+5 exercise to gain strength/endurance The fog hadn’t lifted yet; this time, Marius checked for himself, and found the stories he had heard from others to be completely true. The fog was unnatural, that much he was sure of, and as he padded back down the sandbar he found his thoughts clouded with irritation and frustration. His jaws were clenched, his expression stiff, and his narrowed eyes glittered with emotion, an unusual occurrence for the typically reserved and composed Pastor lion. In a calculated decision to relieve some of this stress, the dark lion paced into the shallows of the sea, savoring the refreshing touch of the cool water as he tested himself against the strength of the currents. Wading deeper until he could barely feel the sand beneath his toes, Marius began to swim. Who knows, maybe he would get lucky and encounter a large fish or shark or something he could test his might against.

lucien hanover

Unnatural was right. Lucien wasn't sure if he'd even seen fog that seemed to hover and stay in one place for a long period of time like what was happenin' here. It caused for an eerie and a a slight unsettlin' feelin' to grow in him; surely he wasn't the only one that thought it was a bit odd? Large paws would carry the dun man across the sand in a relaxed gait, golden eyes flickin' this way and that as he casually observed his surroundin's. The grittiness of the sand was somethin' he was goin' to have to get used to, but when that would be exactly was unknown. It was an uncomfortable feelin', one that caused for inky lips to pull into a grimace of sorts.

The sounds of water splashin' was what caught his attention, ears prickin' forward and skull swivelin' in the direction it was comin' from. Golden eyes would land upon a maroon maned lion, swimmin'. The dun man would watch with a bemused expression now painted on his face, wonderin' if this stranger was tryin' to catch a meal or if he was simply in the water just 'cause. He wouldn't call out to the other lion just in case, though he would pivot his direction and would now walk a little closer to get a better look to what the other was doin'.

"SPEECH."

table by ferus, art by driftyworks

The cold, salt-laden water was a refreshing contrast to the hot blaze of the sun, which poured relentlessly over the sandbar and had saturated his obsidian pelt with heat. The ocean did wonders to ease the temperature of his figure to a tolerable level, and even as Marius swam and waded between both deep and shallow parts of the shoreline, he felt his mood lift considerably. Exercise tended to put the beast in a good mood, and it helped that he was no longer hot and irritable with his failed quest to pierce the divine fog that shrouded the island continent. Although, as invigorating and rejuvenating as his swim was, it did not make for an interesting task; no sharks or large fish had yet thought to venture close to the Pastor’s giant girth. Marius had noticed the silhouette of the other lion several moments before he came to the shoreline; the sandbar was too exposed for anything less, but he paid him no mind until the large lion paused his advance and chuffed a greeting. Claret eyes then shifted towards the dun feline, head turning to consider him before he waded closer to shore and returned the neutral greeting. Although no longer fully submerged in the waters energizing grip, it continued to embrace him at chest level as he peered with curiosity at the newcomer. “Yes?” He asked after a moment, candid interest replacing any semblance of aggression or irritation his otherwise one-word greeting might imply.

lucien hanover

His presence wouldn't go unnoticed for long, golden eyes watchin' as the other lion caught his presence and began his wade back to shore. Lucien would stay silent, observin' and overall just watchin' the other enjoy bein' submerged. He, on the other hand, would prefer to stay dry and only get wet if he needed to. He didn't like how long it took for his mane to dry out, even if it was as black as night and absorbed the sunshine and warmth better than most. A single syllable word would be directed towards him, the dun man givin' the other a nod of his maw in a form of greetin'.

"Ain't never seen a lion go in water willin'ly," he'd comment, a bit of a humorous tone attached to drawlin' words. Lucien would continue to stay in place, keepin' the comfortable distance between them. Always a gentleman he was, whether it be a lady or a lass. "Name's Lucien Hanover. You wouldn't happen t' know where we're at, would ya'?" Maybe this stranger had been here longer than him, or maybe even lived here all his life. And it didn't hurt to keep tryin' to figure out just where he had landed himself.

"SPEECH."

table by ferus, art by driftyworks

Marius returned the nod with one of his own, still guarded and wary of the stranger but remaining curious of his approach. This sentiment was appeased when the dun lion explained his presence with an accented tone the Pastor was not familiar with, further piquing his unspoken interest. Claret eyes considered the newcomer thoughtfully, having noted the amusement in his voice but undecided of what he would make of it. The obsidian beast enjoyed swimming, it was more pleasant than other exercises, but to each their own. “Not a fan of water?” His baritone rumbled a response that carried amused inflections of its own, but he took a few more steps towards the shore regardless. The black-haired lion was now only elbow deep in water, with small waves cresting and breaking around his limbs, sucking his paws deeper into the sand. The dun lion’s introduction was paired with a question that set a frown across his striped countenance and he spared a quick glance for the foggy shroud that wrapped around the island continent before answering. “Marius Pastor, and no, I’m afraid I don’t.” He replied, his mild baritone lilting faintly with echoes of his frustrations and he would pull a forepaw from the water in an effort to keep it from being completely buried. “You know anything?” He asked then with a gesture of his chin towards the island as he took a few more steps closer to shore, maintaining the respectful distance between them.

lucien hanover

"Not so much a fan as how it takes a long time for my mane t' dry." Gaze would flicker from the lion to the horizon, watchin' it briefly before attention was refocused back onto the not so stranger anymore. At least he knew his name now. The name would be attached to Marius' appearance, tucked away in the dun man's memory for later use if he ever needed it. And hearin' that the other didn't know where they were at either would cause for a frown of sorts to form on his lips. Marius would then question if Lucien himself knew anythin' about the lands, and with a shake of his head would he let his rear to fall to sit on sandy earth, watchin' as the other closed the distance between them but kept just enough to be deemed comfortable.

