Dos sniffed curiously through the grass, for once not really with any firm direction in mind. Elidi was busy doing 'stuff' from what she could gather and Gabriel was now one of their leaders so he had 'responsibilities' and 'ruling their territory.' And that meant that Dos was bored. Usually when she was bored, she would practice stalking and hunting but her mother had chided her about the risks of over-hunting and wasting prey and the vixen had honestly felt bad about it.
So! Her new plan: turn into random creatures and try to see the world from their perspective!
At the current moment, Dos was a squirrel. A tiny, fluffy creature with an acceptably fluffy tail to match the glorious plush of her usual two in her normal form while she bounced through the grass. She chittered lightly, scrambling onto a stone to get a better look around and- oh! Another fox! She hadn't seen anyone that liked like her that wasn't her mom or her sister in what felt like forever!
And it was in that excitement that Dos thinks she should be forgiven for forgetting to transform back, instead dashing through the waving flower stems in the direction of the other fox before jumping out in a clear patch.
"Hi!" Dos chittered brightly. "I'm Dos! Whatcha doing?"
---
Text. Speech. Thoughts.
Inari closed her eyes and took in the many scents of the fields, a soft warm breeze blowing directly into her face. The purple and red irises she had tucked into her ear fur had wilted and fallen out in her sleep overnight, and she hated the empty feeling there. Before the run rose, she had set off for the fields to collect something new. The morning sun warmed her fur as she set out into the flowers, trying to decide what color and type to select. Maybe more purple this time, but not irises again. She swished her long tail as she sniffed at a patch of fragrant lavender. She snipped a few stems of those with her front teeth then saw the pretty round bunch of alum blooms on tall firm stems. The gangly young fox snipped several of these as well before moving on, keeping her eyes peeled for more purple in the field. She continued her search, oblivious to her surroundings outside of the wonderful flower smells and lovely vibrant colors.
Disapora watched as a woman in what was more appropriately rougelike attire than her own whizzed past. It was a bit cliche, but the serval could respect that. Things were cliché for a reason, after all. Xe watched the other the same as xe watched everyone else, until xe were spoken to. Their brow raised, and a dainty but genuine laugh escaped their maw, mouth in a soft smile.
"No, I'm more partial to rats myself," they smirked, "But you seem to enjoy them so much it almost makes me want to try..." Xer eyes blinked slowly, considering. Then, she gave a small shrug and waltzed over to grab one for herself. Xer chewed much more slowly than xer counterpart, having already sated xerself previously. No, this was about taste. And the taste was truly exquisite, better than the fish that Disapora was used to. Then again, it had been quite a while since she'd last had fish. Perhaps she'd just forgotten the taste, or grown different taste buds. She made a mental note to retry other foods.
"Hmm, I see why you like these. Wonderful flavour on them, isn't it?" Their smirk gentled into a soft, conversational smile, tone light and friendly. Even if it didn't make much sense to network here, it was still always her first impulse.
While Enya was sad to see winter loosening its grasp upon the world, she was eager and excited that it was time for the Spring Thaw. It was even more exciting to her that it was being held in Whitewater Rapids. There was something spectacular to her about this decision. Last time she'd been in that region, she'd been running from Verdantis with a pupil in tow. This time, she'd be dressed down and partying well into the night. She hoped that she ran across them during the event, not that she would know unless they blatantly revealed their identities.
She was intrigued by the idea that their identities would be completely masked. To further hide herself, she opted to skip the royalty look she usually went with and instead disguise herself with a dark cloak. It was cinched up with leather straps, both outlining her feminine figure while hiding her scales and markings. Her ears were hidden by a hood, and around her muzzle draped a dark mask, modeled loosely after a panther. Only her eyes remained visible for others to see, swirling teal as excitement buzzed within her, a striking contract to her otherwise dull attire.
