Jade Fern Grove don't roll your eyes.

Several days had passed since Penn had left the Copse. He wasn't sure if he'd beaten his record yet for longest time away from the pack, but he felt as though he was probably getting close. He for sure beaten his record for the further distance he'd ever been from home for he'd never before been on the Eastern side of the Sunspire mountain range. In a way, he felt guilty for it. But in other ways, he was finally feeling as though he was able to breathe again. He was still a far cry from anything resembling actual happiness, but not suffocating was an improvement that was hard to part ways with.

So, the boy kept going, pushing thoughts like when he should or when he wanted to go home as far to the back of his mind as he could manage. Fortunately, the wilds had much to offer a spirited yearling in the way of distractions. Today, his interest had been taken by a peculiar patch of fur that he'd found tucked between the fronds of one of the many-fingered ferns this particularly forest seemed to be covered in. It didn't carry a scent he recognized, though it held traces of familiarity that he couldn't quite place. Whatever it was, it had gone deeper into the woods and, wittingly or not, now had a Blackthorn hot on its trail.

Jomyo wasn't looking for anything in particular right now. Firstly, it was just that too familiar itch to roam.. or meander around at least. The weather was decent compared, so why miss the chance? She could hone it into purpose soon, the scout just needed a little motion underfoot to get herself started when loitering around the Bypass was not exactly needed right here and now--she had confidence they could hold down the place with her gone a moment, and who knew, maybe her nose might lead her into something worth a bit of interest for them all. She would be back soon, anyway. This wasn't going to be one of her longer treks.

Setting out funneled her right into the grove, and Jomyo went willingly deeper down a few familiar routes.. but she took some turns she might not usually when she had a real plan. It worked out so far, and she wasn't pressed by expectation as she was free to take it in, and decide from there. Instead she just skimmed along for a good while more, trotting lightly on until she thought she heard something a bit different than the usual sounds of the woods.

Listening more carefully then, she ducked out of a sunbeam when her paws stopped and squinted suspiciously into the greenery to hunt for signs of motion that might catch her eye--good or bad.

Penn paused with his dark muzzle stuck in the center of a fern, his ears perked and listening. He could hear footsteps, but they didn't sound right. Whatever was approaching was not the thing he was stalking. He suspected his prey was heavier, with just about zero grace. A wide, fumbling gait versus something long-legged and poised. Whoever was approaching was a wolf and he was not stalking one of those.

Still, the Blackthorn lifted his head to peer into the wide spaces between the trees. As he suspected, there was a wolf wading through the sea of green. Penn frowned, mildly annoyed for no reason other than he was a temperamental teenager. Not wanting to lose the trail, he stayed put, but he hissed just loudly enough for her to hear (assuming she wasn't hard of hearing), "Hey, quiet down! I'm hunting here!"

The first visual pass over the greenery did not yield a clear answer right away. However, a voice sounded and zeroed her right in on the stranger with that as a guide.

Her ears twitched, and words processed her expression into a swift squint. Back at him with an arced a brow, she was humored enough to play--even if she was getting on his nerves just by prowling through--which, honestly, good. She could capitalize on that. Fortunately, she had little stock in the hunts of complete strangers, and she had been here long enough to know not to be hung up on one failed trail.

Jomyo pivoted to face him fully, then took a few steps closer. Say so like that and I'm incredibly less inclined, you know, she hissed back at him. Who are you? Before she found her own nickname to title the brat with, so long as she had to look at him, anyway.

Penn was effective in getting the stranger's attention, but not so much in the getting her to be quiet. He supposed she was quieter than she had been, so he'd give her that. But still, she was not exactly presenting herself as cooperative here.

So, he rolled his eyes before replying to her. "I'm the guy that's gonna kill whatever creature is haunting this place," he answered, lifting his chin a little, then tilting his head. "Haven't you smelled it? I've been stalking it a while. I don't know what it is, but seeing the way it's smashing the plants along its path, it seems big," he informed her, his face splitting into a grin as though he was majorly pleased to be on the road to tangle with something big and dangerous, which unfortunately he was.

Ah, she probably should have anticipated an answer like that one since he was clearly so very capable here. It told her he was plenty full of himself, if not an actual name to match to face. The quirked brow look and matching head tilt remained. Okay, right.. she answered, though the deadpan delivery left it up for interpretation exactly how sarcastic that was. Though, she wasn't about to discourage him from the venture. Maybe he could, or maybe he would just run headlong into something dangerous. She could probably stand to see what the outcome was for now, anyway.

Nothing fresh from the way I've come, she still spoke quietly, dropping her tones down to as low as she could to still be heard while she gestured back towards the Bypass and the trail that carried her to here. This place gets a lot of traffic, predator and prey, she mentioned. Good, because better hunting was why they had moved north at all but if it did bring unwanted attention from competition and dangerous sorts, then that was the cost it seemed. Where's your best lead heading? she asked, playing along with him obviously being the most knowing of all things.

She seemed skeptical, but that was fine by Penn. He'd show her. Assuming she was going to be following him, which he did. After all, who would want to miss a chance at adventure? He smirked.

"It's headed North, though I've no idea towards what," he answered as he set off again, his nostrils twitching as he went, "Maybe it has a den nearby, or a cache. Maybe a sexy lady friend. Or, maybe it's just looking for a nice place to take a shit. Either way, we'll be on it soon enough." He paused to glance at her with a cocky grin, "I can take it on my own if you want to sit back and watch, though. Keep your pretty paws clean."

Since he appeared more than ready to rise to the challenge of whatever may await, she let him have at it--finding herself willing enough to play along too just to see what may become of it since if it was in this area, it could very well be Legion's problem if not dealt with now. If it truly was a massive danger, then.. well, she'd decide later.

As he said himself, warranting a quirk of her brow, she may not even need to dirty her pretty paws after all. She could roll with that too then and let the bullheadedness of youth spearhead this. It would just depend on what he got into and how lasting her interest may be how she may handle it from there. Maybe it wouldn't need her at all, and she'd just have an interesting afternoon. Curiosity could do wonders, and nothing else was pulling at her needs for today anyway. So brave of you, she smirked, sarcasm definitely sprinkled in--but fine to stroke his ego a little too to see what he'd do with it.  I can do with a show, she said back, hushed still, and went trailing after him on her lightest steps--eyes and ears peeled, however, for any signs.