He had met another Black. One that he was not familiar with but would now be close with due to @Recluse being second in command beneath Envy. There was also his wife, @Lotus whom he had been reunited with. He had joined (still processing that) her in the hollow's but now he needed to see if there were other's. The summer was at its peak now and it bothered his coat which is why he would travel to the Hot Springs during the night, letting his wife know of his departure and why he was going. It was time to have a meeting, to see how many Black's had in fact returned to Amaryllis.

Once he was back in the Springs, he would sit near an entrance to a tunnel and make a call that would be loud enough for any Black that was around. Envy was curious to know who was back. If any of his own littermates were back in Amaryllis, other than Lotus. Only time would tell.

image by moogle/code by saph

Was this the place she was meant to be? Opium had been spending the majority of her time in this cold expanse, as it offered a great deal of relief from the harsh sun. At times she envied lions with short fur, who could more easily endure hot climates absent complaint. Would one rather be cold or hot? That was the question she supposed, also taking into account the softness factor.

Curled ears had heard the call, one that may or may not be intended for her. She had never met Envy, so did not find his call familiar. Instinct pressed her to find the summoner, both curious and eager to be among kin after a few days apart from most of them. As she drew near, she began to pick up the subtle musk the male carried, one that was very familiar to her, one that brought her comfort where the unrelated might feel the opposite. "Greetings." She would offer as she sat down, gaze studying him curiously, further convinced now that they were related. "Opium Black.. I come to this land with my elder siblings." She hoped maybe @Envy had seen them around, if not, perhaps they would show up here.

art by moogle

Vain had been wandering though the lands of Amaryllis, hoping to find one of his four siblings somewhere across the vast expanse. So far, his efforts have been for naught. Where any normal lion might be fearful for his siblings' well being, (especially in light of the newly acquired knowledge of kidnappings in the area) Vain was surprisingly calm. They were Blacks. The Blacks were a strong and formidable family, and he was doubtful they would find trouble here. Strong and formidable, yes - and also intelligent. Too intelligent to get themselves killed.

He had been wandering through the colder climates when a call rang out. It was made with authority, and Vain felt curiosity once again take the reins. What might be going on now? As he finally made his arrival, Vain noticed a familiar face. There @Opium sat, making light conversation with an older stranger that smelled of most curiously of death. Yet another Black, and one he had not yet met? Vain knew that his family had had branches reaching Amaryllis, but admittedly he had not expected to see them.

With a gaze that lingered on the dark male slightly too long, Vain turned to face his adoptive sister. "Well, perhaps 'with' is a bit misleading." Vain chimed in. "Why is it no surprise I find you in the tundra, sister?" He cooed with an amused half smirk, the expression barely noticeable upon his lips as he looked down his nose at the young female with subtle endearment.
@Envy

image by moogle/code by saph

Recluse would make his way towards the gathering of kin, having anticipated such a call for a while now. He was not sure what all he would find there, as those of his line had long since become scattered and lost, their empire crumbled into smaller and smaller pieces. It was a terrible shame, but once they reached the bottom there was nowhere else to go but up. Recluse intended to make strides forward, perhaps leaving behind a legacy all his own.

He would arrive and make a quiet entrance, eyes moving from the two males, both of which he had met, to a female he hadn't. He would not stare overlong, as to be thought rude. He was merely noting her genetic makeup. Curled ears, sharp and contrasting black and white against soft and appealing pinks and lilacs.

Settling into a sitting position a couple of lions lengths from the other two, facing towards @Envy, he would wait. There was a mild irritation at the lack of @Archaic and @Poltergeist among the gathered, having thought the pair would have already begun establishing themselves by now. The lack of one of the siblings, in particular, felt wrong. Poltergeist had been as a shadow to Recluse in the past and it was hard not to notice his absence at all times of the day._{BG — ART — CODE}

There is no haste to be found in her forward steps. Each paw casually, yet strategically placed upon the soils. Each daunting step would bring the living carcass closer to whoever had called out. A ring meant for only the ears of the cursed Black. A name she held on her crown and in her heart of decay.

The she-beast had traveled with her siblings yet each had departed ways once inside. It would seem, their paths would cross again before Ruin had expected. Not that it was a bother. No, it excited her to lay greedy eyes on the flesh of her kin. To soak in the blood of her own kind- even if only figuratively.