Enya lingered and socialized and exchanged pleasantries with strangers as she made her way through the groups that made up the crowd as others filtered into the party. Mentally, she made guesses at who was who as they offered names and stories. It wasn't long, however, before she felt the urge to snack. Alcohol went down easier with a sated belly, after all. She sauntered her way over to look over the offerings laid out before spotting tuna on the table. Immediately she moved towards it, uncaring who she knocked out of the way as she reached for her target. Her muzzle snapped up one piece, then two, then a third before she looked back to see who else might be near to witness her lady-like manners. Her eyes fell onto a small guest dressed in an elaborate cloak of feathers. It was beautiful, but not her style. "Oh uh," she started, her tone light and high, "You weren't reaching for these, were you?" Then, she reached to snap up a fourth piece. There were plenty - er - mostly plenty enough left for others.
Note: These Tuna pieces are bite-size! Not whole fish/large! Think Sashimi.
Note 2: Enya is talking to Disapora!
The questions she prompted, she expected the answers to lull her into a restful slumber. She was ready to hear his story and let his voice carry her into her dreams. However, as quickly as his story started, it came to an end. He hadn't elaborated. He'd simply answered her question and left it at that. Her eyes had closed as she had inquired, yet his response had them popped back open again. Her muzzle pulled into a smirk, her tail thumping softly as she gave a wag of amusement. He was good at giving her the unexpected. She would have to pry further some other time.
Enya indulged Caedwyn as she once more spoke about herself. Her muzzle remained pulled into a slight smile as her voice remained low and tired. Her childhood was far from her favorite topic to talk about, even if it was still about herself. Her childhood had been traumatic and full of loss and suffering. She debated for a moment. Should she tell him the truth of what she endured, or should she sugar coat it?
Did she want their relationship to start with lies?
"Unpleasant" she answered softly before letting silence linger between them, acting as if that was all he would get from her. Just when one might think to speak up and push the conversation further, she spoke up once more. "My childhood was Tsillah's first test, though I was unaware at the time. I had a family in my youth - a brother, father, and aunt. My mother had died giving birth to me and my brother under her Home Tree." A vision of her mother flashed before her mind. It was a made-up image, one she had pieced together when her father had spoken of her beauty and grace. "Father raised us with my Aunt for a while, leading us nowhere and teaching us what he proclaimed was the ways of the world. We raided for food and supplies, fighting those that we could off of us as we escaped, and being beaten by those we couldn't. We learned that as long as you dropped what you were stealing, they usually let us escape with a few bites and gashes, no serious wounds. Usually." She remembered her father bartering with a pack to get her brother back. They had captured him as they had escaped. Her aunt had been part of the barter. "My aunt grew sick as we all grew gaunt and frail from starvation. Father wanted to leave her behind for the crows, claiming that she was better use that way. It was mother's sister, not his own. She was not family, he said. She, however, was the one who'd actually been taking care of us, teaching us, and so my brother and I refused, and we watched my aunt take her last breath."
Enya's soft voice grew to a whisper and she shut her eyes as she relived that horrible moment. She never spoke about what happened next, and even now, she found herself unable to say what unfolded to Caedwyn. If she admitted to it. If she said the words out loud, what would that make her? A monster, for sure. "Shortly after, my brother disappeared. He left without a single word to me. I tried to track his scent, but father counseled against it, claiming that he would already be dead by the time I found him. I was young. I believed him. I stayed with father until I was nearly a yearling. By then, father had grown senile. I tried to reason with him, but he would hear none of it. I left without a word to him, just stopped in my tracks as he kept rambling on about those chasing us down to kill us. He never looked back and once I'd turned the opposite way, neither did I." She hoped that whoever had been chasing him, if that had been true, had tortured him and caused him horrible pain and suffering before his Will shattered and left him.
