THERE'S THE DUST, THERE'S THE RUNNING DOGS -
ooc. no FR, please! open to claiming, invites, whatever - have fun.

Her flight is no longer so desperate: she's had miles and days to settle into a steady, though unhurried, pace. They stopped pursuing her after a few hours, she thinks - but she hadn't stopped. She'd been intent on disappearing as they demanded.

It would do her no good to linger; even less good to beg.
The exile had been decreed and there is no dialing it back. Even if they had changed their minds. But she'd seen the anger, the hatred. She'll not forget it, she thinks. Perhaps ever. To see her mother's face contorted with the roar that split the silence that had fallen after The Accident. It surprised her - it still surprises her - to remember the hatred.

Love was supposed to be unconditional - that's what they told her. That's what her mother had preached. The truth hurts, Quinn decides. She doesn't like it. She doesn't like that they had the ability to hurt her like this... and she isn't keen to repeat the process.

And so she crafts a persona as she travels, a way to protect herself.
It is that persona that steps up to the looming gates of Amaryllis. In time, she hopes, it won't be a persona at all. It will simply be... her.

The Winter has taken hold of the island and the wind that whips off the sea to either side of her is frigid. The mane atop her skull tangles together into a knot she knows will be a bitch to remove, later, as the snow and ice slicks it away from her broad face. Quinn narrows her gaze against the storm, squinting as tears form from the onslaught, and rolls her massive shoulders up to hunch against the chill. It's quiet but this has got to be the place the stranger had mentioned; it certainly looks like the entrance to something Great. And it stinks of about a thousand other felines.

Still.... she frowns, casting her gaze across the quiet wintry scene. She had come in the middle of the night. She relents that it might have been wiser to wait for morning and grudgingly shifts to trot along the Passage, keen on finding a place to wait out the night before dawn when, she hopes, she can begin her new chapter._{BG — ART — CODE}

Aphrodite Goddess of the Dead Her body ached from her newest wounds. The fresh scars going down her nose blaze had just healed completely, but the pain that had ebbed its way into her bones caused the lioness to move at a slower pace. Her ears would press on top of her head on occasion as she walked through the sands but knew that it was only because she was not only still in pain but was exhausted. Aphrodite tried to not let it show through her features, holding her head up high as she walked and forcing herself to look as neutral as possible. No one deserved to see her weaknesses. The winter sand did cause for some discomfort but Aphrodite would push through and found herself once again in the passage, her amethyst jewels scanning the sandy dunes before they landed on another. Her nostrils flared as she moved closer to the female, clearing out her throat so that the other knew that she wasn't alone anymore. With it being night, Aphrodite knew that she blended in fairly well with her surroundings unless the moon showed above but she hadn't really thought about that as she approached the other. The lioness was younger than she and it caused Aphrodite to smile at her in a more motherly way. Welcome to Amaryllis, Aphrodite at your services. Are you looking for a place to call home or just traveling through? You never knew with the lions that did come through nowadays. @Quinn"Talk here." && 'Think here.'

THERE'S THE DUST, THERE'S THE RUNNING DOGS -
Quinn didn't see her - didn't notice her at all until @Aphrodite was nearly upon her. The Oasis woman clears her throat and the massive yearling lurches straight up in the air in a little jump of fright. Ah, fuck! She yelps, ears going back against her skull and eyes wide and wild. For a moment she fears she was wrong and they had continued hunting her, intent on ending her life despite saying they would spare her - and she whirls towards the Noble with unsheathed claws and a desperate sort of desire to survive.

But the lioness staring at her is a stranger. And even with the fresh wounds peppering her body, the colossal yearling can let herself relax with a sigh.

Sorry, she says sheepishly, retracting her claws and swallowing. Sorry. She says again, softer this time, and flicks her gaze down to the sand, up behind the Noble, and then finally to her purple gaze. Amaryllis! So she had found it. More relief. The snow swirls around them, dampening the soft lullaby of the ocean to their sides, and Quinn bobs her head awkwardly up and down. Ah, yeah. The girl says, then frowns realizing she didn't specify what she was talking about. Yeah, I'm lookin' for a new place. She clarifies, shifting her weight onto one side and rubbing a paw along her other leg in a soothing sort of way. I'm Quinn H- uhhh ..... Quinn..... Shae. She amends, clearing her throat. She might have been Quinn Highwood once upon a time but she wansn't any longer.