The cold outer land was nothing to deter her from arriving at the springs. A tunnel soon loomed ahead, along with the bodies of what she assumed her family. Only two were obviously so- a brother and a sister that were beckoned. It is to their side, in pondering silence, that her limbs would lead. With nothing more than a smile upon coy lips, she would take her seat to await what had to be said.
talk

_CODE

Sleuth EXP +5 Practice hiding your scent (1/2) +5 Practice covering your tracks (1/2) +5 Study the landscape of an area (1/2) Her uncle had told her of this place in the snowy region some time ago, back before she had wandered off from her shrunken family in search of herself. It had been over a year since then, and realistically a parent might think their daughter died after being missing for that long. She had been a child then, small and weak and an easy target for other predators or lions. She had defied the odds though, in part due to her intelligence and perhaps also her gift of venom. She would know his call anywhere, carried over the mountains and beyond the terrain so frequently carpeted with snow. She would feel compelled by it, drawn like a moth to a flame. She was still a Black through and through, and loyalty to kin was a significant thing to them. While she was not sure the state in which the Black home was in, she remembered Sloth's advice for keeping it safe. First, cover the scent to make it harder for someone to follow their nose. A quick brushing up against some wilting flowers should do. Second, don't leave a trail for eyes to follow. It would be difficult not to leave tracks where there was snow. The most she could do for that was try to step in it as little as possible. When it couldn't be helped, she might drag her feet in a manner that made it impossible to know for sure what creature had left the tracks. Gaze would admire the surroundings, finding particular interest in the steam rising from the pools dotting the mountainside. She would come to sit apart from the strangers that had come, eyes of silver fixated only on @Envy. Would he be happy to see her? Would he feel anger in her having disappeared? She would have liked to greet him more fondly, but she would wait to see his reaction to her before she would draw closer.

code an art by cloudy

Behind many others of the family name he came to peer upon those gathered. Slit pupils discovered a familiar form - the female from the woods whom he hadn't known had been related to the Black family or not. Indeed, it would seem they were tied into the family in some way, though deviated slightly with curled ears, unlike his brothers. Curious how the genetics took shape among others, though always evident as part of the Black bloodline from certain characteristics.

Among the familial members gathered also stood his star-strewn brother Recluse. Slow to slip between those already gathered he would come to stand beside his brother, head tilted down in a silent greeting. Near-immediate recognition of Poltergeist's absence would consume him for a minute. They must all be present as show of loyal faith to the Black family name. Brother, he rumbled quietly, not as fond of Recluse as he was of Poltergeist. Less apt to share than his star-strewn brother, he wanted only to consume what was his without fear of Recluse touching it.

image by moogle/code by saph

Lurking eyes scanned the spring's lands, hiding, sneaking like a shadow. He felt hungry but not for what one would guess. He was hungry for somone, eyes thirsty, begging for seeing them again. Oh the Recluse, the brother he always saw as the sun itself, the walking jewelry, the king of his existence. It always came to a worship level, seeing him as even more valuable than his own life and even more the lives of others. Tongue going through his lips, predatory expression finding the price, the owner of his dreams, of his breath.

Sadly he wasnt alone, being actually surrounded by a crowd, he felt his expression turn in a frown. Forced to sit not as close as he would like. Sending a challenging expression to the others. No words as he was sure that at this stage they would be poison. @Recluse @Vain @Ruin @Envy @Opium @Asylum @Archaic

CODE / ART

ASSASSIN :
+5 Practice covering your scent

Lotus was late, very late and she knew it. But she had things to do that kept her from being quick to be here. She had responsibilities to tend to and she made her bets to have them done before even thinking in being here. She saw @Envy between the gathered many strangers but family. Family she had seen but names weren't poking out. But she didn't came here without proper caution. Hiding her scent with snow and dust. She didn't want someone to follow them as this was just got the Black no one else. But wanting to be on the low today she would attempt to hide. Unaware of her daughter.

Hiding roll: 1(can't be found) 2(can be found)

Rolling 1d2: 1

code by Cloudy | Art by Cloudy

The first to arrive was one that reminded him of Recluse but did not share the many traits his cousin had. Instead she shared some of his and it interested him. Ears twisting as he would hear her words and dip his head towards her. Welcome home, @Opium, I am Envy Black. Did he ask how she was related to him? Nope, Envy didn't care how they related, but knew that they were. That was all that mattered to the Patriarch as he looked at her with curious jewels. She was a gorgeous thing.

However, his thoughts were broken up when another arrived. @Vain arrived and spoke to the woman as sister and that was enough to let Envy know they were related. The male didn't speak to Envy and that didn't bother the Black beast at all. They would all eventually know who he was in due time. So when @Recluse arrived, Envy would just dip his head towards his second in command before waiting for other's while listening to what they spoke.

Soon, more arrived. @Ruin, someone he was unfamiliar with yet again but knew of them. But it was the figure of his daughter - @Asylum - that caught his attention. She stayed back and watched him, where as he motioned for her to come closer so that he could great her as a father would to a prized child. She was the perfect being in his jewels outside of @Lotus. Speaking of which, silver jewels looked around for his wife as she was not here yet and that was worrisome to the Patriarch. But when the last two seemed to arrive, Envy would settle his gaze on them all.

Let's begin. He would state, now that they were all settled in the tunnels near the Hot springs. Many of you may have heard of me, not that I give a damn about the rumors, but I am Envy Black; your Patriarch. I'm pleased to see so many Black's here. And no Grays which only proved to him that the Black's were the more dominant of this family. Pleased with that fact very well. I want to know what each of your specialties are, and we can go from there. Envy would state, watching each one closely.

@Archaic @Poltergeist

image by moogle/code by saph