"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
Kat waited for the mare to speak. She was not really looking forward to the next bit of conversation. This was when the recruiter tried to rope in the newbie. This was when the stallion made the mare feel special, or the young male feel important. Or if it was a rare female recruiter- the female flirted with the young stallion and made the other mare feel connect. Kat rolled her eyes at the thought. How ridiculous. She just knew that she had no interest in singing Kumbaya, or talking about "the sisterhood." Aoi spoke disrupting her thoughts, and to her surprise, the thin coated recruiter didn't go on some monologue. In fact she joked about prince charming- her sense of humor emerges as last. Kat smiled, pleased with this turn of events- she was ready to take her fancy glowing star and look else were. However, since Aoi had the sense to not be a prissy little thing, she figured she could travel and check it out. Kay nodded to the mare, and shrugged her shoulders "Sure, I've got nothing better to do, and I don't think I want to stay in this field into Spring- I heard too many stories as a hatchling. And fuck prince charming, I'm no damsel in distress. "
Kat laughed, and turned toward the Jungle, she might have been gone fore a while, but she knew the general direction they should go. Well, lets do this thing." Kat took off at a nice clip, she could tell Aoi was fit, so the pace shouldn't be a problem. Kat let Aoi take the lead, and for the most part kept to her self through the journey, allowing some memories to come back as she ran through Beqanna. Kat tried to be pleasant- but bubbly and friendly wasn't really her thing. Though if Aoi wanted to ask her a question she tried to answer it. After a bit of a journey they arrived at the jungle and slowed. Kat followed her companion's lead from here on out. She had to, she hadn't been inside the jungle before, and it was more difficult to navigate than anywhere else she had been. "No wonder you Amazons never leave this jungle, this is ridiculous!"
After a good workout weaving through the dense jungle, Kat was tired, her still shedding coat made her feel like she was in a hot box. Kat didn't complain, and she didn't slow down, she didn't ask to stop. She wasn't weak- a little sweat didn't bother her. When they came to some kind of clearing Kat was drenched. Kat huffed, trying to slow her breathing, " So what now Chiclet? What's the jungle got -other than a hot box? Though I must say it does wonders for my lean muscle mass." Kat laughed at the idea of caring if her muscle was was super lean. She was always moving and she was about as lean as she could be without being thin. By now she figured Aoi understood she was rather sarcastic. Kat didn't care if Aoi liked it or not, but she knew Aoi wasn't offended. Kat knew not to cross that line. So she waited to see what the jungle would reveal to her during this visit. Who knew, maybe she would end up liking the estrogen jungle that was the Amazons.
{ Kataclysm }
Me and God? We don't get along well.
Madie- I adjusted the timeline a little bit, it doesn't effect anything with the new thread other than catches us up with the current season.. i'll edit it back if you want though!
As a child, Aoi had wandered the jungle until she had become so lost that she might have never seen another sister again. She remembers nights spend in a cradle of roots on the forest floor - alone with the jungle sounds, and her own breathing. She might have been content to stay astray forever, had her young heart not ached silently for her mother. She remembers the relief upon hearing her mother's call after many days spent alone. She wishes she could hear it now, but the trills, and yowls from the jungle are lacking Cybele’s gentle voice. It has been years since the Jungle had last seen her.
Somehow it feels like years have past in the time that Aoi has been gone to the Field. She welcomes the feel of smothering heat upon flesh unmeant for the chill of winter. She doubts, after her time in the snow, that the prickled skin will ever smooth out. She had been thankful that Kat had been able, and willing to set a quick pace on their journey to the Jungle.
Thus far, the conversation between them has been minimal. Aoi spares few words, but offers a smile, or a laugh here and there at Kat’s sarcasm. Afterall, Aoi can appreciate some humor. They come to a clearing after having navigated through a barrier of thick vines, and tangled roots, and the Jungle itself seems to exhale with them.
“She is not for the faint of heart.” Aoi says in response to Kat’s comment about the Jungle being a hotbox. “ Don't worry,” she says, noting the frothy sweat that coats her companion “you get used to it.” Or so she has heard. Aoi has never known anything but the Jungle heat. “Come.”
She leads them to a water hole, hidden well within the depths of the Jungle. Sisters mingle - gossiping like hens. Aoi drinks, closing her eyes in bliss. She allows time for Kat to do the same before she speaks again.
“Are you familiar with the way Kingdom ranks work?” She asks. “I’d rather not bore you with things you may already know.” she says with a grin.
Kataclysm was sweating, and it didn’t seem to stop whether they paused, or moved, or talked or anything. She liked the place well enough but she wished she could adapt faster. It is really hard to focus when she could feel the sweat rolling down her sides, chest, and legs. She chuckled at Aoi’s retort about the jungle. And she repeated it in an affirmation, ”Not for the faint of heart indeed.” She followed the patched mare for a while, weaving through trees, and vines until they cleared and opened to a watering hole.
