Hazel didn't travel. At least, not really. She didn't count the month between home and the Ascendants as "traveling," more...aimless wandering in no specific direction. The concept of traveling between clans was a lot scarier than it should have been, but with lack of training, Hazel was too well aware of how vulnerable she was. But she supposed if it was with a group of her clanmates, it was better than going alone. Besides, the actual details of the event enthralled her plenty enough to make the journey. Because a bonfire? Marshmallows? Stories? Her idea of a good time, right there.

Tail curled over her hindquarters with excitement, she ignored the trail of variscite and picasso marble stones popping up in her wake and puffed out her fur, grinning against the chill in the air. The Ascendants were still arriving, so the only current recognizable member she could locate was Suite, who was talking to a Savannah cat. Presumably, someone important, if the air about them and the manner in which they talked were any indications.

Hazel trotted over, somewhat shy at the prospect of talking to someone unfamiliar and important. "Heja! Hic est frigus. It's chilly here." Hazel observed, the Latin spilling off her tongue in her nerves. She glanced at the fire, eager to sit near it and warm up, but not quite ready to leave Suite when she didn't know anyone else. "You have a beautiful home." She tacked on, turning back to Atbash. 

INTO THE SUN
(watch me disappear)

Funny how she gets herself into situations, sometimes. With her recent departure and return, she's further driven a wedge between her and her clanmates, enough that she doesn't know who to approach in the hustle and bustle of the mass gathering. She finds herself, instead, a spot near the back of the crowd - far from the fire and far from the food, pulling the ratty deerskin pelt tighter around her shoulders. She's going back to old habits, she knows, but she isn't sure how she's supposed to get out of it if everybody has only woven themselves tighter around each other and the period of her disappearance.

Everything's exactly the same. They're all linked together, she's convinced that she can almost see it - and then there's her, lone little Versailles separate from the pack.

She doesn't have the strength, courage, or even motivation to try to insert herself into the equation, so she voluntarily stays out. It's easier, she thinks. It's easier not to try than to try and have herself be shot down. She doesn't know if she can even handle it anymore, the feeling of being pushed away; she keeps herself away, instead. At least it's her choice. At least it's something that she can control. As lonely an existence it may be, it's not too far from how she used to live her life - by herself, with no one to lean on.

VERSAILLESPALACE "VERA" AURELIUS — THE ASCENDANTS — [color=#d5c5c5]TAGS

Wow. Atbash couldn't help but be in awe at how many people were showing up and how everyone was getting along. It was like something she had always dreamed if she was honest; a peaceful gathering, and it seemed to actually be working. With the amount of people gathered, the Hailcaller figured it was a better time than never to go ahead and continue on with the rest of her plan. "Ah, attention everyone!" Atbash called, standing up briefly on her hind legs before she stumbled awkwardly backwards before sitting down again. Hopefully that got peoples' attention. "It's time to kickstart the main reason I've called everyone together: to share scary stories!" A smile formed on her face as she announced this.

Atbash let that news settle in before she went ahead and continued on, "I'll start. In these woods, I've heard rumors of a creature known as the Misigniebig." Man, that was... a mouthful, if she was honest. This wasn't so much as a scary story as a rumor she heard from passing and visiting NPCs, but hey, it was still scary to her nonetheless. "This creature is a huge horned serpent that lives in a lake, much like the one right next to us." She looked over at the icy lake, as if trying to look for this aforementioned creature. "This creature is believed to eat animals just like us. I heard that it is especially busy on nights such as these, and sometimes you can hear the ice crack as it searches for an unsuspecting traveler." Unfortunately, luck was not on the Hailcaller's side tonight and she couldn't exactly make the ice crack herself, but hey, she was trying!