the one in which we learn vëalíre is afraid of water

healing came gradually — a slow dance of time and m a g i c, weaving its spell over flesh and bone; heart and soul. two halves, torn asunder in the plummet from earth to sea, had come together once more — a renewed union of pink flesh that left the curve of shoulder tender, but no longer a pulsing staccato of haunted dreams. the soul, though — the soul, it mourned: a gasping, heaving pain that bubbled and popped, rising ever closer to the cracked surface. until, at long last, it burst forth. from the shadows of her refuge, vëalíre fled — the roar of blackened waves thundering in her ears. a stranger in a strange land, vëalíre ran without any sense of direction; without any awareness of the world around her. it was instinct ( a flight from the furl of ravenous water upon her heels ) that drove vëalíre — that pushed her until her breath burned in her lungs, her chest heaved, and the warm ooze of fresh blood ( tender union severed once more ) mingled with the worn leather hide of her shoulder. she stood, trembling, enveloped in a darkness she did not remember entering. who’s there? the darkness hissed, demanding, and in her trance ( heave, ho, quiver, r e p e a t ), vëalíre spoke — her voice naught but a whisper, ”our ghosts.” @Alexander ♔

image to mae & kay — coding to venny & kay

n o t e — this thread is set about two weeks after her arrival ; also being vague on her pride as her other thread is still on-going!!

+5, practice running or speed

"Hey," came gentle tenor, a sunny cat enveloped in shadow nearby. Lyric stood, their mind racing with an uncharacteristic uncertainty as they regarded the lioness with concern. She could practically feel the vibration of her trembling even in the resolute strength of the stone passage. They cast their olive gaze from the dim light in the distance behind and then flicked it back to the suggestion of a russet figure.

"These passages are a maze to the best trackers," Lyric started. "How about you walk with me for a while? I promise to get us out safely," they vowed, making no move to close the gap in the deep void – not until she granted permission.

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|| may y9 | four years | SL lioness | at grimoire's labyrinth | @Vëalíre @pine ||
+10 - Discuss the features of a territory with someone
+10 - Find a notable landmark in a territory
+10 - Help someone who is lost find their way

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Beneath the trembling breaths rattling her ribcage ; beneath the thundering of her own desperate heart, there came another sound — a murmur, soft and gentle, from behind. Vëalíre whirled, eyes widening as a once-enveloped form emerged from the shadows. In her blind haste—in the grips of her terror—Vëalíre had run, head first, into the darkness ; little care had been given to her surroundings, and her panic, she had abandoned her caution — had missed the signs that whispered she was not alone.

Drawing in a ragged breath, Vëalíre could sense them now — the mingling scents, both stale and fresh, of those who had passed through this cavern before her. But those ghosts were not her concern ; no, her concern was the lion who had emerged from the darkness. Though @Lyric stood a respectful distance away, Vëalíre felt herself tensing, unsure in spite of the lion’s calm demeanor.

Yet, as they spoke, the lioness felt herself relax, even if it was only marginally. Logic was beginning to sweep through the haze of her panic ; reason stretching out soothing fingers. If the lion was going to attack, surely they would have done so already. Surely, they wouldn’t have bothered to announce their presence ; they could have just launched themself from the shadows, claws at the ready. Taking a small breath, Vëalíre nodded ( though, hindsight registered, the movement might not have registered in the dim lighting ), Please._{BG — ART — CODE}