RETURN OF THE MIST

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The morning is vibrant with the sounds of wildlife, the jungle bursting at the seams with the lull of chattering voices and clamouring footfalls. It seemed like almost any other day, at first — until it didn’t anymore. Because it was abruptly that the trees grew silent and the air stilled, feeding into a sense of eeriness that was magnified by the heavy blanket of humidity that hung beneath the canopy.

It came then, arriving initially as a series of wispy tendrils trailing along the forest floor, spreading slowly through vegetation and bringing with it a cooler sort of chill. It does not last long - only manifesting as one quick, defiant rush of air - but the mist itself does not look like it plans on moving anytime soon.

pixel credit to strobelast

When she awoke that morning, everything was relatively normal, or in the very least Wisteria didn't expect anything to be different. She had stretched lazily in her den before rising and moving to make her way through the jungle per normal. Wisteria had a pretty solid routine down; she would begin first by washing up and then begin her quest for finding herbs. Except today was different, she had only just begun to make her way towards the small stream when the jungle became eerily quiet. She paused, glancing around her. Now that was awfully weird. Almost instantly wispy tendrils began to make their way through the forest, causing Wisteria to become quite startled. She could hardly feel the humidity of the jungle anymore and the mist was a heavy blanket that only seemed to rise and grow thicker as time went on. "@Elijah! @Gawain!" She yelled loudly, glancing around her desperately. What was happening? Back-pedaling the girl would plant herself firmly against one of the large trees, inhaling and exhaling quickly. She squeezed her eyes shut, as tight as she could manage, but when she snuck a peek the mist was still there. "H-help me!" She cried out frantically, turning to try and hoist herself upward into the tree as high as she could manage. Climbing to the nearest branch she could reach, she clung to it for dear life, fear etched across her features.

Life has been ideally pleasant so far, within the confines of Gawain's territory, surrounded by friends, loved ones and his two wonderful babies. Bhaskar was happier than ever, and perhaps softer and calmer than ever. He was comfortable and relaxed, but not too much, of course. While the colossal enjoyed lazing around during his life as a rogue, now he was more than willing to move his weight around and help Lightstone prosper however possible. He wasn't a freeloader. He had skills that could be useful, and he had figured out recently that being a man of his size was a useful thing in itself. Patrolling, hunting, helping the other members. These tasks all gave him a purpose that he didn't realize he lacked.

And while being a parent is a whole different job in itself, Bhas wouldn't trade it for anything else. He was more than in love with Neph and the cubs, and although he exhausted him at times, they were his new soft spot.

Today he had went outside on a patrol while his mate and babes were resting in their new home. Giant paws strode across the green land of the awfully familiar jungle, devouring the distance nonchalantly. For the first half of his patrol, the weather was a typical summer day, hot and sunny. He almost wished for cooler weather, but what can you do? Nature doesn't listen to lions.

Or does it?

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the tall tree crowns above. He didn't halt even when a chill crawled up his peach spine. In fact, Bhas quite enjoyed it, unaware of the strangeness of this short-lived, defiant rush of air that sent his dual-toned mane in wild directions. Seasons in this land were strange, right?

"Elijah! Gawain!"

Now that made him stop in his tracks. His ears perked up, wondering if his mind was just playing tricks on him.

"H-help me!"

Nope. Definitely no tricks. He suddenly spun around with force, leaping forward into a run uncharacteristic of his brawny physique towards the young female voice's direction. He paused in front of a tree, @Wisteria hanging atop, recognizing the girl as part of Lightstone. However, when his eyes trailed towards the ground where she was staring, he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.

Wisps of mist slinked past the grass, snaking their way forward like ghostly fingers, reaching for trees, bushes, and lions alike. He blinked, confused at this phenomenon. If there was an explanation about this, Bhaskar certainly didn't have it. He glanced at his feet, the wisps dancing around them now. His teeth gritted together and the colossal man approached the tree that the light-pelted lioness was trying to climb. "It's okay!" He called out to her, unsure of her name but recognizing her face. "Don't think it can harm ya," He tried to assure her, his frown deepening when he glanced about. Mist...? During summer? "We should find Gawain." What if this thing was actually deadly? But... it touched him, and he's fine. Right? They'd be both dead by now if it was dangerous.

