Pale hooves shuffled against the ground and she bumped her shoulder against his. "Want a travel buddy?" Things were always easier when you had someone to lean on.

Easier and more enjoyable. He seemed like the type of kin she'd enjoy.

@Prolixity

"I'd love a travel buddy," he grinned, returning the shoulder bump playfully. "Makes the distance go faster, and easier when your buddy's easy on the eyes." He flicked his ears amiably.

@Beejoux

Life merely over hears two of the others casually slinging woo at each other and titters softly to herself. Maybe this wouldn't be all serious and mortality threatening after all.

Death looks over to what Life is giggling about, smirks a little and chides her playfully.

"Shh..evesdropping is rude."

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... lahari.gif[/imgleft] Rhythm had been attending to a fallen kimeti doe when the eagle's cry had reached her. It was a matter of serendipity - she wasn't usually one to leave the caves for funeral rites, but the occasion had called for it and so she had gone, only to be distracted and intrigued by the call. Something within the far caves? It's intriguing, and she finds herself eventually drawn forth from the caves of the swamp to join what was bound to be far less easy than a journey within the caves, at least for her. She has the eyes to see, unlike some of her kind, but they're weak, easily pained even by the morning sun that's shining through the leaves of the tree she's tucked herself under for comfort. So many kimeti, creatures she was more used to seeing dead than alive, but she does manage to spot the sole other zikwa thus far in the crowd, and it eases her worries a little. They're all children of the swamp in the end, but it is nice to have another in the same place on the cycle here with her. While she makes no move to join them just yet, she does still keep an eye on them from her space under the tree. When the Totoma approaches (another creature she's more familiar with as lifeless than alive), she's dainty with the touch of her nose to theirs, dark eyes squinting in a vain attempt to make out more detail. Such murky colors are easy on her eyes, but they also blur together so easily...

"I hope it can be cloudy at least." Shade would make the journey much kinder, at least when it came to her poor eyesight.

Her chin tipped up, tail flicking at her back. "Good. It's settled then. You watch my back, and I'll watch yours."

She took a few steps back towards the gathered group, but glanced over her shoulder at him. "It's nice to meet you, Consume." This was going to be a fun journey.

@Prolixity

"Sounds good to me," he agreed. He followed when she moved back toward the group, casual enough. "A pleasure to meet you, Merry," he replied.

@Beejoux

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Every once in awhile, when the groves were peaceful, and her work was light, and her children were gone, Timorous got an urge to run. To travel, like she had once before when she was a much younger doe, before she had her children and her friends and her family all around her. It was an impossible thing - at first she was too timid to leave the safety of her groves, and even after growing bolder, the Ache would always stop her anyways.

But sometimes, she dreamed about being able to travel, to once again go somewhere else.

So when she heard the call of the eagle, felt the urge again to gather, to travel, she didn't hesitate. She made her plans carefully, entrusting her pets to her children, wishing them a quiet goodbye to her family as she left. She was afraid, of course - it was still hard for her at times to move from the home she had made in the swamp, and she was still wary of other kin. But more than anything, she felt that this was important, the right thing to do even.

So she left, and she now hovered on the edge of the group, unsure what to do. The greeting of the Totoma had eased her nerves somewhat, but she still was unfamiliar with talking to others at times, and she felt her inexperience now more than ever as she gazed at all the kin around her.

---

[imgright]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... erpies.gif[/imgright]Dusk Wave was having, yet again, a rather weird day. At the very least, it was of his own making this time.

He had always been a wanderer before the Cres, pulled by the whims of his own feet and then, after some time, his daughter as he had traveled around the swamp. Settling down had been an unusual yet almost gratifying feeling, having somewhere solid to put his roots. Yet when he had felt the call, the pull to adventure again, he hadn't hesitated - only making the barest measures to let someone know where he was going before he had followed it out.

He wasn't entirely sure why he had followed, besides the deep rooted feeling in his bones, the urge to travel again. He wasn't much of a help, or a conversationalist, or of any use to traveling party. He knew this, had always known this, and worked as hard as he could in other aspects to feel like he made his keep. This wasn't something to make light of, and he shouldn't have come, and yet here he stood. Greeted rather boldly by a Totoma, confused by his own stubbornness of coming, and overall feeling like this was perhaps another strange situation.

But, as he stared at the group, at least this time he knew someone there.

"You heard it too?" He said in lieu of greeting as he walked up to Fierce, glad to see the buck.

