INFORMATION PLOT ROLEPLAYER MISC.

Axxo had been drawn towards the humid air and the scent of rotting wood.

There was something familiar about it that they knew exactly how to explain. Humidity often meant the presence of a great deal of water, which was more than ideal for them. Despite the mucus layered over the alien's skin and clinging to the attire it donned, it didn't need moisture to breathe as one might expect. Plainly spoken, it but needed mucus to regulate its temperature.

On another note, the sickly smell of various rotting flora and death could mean an easy meal. The deer-like creature wasn't adverse to such an opportunity no matter the presence of maggots and other disgusting insects. The slime about its muzzle appeared to undulate as a hidden smile manifested beneath merely at the thought of food.

Wide feet kept the beast mostly above the slick mud, grime splashing onto its underside as long limbs carried it forward. The only thing it didn't enjoy the thought of was cleaning its clothing later.

There was a clattering noise behind it, thin branches of some bush shifting either on wind or against some other animal. Axxo paused then, claws scraping against a rock barely exposed above the muddy ground as its head darted up into the air as far as it could. Beady black eyes searched the landscape as their ears rotated in separate directions. They inhaled sharply, poor sense of smell trying to pick up anything other what was decaying a few feet away, just out of view.

Predictably, it hadn't a clue it'd crossed into a clan's territory.

TLDR; Axxo's unknowingly trespassing on their hunt for a meal and just heard something move in the brush. Weather it was your character creating the racket or the wind is, obviously, up to you!

INFORMATION PLOT ROLEPLAYER MISC.

Axxo gaze - though, not apparently due to their entirely black quality - first flicked to Arrow as she approached. In that brief period of silence between her approach and her speaking, Axxo did not move save for the rotation of an ear towards the sound of her pawsteps. While they weren't entirely a prey animal given their partial diet of fish and carrion, there still was some tension at having another predator directly approach them.

' Alright stranger, I’m gonna have to stop you right there. '

She had their attention; their head turned to examine the stranger in their central vision as their ears perked.

' I’m afraid you’ve crossed into a currently occupied territory, you’re gonna have to tell me who you are. '

So it seemed their olfactory senses proved yet again they were lacking in anything but potent, sickly sweet scents. Axxo's head dipped, ears still perked forward as their tail too lowered. Their mouth parted, mucus stretching between upper and lower jaws as they spoke, "Sincerest apologies. I am Axxo'viintoch," they replied, but they knew it'd take more than an apology to make up for their trespassing. However, before they could continue, they witnessed the approach of another predator. The alien was growing uneasy despite the lack of aggression, and it was shown in the slight widening of their many eyes and the swiveling of their ears.

' Yes, this is Tanglewood. Is this one looking to join? If not then they will have to leave. They may call her Elsweyr,  she is the deputy here. She is Arrow. '

Their jaws momentarily closed, they carefully observed their gestures and silently noted their manner of speaking. The deer-like creature's tail swished, becoming momentarily distracted by the newfound presence of a tigress. They were beginning to feel surrounded; then again, it was only natural for such things to occur when a stranger encroached on the territory of an established group. This was something they would've expected should they have known they had crossed boundaries.

' Hello there... my name is Aurum. I'm the luminary, or leader of the group that owns these lands, Tanglewood, like Elsweyr said. If you have any questions before you might consider joining... you can feel free to ask. '

"Goodness," the word momentarily escaped through a wet maw, small bits of mucus being flung onto the mud as the thought slipped from under their breath without their realization. "The leader is even here - what are the odds?" Their thoughts raced, "I don't quite like the idea of being eaten should I reject joining."

Their only measure of comfort was the more friendly demeanor of the Aurum fellow. However, realizing their exposure of fear coupled with the little bit of friendliness they had received compelled Axxo to release themselves from terror. They need not fumble; it was a simple mistake.

"Surely forgivable, right?"

With that thought, the creature raised their head, breaking the brief moment of silence between themselves and the others, "Just to be clear, I did not mean to cross the border. My sense of smell isn't quite right." A decent start, but where to go from there? "And I've never been a member of a group before." Honesty, always good to lead with honesty. Axxo looked to Aurum then, not that it was exactly clear other than by the tilt of their head. "If you would be so kind to explain this Tanglewood to me, I'd be grateful."

TLDR; Axxo is nervous from all the predators but they're trying to appear friendly. You really need only read the stuff in blue.

INFORMATION PLOT ROLEPLAYER MISC.

A few of their hind-muscles reflexively twitched as the lioness spoke. Their ears pinned for a moment before they forced them forward.

' This one thinks that it is okay that they didn't mean to cross the border. No harm was done. '

The alien dipped their head, "I am grateful for your perspective," they stated.

They were unused to seeing so many predators in one place and so close together. In youth, they were taught the strong but poor minded creatures survived alone; however, the both strong and intelligent survived together. Axxo was told they were poor-minded by Lyc, their caretaker whom they were permitted the term "father." As time went on, even their physical strength was proven to be the same.

' Well, Tanglewood is this place. All of it. The swamp to the forest and shoreline. Tanglewood claims this territory and she supposes it works much like her tribe does. . . '

Thus, watching these clans from afar, seeing these strong creatures work and prosper together - even if only in spirit when food was scarce and war aplenty - Axxo knew they weren't meant to be among them. "For I am weak in mind and body," they thought, quoting Lyc silently. Thus, the words of the lioness which came next struck them with surprise.

' We all live together in the town not too far away and we protect and care for one another. Hunting for those who can not and training to be exceptional warriors. '

"'Hunting for those who can not?'" they couldn't help but quote them aloud, but in the tone of a question. Such words contradicted much of which Axxo had been taught. Their head would cock slightly to the left as one of their ears flicked, "You care for those who are less able? I was taught otherwise, that clans will leave the weak behind. Is this untrue?"

OOC; Fixed the mistake! My brain got confused about who was who for a moment and I apologize.