[Sincate]

After all this time, Sincate still knew the way to the ocean. They would forever remember the scent of salt and stale seaweed that lined the ends of the world. The call of gulls and humid temperatures indicated they were close, the red Sabora glancing behind to see their trailing entourage. Long ago, Sincate had been the one following the Peregrine, learning the art of negotiation and having the experience of travel. Now it was them who was leading the small group and they would have to put their unused skills to the test. Learning was still a process, but at least if anything went wrong, the three behind them would cushion as protection.

Feeling that they were now in the right place, the Sabora paused in their tracks, moving their head about to view their surroundings. Tortuga had been their friend in the past, but now that Saboro had fallen and been resurrected by a new King and Queen, Sincate felt it necessary to re-establish a connection. They were a clean slate after all, they needed to start over and old friends were in their best interests. The Sabora did not remember much of the place since they last visited, just that the ocean was such an unfamiliar force that fascinated them. "Stay close, stay alert." they said to the group. Sincate knew not what was to be expected, therefore wanted to be cautious.

Raising their head, they howled to indicate there were visitors. It was then a waiting game to play and the Sabora sat down and quietly watched for a welcoming party.

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Please let Waka, Hayley and Akante post first!

[Sica]

The shadow girl emerged from the depths of Saboro's new lands just in time to join the venture out to foreign lands. Never had she anticipated such an exciting opportunity, but at the same time it struck a nerve of anxiety. It was true that some of her family - her siblings in particular - had simply vanished. Which meant there was a possibility they were roaming in these unclaimed lands, lurking in shadows of their own. Would they strike upon their own kin, if their paths ended up crossing? Would they even step out from the darkness, to give their sister the relief of knowing they still lived? Or was it hopeless thinking, as their corpses rotted somewhere unknown and unseen, lost to the ages and doomed to become nothing more than empty skeletons? Shaking her head of those bitter, dark thoughts, the Slab kept close in line between her Sabora and the two she'd chosen to join as well. Being the lowest ranking of the party, she felt it best to keep in tow and do whatever it took to impress her superiors. There was no room for error, especially not on a diplomatic mission. As the air became saturated, the winds became more steady and strong, the skies grew thick with color and emotion. They were in an entirely different land, now. The clouds moved so quickly, taking new shapes and forms every passing minute. The bird calls changed, and in the far distance she could hear the stirring whispers of what she could only imagine to be water. And lots of it. Soon they emerged over a clearing of dunes, the tall grasses making way for sands that changed to red as their steps disturbed the surfaces. It caught the girl offguard and she had to consciously regather her thoughts as the group came to a halt. In the near distance, a land bridge emerged from the ocean shore, leading upwards and twisting lightly here or there to a magnificent set of islands. Islands that bore jungles much like their old home. It struck a nerve, a pang of homesickness waved through Sica. As her Sabora uttered commands, she briskly nodded and stood at attention, doing her best to keep alert to their surroundings. Foreign lands brought shadows from all directions. And all could be dangerous.

text: #a11312

[Hidalgo]

#cd853f
I have a simple plan if you could all meet my demands
I can't wait for this forever
I can't believe my eyes you make me sick

An outing really allowed one to soak up and enjoy the air of freedom, being far from home gave it an even sweeter edge. Hidalgo had taken being a free bird for granted and she felt it now, but whatever her breed was, it flourished better in a pack. Picking off from others like some parasitic symbiont.  

She traded cold, harsh winds for a relatively tropical breeze and the smell of salt water. Amber eyes bouncing from the land bridge and the ocean waves that crashed against its sides. Her attention would drift toward the sea, the horizon where large waves formed and curled violently in on themselves, rolling to shore like wild horses.

