Amekaze was learning the mountain steadily. The more days that passed, the deeper her understanding could grow. She was not only interested in the aspects of the land itself, and what it would yield for them, but in all that surrounded them -- from the weather's impact to how the surrounding valleys would respond. Her studies were far, far from complete.

With a hitch of purpose keeping her trotting pace sharp, she had descended from the mountain and turned her sights towards the Vale. Formerly Xi'nuata's claim, Ame had never been there herself until now. When she had first learned of the pack's disappearance, she had felt a mixed reaction. While glad that it freed up the space for them to hunt upon now, she.. found a sense of disappointment in knowing that Xi'nuata was gone. Amekaze had fancied the female in her own odd way, privately admiring her beauty and strength even, so wherever she may be now, she hoped she was well.

Nevertheless, the her path joined with the main vein of the Vale's lifeblood -- the creek winding down its presumed middle. The humidity for the afternoon was high, too (as it had been lately, often lending itself to rain on the mountain's western side), further contributing to the misty glen's appearance. Everywhere, she smelled water, and oftentimes, water meant prey... among other things. Her eyes were sharpened and she was primed to observe the former home of a friend.

Everywhere hung heavy with humidity and Amekaze had to wonder if this was the mountain and the sea's influence at work here to help form this piece of paradise. It was a region of high humidity, and she knew the ocean and the mountains, by their sheer size and power, were bound to cause geography around them to alter. Still, she was learning, and seeing places like these in greater depth was sure to only further her knowledge.

And, in doing so, she was realizing why Xi'nuata had selected here as her home. A beautiful place befitting a wolf such as herself, Amekaze missed her still whenever the most subtle traces of her scent came to her nose. They were all but gone, though.

Her advance continued deeper into the heart of the Vale as the creek did the same. At a point, she opted to stray from it for a while, just to see what she may find. She was absorbed in the scenery, and its features, until the scent of something very real alerted her focus, one much more glaring than the plants and prey trails. A wolf. First she suspected it would be a Creek wolf, but a deeper breath a second later said no, he was not of Fox's band so her wild hackles remained stilled.

In fact he smelled of the sea, which was naturally interesting to her; she had not seen the sea herself in several weeks now. He was a reminder of the shores already.

She slowed curiously to watch him, sought to meet his eyes, then sprung forward in a smooth leap that urged into a canter within a stride. Ame wanted to see if he was inquisitive enough to follow her as she angled back towards the waterway's scent. There was still much to learn.

For a fleeting second she wondered if he would follow. While it was of little consequence to her whether or not he did, the notion of their paths never crossing more than that briefest second -- a tiny flicker of eye contact and nothing else, scarcely even a sight on her end -- she knew the opposite could potentially prove more interesting. Always keen to gather information and see what she may be do here, Ame approached this with a mischievous glint.

She knew too many old myths of devious creatures luring others to the waters -- usually to pull them under and in the case of the kappa, to feast on their blood. There were also more real-life examples to be had, too, so the dark Rikudou would have understood his aversion to tracking after her. But he did come.

Amekaze kept the pace relaxed. An easy canter, only stretched a little extra at certain points so to not let him too close for too long. He was a stranger still but a willing one, and nothing about his pursuit really spoke of aggression yet so she was not overly worried. Her ears angled back towards him to listen keenly while she guided the path through the misty lands, aiming back towards the creek which by now she could hear.

She followed its winding edge for several strides, letting him catch the furs of her tail on occasion before she slowed up. Ame then intended to force him to do the same as she cut from her path to arch around him, her gait a loose trot as she aimed to circle him. It is not often, she breathed and drew up her head curiously to settle her minty stare on his lanky darkness that I smell the sea this far inland. On that note, she darted towards him to bite at his tail while wondering what he may have to say, if anything, to that.

It was now that she got a good look at him. The whole of him, too, and from his lean legs to the tips of his ears all wrapped in a deep black she studied him keenly. Much about his look said speed and agility. It was little surprise that he had kept pace so easily, because that was surely hardly a challenge to him. Ame herself was built lean so she understood well.