It felt right to take the name of her felled sibling, as a surname.
Penance, perhaps, to always remember what she'd done._{BG — ART — CODE}

She hadn't been to the Passage representing another pride other than the Brook in quite some time. But she knew her sister needed some lions to fill the Lagoon up - and if they decided to stay permanently, all the better. Sand crunched under paws, her steps calm and serene as she made her way through the sands that made up the Passage. Up ahead, she spotted a few uniquely colored lions, one who seemed to be large and gangly. A large yearling perhaps? One who seemed a bit on edge.

Making her way towards the duo, Cassandra would give some space between herself and the lioness from the Oasis. She had come just in time to hear the girl speak she was looking for a new place - and what her name was. @Quinn Shae. "Amaryllis is definitely a land where you can find just that. Many have come through here searching for a place to call their own - and to make a name for themselves for others." Cassandra said with a flick of an ear. Heavily scarred, she surely was quite the sight for the yearling to see.

"Cassandra Valour-Greyflood, Noble of the Lagoon. If somewhere more sea-side peaks your fancy, I can offer a place to lay your head there. We also have a few skilled medics who could help tend to your wounds." She said, duotoned eyes catching the fresh wounds that littered the girl's body. It seemed that she had been through quite a lot in her young life. Especially considering she seemed a bit... on edge as well.

@Aphrodite

actions. "speech."

Art by Rabbit | Table Code by Zodiac

We must grow, she says, and so she comes here. The passage is not her favourite place, too full of faces both strange and familiar. the new ones intrigue her, but very few catch her eye. More often than not she returns to the bluffs as alone as when she left them.

tonight is different. The girl that draws her attention is unique in color, but also in form, the size and shape of her less common than those built like the wolfbron queen. Louve joins them last but is unbothered by that, drawing near enough to study the newest arrival without shame.

“Or,” she begins, with a grin that is less soft and more… sharp around the edges, “Z’ere are z’e bluffs. Where z’e woman ‘ave reigned for many years. Whatever you wish for you must only reach out and take it.” and if the girl had no such ambitions, then Louve would take her leave and have that be the end of it,

DEVILS-MAKER

she peels from a cocoon of twilit darkness: limber as the shadows of long-dead trees, left to dance and sway upon trodden snow. “hey,” wafts the simple chirrup of the infiltrator as she drifts toward the gathering of women with slackened poise. gaze hovers upon the belle of the ball – upon @Quinn – with the warmth of innocuous intrigue before shifting to the familiar @Cassandra in her peripherals. a stray, knowing grin seeks to captivate the former queen’s focus for a fleeting moment before returning to the lone yearling with unmasked curiosity. “welcome to the welcome committee,” she quips at her own expense: flippant and familiar, as were so-very typical for the sprite. “i’m olive, from the plains.” a slant of the crown gestures in the direction of lorien. “--at your service, m’lady. whatcha need?”_{BG — CODE — art}

THERE'S THE DUST, THERE'S THE RUNNING DOGS -
In a matter of moments, they come from the shadows. All women, surprisingly, stride from the snowy darkness to surround her in a loose ring, eyes intent on her face. A few nods and quiet greetings are spared for one another but she seems the center of attention.

Ah. Great.

The yearling shifts, suddenly uncomfortable with all the attention, and flicks an ear back against her skull. Uhhh, hey. Hi everyone. Well she supposes this is what it's like at the welcoming grounds. Makes sense, she supposes, for them to scout new pride members at the gates of the country. They come from different places - and the mention of Plains immediately seizes her attention. Her heart swells and a tentative smile is given to @Olive.

