[[ no FR please i already have two there XD; ]]

The last time he was here, he'd wandered the lands rather aimlessly, never tethering himself to any group. It had been a brief stint, as he'd soon grown bored and wandered right back out of the place, but here he was again as if some sort of gravity pulled him back toward the little spur of land.

This time, he was coming in the front.

Instead of prying open a window and crawling in through the back.

So to speak.

His steps were aimless, wandering, meandering, following every stray scent and sound that captured his attention as he went. Eventually, it led to him padding casually toward the natural gateway looming ahead with a lizard's tail dangling from his mouth, idly chewing the end. Bright eyes flicked to every point of interest in a random and ever-changing order, pointed ears twitched toward every little sound from the distant waves to sand shifting in the breeze to birds far above.

A crunch and a gulp and the tail was gone, and he'd lick all traces of the creature from his lips before lifting his head in an inviting call. The scent trails here told of regular visitors, and more going in than out. Places where trails mixed and muddled as if a group had stayed in one place for a few moments. So he supposed he probably didn't have too long to wait until someone from within found him.

And as the blood runs down the walls

You see me creeping up these halls

code by corvus

Oh, how she loathed recruiting. How she loathed traipsing through the passage sands aimlessly. Yet, when it was fruitful- when she spied a stranger on his own without a customary group around them... she cannot help but put a sly smile to her lips, and approach. She studies him, a mauve, strangely marked male with tufts of fur that looked almost like horns. As she neared closer, she noted his pointed ears, longer fangs... and then slitted pupils. Interesting.

"Are you looking for something?" She asks, her voice neutral, her face falling into a mask of neutral curiosity. "This is a recruitment grounds of sorts." She offered. She did not offer her name yet, and decided to let him interest her enough to earn that. So instead, she waits.

@Maō @Corvus ★

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

Soon enough, there came an exotically patterned woman, and he would pause his restless pacing when it became apparent she was looking him over. Well, she could look all she wanted - he was a delight to stare at. He didn't stay very still for long, however. As she approached, he'd move forward with the intent to circle her, and take his turn looking her over.

It was only fair, wasn't it?

Ohhh, it came a near purr, the beast dialing down the naturally high tone of his voice in the process, as if tuning an instrument. Maybe. Maybe! Aaareee yoouu - hm - offering something? If she'd allowed him to circle, here is where he'd return to her front. If not, well, position would depend on her, then, wouldn't it?

Either way, the man grinned, intrigued and pleased he'd been correct in assuming the nature of the place. And if it was a recruitment ground she must be offering something, to come all the way out absolutely stinking of others.

@Helah

And as the blood runs down the walls

You see me creeping up these halls

code by corvus

It has been a few months since Valerian had wandered out here toward the borders of the island. The sand bank stretched far ahead, and he wanders a patrol along its drying expanse as he searches for strangers - rogues, specifically. If anything, it will let him broaden his horizons and speak to more individuals. At best, he invites a new ally back to the hollow.

A pale figure and a darker one, splashed in white, draw his attention. He recognised the dark one as the new leader of the Oasis, though Valerian did not know her name. He is careful on his approach because of this, rumbling a greeting to the unusually-marked rogue, eyeing the unusual and striking shape of his mane.

“Different groups offer different things,” the Obsidian Heir rumbles as he approaches, having overheard the most recent exchange of the pair. Sage eyes glance to @Maō. “I represent the Hollow. If you’re looking for somewhere secure, we are a mountain stronghold. We value respect, and loyalty.”

@Helah @Corvus ★

art © yumpy

He supposed he ought to come to the Passage to try to fetch himself some ass. Now that he was a bit healthier; now that he'd found a few carcasses to scrape together, now that he looked less than dead. His skin wouldn't stick up if you pulled it the wrong way and his mane rolled naturally, softly with the rhythm of his shoulders, thick and nominally healthy but definitely not shiny. He was on the mend. Probably about as healthy as the more skilled rogues that came through here. Which meant he had a shot at impressing the stupider ones... and since stupid bimbos were his target market, time to hit the field.

Most of the ass seemed to be scarce or taken... already surrounded by too many others, or surrounded by fighting or harsh words, circumstances that made the behemoth wilt his ears and shy away. He didn't think he liked this place. Too open. Too warm. Too many smiles all much better at being false.

It wouldn't be useless to recruit a male, they were just less interesting. Finally he was bored enough to veer toward this one, who seemed to have a cool hairstyle going on at least and didn't seem like he'd need dragging from death's door. And there was... a female @Helah as well, soft and average sized and with huge, adorable pointed ears, and a tail that made him yearn to ask her where it had gone, and OOPS he stumbled over his own wrist there, good going Aurochs. "Fucking sand...." he muttered, lifting himself back up, still looking at Helah to see if she was impressed before he remembered that it would be more impressive if he seemed to be all stoic and nonchalant.

"Uh, cool hair, dude," he switched his focus to the rogue @Maō (or tried to). This was suddenly overwhelming. And the other guy @Valerian seemed like he knew exactly what to say, like he'd prepared his pitch enough for it to seem like it was completely off the cuff (but Aurochs knew pride lions... the ones not from the Plains, they weren't chill at all.) "Lorien Plains offers, I guess, it's a huge savanna. We just like to chill. Not take anything too seriously." aka Aurochs was actually a good representative honest. He splat himself back on his haunches and resisted the urge to scratch his ear for only half a second but then gave in. "Fucking sand...." he grumbled again.