She could also see his youthfulness, even younger than she by many moons at least. Perhaps around the age of her siblings, give or take.. or what they would have been, anyway. She then wondered how long he had been upon the Teekon soils. Even his pack scent was not one she particularly knew well. It did remind her of someone she had met once though.

He spun his truthful words and she dipped her muzzle her agreement. The sea had kept her close for several months. She knew, and smirked. I do understand why. Inland paled, at times, to the majesty of the seaside. But she could no longer find the way to synch to their energies -- not right now, and thus why she was to be found so far inland these days.

Meanwhile her eyes traced the waving tail accordingly. She welcomed the challenge, no matter how small. Mhm, she grunted to the fleeting touch on the side of her muzzle. In a blink she might have missed it. She sprung to motion in response, a low growl rumbling forth before she answered. At times, indeed, she replied between breaths, ones tinted with the salty scent of his coat. Even the mightiest of rivers seek the sea. Yet it was not the seaside that was underfoot here. He had brought the scent with him, leaving her to wonder what had drew him here in the first place as she loped several paces to catch up to him at his trot. But this is not the sea's domain here among the mountains, she panted with a look of mischief. Here, freshwater reigned. Even if its influence still reaches here in its own way. For she believed these mists and fog to be the sea's doing, at least partially.

Amekaze hoped to jog even to him, or very closely to it, and bump her shoulders against his flanks while she aimed nips at his shoulders roughly.

He proved to be a worthy foe in this game and one who kept it challenging for her. She had to think on her feet with him, while maintaining a good offense to keep him from getting away with too much as well. They struck a decent balance, with him determining the pace and her keeping him beneath her onslaught of playful nips that met their mark now and then.

Bring it! she sneered back after a quick laugh and lash of her tail. Oh, she welcomed the wrath of the sea, or whatever else he could bring. Ame quite liked a challenge and that sounded like a good enough one to her. She dug deep and followed after him, even through the bursts of speed and further into the mysterious heart of Xi'nuata's former claim.

When he stopped up suddenly, she raised her head, curious of what caused this. Perhaps he just needed a drink? She slowed us as well down to a bouncing trot, panting softly as she glanced between him and the small creek with a question shimmering plainly in her eyes. What was this? She edged up towards the flowing water -- although not overly close to his side at this time, and stole a quick lap of a drink too, but kept an eye on him. Her tail switched mischievously as she did.. even if she did secretly enjoy the quick break and the suspense the pause brought. The drink was much needed and the cool quenching feeling was very welcome (which she tried not to show too openly).

She remained suspicious. He was good, though, and did not give her any leads before it was time -- and trust her, she was watching and waiting, all the while knowing something awaited her. There just was no telling what exactly. Everything about this whole turn of events was utterly unexpected, and plenty unpredictable as well.

When he did move, it was fast. Her senses jolted in response and she came alive, half-rearing herself up to meet him with a hopeful tangle of limbs. If she was going in the water, which was now inevitable, she intended to do her best to take him down with her. She growled playfully, although tumbled awkwardly into the water with an unceremonious splash.

On the way down, she had hoped to nip and tangle him into falling too. Now with her fur all wet, she gathered herself quickly and aimed with a sweep of her forelimb to send a good splash his way too, to ensure him getting wet as well. Just for good measure. She could adapt to this change of medium. The water added a whole new element.

She lost track of time. It held no bearing here, anyway, and she romped away the minutes with this stranger of a wolf. They wrestled, got soaked, and eventually their paths were to separate as the pulls back to their homes grew strong enough. Amekaze bid him a quick farewell and kept information shared between them brief. She could not know if she would ever see him again but did leave his company now with a lightness in her step and a satisfied feeling settled onto her. The dark Rikudou spared him one last lingering look, memorizing the contours of his face, then set off for the Sunspire..