@kuropeco

Real Big Fish bounced through the gathering like an enormous puppy, greeting kin and stopping to nuzzle Oath every time she was close enough to do so. It was a true delight to see so many kin gathering; their curiosity and drive to know more about the world they shared created an infectious buzz of anticipation. She was especially delighted to see some familiar faces– there was Serpent of Paradise, who was often called Merry, and there was No Escape, who had both been on the trip to the mountains. There was a Kimeti from the Cres, one of the tribes she called family- though she didn't know him well. She would need to rectify that before they returned to the seaside.

An acha doe stood on the edge of the group, flowers crowning her head. Fish's firefly eyes focused on her for a moment. "Everything ok?" she said. "I'm Real Big Fish- let me know if there's anything I can do to make you feel more at ease!"
@peanutbutter

[imgleft]https://i.ibb.co/8BBpMpF/Odins-Ravens.png[/imgleft] Ah! There was the signal he'd been waiting for! How long had it been since he'd arrived at the swamp? A vagabond that had sought new adventure after spending a lifetime scouring the mountain range he'd been born to. He had left his home in the aftermath of a bloody war. The fractured obelisk made whole, but the land and spirits only beginning their own journeys towards recovery. While he had not bore himself to the front lines, All-father did not emerge unscathed either. When presented with the chance to leave the mountains and venture somewhere new there was no choice. New sights, new experiences, new knowledge. All of it was welcome to keep his mind turned forward so he'd never look back.

The swamp hadn't disappointed either. Something was happening. Something far bigger than what had gone down in the mountains so many seasons ago. Excitement thrilled in him as he turned and charged after the shape of the eagle above with a deep bellow. His own familiars, a pair of ravens near large enough to rival an eagle themselves, swooped overhead at his call, their croaking laughs mingling overhead. If they felt the call themselves All-Father didn't know but his excitement fed into them and cycled back amplified.

What drove the totoma was never very clear to them. What they did know, is that when the blood started to thunder in All-Father's ears, meals often became far easier to scavenge than when they hunted alone.

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]

Other kin mingled and flirted together the way they always did when there was some reason for them to gather. Will looked on indifferently, his passions all leaned in very different directions, and right now with such a strange herd, they were certainly enticed.

He moved oddly, sometimes skipping, sometimes stotting in a way that was reminicent of a cheery youngster, his ears inclined this way and that, smiling in a way that should have been disarming and amicable but for the injuries he bore. He knew he was an outsider, that was the story of his life, stalking the periphery of a group who seemed to recognise one another. There was a hideous kimeti with squirming tendrils looking at him and he stepped away from it to the other side of the gathering. He didn't recognise him, but he irritated him nonetheless.

All the while, he assessed their group for the weakest, for the flimsiest. Zikwa especially always had the look of spindly frailty that could be overwhelmed. He couldn't possibly strike against anyone here and now with a legendary watching over them, but he could schmooze, make friends and closely, closely observe.

[imgleft]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/ ... 61/AIR.png[/imgleft]Even if the trip hadn't come with the promise of an obelisk, Air would have joined the rest of the kin present for the journey regardless. What greater reward could there be than a sense of adventure? She had heard tales of the obelisks - dreamed of them herself but so far she had not seen them in person and although she was cautious and hesitant for what felt like the first time in her life she was still determined to see for herself.

Glancing around at the other attendees, the doe couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. It seemed most knew someone else or at the very least made friends easily. She shifted on her hooves, a slight frown creasing her brow. A soft coo came from her left where Ghost, her closest friend waited patiently by her side. He tilted his head to the side, their eyes locking for a moment before he gave her a nod - reassuring her as always.

Taking in a deep breath, Air set a look of determination on her face, though to any but her it looked like a child playing make believe.

Journey had already had one life experience that had shaken him to his core. The journey to the mountains had rattled his faith in himself and his purpose so greatly that he had spent the past few seasons soul-searching and wandering with frenzied steps.

His dreams had promised him the mountains but they had also promised him death, a worthy end to his ceaseless wanderings. And so he had followed his dreams, splattered the snow with his own blood and laid down, content with a purposeful death. But he had not died, instead he had picked himself and carried on, pushing his tired body up further upwards into the talons and wings of the great eagle.

And there, he ascended.

Only to return to earth and eventually the Swamp, treading old ground he knew too well, his skin marked by a wound that slowly healed into a scar. What use was there to him now? It haunted him, his near death. He was like a wraith, blown by the wind, seeking purpose. He had met others, some had tried to help him, offering a friendly smile. He’d run with the pack, curled up beside them and thought of nothing but the hunt. He had faced his own demons, caught between dream and reality. He had offered his services to those weaker, and helped the animals that could not help themselves.

He had followed the tar to the beach and watched and waited.

And finally another call had gone out.

