A song that no one knows forgot how it goes
Just john and me forever eternally, Jane Doe

The woman hadn't ventured to far from the band today. She had woken feeling restless yet shakey and weak. Her strength seemed to wax and wane as she healed, though she could function to some degree now. Despite the slight swirling sensation that distorted the very edge of her vision she had found her way to the river.

The water initially claimed her curiosity, but it was the twittering, gliding birds that circled and dived above the river that pulled her gaze upward. They flew in the blue spaces of sky between verdant leaves. She sat, head tilted sky and following the birds. She was mesmerized by them and their glorious singing. It was strange, for she could recall what a bird was, but she couldn't remember how she knew. Despite the familiarity of the creatures, she couldn't help but feel this was her first time seeing them.

@Sorrel

code by corvus

The heat of the jungle presses like a heavy, thick blanket over Sorrel’s body. It’s uncomfortable, stifling, but there’s only so many hours they can spend trying to sleep through the heat of the day. They get restless far too easily, and hungry even more. That’s what drags them out of that dug-out den they’ve made, what’s what lures the rogue into the sun - even if they stick to the shadows, the thick canopy above keeps some of the heat out, it isn’t enough. Sweat builds up under the lion’s mohawk, sliding down their neck like slimy fingers.

Ugh.

Down by the river, it’s cooler. The water hits the rocks and throws mist up into the air, tempering the worst of the heat. Sorrel finds they aren’t the only one enjoying the river, but where they usually have every reason to chat up a stranger… there’s little motivation today. They do follow the girl’s gaze, however, curious as to what has her so mesmerised she doesn’t seem to yet notice the lurking punk just a few feet away. Silver eyes flick across the water, and then up. Birds?

"Are you training them to bring you fish or…?" There’s an idea. But how does one go about training a bird? They’re dumb as hell, right?

@Sylva

art © rabbit | code © hinter

A song that no one knows forgot how it goes
Just john and me forever eternally, Jane Doe

A voice interrupted the enthralling symphony startled the feline, bringing her head in a sharp snap to face them. Though her expression remained still and impassive, the glint in her dark eyes suggested shock. The flash eased after a moment, and she turned her skull back skywards with a strange sort of grinding of her neck joints, as if her skull wasn't quite stable on her spine.

"They're singing." Her words flowed in a disjointed sort of melody before ceasing again. One of the birds flew closer, bringing her head around in a slow circle before it rejoined the soaring flock.

@Sorrel

code by corvus

They’ve managed to surprise her, not that it’s all that hard when her head is all but physically stuck in the clouds. An elephant could have surprised her, they think. And the answer Sorrel gets doesn’t really explain much at all.

"Yeah…" They agree, brows furrowing. "So why are you staring at them? Birds sing." It’s not a new phenomenon as far as the rogue is concerned. If anything, those feathered rats were an annoyance with their songs most of the time, waking them up and keeping them awake during the hottest parts of the day.

art © rabbit | code © hinter

A song that no one knows forgot how it goes
Just john and me forever eternally, Jane Doe

There was a long, song filled gap between @Sorrel's words and her own. She struggled to pull her attention from the peaceful symphony that felt so familiar and welcoming despite the blank space in her mind where she was sure memories of birds should be.

She looked back to sorrel, blinking slowly. "It sounds pretty." Her voice was almost matter-of-fact. It did sound very pretty, and the birds themselves were beautiful. Her deep gaze stared properly at the lion then, only interrupted by clusters of rhythmic blinks.

code by corvus

Pretty isn’t the word they’d use to describe it, but then again, Sorrel hasn’t really been in the mood to find anything fun or pretty or good lately. No, they’d rather find everything annoying and irritating and not worth their time. It’s just… easier, lately, to fall into a dark hole and not want to climb out. Why bother?

"Right." They say, a roll of their silver eyes colouring the single word in sarcasm. "Well, you enjoy that." Maybe they can find somewhere else to relax - somewhere without strange, staring girls and annoying birdsong that’ll keep them awake.

With a shake of thick, sweaty fur, Sorrel shoves off and begins to follow the river down stream.

art © rabbit | code © hinter

A song that no one knows forgot how it goes
Just john and me forever eternally, Jane Doe

Her lopsided ear twitched a little as she watched the stranger go. Were they a stranger? She didn't give herself much time to consider the idea before she stood and followed after them with soft and stiff steps. She wasn't quite sure why she was following. Curiosity? Loneliness? She forced herself to ignore how incredibly lonely it was to have no memories. So, she followed, head held in a slight tilt as she did.

@Sorrel

code by corvus

They think that is the end of it - an odd little encounter, but not anything enough to remember once the strange girl is out of their gaze. Sorrel walks on, paws padding softly across the rocky edge of the river, already pushing those few moments out of their mind. It doesn’t take long, however, for a bone-pierced ear to flick backwards, picking up the sound of something behind them - encroaching on their space. Sorrel glances back, silver eye rolling to the corner of its socket -

The girl is there, following.

"What the fuck?" Sorrel whips around, gaunt face screwing up into a frown. They aren’t the type to snarl, or snap, but this being followed thing is downright weird. "What’re you doing, following me?" Their tail flicks around their heels, fluffed up like an agitated housecat.

@Sylva

art © rabbit | code © hinter

A song that no one knows forgot how it goes
Just john and me forever eternally, Jane Doe

The pale girl was quite content followed the flurry haired creature. There was an odd sort of comfort in the presence of another. She was quiet and (she believed at least) unobtrusive, and she would have been more then happy to follow @Sorrel for a while.

The lions sudden spin around startled her into an awkward step back, a flurry of blinks briefly hiding her dark gaze before she settled into an unmoving stare. Their words brought a small, harsh tilt of her skull. "Yes." She was a little confused by the question, because it did seem fairly obvious. Even her fractured mind could see that.

code by corvus

A single word is the answer they get, spoken as if it’s obvious. Sorrel’s eyes narrow on the girl’s face, trying to peer into that head and see exactly what’s going on in there. The rogue huffs, irritated, sending a lock of fringe fluttering around with the force of their exhale. They can’t see any malice in those eyes, no sudden aggression or urge to beat the shit out of them. She looks at them, expectantly.

"Okay," Sorrel says after a moment, chest heaving with the effort it takes not to snap again. Not cool. Irritation is still there, but Sorrel tries to press it down. Weird as this girl is, they aren’t being entirely fair - and they haven’t been from the first moment they woke up this morning, sweaty and hungry and utterly fucking alone. "Why, exactly, are you following me? You lost?" The rogue has been able to at least learn their way around this vast place, since they’ve been doing little else.

@Sylva

art © rabbit | code © hinter