More and more lions had been calling for his help recently. But it was different when it was one of his children.

Okay, not really. He hadn't officially adopted her or anything and now she was nearly grown. But he still regarded her as such.

"@Wisteria?" He ran towards the sound of her voice, ignoring the strange mist that hung around. It was... just fog, right? But... why was it cold? What was going on?

Did this have to do with the mysterious cubs?

He didn't hesitate, and instead immediately let into the tree and started climbing. By now he was well-versed in the art of tree climbing. "It's okay, I've got you." But from the height of the tree... he realized it was everywhere..

He frowned, confused and concerned. "@Bhaskar? Have you ever seen anything like this?" Because... in all his travels, this was completely new.

CODE BY LARS & ART BY MOG

the druid had been out collecting herbs when the sound of cries reached her ears, sending her senses into a frenzy as she took off down the trails of the jungle, weaving through trees and shrubbery as she went. Nymeria knew not what was waiting for on the other end, but was relieved, upon arrival, to see that two men, @Gawain and @Bhaskar, were already tending to the wailing shape of @Wisteria, allowing the valour’s gait to slow to a smooth and tempered stop on the fringes of the group. unfortunately for her, however, that relief would not last more than a few more moments.

for as wide eyes flickered down from the familiar face of the lightstone guardian, she finally registered the odd, prevailing mist that hung between the trees, surrounding them in a way that was most unsettling. it looked heavy despite the season, the air taunt with unhinged uncertainty, and nymeria could not help but to acknowledge the short, cold flash that danced down her spine at the realization. "i’d advise caution," She offered evenly, gaze shifting between the men as she pushed forward upon splayed toes, bringing herself closer to the mist, but not yet close enough to touch. "i’ve seen something like this once before, but it has been years. i — i don’t know if it is safe." she spoke openly for everyone’s sake, though the furrowing of her brows and the downturn of her lips was evident. when the mist had arrived before, it had been a simple barricade to the foreigners — but this seemed different, it felt different. maua had had a reason to bring it on all those years ago, and yet this time seemed flippant and without the same sort purpose. it was far too soon to assume the best or to write-it-off as a simple weather anomaly, however, which caused nymeria’s ears to flatten along the contour of her crown, not quite sure what to make of any of this.

One of the few things that she enjoyed greatly about being a medic, was that she had so much free time to wander the territories in the hopes of finding something she hadn't found before. The silence that came with it was enough to let her toil through every emotion that she had and that could be said after the turmoil that she had been forced to deal with. Frustration and anger evident every now and then as she struggled to come to the final fruition that she hated Zoticus. She didn't want to, but she was a struggling young girl who had once saw appreciation and respect for him but he'd taken care home. Sure, she could've stayed and lived happily there but he also didn't have to take it in the first place.

So that was where she got hung up and on the thought, she realized she was stomping a little heavier than she had intended to. Taking a deep breath only to realize that what went in was a little thicker than normal. Only then did she see a few lions that had gathered up many ten to twenty feet away, swallowing and making her approach as she side-eyed the growing tendrils of mist that lay off to her side some distance. It would seem this was an unnatural phenomena but one that had happened a few years ago? Is it.. dangerous? she asked, nervous about the answer she might receive but also nervous about how they would react to a strange yearling approaching them and not being forthright with a name and why she was talking to the in crowd, so to speak.

table by ferus, art by munk

Super vague on wounds and status, per timeline ?!?! With all things said and done at the end of the day, Jafar was out making sure that his family was well and accounted for. Wandering the vicinity of Aniadar Jungle in the hopes of simply stretching his legs and getting a good idea of what was out there. Things seemed different but he couldn't quite put the right words to describe why he felt this way. Something was off and the bright contrast of the white and gray mist ahead of him was enough of an indication that he was on the right path to finding the answers he sought. Not without stumbling across a few other lions, of course, who seemed to be just as wary of the oncoming oddity. So the Casales male drew quietly up to the gathering and he was quick to deduce that one was of Vermeda, though not quite realizing the who from there that it was. Gawain, what is going on? His attention turning swiftly to the Band's Guardian, the one that he was most familiar with and knew he liked a respectable amount. Which was more than he could say for a lot of the lions he had met in his time in Amaryllis.

art by torriyi // code // do not use without permission

Large paws carried the shield maiden away from the tundra to the jungle. It was there her sea foam jewels landed on the fog and she froze. Granted she was not around when the fog was first here but she knew of it. Had kept to her caves until it was completely cleared out. But now? The wheat woman would move towards @Nymeria and @Gawain. She didn't know the others but brushed against her long time friend. What's going on? She had heard the very last bit of Nymeria's words but not enough to full understand what was going on. Claws digging into the ground as she felt a protective need come over her. 'She thinks.'