The blue sentry had been uncharacteristically quiet, shifting slightly as their Sabora spoke to them, a notched ear would twitch and she gave a nod. That classic smirk curling, jagged, almost menacingly upon her lips. A smile only a mother could love. She would hardly bat an eye at the other two that accompanied their Queen. It was a 'be on your best behavior' kind of moment, but you better believe when they returned, Hidalgo would find them and pick their brains for any sort of emotion.

There wasn't much she knew about this mission, even less that she knew of Saboro and it's past allies. Apparently one resided here and the Sabora was gonna sweet talk a little deal and they'd be friends again or something like that. To be fair, politics were incredibly dull, but an opportunity to prove her loyalties meant all the more. Putting herself out there wasn't necessarily hard, but timing was everything. Prove yourself early and often, it was the best strategy.

[Dixie]

    The more days that went by, the more she started to feel at home. Some kind of peace was starting to come over her. Dixie found herself taking her time off to sniff around the borders, being and the borders were giant bodies of water. The watchmen probably had an easier job, seeing as it would probably be rare for anyone to come to Tortuga any other way except the land bridge. It had been a score on Tortuga’s part to find this island, and Dixie was trying to let herself relax with it. In the present day, she wasn’t entirely sure what ranks she still held, and where she was suppose to be. But she knew how to do the jobs she had (present tense and past tense), so when the howl went up by the land bridge, she found herself automatically going towards it.

    From the distance of the island, she could peer around the bushes and trees to the strangers that had called. It was a group, and that usually meant that she could be present, as an ambassador (or former? She wasn’t sure). Dixie gave a few quick licks to her chest, and then started to make her way down towards the group. There was little fear coming from the dog as she went alone towards a group of wolves. Tortuga was always fast on their feet if someone decided to attack. Plus, she felt she could take someone as well. The dog gave a warm smile to them all as she finished the last few yards, tail almost curled over her back. As she stopped before them, she took a whiff of their scent, recognizing it swiftly. Saboro had been at the bonfire her daughter had perished in. She tried not to let her sudden sadness show, but it was clear on her face. She tried to keep a smile up.

    “Saboro, huh? Been a while. We’ve had leadership change since y’all last visited. Here to renew alliance terms?” She wasn’t really sure if they had somehow heard of Tortuga’s move and leadership change, but it was best to get that on the table from the start. They were no longer dealing with Rita or Raikov, but now a three leader group that consisted of a stranger, Rita’s brother, and Rita’s grandchild. She wondered what they would think of the new leaders, but didn’t let it on that there were some disagreements in the pack. “When others come here, we can move further inland so we can all sit down and chat, unless y’all just want to make it quick and leave.” Dixie was not going to bring these Saborans inside the pack on her own. Maybe one of the leaders would show up - they had a thing for doing that. Either way, Dixie tried to be a welcoming face.

[Desdemona]

DESDEMONA

The Captain had been swimming with rolling waves when the call echoed across Tortuga's lands. In that moment, Desdemona knew. It was only a matter of time — the darkling princess knew that the scarlet kingdom would come to her borders one day. She had spent nights wondering if any familiar faces would be waiting at the Crossbones Pass. A sibling? A cousin? A parent (Tongue had swiped across white teeth in interest at the thought — the image of matching sea foam eyes flaring in confusion and recognition and betrayal), but Desdemona never spent too long dwelling in thoughts of what ifs.

Resentment and swirling smugness shelved cleanly away, there was no place for it here — she was not them (yet they rattled in her chest with every step, anticipation clawing for escape that she would not grant).

With saltwater dripping from her dark speckled coat, Desdemona approached the small gathering forming at the Crossbones Pass. She moved to stand beside the golden and teal dog — Dixie she reminded herself as she flicked her tail to brush against the other woman's hip in greeting before finally taking a moment to examine the Saborans. They were unfamiliar (disappointment and fury threatened to rise, she stamped it down with a shark toothed smile). Sea foam eyes drifted from the pretty blue one with golden eyes, to the woman in shades of gray and brown, then finally to the one kissed by rose hues and that telling scarlet upon their cheeks.