"It wasn't too long after that when I bumped into you. I was so scared that you would kill me back then. Father warned me about pack wolves. He said they were only out for blood. You didn't, though. You told me to come find you, so, that's what I did. Only, when I found Vrolga, it wasn't you I found, but Ixora who had found me." She'd begged them that day to either end her or take her in. She'd given up. She'd given her life to complete strangers, and they had given her a chance. Tsillah had been guiding her well before she'd ever known it. "So, I guess you could say I joined Vrolga because you showed me that there were other options in the world. You're the reason I ever found Tsillah." She let out a soft, tired sigh, and moved her muzzle slightly to tuck it further against Caedwyn. "It's all because of you."
Larkspur's ear twitched with faint amusement at the slow blink offered to them and indeed, they'd had sparing encounters with those of a feline form and thus wasn't exactly well-versed in what the movement could mean but it didn't seem to be an expression of displeasure either. The purring at least reassured the wolf that it was in some regard a positive motion, perhaps gratitude or at least agreement? It seemed they would have plenty of time in the future to learn.
"I haven't met any others that can control fire," Larkspur voiced, though a 'yet' lingered in their mind given how strange this new world was. They wondered if other felines would have a similar fire or if it could be different colors given Larkspur had rarely seen blue fire in abundance either. Perhaps a cat could manipulate an average orange flame? They shifted to leave space for the serval as they remarked, "Nothing I do is quite so flashy. I think my showiest move is what happens to my fur every spring."
They yawned, 'my eyes and the blue marks beneath them glow in the night' entirely slipping their mind as it was a relatively mundane thing in the bark-patterned wolf's head. Something for the serval to discover at a later date.
Larkspur merely chuckled at Diaspora's remark, allowing Folke to shift to coil up near their forelegs, the serpent aware that the yawning signified that the wolf would likely be seeking to lay down and the python disgruntled by the idea of being squished beneath their neck again. Larskpur took the offering for what it was worth, lowering their head down to rest their chin lightly on the ground. "I'm honored to hear that - hopefully I remain on your good side for our upcoming journey 'firespinner.'
They chanced a light wink of their own, tilting their head slightly toward her.
---
Text. Speech.Thoughts.
Larkspur cocked their head curiously shaking out their coat a little bit in an attempt to straighten out the outfit they'd (somewhat reluctantly) allowed themselves to be forced into in the name of this festival. They dropped down stretching out a little - at least the fabric was fluid and breathable, the tiny gilded chains swinging slowly at their flanks. They had decided to lean into the pirate garb, something partly because it was so open to interpretation and partly to honor where Reed and Balthazar apparently came from.
They had acquired a larger leather harness to hold a series of satchels (one for herbs, one for medicinal equipment and a cozy place for Folke to rest if it so chose) given they planned to use some of this equipment after the festival was over. They managed to find some of the bands that Reed had too, though their head-fur wasn't quite long enough to use any yet. Instead, they went with leather-shin guards and a heavy deep blue cloak to match their eyes that had cost them an entire stag carcass in trade. The mask they'd chosen was designed after a hawk, Larkspur donating their own molted feathers for the design around the edges leaving it mottled and brown.
Their ears swiveled about while they lounged near the edge, frankly content to be creature-watching over actively poking through the stalls.
---
Text. Speech.Thoughts.
A party where everyone was meant to be disguised? That was just the kind of thing Disapora looked forward to. So, of course, she was one of the first to arrive, dressed in an elaborate cloak of feathers with a matching mask perched upon her face. Both were various shades of blue and sparkling, to match her mist, which she'd heightened for the occasion. Beneath it all, one could hardly tell she was a serval, just that she was small and perhaps feline. She'd purred when she'd seen herself in the river's reflection. This was a rogue's dream, and with food provided at that.
Once there were enough people to mingle with, the serval slinked down from the tree she'd been in to join in the merriment. She went around the crowd, complimenting outfits and noting what shiny objects there were to steal later when the happiness and ale made everyone oh so sleepy and susceptible. The twilight sun gleamed off of her prospects gorgeously, and the music was delightful. Altogether, she was as happy as a thief could be. She placed herself by the food, nibbling on the rodents provided every few moments, body language open as she waited to find out who she would approach first. Or, perhaps, who would approach her...
