeting as her trunk reached out wrap around Tsavo’s cannon bone.

Naerys’ appearance cannot be missed, as her glare gave daggers to the King from beside her mother— though his own hard stare waits for the glare to melt from her features before turning his attention elsewhere.

Obviously, the Elephant King would have many to individually address after this meeting.

The dark and secretive Cloak hung at the edges, as did the Edge’s princess, Auriel. Though his brows raise at Rohan’s adherence to the shadows at the back of the meeting— were his eyes barely open? Was he hungover? Briefly, he questioned Nyx’s judgement to have this man act in her stead while she searched for her father.

But his thoughts are drawn to Glasgow, as the scarred and grey mare came forward with questions about crafting ranks. He watched Naja and Iscah approach, the blue man asking after crafting ranks as well, before answering. “Now is the right time, Glasgow, but allow a moment for the rest of the herd to arrive, so that all may hear the answer,” he returned to her, small grin mirroring the smile on her face. Had he seen her smile before? He didn’t recall, but was glad to see one on her face, now.

Kiuaji, his proud companion perched between his impressive horns, traded words with Tsavo before approaching the front of the meeting. The King’s eyes narrow slightly, uncertain as to if he should be suspicious of Aji’s comments to the lioness; though he cannot help but chuckle at his friend’s comment on the solemnity of those gathered. “Meetings are meant for business, Aji,” he quietly remarked between chuckles to the serpent.

Again, his attention shifts as his fellow, moon-pelted goliath approached. He nodded to Alune’s request, “You may, my friend, after I address the herd.” He avoids the prolonged, questioning stare of his observant Seer; now was neither the time nor place to delve into the King’s shadows.

He feels the lovely, silver gaze of Raeden, eyes followed the feel to find her smile. Though it gave way to narrowed eyes at his Queen, and he almost shifted uneasily, but held firm and retrained his thoughts on the business at hand. Until his hard eyes fall on Glacia and the foal at her side. Immediately the cobalt softens to navy, head dropping slightly to be at the colt’s level, even as they stay at the back of the gathering. Did Mauja know he was a grandsire? The sadness in the mare’s face stops him from remarking on her new colt, however.

Attention shifts as another foal, the older filly of Nyx, sidles beside Raeden. Briefly, he wondered when the two had met, before opening his mouth to speak—

But he was interrupted by the flitting, fairy wings of Quentin and the sniffling sighs of Caenan. The smallest of grins turned up the edges of his muzzle at the dejected sag of the fabulous man’s wings and the goodnatured (hopeful?) smile of the pirate. He simply nodded a dismissal of their tardiness— for at least they were present, unlike many others— before sweeping his gaze over those gathered.

Seeing the occasional shiver that wracked the bodies before him, he smiled lopsidedly and began to speak, “My apologies for this location of this meeting. Next time I will choose a less windy place,” indeed cold and wind were not something he was accustomed to avoiding in Dorobo, “Firstly, our General Nyx will not be present as she is away on a mission I’ve given her. Rohan,” dark eyes find the hungover man, “Will be promoted to Captain and act in her stead until she returns. Auriel,” his gaze find the face swathed in black vapor, “Nyx has recommended you for promotion as well. Congratulations on becoming Captain. Caenan,” his great skull swept to the tardy, but dedicated, cutlass-horned man, “Your dedication to the Edge has not been overlooked, and I congratulate you as Sergeant.” He paused, thinking for a moment and allowing those advancements to settle, before continuing, “I hope to see our borders better protected by moats and spikes in the near future. For now, however, it is up to our Protectors to train and spar to ensure our safety,” eyes sweep over those promoted.

“We now have an alliance with the Aurora Basin. And we are trading glass for metal with the Dragon’s Throat, which is where our Glazier, Anzanie currently is. Those interested in, or already apart of, our crafting ranks,” his eyes fall on Iscah, Glasgow, and Quentin, “I task you with doing something with the remaining, broken glass at our borders. I trust you will come up with useful ideas,” a small grin turned up the corners of his thick lips.

Finally, his eyes find Alysanne’s, brow creasing as disappointment darkens his gaze, “Sadly, it seems that our Moon Doctor Calista has disappeared. However, there is one who has shown dedication to the healing arts. Tilney,” his eyes leave the Doctor’s and find the tired gaze of the first who heeded his summons, “In recognition of your work, I welcome you to the ranks of our Moon Doctors.” He finally falls silent, gaze drifting to Iona as she knew better than he about the Sneak ranks (as it should be, given the nature of their craft), before drifting to Alune to await his words.

the elephant king