[Open] Where silent gods stand guard.

She steps back swiftly as Are spins around, alarm flashing feline across her features, fangs beneath her curling snarl, her nails sharpened into claws. It only lasts a handful of breaths, but they seem to stretch on for countless minutes as the leopard and the warrior stare each other down, the little whale watching with naive curiosity. Humans, she has decided, have the most unusual greeting rituals. At last the stranger drops his shield, and Amalia relaxes in kind, her nails retracting back from points, her teeth becoming flat and human. The man is vaguely recognizable now, though Amalia cannot say from when or where: another one of the countless new faces that wanders through the Hollow Grounds. Tilting her head in a feline motion, the leopardess waits for an answer to her question, not stepping closer until she is sure that he does not intend to assault or attack. At first it seems he will be friendly, that he was simply startled, but no- the girl blinks at the sudden outburst, dark eyes narrowing in surprise, tensing once again. Special business, blessed by the Queen? She very much doubts Edrei has much interest in the woods, and the ban has been lifted, so what is he going on about? "What business?" Amalia asks, a little wary of anything that could be so sanctioned. "And what is that?" She gestures to the token grasped in his hand, her brow furrowed into a frown. Amalia Her eyes, they know too much. She'll treat you like somebody but you just can't touch.