There are dogs everywhere. Or at least, that's how it feels: a flurry of little ones, what appears to be a wolf, and a strange, large hound, the green and soil of the Swamp's edge showing dully through its translucent red body. Chief amongst them is a pink sand dog, bright and striking, darting about the heels from Kin to Kin, sniffing and barking sharp yips to the rest of the pack, who duly pad around, offering their own quick sniffs and yelps.
Off to a side neatly stands a Kiokote, as pink as the sand dog, but not nearly as bright - or loud. "Hallo!" she calls to each newcomer in a soft, lilting voice instead, "thanks for coming! We're just getting ready."
The call had spread like wildfire through the Swamp - largely because it had originated from the Royal Rainbow Troupe, and the Royal Rainbow Troupe are notorious gossips who got everywhere. It seemed there was scarcely a Kin who had not heard the news. Of course, how many would join is another matter. The expedition to the plains had safely returned, far-eyed and exhausted, but hardly the worse for wear after a few days' rest, and that is a mark in its favour. But this journey is to the desert, and the desert is unforgiving, and much farther yet than the plains.
Still, surely they would come...
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OOC NOTE: Hallo to all participants! Thank you so much for joining us on this adventure! Feel free to introduce yourselves to us and each other as you arrive for the expedition - but don't worry if you don't get to say hi, just make sure you follow us as we set off! We will be setting off tomorrow (21st September Wed), so keep an eye out for Red-stained Blossom's announcement then!
As the new arrivals slow to a lone straggler or two, the pink sand dog barks her last instructions and prances beyond the Swamp green - abruptly spinning into an Acha mare, the dog ears that somehow remain fluffing out as she tosses her head. Red-stained Blossom remembers every step of that first journey, from the desert to the Swamp. Every sprint of sand, every blade of grass. It had been long, so very long, and it had been hard. It had been unthinkable then, but they had dreamt it, and then done it. And now they will do it again.
Her eyes gleam gold, her teeth gleam white. Rouge could not be more excited.
"Welcome, welcome!" she calls across the motley crew, bouncing high with unnecessary vigor, "so good of you to join us! I am Red-stained Blossom, but you can call me Rouge, and I'll be taking you to the desert today! And tomorrow. And then some. I won't lie to you - this journey is not going to be easy. It will be long, it will be hard, and it will probably hurt quite a lot. But you probably won't die. I'm pretty sure you won't die. Some of us came here from the desert, and we didn't die then. You'll be fine."
She is doing so well, she is sure.
"Unless you stray too far, then you might die. The Ache won't get you if you stay with me - so stay with me!" she pauses to scan the shifting crowd, then continues with a little jig and a dazzling smile, "I promise we won't lose you, my pack has your scent. They will wait if you stumble, they will herd you back. It will be hard, but we can do this. Are you with me?!"
She does not quite wait for a response before prancing in a little circle and scarpering out into the clear, "Then it's time to follow the rabbit - to the Obelisk!"
Somewhere behind her, Tender's sweet voice pipes up, "Wonderful, Mama!" Rouge laughs, and throws out a last, high bark. Her pack scatters into formation, and the group is off into the West.