Now Helah was quite content to have this odd looking male to herself as he circles her and she remains standing still- watching and waiting as he speaks, and of course as soon as he speaks to her, and she grins in response- preparing to speak another approaches. She slowly looks over the Hollows male, noting that he was maneless but handsome. She grins, her expression anything but friendly as she looks at him, and then a-fucking-nother appeared- stumbling a bit. Her look was a tad bit dismissive this time, paired with a soft snort of derision. She sighed softly. "Helah . Queen of the Oasis. Local connoisseur of chaos and depravity." Let her be direct with the pride she was running. "He's right." She said, of the Hollows male. "Different groups do offer different things. Instead of security.... I offer the time of your life among the beasts that swear fealty to me and our home." She wanted those who were a bit crazy, a bit fucked up. "I'm looking to start a few wars. Hopefully kill a few babes." She said, idly lifting a paw, to study it- her signature move, you know? Before she would move her gaze to the males present.

"You interested in some chaos and wanton behavior?" She offers, because she wants to get to the point, and then... hopefully take him home.

@Maō @Valerian @Aurochs

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

Another voice drifted in, heralding the arrival of another stranger, and one pointed ear twitched toward him as Maō sat himself down in front of the woman - @Helah, she said. Of course, before he had much time to even consider the newcomer's (dull) introduction, if it could be called that without containing a name, another arrived, stumbling on nothing. Maō's gaze flicked to the motion of an approaching stranger, first, and then something in it sharpened when the man stumbled over his own footing, a quick and fleeting notation of weakness, a predatory glint gone in a flash.

Now, normally, he'd be quite inclined to lie and declare himself perfectly, comfortably, easily, capable of loyalty or even respect. But as the Oasis Queen spoke, he realized quite readily that...well, it wasn't even necessary. Security was boring - strike for the Hollows. The grey man's compliment of his meticulously-styled mane did earn a wide grin, but it was more a showing of teeth with nothing quite reaching his eyes.

He trilled wordlessly, a sound of amusement - he was quite enjoying the attention. Claws flexed and kneaded the sandy ground, as if defiantly enjoying the landscape in contrast to the one male's complaints. Oh let's seeee...safety, security, he paused as if considering, Bo~ring! a sing-song rejection of the Hollows. And then a little chuckle, because, Annndd the last time I visited the plains, why! I just walked in! He stood once more, though his foreclaws continued their idle shredding and mixing of the sand, No one tried to stop me! Convinced someone he was a just a harmless, blind, rogue, lost in the world. It had been very funny to him at the time.

So, no, his attention would settle fully back on the woman, dismissing the others You, I like you. You can call me Maō. Less a name and more a title, but it served well enough until he tired of it. You can have me for as long as you can keep things interesting.

@Valerian @Aurochs

And as the blood runs down the walls

You see me creeping up these halls

code by corvus

Valerian had never been good at reading people - strangers, more specifically. His family were an open book to his cutting gaze, but these new acquaintances are a new task entirely to comprehend. There’s another that approaches and Valerian’s acknowledges @Aurochs with a slight nod of his dark brown head… before focusing back on what the lioness - Helah, she had introduced herself - had to say. Valerian confirms that mental note of caution of the Oasis. She obviously was ruling with quite a different paw to Scorpius.

At least he doesn’t have to feel singled out with the rogue’s distaste. As far as the Savante man could tell, he hadn’t liked Valerian’s pitch, nor the Lorien representative’s either. It was becoming clear this had been a fruitless foray, but Valerian doesn’t seem particularly perturbed. Knowing when he was no longer able to convince, he turns away with a nod of farewell, intent on continuing his search for new recruits.

/exit Valerian

art © yumpy

Well, well, well.

That was... two for Helah at the passage, hmm?

She grins fiendishly towards the odd male, and nods at his words. "@Maō". The name is spoken as a confirmation, and an acceptance. She chuckles softly, at his rejection of her new... acquaintance as he speaks, and moves on ready to divulge into chaos and whatever mayhem she can muster.

"May have to start a war for no reason, just to keep you interested, hmm?" A grin, as she moves to lead him away from the passage and into the throws of her home. "Ranks are open, if that's something you wish." She shares- as they begin the journey.

-exit with Mao-

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

And so it was settled. At least for the foreseeable future, anyway. OOohh~, a pleased and eager trill, just might! Wars were great. Plenty of chaos and blood, a place he could really let loose for a little while without anyone trying to stop him. Or doing something silly like screaming and running away as if he wouldn't chase after them.

Ranks, too, were intriguing. He could do a lot with a proper title. More officially, anyway - it wasn't as if status had ever truly stopped him from doing what he wanted.

So off they went, her leading the way and Maō trotting a step or two behind if only because he didn't know where they were going.

-finally remembered to exit lol-

@Helah

And as the blood runs down the walls

You see me creeping up these halls

code by corvus