S Y L R O R I S

Walk north and do not stop walking. Not for anyone or anything, my dear. Do not stop until you reach Amaryllis.

Amaryllis. A world of its own, nestled on an island far, far away. Her mother had told her over and over as a child, burning it into her conscious. For so long, in fact, that she wondered if it were even a real place. They'd been traveling toward it since she could remember; running from a past that her mother would not trust her to know. It must've been something damning, because her mother was constantly looking over her shoulder in fear of consequences catching up to them. It would be a question that would forever gnaw at her: what had mother done? A question that would likely never be answered.

The urgency that her mother had instilled in her had slowed down considerably. The young lioness was almost going at snail pace when her senses suddenly burst to a realization. Hard ground had turned to sand and she'd been slinking along a sandbar. Pale coral eyes shot up, squinting immediately against the aggressive sun. Ahead of her she could see mountains, a cove, some desert, and (very distant) even the faint blur of a jungle forest. Most importantly, the coast did not continue outward but instead curved as if it were an island. Could it be?

With a deep inhale, Sylroris kicked into a sprint as much as she could manage with the loose sands. Emotions welled up from the months of traveling alone; the possibility of finding the place she'd been charged to find ever since she learned to speak. She fought the urge to allow the tears to flow - not yet. She didn't even know if this was Amaryllis. Her paws drew her closer and closer, closing the gap as the mountains grew taller and taller. Before she knew it, the mountains were mountain-sized and she was surrounded with everything her mother had described. But was it truly Amaryllis? She couldn't help it anymore; she fell to her stomach, emotions spilling out as she sobbed violently. She missed her mother, and the company of another. It had been a very lonely three months journey here, with not a soul in sight. But here she was, finally with a change of scenery, and - what's that? The stone colored yearling picked her head up, realizing she smelled someone else here.

coded by flea

glass walls and waterfalls

our bones may turn to stone, our hearts won't rust

❧
Patrols were becoming more of a frequent time passing activity for her. Winter clambered over Amaryllis with a wicked bite, but Vitala was loving every second of it. After the countless events that had transpired over a short amount of time it had felt nice to get away from it all for a moment. To return to where it had all begun for her.

She walked the sun-baked sands, bitter winds whipping her cheeks, as she reflected on the day she arrived with her brother in tow. The day she was finally reunited with her beloved sister and their litter was whole again for the first time.. well, ever. A soft smile curled up on her lips as she thought about it, but it faded quickly. Cairidan hadn't turned up in quite some time, finding herself worried about his well being yet again.

Just as she was beginning to unravel all of her feelings about her missing brother she could hear crying in the distance and directed her gaze to search for the source. It took some horizon scanning until she locked a scarlet gaze onto the form of a young girl. She was sandy in colour, almost blending in with the area entirely.

The grey cat moved her direction, keeping a thoughtful distance from her and lowering her head a little. "Are you okay?" She asked softly, her brows knit together with concern, but her expression remained kind. "Are you hurt?" She didn't appear to be, but she would wait and let the girl answer for herself.

@Sylroris

S Y L R O R I S

Teary eyes blinked against the treacherous sun, refusing to allow her to view the lioness before her. The yearling picked herself up, sand clinging to her, and she stepped to the side so that the sun was hidden behind one of the mountains. The woman was older, around her mother's age, but certainly not elderly. If her soft voice did not betray her looks, Sylroris would be intimitated. Not to say she thought she could take on a presumably experienced lion, but she did not think she was in danger at the moment. With the question asked, her lip quivered in sorrow - but the young lioness quickly stopped it.

She tucked her head close to her right shoulder, sniffling and gathering her emotions. "No. I'm fine." She didn't want to sob in front of a stranger; and even so, she still didn't know where she was. "Where am I? What is the name of this place?" Syl looked back toward the stranger, almost desperate for an answer. In her chest her heart tightened and her breath caught, awaiting the answer. What would she do if this wasn't the place? Her mother told her to walk in the one direction, and she had. But what if she'd made a mistake somewhere?


@Vitala

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"Amaryllis.." Came the gentle tone as Jewel approached the pair. Her lips spread into a warm smile as she gave a nod towards @Vitala and @Sylroris. "You've stumbled into an island of eight prides, my friend.." Her tails coiled near her hips as she settled to her haunches, watching the Scillan representative with curiosity before her singular cerulean eye returned to the rogue between them.

"I'm Jewel Khulani - Queen of a pride well to the north of here.." She said by way of introduction. Having been out of the 'ruling' loop for sometime, she was unaware who now ruled the Lagoon, but the familiar scent was carried thickly on Vitala's pelt and it made her melencholic for the sands of the Cove.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

YOU LEFT ME LIVING WITH A LINGERING SOUL

She felt relieved when the young girl dismissed any concerns for injury. Vitala leaned back to rest on her haunches to give her yet another display of neutrality; aiming to bring the girl some peace. When the questions came forth, Vitala opened her mouth to give her an answer, but found that it was not her own voice that she produced. The question was answered for her, turning her head just over her left shoulder to find the lioness that called herself a queen; @Jewel.

Vitala observed her quietly for a moment, having the words taken from her and now finding a loss for them. The dark cat's scent was unfamiliar to her, likely one of the prides she had yet to learn more about. There were indeed eight and she'd hardly gathered information on half of them so far.

"She is correct," Vitala mused to @Sylroris, "You are in Amaryllis." The star-speckled girl coiled her tail around her paws, her shoulders relaxed. Her trip here was hardly born out of solely recruitment purposes, but figured she'd introduce herself as the other had.

