Here, the earth seemed... bizarre. To her, anyway, and it was for reasons she could not quite pinpoint. The lithe female's eyes were narrowed and set straight ahead as she trotted on. The energies of these places were nothing like the mountain range she had known prior, so the fledgling-sage could not read them as well yet. She did not understand but steeled herself to adapt, learn and strengthen, even as ache permeated deep into her being.

The forests had become saturated and darker, marking their transformation into a wetland in full now that the ground squelched beneath her paws. She paused merely a moment to listen and smell. The scent of brackish water overcame her senses. Hn, she murmured thoughtfully with her expression blanked, then headed on at an easy walk to zig-zag a path through the foliage.

She guessed she had a few hours before full dark still, so would spend the time familiarizing herself. Amekaze could not say for sure if she would remain in this region for any length of time but surely long enough to hunt and rest some. She had been traveling steady for a while now and unless something caught her interest, she would continue. However, deep down, she hoped there would be something worth her time soon. The further from the mountains she traveled, the more she missed them.

Even now, her mentor's parting words resonated, clear as day. "I hope you learn what true strength is." Involuntarily, she shivered. Amekaze held these words close to her heart. There was still so very much to see..

Amekaze headed south. She smelled prey, and more interestingly, wolves.

She stretched out her stride, for even despite the resistance of the soggy ground that at times was more water than dirt, she persisted and moved with fluid determination. Although she had no set destination, her motivation was plenty still -- simply, forward. Towards what, who or where exactly, she would need more time to understand. However, she would get what she wanted. If not here, then somewhere. This journey would not be a waste.

Her wild fur was heavy with moisture and her underbelly flecked in mud. Small pieces of leaves and twigs clung tight to her coat. The more the scenery became a part of her, the more she came to appreciate them bit by bit. The earth here, although difficult to navigate and surely unpleasant to some, seemed content and at peace with itself with an air of mystery she still could not place. Amekaze could appreciate that even if it did not exude the same confidence as the mountains she had known prior. She lifted her muzzle and chuffed thoughtfully, although in doing so, she swore she smelled another over the heavy scent of wet and half-decaying plant life.

Now.. where. She narrowed her eyes and keened her senses. Before, she had been listening primarily to the surroundings. It was time to shift gears for this was perhaps the nearest to another wolf she had been in several days.

Her path wove her way even closer to intersecting with the other. She moved as quietly as she could considering the setting, but had a feeling the other should have detected her by now -- what with the sounds the wetness caused at her paws. If she hadn't, she would very soon.

Finally, she caught clear sight of the wolf she had smelled -- female, and not too much older than herself evidently. Amekaze's hawkish gaze was quick to zero in on the agouti patterning amidst the heavy shadows of the woods. She stilled herself and proceeded to stare questioningly at the other, ready to judge the responses that even this would earn her.

She had only recently come to these strange lands and was far from understanding them fully. Whereas the earth itself would speak its own tales, there was always more to garner from the inhabitants and this was where her information presently lacked. She had mingled so little with others that now, when faced with it, it did seem momentarily odd.

This would not be as she was used to. These wolves were strangers. Each and every one of them, neither enemies or comrades for the time being. It was possible that it would change with time but at the same time, maybe not. She may not even remain here at all. That notion of perpetual traveling seemed everlasting, just too stubborn for her to shake even if it was not what she desired. Her heart still belonged with those ranges but there was still a piece of her missing, and she intended to find it out here far from the lands she had loved.

A silent neutrality was established plainly between them which she regarded with a miniscule nod. She then ghosted forward a few paces, silent and svelte in her cat-like approach. Mesu, Amekaze acknowledged plainly, although with what was perhaps an overly intent stare. Are you of this place? she rumbled once she half-paused closer, but she seemed ready to resume motion at any second. Her neck was elevated although not overly so -- just enough to declare her confidence, even out of her element of a home. Ame felt at relative ease here despite the unfamiliarity and the company of another female was not going to take that from her, not with the earth's energy so easy to enjoy here.

She intended to keep this conversation brief right from the start, but garnered the information she could manage in a short span of time. Words were exchanged, although perhaps a little reluctantly on her behalf, but soon it came to a logical conclusion where she decided that she was finished here. Amekaze dipped her muzzle in fleeting farewell and bid her adieu before disappearing back into the depths of the wetlands, wondering for a split second if she would ever encounter this agouti female again.