Amora didn't just "sneak out". She was just "accompanying" the leader and his deputy out of Galeclan territory, off to the multi-clan meeting. Secretly. From a sizable distance. Even if the Galeclan leader kept his deputy at his side for backup, backup could always use more backup, right?
Although, the pinkette wouldn't follow as her normal self. She trailed behind the pair in her smaller form: that of an average-sized fox. Aside from her coat's slightly lavender fringe to give her away, well... Lalonia had more pressing mysteries than a fox with an odd-colored coat. So! Off she trailed, far enough behind that the leader and his companion wouldn't catch scent of her.
Unfortunately, her same thought process would apply to herself, being too far to continue stalking the pair.
With the winds picking up in a different direction, it washed away all familiarity of the two, and the kitsune was left to her lonesome. Since Infernoclan was so large, there was no way she'd completely miss the territory, right? Trees that thinned out into leafless beings, whisperings... she'd heard the ghost-like tales around the Hollow, her home. But were they supposed to be super tall? Like, towering above her, with leaves thick enough to block the whole sun? Maybe she'd already passed the thinner trees, then. Perhaps she was already well-within Infernoclan, given it'd taken her an entire day's sprint to get through. Not that she was unnerved by the ghost stories. Or a little worried that she'd lost everyone. No way.
In any case, with the sunlight barely reaching through the lowest trees, she heaved herself a sigh and searched for underbrush to rest.
Honestly, from below such heightened trees, the entire area looked like empty territory. For awhile, she'd thought it to be an extension of the wandering salesmen's route. Anyone who didn't quite belong to the four western clans, but came with items to trade and exchange.
Of course, being the only one in Galeclan who could hide her animal-like traits, she was allowed there the most often, and even then her visits were few between moon cycles. The leader was strict when it came to potentially selling out secrets of their clan.
Once Amora found herself a comfortable spot, she sprawled out her legs, shaking out the human from the fox. She adjusted the fluff upon her shoulders and patted away the fox ears before realizing both braids had become undone. Branches must've snagged some fur in wake of her sprint, then. She only hoped it didn't lead a very obvious trail back to herself-- and that it was indeed Infernoclan she found herself within.
Just as she would've been getting comfortable, Amora may have picked up on the steady approach of Amy far before Amy would have noticed her presence. The gentle and perfectly rhythmic steps of the girl from Solarisclan did not attempt to hide but did not seem to directly approach Amora's location. In fact, they were passing right by her.
"...o, you think so?" Her distant voice was soft and even the sounds of the nightlife seemed to shift their attention to it when she spoke. "co-...here?" Amy's steps stopped at once. Then, they continued heading precisely in Amora's direction. She had not seen Amora yet in the darkness but was likely in eyesight when she stopped briefly beside a tall, wise tree, placing one hand on it and resting her cheek against it. "Thank you," she whispered to it before flicking a small flame into her open hand. She was searching for Amora but saw little more than her aura. "You are...a fox?" she asked to nowhere in particular. She wasn't even expecting a response. She took in a deep breath of air trying to determine the presence's location.
Amora had only just finished rebraiding by the time the Solarisclan warrior approached. She flinched, holding onto the one side of the braid while she desperately tried to catch wind of the entire conversation Amy seemed to be having... with herself?
Eyes squinted as she searched for the warrior and company, yet found none by the time the young woman had posed her conclusion with uncertainty.
Fox?
Oh. Perhaps they smelled her out, or had seen her running through. Were they predators, then? Or were they trying to lure her out with the premise of training her? She'd heard different clans raised all sorts of animals, such as Maelstromclan had done with wolves. It wasn't too far out of reach to imagine cunning foxes used for the same purpose.
Thus, the kitsune teetered upon revealing herself or staying hidden.
Was she really in Infernoclan?
"Yes... and no?" She drew out, revealing herself slowly with hands raised.
No ears, no tail. Claws wouldn't exactly be a dead give-away, especially when one hand held her hairpiece she had yet to reattach. She mentally reassured herself for the encounter-- the first one alone with a stranger since she entered Galeclan itself. No Sharps there to turn to if things got dicey.
"The fur on my haori is fox. It must be time for replacing if it's really falling off. I'm, ah, Amora. This is Infernoclan territory, right?"
As the figure became more prominent, Amy's eyes glazed around Amora without ever meeting her body for a moment as if searching for something. And then, suddenly, her eyes snapped directly to Amora's. Her deep and sudden breath might have been alarming if not proceeded quickly by a disarming smile and a gentle face. "Ahhh, Amora. Have we met before? You are familiar." Amy seemed to ignore her question as she grew closer to the kitsune, keeping her same even pace as she did so.
"Infernoclan? Is that where you are headed?" The demoness's voice was distracted as she brings herself to a halt before Amora. She raised a hand softly to Amora's chin to force the Kitsune to match her gaze. She widened her eyes and strained her thoughts as if coming to some kind of decision invisible to the naked eye.