Art by sally | Table code by Zodiac

He peered up at the scared yearling until @Gawain's voice made Bhaskar's head swivel to meet the approach of the Lightstone Guardian. In one fell swoop, the brown male was climbing up the tree without much of a problem. Bhas could only stand and watch as he rescued the girl whom he called @Wisteria, all the while marveling at the older man's agility. The colossal could never achieve such a feat - he was more likely to break the tree and send the girl flying down than climb up and grab her.

Gawain's question made the titan shake his head in disapproval. "Never," he said with a tense voice, iron-clad gaze glancing towards the mist. It slithered around, almost as if alive. In the short year he'd spent in Amaryllis, the peach paladin had never seen this phenomenon. "Freaky. Looks like it's moving on its own." Bhas realized how crazy that might sound and half-wondered if his friend could see it too.

The sound of movement in the greenery made the brawny man tense up, his red-haired skull turning around to study the movement. The hurried shape of a faintly familiar woman emerged from the shadows and mist alike. She was older, with wheat fur and a freckled face. Where did he recognize her from? Ah, doesn't matter. They had far more important things to deal with right now. @Nymeria was quick to advise caution. If she has seen this strange occurrence before, then she must have some knowledge of the topic. He chose to trust her words for now. If they were to be cautious, then they better get the hell out of here. Would evacuating the jungle be safer? He had a wife and two young babes in his den, but by the looks of it the fog hadn't spread further than they were right now.

A young girl approached, seemingly finding them by coincidence and evidently worried about the whole ordeal. "Don't know yet." His scowl looked unfriendly, as per usual, when he addressed @Madelina's inquiry. He half-wondered if the girl was lost. If she was, he could help her get back home. Her scent was familiar. The Rainforest north of here.

A flame-pelted man appeared then, addressing Gawain. Bhas assumed he was one of the brown lion's many acquaintances, and regarded him only with a quick glance before the burly shape of someone he had never hoped to see ever again appeared from the mist. Immediately, his lip curled to reveal his fangs, a growl rumbling from his chest. If there was one thing that could whisk away the joy out of the first-time dad, it was this overly aggressive bitch that had attacked him for no apparent reason one day. @Ástríðr was standing by Gawain nonchalantly, disregarding the fact that Bhaskar was there and speaking as if nothing ever happened. "The fuck are you doing here?" Dark talons pierced the ground instinctively, his heart racing at old wounds reopening. He couldn't believe he was seeing her here. What, so the barbarian woman can speak? The first time they met she had lunged at him like a rabid beast, without regard for the spoken word. Having so close to his friends and his family ( especially the children ) was not biding well. "Leave, or I will make you." It was not a threat, it was a warning. The fog was harmless in the face of that wench.

Pandora walked behind @Ástríðr, like a shadow. The fog was indeed feeling threatening to the Freya and thus she wanted to be around her mate hoping blth them and their band wouldn't be in danger if they could at least come up with the precautions. And whilst she took her time to catch up with her mate, she would eye the others, ears low and weary eyes. She would approach her loved one on her free side. Brushing her shoulder against hers. But a large male was being hostile and threatening, that alone made all of her inner alarms ring in fear. She placed herself between Astrid and the rude dude. She wasn't a fighter but for her loved one she wouldn't mind. "Leave my wife alone, you don't threat her." No one will threat her and expect she will just sit and watch. She growled and cared none of the male was a tank compared to both lionesses. "Over my dead body i would let any of you touch my mate..." She proclaimed at every single lion there.."Let's go love, i won't let any of these threaten you like that" @Bhaskar.

Art and Code by Cloudy