[seasonal event] atlas hands

Instead of looking for Luxere, like she had been for what felt like forever, Rexanna had come prepared to hunt. She carried a bow with her and a small knife just in case, enveloped in her warm furs and bundles to keep her body warm and steps light as she traversed over the snow fallen Woodland. She wore a bit of a scarf to cover her nose and her mouth, though it also helped to keep her breath from pluming too much in front of her. And with the snow to her advantage, she began to search for tracks. She used what Alistair had taught her in regards to tracking. She could fire an arrow easily, but finding the creatures often proved more difficult for her. So she began her tracking, finding a set of smallish tracks. It appeared to her like some kind of squirrel, or smaller mammal. Definitely not a deer – the tracks and broken branches of size would indicate whether it was larger or not. And while Rexanna didn’t have a whole family to feed, she figured a squirrel or two would do the trick. Perhaps even a bird if she came up with nothing. Tightening her scarf around her mouth and nose, and gripping onto her bow she set off in the direction of the tracks through the woods. RexannA rebellion sits well on you; like a red coat, or the gilt gold burnish of youth.

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Rexanna wasn't the only one following the tracks. Given that both he and Vai had come to the conclusion that if they opened the Rathskeller up to lots of people it was likely that some would show up under-prepared, the alchemist had been trying to compensate for that in the few remaining days before LongNight was upon them. Though he loathed to be in the woods after all that had happened to him here, it was one of the best places to hunt. And so in the body of a lion, Remi prowled for meat. Scenting Rexanna on the light breeze, Remi began to follow her boot prints (coincidentally moving in the direction of the prey he'd been following anyhow). Without wanting to roar or announce his presence in a way which would scare off the prey they were hunting, Remi instead merely let his footfalls grow slightly heavier as he tracked behind her. Though he couldn't recall if she'd seen him as a lion before, he had grown a lion-fur coat in the cave where that strange creature had lingered below the ice. But, not wanting to startle her, Remi partially shifted so that he had his own lips and vocal chords (an incredibly awkward feeling), to gently call out to her. "Pssst." His leonine mouth fell quickly back into place, and though lions were not the most expressive of creatures, there seemed to be a smirk on his lips just the same. REMI It's not a silly little moment, it's not the storm before the calm This is the deep and dyin' breath of this love we've been workin' on

Rexanna really had no need for all the food and things she was collecting – having decided to spend Longnight at the Rathskeller. But it couldn’t hurt to bring the extra food – she knew they could probably use it and she wasn’t some kind of dragon to hoard her collection. At least not yet. She was a generous person, and always had been. Growing up a servant for the majority of her life had helped immensely in her generosity. When everyone had little, the best thing one could do was share. And it came back around, when others did better, they’d share too. With her bow in hand and following the small tracks toward the prey she had been hunting, she suddenly heard something almost loud behind her. Faltering in her steps slightly, she paused – wondering if she’d look or if she’d fall prey to some weird event that might occur out here. But suddenly, “Psst” was heard, and it was distinctly familiar in a strange way. Turning to look, she spotted a lion and her brows raised high as she lowered her bow to point to the ground. It had a look about it, a smirk, that had one cascading on her own and she realized she likely wasn’t in danger. “Oh! Meow.” She purred to Remi quietly, with a joking grin. She wasn’t sure entirely who it was, but someone she’d probably met before. Then, gesturing with a hand, she allowed him to move forward ahead of her – figuring that his nose was probably better than her tracking skills and willing to allow him to lead. RexannA rebellion sits well on you; like a red coat, or the gilt gold burnish of youth.

coding

The lion shook his head with amusement. Clearly Rex's curse was still in effect, and, to his surprise, being a lion did not make him immune to it. Trotting forwards, Remi gently nudged Rex's hip with his bulky face, turning his eyes towards her. The predatory amber faded away to a familiar sea-glass green for just a moment, before being taken over by gold once again. With a nod, the lion trotted forward a few steps, his tail flickering animatedly behind his body. The various smells on the breeze were distracting to his primal mind, and at once he wanted to explode forward and chase down every scent that wafted tantalizingly towards him. Sifting through them however, Remi tried to latch onto what smelled like a deer—an elk perhaps?—though it was hard to tell. The lion's mind was not used to scenting such things, nor was the alchemist's . Still, it smelled large and meaty. And so, with a stride that his counterpart could easily keep up with, Remi indeed began to track their prey once more. REMI It's not a silly little moment, it's not the storm before the calm This is the deep and dyin' breath of this love we've been workin' on