The black mare went and took a greedy drink, she may be fit but heat isn’t something she had conditioned for. Her dark features reflected off the cool water and she closed her eyes to shield herself from the reflection of her glowing star. Aoi finished first and asked her about ranks. Kat raised her head up and pinched her ears back. ”I know the gist of it….or more so I know how it worked just after the Valley War. So, my view may be skewed. Basically be useful, recruit and work to better your kingdom and you are rewarded with rank, that’s it right? Or if you were me as a kid- be born with fabulous gifts, and not just a light that comes out your head” Her voice grew bitter as she spoke. Kat cared not if her escort noticed; her history was nothing secret so she didn’t bother hiding her feelings about anything.
Kat fell silent she didn’t really know what to say. She was really good at existing on the outside, it was simple everyone was at an arms length. On the outside she could be crass, outspoken, and rather unlikeable and id didn’t matter. But now, she wasn’t on the outside, but she definitely wasn’t on the inside either. She knew that if she were to stay here she had to bend a little. The black mare doubted she would ever be a posh polished and polite sort, but she didn’t want to be the “only tolerated one.” She had been that one for so long as a child, but now she wanted more, but she didn’t know really how to be the friendly sort. How did one act when they wanted to exist inside?
{ Kataclysm }
Me and God? We don't get along well.
ooc: sorry for the wait! Kat muse is on short supply.
If it’s a snarky, cranky pissing contest that Kataclysm wants, Lagertha is happy to oblige. Just ask some of the other new recruits. She isn’t the touchy-feely, let’s all sing kumbaya and hold hands and talk about our emotions to fix all the problems type of Queen. The iron and steel mare doesn’t intend to be as cold as she often comes across, she simply doesn’t take the time to invest in others until they prove that they are willing to do some work instead of laze around. She fully understands that Kingdom life, and in particular, Amazonian life, is not for everyone. Some simply aren’t suited to fulfilling expectations. And that’s all Lagertha ever asks of her women: do something to benefit their home, and then they can do whatever the hell they want after that. Pop out kids like a madwoman, take a lesbian lover, cause panic and havoc in the rest of Beqanna. Whatever! Just fucking do something.
Lagertha comes upon the two mares quietly from the front, recognizing Aoi and offering a reserved smile. It is good to see her out and about. Her cool, gray gaze travels to the newcomer and she looks her up and down before speaking. “Gifts don’t matter unless you do something with them. I had none, and look at me now… Khaleesi.” And she could kill an opponent with a single, long brush against them if she wanted to. And you can be damn sure that she’s worked her ass off for that useful trick.
When the words had left her mouth, she froze, something had changed, there was a different feel to the air. A pulse, a current was the best way she could think of to explain it. The more she stood the more intense it got. It wasn't long until the source appeared through the dense trees. A dark gray mare, a ring of thorns around her hind leg, and an air of royalty about her. She was obviously the queen/ ruler/ supreme what-you- want-to-call-it. Kataclysm may have a glowing tiara of a marking,but it gave her no sense of empowerment. The black mare was prickly yes, but deep down she didn't wish to be. The daughter of Oswyn had basically been raised into this shell, hard and defensive after years of crap family moments.
When the ruling lady approached and spoke of not needing powers and of being Khaleesi Kat was a bit of agape. She lowered her head out of respect, she wasn't that haughty as to not show respect to someone higher in rank than her-- well to one that had done her no wrong. Upon rising her head the sleek queen had directed a question at her way. "I am Kataclysm. Trust me, I could care less about gifts. They have only ever brought me hell." She realized that her brain didn't filter her words well, she was obviously aware the audience she held, but old habits die hard. Sarcasm thick as molasses had left her lips before she even realized. Kat shifted her eyes down. left, and down again before lifting them again. Exhaling, she fortified herself for whatever may come. First impressions were not her strong suit. "Ugh, I'm sorry, you are not deserving of my bitterness. I meant no disrespect or whatever..."
The black mare slender mare danced the like between toughened hard-ass and self-chastised child. Two, almost three. She was young, but had been forced to grow up faster than most, and had to take a lot of responsibility too young due to her mother and her ridiculous obsession with traits and her brother. For now she had to try and let that go, try and show she could be a helpful body to have in the jungle- for now it was her best bet at a home.
She chuckles in the back of her throat; it is a low, but lighthearted sound. “None taken. I can appreciate bluntness and brimstone. Made of more than a little of it myself.” One corner of her mouth quirks upward in a slight grin. Anyone who really knows her would call it the truth. “I’m Lagertha.” She tilts her head a little, curious about the emotions that flitted across the black mare’s face, but resists the urge to ask about it. If it was important, it would come out in due time. She glances at Aoi, who has remained silent, and nods in thanks.
“I’ll be around if you have any questions.” And then she slips back into the Jungle, never one to linger on small talk.
[i kept this short and sweet cause of initiation. hope that's ok! ]
As a child, Aoi had wandered the jungle until she had become so lost that she might have never seen another sister again. She remembers nights spend in a cradle of roots on the forest floor - alone with the jungle sounds, and her own breathing. She might have been content to stay astray forever, had her young heart not ached silently for her mother. She remembers the relief upon hearing her mother's call after many days spent alone. She wishes she could hear it now, but the trills, and yowls from the jungle are lacking Cybele’s gentle voice. It has been years since the Jungle had last seen her. 