OOC.
Spring Thaw 2025 is here! Open to all characters. Mysterious invitations have been spread throughout the lands telling of a huge celebration for the Spring Thaw. Characters are to arrive disguised in costume and/or wearing a masquerade mask. A strange magic has settled over the area. Anyone wearing a disguise, costume, or mask cannot be identified (no identifiable scent, voice, or appearance). Everyone is mysterious - so long as you don't remove your disguises or reveal your identity!
Attendees can say they've been at the party for awhile or 'arrive'. Explore. Mingle. have fun.
IC.
The harsh winter lasted longer than usual this year, drawing its icy weather late into the Spring. But finally Spring arrived in full force. The trees were with with leaves and grass grew lush and green underfoot. The flowers bloomed and the perfumed scent of petals floated on the wind. Spring was here! Well, at least for now. As quickly as the weather turned warm, it felt like early summer! And with the warming weather, many of the creatures began to stir from their shelters. Old friends reunited. Older rivals quarrelled once again. But at least the weather was nice!
And with the warm weather, word had spread throughout the lands. Invitations had been sent through various means of a celebration happening in the Whitewater river valley. Not far from the river, at dusk, a feast and party were to be held. All were invited - so long as they arrived in mask or costume. No one was sure who exactly was in charge of the party. Many assumed it was someone they knew or perhaps the leaders of their faction. Many just didn't care or bother to ask. But food would be provided, and that was enough to entice many to arrive.
So as dusk settled, the warm rays of dusk and soft light of twilight enveloped the designated party area. Many creatures had already gathered and were mingling. Strangely enough, it seemed no matter how hard one tried, anyone wearing a disguise was not able to be identified! So the attendees mingled about the area, coming and going. A small clearing of grass was lit by tall torches and some were dancing while a group of minstrels serenaded at one end of the clearing. The edges of the clearing were lined with forest and some party-goers had wandered off into the trees for fun. And at the other end of the clearing, several cloths made of hide had been fashioned and heaping mounds of food rested atop. An assortment of fruit, bowls and bottles of ale, and prepared meats of all variety.
---
Speech.
Disapora allowed herself a gentle purr at Larkspur's agreement. Wonderful. Then, xe nodded at their statement. "Indeed, I'm lucky to have found someone like you, Larkspur." Their eyes blinked slowly at the wolf, a sign of enjoyment if they knew feline body language. If not, then, well, it shouldn't send any other signals, at least. This decision was useful for Disapora, for many reasons. A larger canine could serve as a useful bodyguard, and companionship on xer journey was genuinely something xe wanted- both for good and bad reasons.
The serval's smile grew into something larger, maybe more genuine, as they watched Larkspur's reaction. That had to be one of the best reactions she'd ever gotten to her fire, and she'd had many good ones. Xe was starting to like this wolf, they were fun to play with. She'd have to keep them around, that was certain. Good thing they already had a plan started for that. The small cat's chest puffed at their companion's words, fire growing slightly with it. "Thank you, darling, it's one of my many talents," xe replied, winking cheekily, a bit of double entendre. Seeing Larkspur stretching, Disapora decided to join them herself, front half down in that classic cat pose, back arched. A light yowl-yawn escaped their maw as they did so, joined by a few joints cracking. Then, xe shook xemself off gently, paw by paw, then the whole body. Glitters flew off of xer mist and then disappeared slowly. The whole time, they watched the wolf's wings reappearing with a gentle interest, out of the corner of their eyes. After, she returned to sitting with a light smile, just in time to catch Larkspur's next words.
Her smile deepened as she was offered another flower. Xe grasped it lightly between xer teeth, placing it in the pouch with the others. "Oh, you're more than impressive enough, Larkspur. At least, you are for me." They let out a gentle purr, smile softened back to its usual, albeit a bit more one-sided, a bit more like a smirk, a bit more flirtation in their eyes. She decided not to wink again- best not to overuse that.
