Blacktail Deer Plateau together we map the world

They marched into the woods, Osprey leading Saēna impatiently and secretly hoping to lose her. Somehow, the smaller puppy easily kept pace, gliding along behind Junior like her paler, prettier shadow. She remained quiet for a spell before softly asking, Why?

"'Cause!" was Osprey's impatient and imperious reply. She shot her cousling a brief, annoyed glance and continued running, simultaneously putting as much distance between herself and the boring old rendezvous site and keeping an eye, ear and nose out for any sign of the other two pups.

Somehow, the twosome ended up near the edge of the plateau overlooking the flat lands below. "Ooo," Osprey said. She hadn't meant to come so far... or had she? She craned her neck to peer over the edge, then blinked as Saēna caught up to her. Osprey briefly considered shoving the smaller pup overboard, unaware that it would result in her instant death, when a noise stole her attention.

Some ungainly creature was moving around at the foot of the path leading from the plateau into the unclaimed terrain beyond. It looked birdlike, though it had a peculiarly long neck and a very strange growth on its face. Osprey stared at it from her vantage point and asked, "Whassat?" She looked to Saēna. The pale girl was usually wise and full of answers, something even stubborn Osprey could admit and acknowledge.