"I'm Vitala. I live in a pride that resides in the lagoon just up the coast." Her eyes cast themselves over her again to really make sure she wasn't hurt and simply downplaying anything. Her paws looked worn, that she could see from where she sat. "You've been traveling a while," she observed aloud.

S Y L R O R I S

'Amaryllis.. You've stumbled into an island of eight pri....' The pounding of the yearling's heart drowned out the words spoken by the two lionesses in front of her. Relief washed over her like a wave; she'd finally made it after three long months of traveling. So then, why was she sobbing? Her shoulders quaked as the sobs slipped from her lips, though you could clearly hear her poor attempt at holding them in. For her entire life finding Amaryllis had been the main focus. It was all she knew. And now that she'd found it, what was she to do? She didn't have her mother to guide her anymore, and she was only a child after all.

After a few moments of grieving for the loss of her mother and the completion of her task, Sylroris remembered there were two lionesses expecting her to reply. The only problem was that she hadn't heard a thing they'd said after they'd told her she'd made it here. Still teary pink eyes gazed up at them, looking at both equally. "I-" Her lip quivered again, threatening to make her begin sobbing once more, but she cleared her throat and tried again. "I'm sorry, I don't know what to do now that I've found Amaryllis." Her brows trembled as she fought tears; now wasn't the time the to weep like a fool. She could do that later, when she was alone.


@Vitala @Jewel

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genya is carried to the group by the sounds of their voices. she's attentive to the needs of the rogue lion, who is just a girl, still young enough to be called a child. her ears cup forward as she slides beside @Vitala, a look of subdued concern on her face. you can do whatever you please the oasis queen says, softly. but know that if you need, our homes are here for you. i am genya, queen of the oasis. she hesitates to continue. the girl is emotional, perhaps over some loss or some other sort of sadness she may not know of. if there are no one here, genya would've strayed closer. but she's not a woman who gives out affections easily to strangers. and she suspects the girl may not want that either. time is dangerous here, i will vouch for all of us that we can keep you safe until you are ready to leave.

image by amphispiza, code by koi

The young girls upset pulled at Jewel's heartstrings and she shifted, wanting nothing more than to step forward and offer the comfort of a mother to the youth. Perhaps it wouldn't be her mother - but a mothers comfort nonetheless. Ears twisted as @Genya arrived and Jewel let her gaze wash over the dark pelted Oasis female before she returned her gaze to @Sylroris. "Three of the eight prides of Amaryllis are represented here. If you are searching for a home, any one of us is more than willing to offer you shelter, food, a safe, warm bed for the coming winter."

She spoke softly, her tone as gentle and kind as it had always been. "Each pride may have different rules - of course.. but many will offer the same things." She worried with her knowledge of the lands having dwindled if there were prides that were less inclined to invitation and more to enforcing rogues such as the yearling.

"The Mire has few rules of ill will that I enforce.. You have many freedoms to do as you wish, to grow as you desire.. and to learn under the safety of the pride to keep you from being claimed into a pride you don't want." She would let her gaze turn towards @Vitala as it would be her turn to speak.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

YOU LEFT ME LIVING WITH A LINGERING SOUL

She truly felt for the girl and her brows tucked together with concern and the desire to wrap her up and comfort her. Her shoulders - that she didn't realize were so tight - softened to match the scarlet gaze that looked upon the weary child.

A familiar figure slipped beside her, turning to find @Genya putting her own piece into the mix. Vitala started to empathize for the girl and worry that all of these strangers approaching her in her emotional state might add stress. Though, @Sylroris unknowingly was lucky it was these three women and not the more rough around the edges type that tend to lurk about the lands.

It made perfect sense that the sandy lioness couldn't find the right words as she processed something that was clearly so important to her. @Jewel spoke up and Vitala looked to her as she spoke, her softened expression still held as she idly nodded along with everything she said. The turn would finally land on the star-speckled woman, but she found herself stumbling in her thoughts as she wasn't sure what else she could add on now that these women have made it pretty clear that the three of them were here to help her and offer her safety and respite.

"Jewel and Genya speak truths," she confirmed, passing glances towards each of the dark pelted cats as she spoke clear and calmly, "We're here to help however we can. Either of us can take you home to rest and eat until you decide what you want to do." Vitala paused for a moment so as not to completely overload the girl with information. "The lagoon is well protected and we have lots of members your age." She added on, hoping to give anything that could bring her comfort.

S Y L R O R I S

Another lioness joined the small group, and now three stood before her. The yearling felt like she was on display, though she knew the women were only gathered here by her sobbing and wanted to help. The pain of grief gripped her insides tightly but Sylroris swallowed it deep down as best she could. She now focused on their words; not wanting to go into a fit of sorrow again. It was evident they all wanted her to pick a pride to join, in fear of being forced into one. She would admit only internally that danger hadn't crossed her mind. It had been just her and her mother her entire life, and though they'd had a few times where they'd have to run and hide from passing males, her safety had never really been threatened.

Pale coral eyes glued to the ladies as they each spoke their peace about their respecting prides. She couldn't pin point a reason why, but she felt drawn to Jewel. She took a hesitant step forward and attempted to speak confidently, though her voice was still shaky from her early sobs. "I think I want to go the Mire." She looked to the other lionesses, honestly grateful the three of them had approached her. "Thank you, truly."


@Vitala @Jewel @Genya

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