This place again. What was it about this place that always drew her back? The maroon woman bared her fangs in disgust as she once again trailed her way across the sands of the passage. This time - she would MAKE it work. This time it would be different. She was beholden to no one and nothing - having cast off the mantle given to her at birth, the dark viper had embraced what she was. A snake. Tail tip flickered before she forged onward, ignoring the criss-crossing scents of the lions that passed through these lands and towards the twin peaks that stood guard over the passage into Amaryllis. Dual toned green and yellow gaze swept side to side before she pressed onwards, intending to find herself a home and make a name for herself beyond the shadow of those that brought her into this world.

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Calypso had never been here before except in passing. The peach pirate had heard of the place, had been curious about the entrance where so many sought their future, but this was to be her first journey. In the aftermath of her snakebite she moved with a slight limp, though it was barely discernible now. Still, the journey to the passage was the longest she had taken in weeks, and her leg ached by the time she arrived.

Her attention was drawn quickly by the dark pelted female - alone as she still was. Without hesitation she approached, expression carefully neutral as she drew near. “‘ello,” simple enough — truthfully she didn’t really know the protocol here. “Calypso, from Firnen rainforest.” That seemed like a good place to start, she’d be able to garner id there was any interest in the forest before she went on. The words were accompanied with a nod of greeting as she stopped before the other and waited.

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It was the voice - the approaching form drawing her attention, the mere flick of an ear showing she was listening to @Calypso. The carmine serpent paused, noting that the other was uniquely patterned, but otherwise unfamiliar. Granted - she never really went out of her way to meet anyone in her last few attempts at this living here thing. "Ishak. Of the sands.." was given in answer to the Firnen lioness, her tone deadpan, a paw gesturing towards the sands around them. She waited in silence - not knowing how this whole song and dance thing worked either. After all - her parents had made the decisions the first time, and the second she had just decided to walk into a pride and eat their food - thus living there. This was the third time. Perhaps the charm? But she was just as clueless as the Rainforest female standing before her. So she opted to wait, staring in silence until the pride envoy decided to guide the next portion off their discussion.

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Well at least it wasn’t an outright rejection. That’s a start!

Calypso cracked a slight grin at the response, appreciating the dry assessment of the situation. It made her feel more at ease with the interaction. “Are ye wishing’ to change d’at?” some preferred the rogue life, but if she was here…

“I cen offer ye a home in de rainforest, if ye like.” There was a chance that she had a preference and if that were the case Calypso would part ways with no hard feelings.

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The woman listened to @Calypso speak of changing her current situation, then offered her a home in the Rainforest and the carmine serpent let the emotion show on her face. "Do you just go around inviting any and all to your home? What if I'm a killer? If I snack on the bodies of wee babes and suck the juices from their eyes?" Her tail tip flickered, incredulousness upon her face. "Dance in the moonlight wishing foul curses upon my enemies?" Had it been her - she certainly wouldn't be recruiting without knowing a thing about her potential new pride mate. Ishak had spent much of her life sleeping with one eye open, and wasn't exactly keen on the idea of doing that again in a place that she considered her own home. Of course - there was a somewhat joking tone to her words when she addressed Calypso - for she wasn't entirely against the idea of a home.. but a home that welcomed just anyone - that was a problem.

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She couldn’t help but laugh, a rough sound that seemed at odds with her appearance. Calypso shifted her weight on her muddied paws as she regarded the woman with a good deal more interest. “I have good instincts, I figure between here and d’ere I’d figure it out.” It wouldn’t be hard to change her mind, if it came to it.

“As fer dancin’ and cursin’ I’d likely be right d’ere wit’ ye.” A tip of her head and a wink - Calypso had no doubt done her fair share of poisoning and cursing and the rainforest didn’t seem to mind. Well, truth be told they didn’t know, but she figured she always had a good reason for her warnings so it shouldn’t be an issue. Or so she believed.

Table by Amanda | Reference by Karasu | Background

She had to admit - the laugh caught her off guard. Piquing her interest. Ishak regarded the woman with a little more curiosity before she hummed, tail tip flickering near her haunches. "Sure. You've gotten my attention." She would figure out the specifics of the pride itself later. After all, Ishak wasn't here to roast in the sand and grill the other. She'd figure it out as she went - like she always did. Besides - if she didn't like it, she could just drop a ton of mixed herbs into the water supply and walk away without a backwards glance. The carmine woman gestured towards @Calypso, a vague wave of her paw towards the lands of Amaryllis. "Lead on... I could use a nap."

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A certain sense of satisfaction swelled in her chest when the woman agreed to come. While a rainforest was not her ideal home (and would likely be temporary, truth be told), she knew that it was a desirable place for others to live. Plus, Cupid was a good leader, and she was happy to help his pride grow.

“Aye, an’ a bite to eat perhaps?” Calypso turned to lead her home, hoping to get to know Ishak a little better on the journey.

-exit-

Table by Amanda | Reference by Karasu | Background

The other lioness would accept her agreement and start moving towards the Forest. Ishak gave a nod before she trailed after @Calypso, deciding that while she was here she might as well get used to pulling her weight. The red woman wasn't opposed to working - what she opposed was sheer laziness, though perhaps that came from the fact that her own birth givers were largely absent from her life. "Sounds good to me." The serpent spoke as she trailed after her new pridemate, curious - excited to learn what her new home would entail and how to settle in before making her own mark. //Exit//

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