Blackfeather Woods Nose to the ground

@Nemesis

Venus was told by Burke that her and Nemesis had to go check out Redhawk Caldera. She was really excited to spend some time with Nemesis, who she ended up liking, and being able to spy. She poked her nose in and around every corner to see where the black female was. She trotted by the caches, her nose planted downwards, trying to pick up her scent. She truly could't hide her excitement. Her walk was almost a skip and her lips were drawn to a smile. She weaved in and out of the trees, gradually getting faster. Her excitement quickly shifted to anxiety, what if Nemesis didn't want to work with her because Venus might bring her down. She slowed to a creep, she knew she would have to work with her, and she didn't want to mess up any beginning friendship between the two. She didn't know very much about Redhawk Caldera, besides that they lived in the Great Bear Wilderness.

Venus drew in a deep breath, and continued her search. Hopefully she would run muzzle first into her, and they would be able to start their journey. As her anxiety faded reality set in. She and Nemesis could be found, but she knew how to fight, and she knew Nemesis could. Venus wasn't about to howl, and she was told to howl for emergencies.

Catching Venus's scent, she traveled silently through the forest. It had come to her attention that Venus's interests lied in the art of espionage, a perfect match for the task at hand. With one future assassin and a intrigued spy, their presence among the Redhawk territory could go undetected, if they were lucky. She had been around long enough to note the kind of wolves resided in Redhawk, the short tempered, territorial assholes that strutted around with their heads held high. Infiltrating their territory without notice was not going to be an easy feat, for they were not to be underestimated at any costs. Only a fool would think that the neighboring pack didn't have the numbers. Venus, as far as she could could tell, wasn't an amature at fighting or didn't have the guts. This would be a test of true nature, one Nemesis hoped Venus could pass for she did see great promise in the multi coloured girl. Yet, she wouldn't let herself fall too deep. The last time she had even had anyone close to a friend, they had been sworn enemies in the end. She didn't do friends, no matter who it was. Mutual acquaintances was as far as it got, for her cold and unapproachable exterior kept her feelings at bay. 

Nearing the girl, she let nodded silently at the girl, her greeting. "Ready?" She asked as she slowed to a stop by the girl's side, not hesitance in her tone or voice. "Redhawk is not to be underestimated, got that? Just like any other pack they are hostile to intruders and especially to us. No contact is needed, we're only gathering information" And with that, she started to walk on, expecting Venus to follow. Winter was coming and injuries needed to be prevented, for both their sakes. "If you must, use force. If necessary". She wouldn't deny the rights to defend themselves, it was only instinct to eliminate the threat. But they had to be smart.

Venus flicked her head around, her eyes cold as the twilight colored female approached her. She wasn't super fond of surprises, and it caught her off guard when Nemesis greeted her. She quickly relaxed as she identified the wolf. She was slightly nervous about these new wolves. She wasn't planning to get in a scuffle with these wolves, and she really hoped she wouldn't. It was way to close to winter for them to get injured. Redhawk wasn't the closest pack to Blackfeather, and an emergency run back would be quite a chore. But Venus could hold her own, she wouldn't turn tail and run if she was confronted. Venus quickly caught up with Nemesis. 

Venus nodded her head at the females description of Redhawk. She wasn't going to underestimate the pack. She rarely underestimated packs, no matter how rainbows and butterflies they were. The only pack she underestimated was her birth pack. Venus had a good head planted on her shoulders, and could store information in there. But she was glad she had a second witness. Venus debated on asking a question that had been whizzing around her head ever sense Burke had given her the task. "Hey Nemesis, do you know who Sebastian is? Or what he looks like?" Her voice was low. Her eyes were still focused forward, but she really was curious. She also wouldn't be able to know who to spy on if she didn't know what he looked like.

Her ears twitched, listening for any sight of movement behind them. There was always the chance that someone was following them, and in which could possibly blow their cover. At the same time, she wondered about Burke's bastard son too. She didn't know that much about him herself, only that the father and son had no connection outside of their gene pool. From what she gathered, Sebastian was born unknowingly by Burke from a distant memory far away from the Teekon. Honestly, she didn't understand why Burke didn't just eliminate the bother, since they apparently held no affection for eachother. She could see great trouble coming out of the non existent relationship, if anything. "He is Burke's son from another life. He's been in the Teekon under the Redhawk wing for a while, to the dissatisfaction of Burke'' She replied with a hint of disgust in her tone. Who did the guy think he was? The personalities were very much different, just judging by the fact that the son had joined one of those packs. 

"Ironically, they look exactly alike. Minus the tail difference" She referenced to Burke's docked tail. She had never met Sebastian herself, but she could only guess he didn't have the same injury. Besides Sebastian, they had to count numbers. Just sniffing around the borders would do decently, but to get the real stuff, they'd have to go in. A quick scout around the area would determine a less populated area for them to investigate, yet it would take longer time. "So, we need a plan" She stated, rather bluntly. She wasn't about to stroll around hostile territory without a plan. She wasn't suicidal. "To avoid contact, we should find an area with less activity but more scents to count. Maybe a high up area would do us better " While she was commanding the investigation, she wanted to hear from Venus. The answer would typically determine what type of tacticality she preferred, a handy thing to know. 
But from then on, they'd have to work together, something that she wasn't used to.