"I don't, partner. It seems like nobody knows nothin' and that we all were herded here by fate or some nonsense." Lucien couldn't exactly pinpoint just why he traveled to this land; something in his mind just told him to go and led him blindly here. But that was the extent of what he knew. "I do remember somethin' comin' to me in my brain or somethin'. Like a voice or a feelin'..." Sayin' it out loud made him feel like he was damn near crazy, and maybe this lion would think he was, too. He wouldn't blame him one bit.

"SPEECH."

table by ferus, art by driftyworks

An amused rumble emanated from his chest at the dun lion’s words; it was a relatable condition. Even now the two-toned tresses of obsidian and maroon were heavy with seawater and clung wetly to his skin. Marius shook his neck and shoulders, flinging a bulk of the weight off of him, but it would take time for it to dry. His wine-red eyes lifted back to the dun, glinting with satire, his mouth twitching with the same sentiment. “You may have a point,” He conceded, stepping further from the waves that still swept around his ankles. The light mood was fleeting with the others next words, and the heavy frown returned to his striped expression. The Pastor was deeply irritated with the whole situation, and the Hanover did not seem perfectly content with it either. Marius grunted at the other’s choice of the word ‘fate’, but considered his next words thoughtfully. “As did I,” He admitted slowly, knowing that he would sound just as insane, despite their experience being shared. “From those I’ve spoken to, it seems our best course of action is to wait it out.” He admitted after a moment, his baritone betraying the not-so-subtle frustration he had with that plan. But, Marius was not in a place to challenge a Deity or their whims so here they were.

lucien hanover

He wasn't alone in how he had gotten here, and Lucien thought that findin' this out would make him feel a little better. But instead it made him feel more on edge and uneasy. What was it that gathered them all here? Not knowin' the answer was startin' to make him mad, and he was sure he wouldn't find the real answers for a long while, if he ever found them at all. So, instead of lettin' his mind linger on these facts and all the unanswered questions, Lucien would instead decide to push them all aside and to focus on what was happenin' in the now, and right now that was conversin' with this other lion.

"So, Marius, have ya' explored any of the areas unoccupied by this fog?" The fog. That was another thing that boggled his brain, another unanswered question. He'd only been to one other place than the beach so far, and that was a chamber of sorts where he met a lioness. So maybe the black coated lion had taken to explorin' more than Lucien himself did and could give him a little insight to what he had seen or what the dun lion should expect.

"SPEECH."

table by ferus, art by driftyworks

Marius was glad for the bright winter sun that stretched its clear light over the sandbar, it made for an easy time getting dry, which meant his focus was primarily on the dun lion and their surprisingly pleasant conversation. Even considering his simmering frustration with the unknown Deity summoning him and others to their lands only to bar them at the door, Marius found that he was still able to enjoy this conversation with the Hanover, stranded as they were on this dubious stretch of sand. Perhaps it was their shared experience, or maybe it was the earlier exercise, but whatever it was, it worked. The dark lion shook his head at the others question, red eyes settling on the others diamond-marked façade. “Other than this sandbar? No, unless you're meaning the mainland.” A droll grin and a half-shrug of his shoulders accompanied his words before the Pastor grew curious of what inspired the others question. Were their parts of the island continent other than this sandbar that they were able to visit? The Pastor had been decidedly unsuccessful with his own attempts to pierce the fog, but maybe the Hanover had a different experience. “What about you?” He returned the question evenly, genuinely curious but careful not to be overly optimistic that the dun lion would be able to provide any new information. @Lucien

lucien hanover

So Marius hadn't ventured further from the sandy terrain yet. A nod would be given to him whenever he asked if Lucien had been anywhere other than where they were at now. "I found a chamber system of sorts when the fog lifted. I think there's other areas that can be explored now, too." It would forever be confusin' to him with how the fog worked. It was as if somethin' was controllin' it and decidin' when to clear up and in specific parts of these lands. It was an anomaly he knew he'd never understand, and at this point he was givin' up in even tryin' to understand any part of this. It was all some greater plan and that was good enough to him now.

"Is it just you here, Marius?" Perhaps the black lion was a loner like he was, driftin' here like a tumbleweed. Lucien's mind would slip into his past, rememberin' what he had left behind and who left him. 'Oh, Anabelle...' The dun lion knew she deserved better and he couldn't hold it against her that she wanted more from a mate than what he had to offer her. Clouded golden eyes would blink several times, riddin' him of his rather depressive memories and instead bringin' him back to the present.

"SPEECH."

table by ferus, art by driftyworks