Mount Apikuni bang bang, i hit the ground

The damned hollow had been nicer than this place, which was saying something mentioning that place was like a ghost town (save for that mildly handsome stranger she came across). This land seemed to be a charred section of earth, too desperate to grow back and failing to do so fully. It would do her no good to stay somewhere that was anything less than fruitful.

Her paws were scraped from rugged rocks and she would likely need to rest once she reached the lands below this high land. Jaw clenched tightly as she tried to ignore the soreness of her legs. Atiena was perhaps pushing herself a bit too much but she couldn't help it. She was on the hunt for something better - something bigger - than what she currently had.

she'd slipped out of the borders come early morning, seeking to test the limits of her still-healing ankle. there was quiet in this charred section of earth, in its barrenness, and so too were her thoughts quiet. it had happened suddenly, during one of the mornings that she'd been woken early by teeming thoughts and what-ifs and wondering if she were destined for a special place in hell, father-slayer. 

and then she had decided to stop asking. she'd find some way to redeem herself for what she'd done, be something more. a quiet promise and oath, maybe not an end but a good enough start. 

she noticed the woman shortly, pausing in her step and drawing in the scent; curious, yet not enough to directly seek out the woman who moved somewhere out of her view.

It was rare that Atiena was being watched without knowing. She was awfully defensive and wary of her own back most days. Ah but she was in familiar terrain that was a bit too rugged for her tastes. She had to worry about not snapping an ankle or taking a tumble down the mountain side.

A few smaller loose stones slide out from under her large form and he front paws skidded enough to cause her heart to jump-start but nothing else came from the incident. Her lip pulled back slightly as she felt frustrated with these lands. This was all so dumb. Damn the storms that had driven her from her rightful land.

Her head turned over her shoulder to try and spot an easier path. Instead she could have sworn she spotted a glimpse of movement. Alas she wasn't sure. It very well could have been the lighting tricking her. Not that she would ever admit to being so vulnerable to such a dumb tactic.

stones scattered and skipped across rock, and the moss-eyed svartell narrowed her gaze, attempting to make out a figure, realizing she might as well simply seek out the stranger. she moved carefully, not trusting her forelimb to properly bear her weight just yet, testing it against the rock with cation. 

it did not take her long to find the woman; the sound she'd produced coupled with the near scent made the task easy. she announced her presence with a chuff when she was within view, gazing raking over the woman once and deeming her an imposing creature.

The stranger comes out of hiding. An interesting creature. Ebony tainted by ivory. She is lean unlike the stocky beast Atiena is. Not a threat then.

The older female offers a snort of acknowledgement. Are you from here? She asks with a raised brow, keeping her eyes fixed on the female while she centers her weight. Atiena refuses to make a bigger fool of herself than she already has.

in response to the woman's question she merely inclines her head; the mountains are familiar and well-tread by her. "you?"  comes her own question, knowing the answer to be a no but curious if she would offer anything beyond that. by the sounds and situation the woman finds herself in, the star-touched doubts she's anything more than a stranger to the mountains.