Had Sol Katti produced more whelps? Had the Sabora finally borne an heir she was satisfied with? Something cold settled in her chest, but the Captain dismissed it with a flick of her feathery ears.

"Greetings, old friends. I am Captain Desdemona, one of three leaders here." Her name had always been lost to them, a darkling princess who had been lost among the faces of many. But now — now she was Captain. A ruler. A queen — what she was always meant to be and they will not soon forget it.

"You must be tired from your journey, come further inland and we may talk over a meal. There is much to catch up on, I'm sure."

[Zander]

✦

He had hoped he would have found his mate by now. Either before they left, or on the way... or when they arrived in their new lands. But Kai was no where to be found, and Zander had to move on, didn't he? Maybe he should have left like some others had. Instead he was stuck with the very wolves who dragged him inside to start with. Well.. Not these very ones. But their ilk. It was a fools hope. Or he was a food to hope. What was there left to do?

Join them.

Maybe make himself useful?

So he, a nobody, volunteered to visit and rekindle old alliances? He wasn't sure of how he could help, but he was an extra body with a badge of tentative loyalty. Sincate didn't seem so bad. They had yet to bare teeth at him, so that was a good start. Zander set his expectation bar pretty low.

Kept him sane.
And maybe alive too.

Stay close, and stay alert, they said, and so the spotted wolf would do so. They were all here to protect the Sabora? Ah... fuck well... he hoped he wouldn't have to put himself between them and a set of sharp pearly whites so early. But he was alert.

A blue eared... canine and a speckled one approached eventually. One labelling herself as "Captain", oh good. They can all get along with their meeting, and they could all go home. But Zander had to admit the scent of the ocean and the warm air was a very nice change. Although, this wasn't home -- to which he noted the slight want to be back within Saboro's boarders. Strange. It never felt like home.

If eyes wandered his way, he'd dip his head politely, deferring to the Sabora to speak, even though he'd like food and a sit down very much, thanks.

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ooc notes: Its me, Raining, filling in for Hayley with Zander.

[Sincate]

The first to greet them seemed almost familiar, as if they have met this dog before. Perhaps in the past when Sincate attended the Tortugan gathering when they had been invited. It was when the Sabora was a lot younger and under the wing of the missing Peregrine. They shrugged the feeling off their shoulders, shivering in the coastal winds, though as they greeted the small group, the stranger knew of Saboro and what they were doing here. Sincate nodded. "We are." they said, admiring how observant this one was. Red eyes glanced to the other three that accompanied them, and shook their head slightly. "If it isn't too much trouble, we have traveled far. A rest would be most wise."

At least they didn't need to wait long until a dappled stranger approached them, fur damp as if she had been swimming. Sincate wondered how it felt to swim among monsters in the vastness of the sea. This one also pinged a familiarity within Sincate, but again, they would shrug it off. It wasn't important despite the uncanny appearance to some of the Saboran family. "Hello, Captain. I'm Sincate, Sabora of Saboro. We've come to perhaps initiate a new alliance since we have undergone some changes..." they said and glanced to the other three.

Indeed they have journeyed far and were tired. The invitation inside was a relief and the queen nodded to the other. "Indeed, thank you." They would then nod to the others to join as the Sabora followed the two inside Tortuga's territory.

Once they were in a more comfortable setting, the Sabora dropped their guard just a little, but still kept their attention to the dappled Captain. They wondered if Tortuga had gone just as many changes as Saboro, if they had trying times as well. "Apologies for the curiosity, Captain, but may I ask what happened to the previous one?" If they remembered correctly, the previous Captain had a coat of blue and was rather decorated. Sincate had never personally met Brielle or Raikov, but they remembered it was not a girl adorned in gold with the eyes of previous queens.

Seems they had more in common than they realized.

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[waka]

whomst post is it??
(soft bump)

[Gothy]

should be akante