Wheeling Gull Isle an island, a peninsula

I don't mind if this counts as technically trespassing ;D

He had run, run, run as fast as he could, away from the terrifying cougar and the priest she had devoured without a second thought. He had been so certain that either he or Omerus were to be next in line for sacrifice. It didn't occur to him that Augustus himself was just as likely a candidate as his followers. Or was it perhaps The Savior had grown tired of him? Had she been displeased with the current offerings? Had they not been enough? Whatever the case, Ruvik fled the grisly scene with nary a look back, survival instincts overriding his devotion to the Savior.

Oh, how mad she would be! There was no doubt in his mind that she would come after him. Death incarnate would find him in the end, but he had to try. The forests wouldn't do, nor the plains. The mountains, valleys, rivers, calderas; they were all too exposed. He needed something between him and the mainland.

It was during one last expedition for a hideout that Ruvik spied the perfect place — an island not too far off the shore. For the first time in weeks, he felt a glimmer of hope alight in his chest. A chance! He raced into the churning sea with feverish delight, hopping over the waves before diving right in, ignoring the chill of the waters as it soaked through his thin coat and into his bones. The ocean was rough and the strong winds buffeted his form, but he carried doggedly on towards the island, towards safety. A home.

is it okay if this is backdated a little to the 13th? :P

Gazing out at the sea was something of a daily routine, seaglass eyes would scan the horizon, the mainland, as if expecting something. Nothing ever came. The sea would be quiet, undisturbed. But today was unusual, because from the sea came a boy, swimming with determination. It's cold out there... and rough... but he keeps going.

She admired him as he swam for a minute, not worried about his approach. If he was an aggressor, she'd drown him. And if he was looking for a place to stay, he'd already proved what a capable and strong swimmer he was. He was not particularly strong looking- quite skinny and dull, actually- but looks could be deceiving. Once the soaking boy would find himself at the shore, she'd come closer, chin tilted up in that regal way as she requested, What bring you here, to Yuèlóng claim?

No problem! :D

Onwards, Ruvik swam, his eyes never once leaving the island while the tides tried desperately to drag him off course. Seagulls above cried in their shrill voices, as if urging him to return to shore; it was a fool's journey to carry on! Yet the boy could not hear them over the crashing of the waves swirling about his ears. Swallowing air and sea water alike, his breath came out in ragged gasps as he reached the halfway point, fatigue already beginning to set in.

He almost didn't make it.

Yet against all odds, Ruvik finally felt his paws touch sand once more, and the ocean began to pull him ashore instead of warn him back. Soaking, breathless, and exhausted, the boy slowly dragged himself from the tumultuous sea and towards the shore, only to pause as his eyes fell upon a sandy-coloured figure. She was slight in frame but had a noble air about her, and even above the briny stench of the ocean, she had a strangely pleasant scent. Not that Ruvik would know what it meant. He stood before her, knee-deep in the shallows, looking every bit the washed up serf to her royalty. He bowed his head, both in a sign of respect and in defeat. Claimed. They had gotten here first.

"R-Ruvik ran," he spluttered out, his sides heaving with effort as his lungs screamed for more air. "Have...n-nowhere to go."

Her heart clenches with pity at the sight of the scraggly, washed-up man. Maybe this is why she is a poor leader- she only wants to provide a home for the hurt, whether or not they have a strength to them. But he had proven his strength, had he not? Not especially powerful, but determined. Persisting despite the odds against him- this was what she had seen of Ruvik so far. 

He bows his head, which appeals to her of course. Many might've been thrown off by his way of speaking, but to Huā, it's just as natural as any other- she had spent many a day with Daiyu, and the boy spoke in the same odd way as her. She can notice his breathlessness as he talks, and so she soothes, Shh... shh.. Ruvik, you have somewhere go. This island is home for people not have home... you already prove you per-persistent. If you want stay here, you welcome. She gazes over him again- his weak figure, his unruly pelt. They way he said he had ran. Ruvik, what your story?