He seemed amused by her words which cemented the fact that the creature must have known her. She’d heard of others that could shift into animals, but she wasn’t certain if she’d met them. But as the lion neared her and nudged her hip, her sapphire gaze slipped down toward Remi as his eyes changed from lion to Remi’s and her mouth made an O shape in surprise. She reached over with her hand to press into his soft mane with a smile as he moved on. “Lion suits you Remi.” She whispered in her sultry tone to the man as he took the lead. Originally, Rexanna had been seeking out a squirrel of sorts, uncertain if she’d be able to actually carry an entire deer back to the settlement on her own. But Remi was here, and this lion form appeared muscled enough that a deer likely wouldn’t be much trouble to bring to the Rathskeller. But she followed him regardless, figuring that his nose could take her toward something worth hunting. And luckily for her, Remi had picked a pace she could keep up with while still remaining light on her feet. She followed him easily, her bow and arrows still in hand when between the trunks of two trees, a dark pelt moved slowly. It almost blended in, with the bark of the trees missing some of the snow due to the thick foliage above, and she lifted her bow to aim at the creature uncertain if she’d be able to make it through both trees. Her eyes slipped to Remi to see what he might do – if he might lunge for it or try and herd it to an easier spot to strike. RexannA rebellion sits well on you; like a red coat, or the gilt gold burnish of youth.

coding

He couldn’t chuckle of course, but he shook his mane slightly in response. Most thought that lion didn’t suit him, that it was far too powerful or predatory for one such as him. Although, Remi wouldn’t be surprised if saying being a lion suited him was actually just more of Rex’s curse in action. Regardless, at least she knew that it was him now. Remi too heard and saw the sound, pausing in misstep. The muscles of his back rippled as his tail raised slightly, his predatory brain working through his options. Remi hadn’t hunted with many others before. Usually it was just with Vai who he had a system worked out with. Glancing back towards Rexanna, the lion regarded her for a moment wondering how best to communicate. Flaring his nostrils slightly he trotted towards her and touched her hand with his nose. Then, he looked towards the right. Bringing his nose in towards his chest, he then looked to the left. Would she understand? Spinning nimbly on his hind legs, Remi disappeared over to the right. He intended to come upon the creature, pushing it towards the right (toward Rexanna), or, if it was stupid enough not to move, he’d take it down right then and there. Perhaps Rex could even get in a shot or two if it refused to move. Some of the game around here were so mutated that catching them was like plucking fish from a barrel. REMI It's not a silly little moment, it's not the storm before the calm This is the deep and dyin' breath of this love we've been workin' on

She watched as he shook his mane in response to her words before they had spotted the deer, and she smiled to the back of him as he moved on ahead. But as the deer came into focus, and Remi paused mid step, her arms lifted the bow ever so slightly before Remi turned back to her. He approached, touching her hand with his nose before looking to the right, to his chest, then to the left. But what it meant she had no idea. But the deer was here and she couldn’t very well ask him what he meant in case it drove the deer away. Besides, Remi had already moved toward the right to approach the creature and herd it much like Rexanna had imagined it would work. She crouched a bit low, drawing her arrow back as she aimed at the creature. Of course, the deer hadn’t been expecting a lion of all things, and had been startled at the sudden appearance of such a creature. It bolted, directly in the way that Remi had attempted to make it go. But it was coming directly at Rex and she had hardly a good shot to give. But she still let her arrow fly, and watched with baited breath as it found its target. It went straight through the deer’s neck, nearly to the fletching in an unfortunate circumstance. Her eyes searched for Remi as the creature came closer to her before stumbling in step. Heart pounding loudly, she grabbed another arrow and slipped to the side in the hopes of fully felling the beast with a fatal arrow unless Remi had a better idea. RexannA rebellion sits well on you; like a red coat, or the gilt gold burnish of youth.

coding

The lion's idea might not have been better, but it was certainly in action. In short bursts the deer could outpace him in the woods, or normally it would be able to. But this particular lion had the mind of a man within, one who had hunted creatures like this before and could predict how it might move to evade him. And so, as the creature stumbled with bloodloss and the onset of shock, Remi's powerful hindquarters tensed as he sprung forward, large paws reaching out for the bony haunches of the deer. His claws found purchase on the skin, his body weight and sudden momentum easily pulling the deer down before it had the chance to run the messenger over. As its hooves slipped and collapsed, Remi let go, immediately moving towards its throat and clamping down hard. No blood thirsty creature was he (at least most of the time), but instinct told him that this would be the fastest way for him to end the creatures life. Though with it now on the ground, Rexanna could just as likely pierce its heart quite easily from this angle. Still, with hot blood flowing into his mouth, the predatory monster within was soothed, but was also not entirely convinced it needed to let go. REMI It's not a silly little moment, it's not the storm before the calm This is the deep and dyin' breath of this love we've been workin' on

