runaway /

[Sirona]

She has never seen the ocean, having long inhabited landlocked territories, dwelling in arid desert or humid forestry. And though it is a great unknown, Sirona welcomes it all the same. Large paws leave deft tracks in the sand as she meanders through the dunes, dark orange gaze centred on the vast distance that lay before her. There had to be more to the world than where she lived, that much Sirona had known from the very beginning. Still, to have her mindless thoughts confirmed is daunting - she is but a speck on this world. For days, she has travelled alone - leaving her previous home after political unrest, eager to find somewhere new to settle. After having found some drinking water and a place to rest her head for a couple of hours, the white figurine decides that it's time to determine if this would be her next home.

Already, she is intrigued by its contents - winter reminds her of its recent visit with a crisp wind that ruffles through her coat, a small shiver creeping down delicate spine. Admittedly, the place is growing on her - little by little, she finds that it holds its own charm. Perhaps the only criticism that Sirona may have is that it is miserably quiet, as if like herself, there were others migrating to this unchartered territory. Slowly but surely. With a small huff, she seats herself primly on the dunes overlooking the crashing waves, ears flickering with each passing wave, curiously studying how the tide would take itself back out.

[Gabriel]

It was the huff that drew Gabriel's attention. He had been lumbering along the shores with deep craters left behind from where each of his paws pressed into the clay-like moistened sands, an imprint of proof that the black lion had trodden that path on that day. He cast his rosey gaze in the direction from whence the sound came, quirking one silvered brow above the other at the sight of a white lioness. Companions had been few and far between as of later and, as much as Gabriel adored his solitude, he found his mind whirring with unanswered questions about any of the locals he might encounter. She would serve as the subject of his curiosities for that day.

"Who are you?" The lion called out to her in inquiring tones. There was no hiding the glint of wonder in his gaze as he continued trying to approach the figure slowly, wary as to any sudden movements that might follow an introduction. She seemed large for a lioness, but Gabriel was always generous when sizing up his own strength. He thought he could take her easily.

"speech"

Sirona

[Sirona]

Tail taps idly as Sirona wonders if there were others like herself that inhabited lands further away, the thought both exciting and frightening. She knows that she cannot loiter in these new lands for too long - she would perish if she does not find others to band together with. Though industrious, Sirona knew that she couldn't do this alone. She hears him long before she spies him, his scent obstructed by the strong smell of the ocean that lay before her. Head turns on tired shoulders as dark orange gaze spies her company, Sirona pleased that she wasn't alone after all. She takes a small moment to appraise the stranger, from the stripes that adorned his back and glint of magenta eyes striking against his monochromatic figure. Head tilts at his question, a small secretive smile forming in the corner of her leather lips as responds in deliberate tones, "Who would you like?" He doesn't seem to be posing a threat to her safety but one never knew - to remain vague and play a game was one of Sirona's favourite hobbies. But that in itself could often be rather risky.

Gabriel