"Ohhh," she mused, "Oh. you are no animal, are you? You are the one who wears masks, aren't you? You are my...sister." It was confusing for her. Amy could not tell what her own words meant and no amount of seeing could change that. She sighed.
"Amora, you are very cute and fluffy!" Her tone immediately shifted to become lighthearted and playful. "My name is Amy Faye. I am a Seer, and it is no coincidence that we met today. Do you need help getting to Infernoclan? We aren't quite there, but it is nearby. I can lead the way if you want. I may not look like it, but I can actually protect you along the way!"
In reality, Amy hadn't the slightest clue which direction Infernoclan could be from here. It was important, however, that she lead Amora there at all costs.
Multiple red flags went off at Amy's reaction to her. Enough to bristle the kitsune's fur, should she have remained as a fox. Instead, goosebumps ran along her arms as she folded her hands together and shifted her stance, ever-so slightly turned away. Being a seer made sense. A good cover for how she acted. But Hakon told her to always be careful, and you could never trust anyone but the cats.
Given how she was lost, however...
"Thank you?" Amora tilted her head some, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Erm, I can replay you for that kindness, if you could. Oh, but I only need to get to the border, not actually in the territory. I'm meeting someone there, so they're expecting me."
Not a complete lie. Until the last two words, anyways. What was that about Amy claiming she wore a mask?
Amy's voice was light and drawn out. Soft and slow. Carefully, every word flowed like a culminating wave towards an unsuspecting shore. She extended her hand out to Amora with a warm smile on her face.
"Your company is payment enough. I was heading to Infernoclan as well, so the company would be appreciated."
It might as well have been her home at this point. Amy had made the trip here so often as of late that it was more common to see her in Galeclan or Infernoclan territory than it was Solaris.
All such visits began with building rapport. She knew this well.
"Dante, Leader of Infernoclan." The kitsune replied, hesitating to add anything further. Anyone from the surrounding areas would at least know the leader's name, and there were plenty of rumors about the territory.
Dante Aphelion was the sole member said to meet with outsiders, if one met anyone at all. Most people would get lost only to wander out from where they trekked before. And then there were other, darker rumors where some got lost, never to be seen again...
Wait.
"Have you met him, then? Or were you also summoned there?" She asked, scanning the woman over. No, she didn't look familiar in the slightest. And the meeting was only supposed to be for the clans, not outsiders--
"Oh! You're from, like, one of the eastern clans!" She beamed. She felt as though she figured out a riddle by only a small clue. It was a shame she'd hid her tail considering how quickly it would've swayed from left to right, but in a way, her expression conveyed what her tail could not.
Then again, if Hakon was at the Infernoclan meeting, then surely she'd be fine revealing her features there as well? Amy would be trustworthy... Once her identity was confirmed, of course.
Her expression faltered upon a flickering thought, then completely dropped.
"Oh, you are meant to see Dante, then? How prestigious. No, I was not summoned, love. (officially). But I am more than glad to lead you there! I was on my way in that direction anyways." That much was true. Sordes was in that direction relative to her. She had given one final search for Rei before heading out, but must have missed him on his way to somewhere else.
"Yes, I am from the eastern clans!" she exclaimed with a chuckle. "Solarisclan, actually. I was out here looking for someone. No chance you have crossed paths with someone named Rei Nyx? Or, maybe, Arisa Amane?"
She was like a mouse. A cat. A fox. Barely even realizes when the eyes of a hunter so long at it comes packaged with an innocent smile.
Amy slowed her pace as Amora's expression changed suddenly. She was certainly more clever than she had given her credit for. Authenticity was appropriate at times like this. "...Indeed, little fox. I didn't just hear of it, I was there looking for my partner at the time it happened. It was a real tragedy." She sighed empathetically and gritted her teeth at the memory. How horrible, she thought. It was just terrible. People like her could think these things because they were there, and what they saw could only be described as a horror.
"Can I assume that is what the meeting is about? What are you going to do there?"
"No, I haven't seen them, sorry." She answered, shaking her head slightly as she reached for one of her braids to mess with. Not even the names sounded familiar to the kitsune, but she took note of the first name at least. Rei was easy enough to recall, in case she happened into them. No one was on her path-- at least, not that she caught a whiff of.
"I'm not sure of all the details for the meeting, since it's really just for the leaders, but it's gotta be about that. Why else would the clans be getting together like this?" Fingers played with and combed through her braid, unraveling the end which had gotten tangled from the underbrush.
Amora gasped, struck with a sudden realization. "Wait! But you were there? I figured there were no survivors! Not that I, like, know all the details and everything-- the note wasn't exactly long and that in-depth at all or anything-- but! Anything you could tell them would be really beneficial! You ought to go! Or at least tell your leader, if you haven't already."
