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  50 days. 50 days, had the hyena been gone. She was no stranger to the absences - people left. That's just how it is. This time, it was just her.
What she didn't expect of herself, was that she was back.

That never happens.

It's not like these guys made an impression on her. They're just average. Lion that can't stay in his business, mediocre leader. It's not like Kazzyboy was here. Not like Yew was here... She wasn't sure whether that last bit was a plus or a minus. No, these people were completely unremarkable. So why was she drawn back here? There was obviously a new 'crew', anyways. Good chance everyone she knew was dead or gone. That's just how it goes. She wasn't naive enough to hope otherwise.
Hell, maybe they'd kill her on sight. The hyena couldn't help but bark a laugh. That would be a fun way to spend the evening. Hell, she'd deserve it, right? Leaving without warning. Just like always. Might as well roll around in the Pitt before she came back. Get a quicker, more potent reaction. Make sure they ripped her throat out as soon as they saw her ugly fucking mug. Make sure they made an example out of her, made sure she knew to stay in her place.
One last chuckle. That'd be fun.

It took longer than the hyena'd like to admit to find the border of the clan - she didn't realize how far she'd gotten. There was no moon out, and she couldn't scent for the life of her - until she dropped her head down again, only to wrinkle her nose. Wormyboy marking the borders.
She coughed once or twice.
Recently.
Maybe he'd drop down from the skies and crush her. Wring the life out. Ha.

The thought didn't stop the hyena's pursuit, trotting through the marsh - she knew it like the back of her hand, by this point. She wasn't asking permission to be back. Either they let her in, or they kill her.
She hoped no one messed with her stashes. She left the good shit there. Never shoulda, shoulda taken it all with her.

Before her trek back 'home', Snarl had started a fresh fire, let the smoke absorb through her fur. The day someone scented her properly was the day she'd die. Fuck you, this was her signature. Less intentionally, she also stank of alcohol. The taste sat in the back of her throat, burning out her breath, only giving her movements the slightest amount of sloppiness.
Don't judge her. It's been a rough 50 days. Been a rough year, actually. Been a rough four years. Everyone has their vices, fuck you.
She was visibly worse off for wear, though. Ribs poked more clearly through thick fur, you could see the hyena's hackles as she trotted through the marsh. Her fur was dull and oily, and her eyes were half-lidded. She was covered in new wounds, scabbed over. Crusty blood matted once-blond fur. Burns - were they new? - littered her legs, practically all of the black fur burned off.
At her throat sat a concerningly dark patch; as if someone had tried to gouge it out, there would have been enough blood. With a couple moments of thought, though, if you'd known her previously, one could remember she had a brown patch there - it was just a trick of the light, right?

Another chuckle from the hyena. She was back. Back to Leroy. Back to Aurum. Knew one was still alive -- at least enough to piss on the borders --, figured the other didn't have the balls to die. And fucking Vathmos was finally gone. This was great. People she knew, people she knew how to step on the nerves of. Prolly a new crowd, too, new people to try n get to throw a swing. Heheh. Maybe Snarl could have another proper bonfire, so long as no one fucked with her wood. Without that fucking vekkteman interfering and trying to kill Kazzyboy.
Maybe someone did fuck with her wood, and she'd have a new face to beat in. That would be fun. Heheheh.

First stop, hollow tree by the library. She'd left a bottle of vodka there. See? Memory's not that shit after all. Snarl never forgets. Time to see how bad Tangle is at spotting invaders.

     
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Considering how prepared the hyena thought, one wouldn't expect the approach of a cheetah to catch her off guard. Kazzyboy wasn't here, she thought. Kazzyboy couldn't be here. He'd ditched.

Snarl stumbled to the side, away from the approacher, orienting herself towards them. Peered through the darkness. Not Kazzyboy. Some fuck with green staining his fur. Fur prickled at the hyena's back, her snout wrinkled into her namesake. Now that she wasn't moving at a full trot, the girl's drunken wobble stood out more- not steady on her feet.
"Wazzit t'you? Cop or somethin'?" Talking back to suspected authorities was always a great idea. After a moment, she barked a laugh, as if Octane's latter statement finally hit her. "Weird fuckin' dog works. Hah." She paused for a long moment. Glowered at the cheetah.

Snarl shook herself, as if she'd faded out of reality for a moment, before coming back. Got out of the defensive pose she'd slid into. Fuck it. Looked him straight on, but wasn't visibly ready to counter whatever attack she expected. Flicked her head to the side, walked in that direction. Expected he'd follow along if he wanted answers. Fuck it, she could take a cheetah. Easy. Worst case scenario she dies, whatever.
"Lookin' fer a drink." Another pause as ruined buildings came into view, assuming she was allowed to walk as far. "But seems town's gone t'shit without me. Y'cant do something as simple as this without me?" She'd turned back to stare at Octane, though she didn't stop her tracks towards the library. Turn the questions around, insinuate she was of some position. Least she's still got some of her 'right' mind on.