[i][h2][color=MediumSeaGreen]Lora Kadar[/color][/h2]
[/i]

Reaching the border of Gurata had brought forth a feeling Lora welcomed, but reaching the Homestead brought along an entirely different feeling. She had never lived there, only visited a few times before, and her longest stay there had been at the beginning of her leave from her pack. The uneven buildings and free-roaming animals had always reminded her of Gurata’s true spirit, but as she approached them with her present company the sight lighted her nerves. The dominating Arena and the forward march of the Sentinals’ horses set upon Lora the feeling that the Prince’s undertaking was about to change everything.

All roads lead to the Arena, and as they marched along the twists and turns the Homestead, Guratans turned to watch them. Recognition dawned on the colors of the travelling party and familiar curiosity fell on her, wearing Kisarin’s loyalty in a sea of Barceans. When they reached the Arena she moved forward to pass off the horses to her fellow Guratans: loosening girths, arranging stirrups, and holding them until one of the hands could take them. Once they were taken she caught up to the group with ease—following the nonsensical direction of the halls was natural after so many years travelling about Gurata. She reached the back of the group as the front reached Chief Yihira: her voice familiar on Lora’s ears and her appearance distinct as Lora peeked over a Sentinal’s shoulder. 

She knew the Chief from distant glimpses and heard announcements, but nothing more intimate. Catching her so casual and close was almost as exciting as Cyril’s recognition, and she pressed her way through the crowd for a better look. Yihira recognized the man they had saved and then she took off with them, ordering one of the residents to go fetch the other two Chiefs. Lora’s pulse picked up further at the prospect of seeing all three Chiefs (and Cyril) all at once. (Of course, no Chief would have ever denied Cyril’s audience, so the surprise was mainly that the entire travelling party was tagging along. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so unwelcome if she joined them.) 

She knew everything about the Arena that Chief Yihira told them, but she listened carefully regardless. She had never been inside the Chief’s meeting place before but she had sat outside it with her uncle once, waiting for the verdict on the northern mountains. Walking inside of it with the Prince of Barcea, Princess Ayano, and Chief Yihira made her wish, just a little bit, that she was heading home afterward simply so she could tell someone about it who would be as excited as she was. As polite and accommodating as the Sentinals and company were, they were a little too comfortable with their positions near power to understand.

Kisarin joined them and Lora couldn’t even pretend she wasn’t grinning—him she had seen more often and a bit closer than his sister, though seeing him again was just as exciting. For the most part she liked the Chief whose region she lived in and she wore his colors proudly. Seryosa joined them shortly after, accompanied by a few (that included a massive snow leopard and a fellow but different nonhuman) and Lora bounced on her feet a little, trying to rearrange her face to match the seeming indifference everyone else appeared to be wearing.

The meeting was going along until Seryosa objected, her disregard for the Prince and Barcea’s call for help irking Lora greatly. But then he called for Decision by Battle, and Seryosa accepted, and Lora was caught between desperately hoping he knew what he was calling for and trusting that he knew the best decision for his country. Seryosa called for the Decision at noon, with eight fighters on either side. Lora’s eyes skidded over the group around her, their numbers more than double that, and wondered exactly who would be out there, fighting with and protecting the Prince.

The meeting broke and the two Chiefs responded to Cyril’s decision in their own ways. Drosil approached and he volunteered and Cyril welcomed the offer, and Lora understood how this was working. Her fingers knotted into each other and her gaze skipped over to Ayano, for once glad she couldn’t make eye contact with the girl. If this was a volunteering opportunity there was no question Lora would be one of the first on the list, and finally making use of herself would eradicate the need for a terribly awkward and embarrassing conversation about continuing to follow him around. She would follow him anywhere, of course, but it would probably be more than a little humiliating for both of them if she had to ask if he even wanted her to. 

The Prince headed towards Gortul and the new man, ever-caring about those he saved. The Divine Paladin stepped up and his companion stumbled towards the Prince. She didn’t want to interrupt any important conversations he needed to have—but she could see that his was the time and she knew that if she didn’t step up now she would back down with doubt. The Paladin and Christopher stepped back and the Prince turned back to Dalious. With a last glance towards Ayano, Lora moved forward from the group towards Cyril. 

She caught the end of Dalious’ offer, and stepped up to the opportunity. “Me too, Your Honor.” She inclined her head and then peeked back up towards the pirate, realizing her fault. “Well—not the bit about the measly pirate, of course—or that you should lose any of your men—“ she winced and straightened, trying a smile over her flushing cheeks. “I mean I’d like to volunteer as well,” she glanced at Dalious and nodded gently in his direction, “If you have the room, to fight with you.” Her eyes found the Prince again, and her mouth started up again before she could stop it. “Of course, you have your choice of fighters and wonderful Sentinals and you’ve picked up quite the few along the way, so if you’d rather someone else take my place, please don’t feel any hesitance in having them do so—the state of Barcea is vital and this Decision is incredibly important and I’m no soldier so I completely understand. But, um, if you don’t…uh, that is, if you’d like to have me—wait—no, that’s [i]not[/i]—“ Lora snapped her mouth shut, closing her eyes and gathering herself with a deep breath. “I’d like to fight for you in the Decision by Battle.”