Twisted Slough With a dare comes a promise.

Her glassy gaze had remained transfixed on her paws, watching carefully lest she trip and tumble down the slope. Her optics lifted to Cry with surprise as he veered leftward, following behind him to a smooth, travel-worn path. 

Something akin to excitement shone in her pallid gaze as she tried to imagine how the road had come to be. How many people must have walked along it, all with stories and names and destinations in mind. Where had they ended up, she wondered idly to herself as she fell into step alongside the raven. 

Some time passed, the shadows lengthened and the sun's light turned golden as it lowered to the horizon. Kai's gaze lifted with surprise, a matted tail whipping to and fro in excitement, as the path gave way to soft grass - still green with summer's growth. 

The wood was as Cry had described it to her but so much better at the same time.

The trees were the tallest the island girl had ever seen, towering sentinels, ancient beings that owned the land more than any mammal that would ever claim it. Its aura was gloomy and green, its canopy shrouding much of the sunlight. Moss crawled along the broad trunks of trees and rocks alike; shrubbery bloomed between trunks and fallen trees, hand in hand with autumn fungi. 

It was quite obvious she was amazed as she nimbly trailed to the indicated spot. The wolfdog sat on her spotted haunches, tail curling around her paws obediently as she dipped her head to Cry. "I'll wait here for you," the movement seemed to promise.

Kai didn't realize quite why he was venturing into the forest alone but nervous thoughts led her to the conclusion that someone else must be in the timberland as well - perhaps another of Cry's recruits.