It was like a scene playing out before her eyes as the deer bounded toward her and she stumbled it with an arrow – her sapphire eyes watching it wobble before shifting to Remi as he pounced forth onto the deer to bring it down completely. She prepped another arrow in her bow as she slid to the side, watching as Remi went for the neck of the creature. As he crunched and the deer wheezed in response, Rexanna aimed the arrow toward the creature once again and shot for the heart. Once she was certain it was dead, she moved toward Remi and placed her bow along her back. Her hand outstretched to touch the lion’s mane gently to try and distract him. “Thank you Remi.” She purred to the lion with a quiet smile. “I think it’s gone now.” She added, letting him go and reaching down to pluck the arrows back from the creature and cleaned their heads in the snow before sticking them back in her quiver. Then, she realized how woefully unprepared she had been to catch a deer of all things. All she had was a little bit of rope she had planned to string a squirrel or two together with, but it might at least do for tying the legs together to make it easier to carry. RexannA rebellion sits well on you; like a red coat, or the gilt gold burnish of youth.

coding

As she touched him, the lion instincts in him quickened and impounded by the rush of blood took over, and Remi turned with a ferocious snarl on his lips and the beginning of a roar building deep in his throat. For a moment he watched her with predatory gold eyes, his snarl growing. With effort, that snarl seemed to turn inwards, and the lion all but crumpled to reveal Remi on his knees with his hands balled into fists. Forcing himself to unclench his jaw, he gave Rexanna a breathy laugh as he glanced up. "Good shot." Running a hand through his hair, and then realizing his mouth was still covered in blood, Remi awkwardly and apologetically wiped it on his jacket, wincing at just how much blood came away. He probably looked quite horrific. With a crooked smile, he glanced towards Rexanna with a small laugh. "Sorry about that. The blood as a lion is...ah..." Scratching at the back of his head, he crinkled his nose and shrugged. "..a bit hard to control." Rising, he glanced down at the deer thoughtfully. "This should make it easier." He said, conjuring a sled that they could easily pull through the snow. REMI It's not a silly little moment, it's not the storm before the calm This is the deep and dyin' breath of this love we've been workin' on

As the lion turned to her with a snarl, she stood there and stared at him with narrowed eyes. Almost like a mother chiding her child. Certainly, Remi could have attacked her – but when he became human again she knew he’d regret the fact. It depended upon how much control over the creature he had. And as he shifted back into himself, her eyes softened and she shook her head to him with a kind smile. “Thanks.” She responded to his compliment. And as he stood to wipe his mouth on his jacket, she pulled a small handkerchief out of her pocket and handed it to him with a small smile. “I get it.” She replied easily, though the purr in her voice remained. “Have you begun to master it?” She questioned with a tilt of her head before he looked to the deer and conjured a sled much to Rexanna’s surprise. “You are full of surprises, dear Remi.” She huffed with a bit of laughter, kneeling in the snow by the deer and tying its legs together to make it easier to transport. Then, she took a bit of the left over twine and tied it to the sled so when they moved the deer onto it, she could connect the front legs to the sled with ease. She moved toward the end of the deer and glanced to Remi with a quiet grin. “Do you have other forms? So I shouldn’t be surprised in case you’re in a different one?” She asked with a quiet chime of a laugh. RexannA rebellion sits well on you; like a red coat, or the gilt gold burnish of youth.

coding

With a boyish smile, he accepted the handkerchief. Leaning down he added a bit of snow to it, rubbed it between his fingers, then began to scrub his face with it. Again he winced seeing the amount coming off of, and the fact that it was ruined, and made a mental note to make another for her. Shrugging his shoulders, Remi offered her a sideways grin. "You are still alive, aren't you?" The humour was dark, and immediately Remi regretted it as he glanced away with a sigh. "It is getting easier though." With a grin, Remi tsked and shook his head. "Deer Remi? No. Only lion and hawk..and, actually, I can be a raccoon now as well." He corrected with a boyish laugh, tying the other two of the deer's legs together and then, when Rex had the rest of the twine ready, helping her shift the creature into it. "I was a hawk since I was a young boy ... then coming here, after meeting Ludo, that is when I learned I could become a lion. It was only the other day sitting inside with Vai that I discovered I could be a raccoon as well." Picking up his handle, Remi waited for Rex to do the same before pulling it on gently and trudging back towards the Settlement. "Quite the strange trio, mmm?' REMI It's not a silly little moment, it's not the storm before the calm This is the deep and dyin' breath of this love we've been workin' on

She chuckled at him as he told her that she was still a live, likely in reference to her question of how much control he had over it. Flashing him a cheeky grin, she laughed. “I certainly am!” She hummed, but laughed once again as he turned her words into an unintended pun. Her eyes scanning over him as he shook his head and laughed too – explaining the other forms. She listened intently while they worked and moved the creature onto the sled. As he grabbed onto the handle, she grinned and nodded to him as if to say she was ready. “I’ll just yell your name when the racoons come to my door.” She laughed again, her purring voice a soft honey dipped hum. “You can come scare them off.” She added with yet another grin as she followed the sled with Remi back to the Settlement. “We can bring it to the Rathskeller, I’m going there for Longnight.” She added, just so Remi would know not to bring it to her house but rather the temple. She wasn’t sure if they needed it, but at least it was something! RexannA rebellion sits well on you; like a red coat, or the gilt gold burnish of youth.

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