@Louve ♔ brings with her an air of practiced grace and poise, though her words coax a furrowing of her brow. I don't.... want to make a name or.... really want anything? Quinn clarifies to both the chartreuse and the brown woman, blinking dumbly at the little group of lionesses. I mean, just a place to sleep, y'know? A nervous laugh, here, as she glances from one to another. When @Cassandra mentions the sea, and healing her wounds, she swings her broad head to regard the churning waves to her side and back to the woman with a miniscule frown. She lifts her paw to examine the raw patches along her paws, wrinkling her nose as she realizes she has, in fact, been bleeding slightly. Well, shit. When had that happened?

She swallows and shrugs her shoulders in an uncertain gesture. I don't really know what to offer you guys... I don't know how this works. She gestures vaguely between herself and then. She's never had to join a new home before - she'd never expected to get thrown out of hers, after all._{BG — ART — CODE}

Aphrodite Goddess of the Dead Well, Aphrodite didn't mean to scare her but could understand how she did. A small, apologetic smile formed on her features just as a few others arrived. There is no need to apologize to me. There really wasn't, but Aphrodite would turn her amethyst jewels away from @Quinn for a minute to take notice of @Cassandra, the Greyflood name ringing a bell in her ears and she made a mental note to seek out the woman later to see if she was related to a certain someone. Then @Louve ♔ showed up and Aphrodite dipped her head in a respected nod before once again, another showed up. This one was new, @Olive had yet to be someone that Aphrodite had encountered in the Passage and took a mental note about who she was and where she lived before finally returning her gaze to Quinn. Making herself sit, to look less aggressive as she took notice of Quinn's uncomfortable stance before replying. Well, this is a place that you can start fresh. Make a new path for yourself. She would begin not knowing Quinn's history. Each of us offers a place for you to stay, all ruled by different lions, or lioness in this case. Each with their own set of rules. It was true. Each ruler had their own rules. Their own traditions. Own expectations. I come from Andal Oasis, a desert pride, which isn't all to bad just a lot of sand. It is ruled by Harou and I am one of his Nobles. She did take notice of Quinn's healing and made a mental note about that. Each of us can teach you things, or help you grow your own skills. However, not only is it Cassandra's concern but my own to get your wounds looked at and healed properly before they get infected. Get some food in your stomach and a good nights rest. Was there anything else she should add? Probably. Could she think of those things currently? Nope."Talk here." && 'Think here.'

THERE'S THE DUST, THERE'S THE RUNNING DOGS -
ooc. sorry for the skip, guys! wanted to get her into a pride c:

@Aphrodite is kind enough to explain everything to her - and Quinn chews on the inside of her cheek. Thoughtfully she casts her gaze across those assembled, instinctively shying away from the idea of glory that @Louve ♔ lays at her feet. It's an awful lot of pressure, glory and grandeur. She's had enough of infamy to last a lifetime, even in her youth, and the idea of seeking more churns her gut.

@Olive seems nice and her heart yearns to return to plainland, to what she knows.

But Aphrodite was right - this was the way to start fresh, and she casts an apologetic smile in the impish queen's direction. 'Precciate all the offers, girls. Quinn promises with a little curl of her lips, feigning for indifference. Not sure I want to live at the seaside, she adds, shrugging one shoulder and ducking her head in something of an apology to @Cassandra. I think the desert sounds.... nice. Warm. She casts her gaze upwards to the snow drifting down and wrinkles her nose.

Choice made, she works to ignore the uncertain beating of her heart and drifts closer to the Noble - expectant and if she's honest, just a little bit eager.

exit w Aphro?_{BG — ART — CODE}

Aphrodite Goddess of the Dead Well this was shocking. Aphrodite would blink when the young girl would move to come to her. To join her in the Oasis. She hadn't really been trying but there was a bit of pride building up in her chest as she would nod to the girl, giving her a small smile before glancing to the others and giving a nod to them. Her gaze lingered a bit on @Cassandra, another small smile forming. I don't know if Harou would mind, but if you'd like to come check on her later you can. Just call for me. And she'd be there to make sure that Cassandra got to see Quinn but for now, they were going to head back home. exit with Quinn"Talk here." && 'Think here.'