It had taken them a little longer than anticipated to reach the outskirts of the jungle, and that factored in to a delay as Aiesha hunted for a sign they were in the right place. There were signs of habitation—paths likely made by prey, which both she and Osiris swiftly recognized as wolf-marked; carefully monitored by guards most likely, and thus not easily crossed.

They decided together that the smarter play was to wait, make camp at a safe distance from this invisible border, and get proper rest. Osiris kept watch long in to the night; then as morning came upon them and alien birds and bugs began to enliven the jungle again, Aiesha readied herself.

She made sure to tidy her fur, and bashfully tried to do the same for her companion—but it felt too invasive, and besides that his mane was properly unmanageable by her intervention. Wishing she had some kind of gift to bring to Tianlong, Aiesha hurried to gather what flowers she could spy... Rare as they appeared to her, perhaps more common than she perceived.

Finally she looked to Osiris with a determined expression, and together they made their way.

Their approach was a cautious one, and purposefully slow, so that their advance could be seen by any hidden guard; perhaps their arrival would be relayed to others? Perhaps they were in the wrong place entirely (although Osiris insisted they were not).

As the jungle cleared, Aiesha stood with her new friend and wondered what to do next, as she had not considered the practicality of things. Had she been a proper noble, her name and titles would be called by a herald—and it felt odd to consider doing it herself.

SKILL: DIPLOMAT (1/5)

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The report had reached Shēnléi's ears before dawn had fully broken over Verdant’s Grace: a stranger at Tianlong’s border, accompanied by some unknown beast. That alone had been enough for him to go himself. Morning hung thick over the jungle, warm and damp, full of mist, birdsong, and the constant murmur of unseen life moving through evergreen boughs.

When at last he stepped from the foliage and into the clearing, he did so without hurry, bronze eyes settling first upon the foreign she-wolf and then upon the creature beside her. Curiosity lived beneath his gaze, yes, but it was sharpened by suspicion, too, by the cold and open scrutiny of a ruler measuring whether what stood before him had come as a supplicant, fool, or threat to his People.

He stopped several lengths away, head high, and expression severe, with every line of him cutting an imperial figure against the humid green of the jungle behind him. When he spoke, his voice was low and even, smooth as silk and edged like steel. I am Téng Shēn Léi of Tianlong, he said, each word placed with deliberate weight. Heaven’s Fang, Voice of the Celestial Dragon, and Emperor of this dominion. His gaze shifted once more to the beast beside her, gaze unreadable, before returning to her face. I ask that you give your name, any relevant titles, and explain why you have come to my borders.

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Skippable unless interacted with! Also willing to remove if desired <333

Patrolling the jungle, the scarred General caught the moving form of Shēnléi through the trees and vines.
Quickly, Tigress trotted to catch up at His flank with a soft chuff as the Emperor made his way to the border, where she noted the presence of a girl and...a lion?
They smelled somewhat similar to the one lone male who had appeared some while ago, from what the goddess could tell - many scents together, at the very least.

Intrigued as She was, Tigress remained a silent Sentinel at Shēnléi's side, observing and offering her presence for protection should the Emperor need it.

Their wait was short, as predicted. The man who came to greet them was not what Aiesha had expected—not a mazoi as would be proper should someone come calling at the edge of Satriya, but a man with an impenetrable air about him. He commanded the space in a remarkable way; merely approaching and standing firm before them, he announced himself and there was not a breath wasted, nor a hair out of place.

Osiris wasted no time and launched in to his own announcement of the amiirad's arrival, and as the words flowed from the lion's mouth with a booming certainty of their own, Aiesha felt herself waver internally. Her titles were accurate and held their own power, although she felt uncomfortable as they were relayed, as if they were indeed a lie.

Beside the man from Tianlong—Téng Shēn Léi, Emperor, her mind raced—there was a prowling pale figure who earned a brief, nervous, shrouded glance from the girl. She cleared her throat and focused.

The air was still a moment before Aiesha tried to speak for herself, keeping as calm as she could. This was above and beyond the lessons of her father—and for the first time she doubted herself and her dream of exploration, of diplomacy across the new world.

I wish to extend a warm greeting. I... Hope I have not disturbed you. I met one of your people while traveling in the west who spoke proudly of Tianlong. In the moment Layre's name slipped her mind and to smooth that over, Aiesha hurried along.

I wish to extend—an offering of friendship, in the interest of learning about one-another. She closed that off with a smile, which felt forced, and then thought—should she bow? No, she was a princess, but... he was an Emperor! What was an Emperor? Oh, gods...