Do you want to have a thread just for the journey there and then another for when they actually arrive in Redhawk and start snooping (set in the Great Bear Wilderness) or just keep it as one big on and change the prefix..?

Venus listened carefully to Nemesis describe Burkes look alike. She knew he would be easy to pick out, if he was still there of course. Venus slowed her breathing, trying to clear her mind of anything that might knock her off  concentration. Venus began to notice more and more of the terrain change as they moved along. Honestly, she hated it. It was so out in the open. Blackfeather Woods was so cut off from sunlight by the beautiful trees that grew a canopy above their heads. As Nemesis continued to chat about Burkes son, she darted her eyes over the ever changing landscape. 

Some peaks that grew on these plains could be a good spot to spy from. But they also brought danger, one slip and you're tumbling down these steep, sharp slopes. "I definitely think we should position ourselves up high. Though, I am nervous about slippery slopes. I think a high peak would be a great place to hide." Venus definitely agreed with Nemesis about where to hide, but slipping down could easily kill a wolf. 

Yeah let's make a new thread instead of making one long huge one.

Alrighty! :)

Nemesis nodded in approval. Redhawk was a varied terrain, plains and rocky lands of all kinds still intertwined by lush forests. How they survived with the absence of shadows, she did not know. Yet, she was curious to see what exactly their land looked like. From what she heard, they had a volcano too. But it was probably folly along the wind. If there was a volcano, she'd be the first to know. She doubted they would have a hard time finding at least a hill with a good view, the problem was getting seen. It was easy too see but harder to be kept unseen, and on a high up place, the'd practically be announcing their arrival. Venus however was a wolf of many colours, better camouflaged than her ebony pelt. While she coped the ground, Venus could keep watch from above. Plus, unlike her bold exterior, she didn't do hights. 

"How about you take the high spot and i'll sniff around the bottom. We'll get it done faster and you can keep a lookout as well" She suggested, with her combat training her success was more likely on the ground. They would not enter the territory, but simply observe from the outside. Nevertheless, she'd be prepared. "You can defend yourself, yes?" She asked, having only assumed before. She needed to be sure before leaving Venus on her own. Responsibility was tiring, she decided before her eyes wandered around the area, looking for tactical points of advantage.

Venus looked over the vast territory. So to was confused on how these wolves could live such an open life. Venus listened to the females plan. It made her slightly nervous to be alone, when these wolves seem fairly strong. She knew she could handle it, and if she needed help, she would call. Venus had always had a thing for heights. She loved them. She would be able to see every inch of their territory. She added a little skip to her walk as they got closer. "Yeah, that sounds reasonable. Hey Nemesis." Venus turned to look at her. "If you need help please call, and I'll do the same for you." She smiled slightly and went back to facing forward.

Nemesis nodded silently at Venus's approval, yet her brows furrowed at the sudden kindness shown at her. She didn't understand the complexity of emotions that ranged from fury to happiness. Anything on the other side was rarely shown at Blackfeather, for they all seemed to be out of laughter recently. She didn't return the smile, her eyes trained forward as she surged ahead. She didn't need Venus getting any ideas about friendship, she just didn't do that kind of thing. Companions, she could tolerate. Even acquaintances but never any further. Maybe in a distant vision, but she had much more important things to do.

As the neared the change in territory, she paused, her nose reaching the bitter breeze that swept around them. It smelt unnatural, unlike the rotting landscape of Blackfeather. There were countless scents of all kinds of wildlife and wolves mixed into the very ground they stood on. It was revolting. The Great Bear Wilderness stood just beyond the borderline, and from then on they were completely exposed to the vivid world of the beyond. 

Her body tensed as she passed into the new forest, a change in air against her ebony fur. All senses were alive and ready for the slightest foreign sound that reached her ears. At this point, she felt herself draw into seclusion in defense of herself and only herself. But she had to look out for Venus too. She could only hope that the nimble girl wouldn't slow her down.

Venus wasn't looking for a friendship exactly, just acceptance. She knew Nemesis wouldn't respond super friendly, but she just wanted to have it out there. Venus wouldn't slow Nemesis down, she picked up the pace as the sun slowly began breaking through the trees, which gradually got thinner and thinner. It was way to exposed for her liking. The sun made her skin feel prickly, and she hated it. The unusual feeling made her skin slither and twitch. She quickened the pace up as the feeling got stranger and stranger. It's not like she has never seen the sun before, she has just never liked it.

Last post for me and then we can start a new one in the GBW :)

As Venus continued her way, as did Nemesis, though slowing ever so often for a scent to pass by. The rest of the way was fated to be silent for her lack of communication screamed awkward. She found herself thinking back to what made her that way. She had changed so much from before, her past self would have been unrecognisable to anyone who knew her now. Yet, she had never lost her silent ways. It was curious how she was unhesitant to put herself into harm's way yet her exterior was mysterious, she doubted anyone could read her. Nevertheless, Blackfeather was a family and despite the way they acted they stuck together. It was time for her to loose the cold shoulder on those she shared a home with yet she could not risk letting anyone in.

Alrighy

Venus didn't show it, but she really enjoyed Nemesis's company, which was very rare. The truth continued to rack her brain as they drew closer to Redhawk. There was a chance they could be seen, and attacked. She was excited about sneaking around though, and the excitement kind of overrode the nervousness. She continued on, her eyes scanning the ever changing landscape.