She hushes him, and Ruvik quiets save for his gasping breaths. His gaze remains fixed on the waves below him rolling into the shore, crashing into his legs as if urging him towards the woman. She speaks in a slightly broken way reminiscent of his own, welcoming him into their fold; a place where those without a home could stay. The promise reminds him of Augustus' own when he had first come upon the priest. Save for one very important caveat, the man had kept his word, no?

With ears slicked back and tail tucked beneath him, Ruvik lowers himself into the waters before crawling forward meekly. A home, a home! It was all he ever wanted. She asks for his story and he stops before her, head angled up as he looks upon the empress in a rather pathetic display. Does he dare tell her the truth? Would she still accept him despite knowing The Savior was still after him?

"Ruvik f-followed a man," he says with effort, choosing his words carefully. "Augustus." The very name causes his gut to clench as he remembers the awful scene, and the cat standing above his old master, face bloodied and twisted in a snarl. "Killed...by monster."

The thing she did notice the man lacking though, was any sort of confidence or self-worth. She wasn't going to reject him for submission- certainly not, but she did partly wish he would pull himself up and address her as something like an equal. Not that they were equals- but seeing the man crawl towards her pathetically, still lowered and trembling, made her feel perhaps too powerful. With time though, perhaps he could be trained to be a strong-willed bard or something of the like. He certainly had stories to tell- 

-and speaking of... a monster? Her brow furrowed with some confusion, ears twitching with interest. Few details and yet a harrowing story all the same; his leader killed by some beast. A bad omen. Superstitious thoughts brought it to her mind, and though she shooed them away, her perception of him was changed. Perhaps he was a bad luck totem, sent to curse Yuèlóng by some unholy demons. Don't be so judgemental, Huāzhen! It isn't so. Ruvik... I sorry for you loss. May I ask... what kind of monster?

Had he known the thoughts that now plagued Huā's mind, Ruvik would have back-tracked on his tale immediately. Or perhaps he may have fled the island, convinced it was indeed he who was the bad luck charm who brought havoc upon those he surrounded himself with. However, he was no mind reader, and so continued to grovel at the leader's paws as she asked him about the monster.

The boy let out a whimper, gaze slipping from the hooded woman to glance back to the mainland. He was torn between telling the truth and risk being cast out, and protecting his own hide. "Monster was...m-much bigger than wolf," he started, purposefully keeping the details vague.

"Hid in shadow...with many teeth...eyes that glowed...Ruvik did not see much, o-only ran," he ended sheepishly, cowering as if he were a pup expecting a scolding.

Ruvik describes something giant with plentiful teeth and glowing eyes. Were Huā an inland wolf, she might've had a few reasonable guesses- bear? cougar? gator? But she had no thoughts except shark. Still, this boy still smelled of land, and she could not imagine that he would've encountered such a thing there. The description only served to perplex (and, admittedly, frighten) her.

She does not feel right about forcing this man back into his trauma. She knows what it feels like to talk about her past- and she could only imagine Ruvik felt the same way, especially with his whines and general posture. Okay, okay Ruvik. Sound terrible to me- let us not talk about this anymore. You have better future here, I promise you this. She leans down then, nudging his cheek if allowed, as if to prompt him upward.

Thankfully, the woman does not press the issue, instead assuring him that this place, this was where he could have a better future. A promise. Just like Augustus. Where another might have been skeptical of her words, Ruvik was in far too fragile a state to think the kind woman anything but genuine. Fear of The Savior still caused his heart to race, and his legs quivered from exhaustion. He no choice but to accept.

As she presses her nose against his cheek, the boy sucks in a breath, unused to the gentle touch. He rises ever so slightly, though still keeps himself lower than the woman - his queen. "Th-thank you," he says quietly.

She notices the sharp inhale from the boy upon contact- was he that afraid? Not wanting to frighten him more, she stepped back once he had raised himself upward. He thanks her, and she nods simply, No need thank me. Thank you- for join us. With those words Huā set off towards the inland, hoping Ruvik would do the same and make himself at home.