This time a descent, deep beneath the earth where he hoped he would find what he was looking for. Journey nodded respectfully at their guide, his smile soft and thoughtful as he looked across the ever growing group. Another road of trials was about to begin and for the first time in a long time, he felt hope and purpose.

[imgleft]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/ ... owcrew.png[/imgleft]
Long ago, Vow had said that she would look after anyone in need. She would be strong and protect those around her. She had failed. And that wasn't even on a journey as arduous as this was shaping up to be. She had heard tales of the obelisks and the grueling paths to them. The fact that she heard the call and felt the pull to join this adventure herself now... was it a chance at redemption or just another descent into darkness and ruin? Would those she loved fall around her one by one, leaving her the last to - Defend hissed quietly and pushed up against Vow's side, bringing the totoma out of her spiraling thoughts. No, these were strangers. Was that better?

Looking around, it appeared that a lot of these kin might not be equipped for a long and rough journey. It seemed like she would have her work cut out for her here in keeping them safe. At least the head of the group that had greeted her had looked up to the task. Vow agreed with her, no one would get left behind on her watch. She shifted her posture, standing tall and making an effort to look confident despite the low trill of anxiety licking at her insides. For now, she would start towards the center and help anyone that needed it.

---

[imgright]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/ ... 6/Crim.png[/imgright]

Disturbing dreams were quite normal. Disturbing sounds and cries were also quite normal when you were the one ripping them from the mouths of others. But a hawk's cry? Oh, no that was different indeed. And the ensuing pull? Oh so curious. Obelisks had power, Crimson had heard. One could always use more power. She could stomach mingling among these little darlings if something good came of it for her.

And what little darlings they were, nervously squirming about the clearing like her dear little mosquitos when they were but little worms. Some looked rather hardy, others weak, and a few.. interesting. Oh what a joyous gathering of so many sweet creatures. Kin and familiars alike. Most of her own children were home. Bringing them here would cause quite a stir - and it wasn't time for a feast. No, not yet. But Scream was gurgling at her side while Horror buzzed above her. They were unused to being around so many tasty meals.

"We can behave, darlings," Crimson whispered to them with a smile. "Good things come to those who wait,"

She stayed back at the edges of the clearing, content to observe.

[imgright]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgright]

She knew nobody and therefore spoke to nobody, at least at first. When the totoma doe came near to her, Along the Breeze pulled her head away, both unwilling to be greeted in such a way by a stranger, and aghast at the concept of a familiarity she did not agree with. It felt somehow wrong to be here, with a group that she felt no connection to, but something about the gathering had pulled to her, in spite of all attempts at ignoring it. A part of her wished she had not been so heedful of the call; she would have much rather been back at the little home she had carved for herself out of a thatch of trees near the edge of the swamp, wildflowers growing at their roots.

But here she was, an outlier of kin who were all here for the same reason, or so Breeze supposed. She let her gaze roam, lingering on some more than others, and passing over them with an indifference of long years practiced. Eventually she came to the conclusion that it would do her little good to leave now, before they had even started; she would give it a chance, even if that chance was something she wasn't sure of (but wasn't that the entire point?).

Breeze's eyes found one of them, bouncing along the fringes, long ears protruding from a face that held too many sharp teeth for her liking. Still, she watched him for a moment, then said, a little boldly, "What brings you here? Looking for anything out of the ordinary on this little sojourn of ours?"

@Baneful

[imgleft]https://i.ibb.co/8BBpMpF/Odins-Ravens.png[/imgleft] All-Father slowed to a trot as he joined the trickling trail of kin converging at the edge of the swamp. Some he recognized from the trek up the mountain, though none he knew to familiarly. His experience with the shattered obelisk had not followed the same path many of the others had (and as such he'd missed much of the epic battle and resolution to his intense regret and dismay) This time would be different. As the doe who greeted him said, none would be left behind. He made that assurance to himself not with any meaning of comfort or safety, but with determination. It was time to set aside his role of observer and take up the mantle of action.

Above, Thoughts flew in low circles around the gathering. The scent of food was everywhere with the bundles of dried fish being passed about. It wouldn't be difficult to pick one off from an unobservant or slow kin. Time would tell which ones those were. Below, Desires had taken his own hunt to the ground. Calls back and forth between the pair guided him as he strutted and hopped between kin and pets alike, watching and waiting for a likely target. A curious scent broke through the clouds of smoked fish and drew his attention. It wasn't exactly 'fresher' but it smelled like a meal none the less. A soft qwark and the raven bounced up to I Always Come Back, yellow eyes taking in the kimeti that smelled like death but moved in ways dead things normally didn't.

@Baneful