Felltree Marsh and it drifts over

He travelled further inland after the blessed day on the coast, weaving his way through the territories and avoiding scent borders as much as he was able. He had agreed to meet the woman, Nova Rose, east from the cape after she had said her goodbyes to her pack. So the afternoon found Phares in some sort of marsh. Not his preferred place to be but the sodden ground underfoot was a welcome respite from the heat.

He stopped upon an uprooted log, surveying the area. It seemed as if some terrible tragedy had struck part of what once could have been a large forest here. Before him were tall, still standing trees but, where he stood, was only destruction. A sense of unease overcame the priest, and he tapped his paw against the wood to ward away whatever evil spirits may be lurking in the ruins of the woodland. He wouldn't stay here long.

Her day with Grace had passed quickly, and it felt like seconds that she was off to meet Phares and begin her new life. She knew her leaving of the Marauders was necessary to learn more of and serve Him, and it was all well worth it. Nova couldn't live with the guilt that Phares had risen within her, that she'd always truly lived with.
She'd been unfaithful, she'd taken lives, she'd lied, and who knows how much else, but she planned to purge her soul of those awful things and be fully faithful to Raas and his command. It was he who could help her, heal her.
He who could make the golden queen happy once again.
There was the red man, the advocate of her savior. She hurried her pace to catch up with him, a smile wrought upon her face and her creamy tail waving behind her. Today was the day her new life began, and though the famine had taken its toll on her and brought bones noticeable under her thick coat, cutting her energy, today she felt like a pup.

He was thankful for the sight of the golden-furred wolf as she appeared on the horizon. As she got closer, and though age-weary and lacking in any noticeable bulk — at least, for the moment — Phares could tell she tread with newfound vigour. Raas had already given his blessing, accepting her misgivings and past. This was only the beginning, though, she still had much to learn of their faith, to be truly freed from her sins.

Phares raised his head and returned her smile, still perched atop the fallen tree as he looked down upon her. He turned then to scan the area once more, his unease with the territory apparent. "Do you know what wrought such destruction?" he asked his new convert, letting his gaze linger on the fallen forest before looking back to her with concern. Surely locusts hadn't caused this much damage?

Nova came to Phares like they held a pair of magnets, drawn to him, or as she believed, led by the light of the lord. Her teacher, her priest, he was friendly as before and welcoming, but the greeting faded in seconds. Following his gaze, the elder sighed.
            "Locusts, Phares, they came through and wiped out anything green in the Teekon."
Or so people said, right? She'd never really been out of the Tiaga here, and it made this all the more exciting for her. Her own spectral eyes swept over the scene, and she did her best to see what Phares did. Was there a lesson here, another part of her rebirth? It was she who'd picked his place, and her ears drooped slightly at the worry she'd led them to a bad place. From now on, the priest would be leading.

His brows furrowed together slightly at her explanation. Locusts. So, they were to blame for all this destruction? They had caused the famine, too, no doubt. The herds relied on the greenery that Raas' light fed, which in turn fed their prey. Without it, they moved elsewhere. The wolves were not so lucky, having packs and pups meant travelling with them would prove too risky. Phares hoped the misery that had befallen these lands didn't last long.

With that thought, he turned to Nova again, leaping from the uprooted tree and landing lightly upon the ground. He padded towards her with a curious tilt of his head. "What do you know of these lands?" he asked, gesturing with a sweep of his muzzle across this area and beyond, wondering how much she knew of the Wilds.

Phares came closer, and she dipped her head in respect as she would an worthy alpha like Warbone. A smile lit up her pale, soot colored face, but it took her a moment of thinking to remember she knew both Rising Sun Valley and the Snowforest Taiga. It was the only parts of the Teekon Wilds she knew, but she knew at least most of it well.  
                 "I know Rising Sun Valley and the Snowforest Taiga pretty well, but nothing past the Sunspire Mountains. Other than the bit of coast you saw me on, but that was my first time there. "
She motioned to the stretch of mountain peaks on the horizon to the West, poking out like teeth from the earth. The bases were impossible to see from so far, but the towering spikes were nearly impossible to miss. The area they were in, everything between and closely around Larksong Grotto and Marauders Keep was well known from her time here.

Finish up after one or two more rounds? :D

When she dipped her head, he was a little taken aback. Elated by the display as he was, he was also unused to commanding such respect. At the Shrine, he was but a simple priest. It was a noble title, but one that left him to be known as just that — a priest. As all males were meant to be. Only the Seers and Grand Vicars held esteemed roles in the cult, ones that brought with them authority over the other members. Phares couldn't say he didn't like this newfound pride in having such a respectful follower, even if they were only one.

He was pulled from his thoughts as she spoke, speaking names unknown to him. He followed her gaze to the mountains, and then back to her with keen interest. He had guided her soul to the light, but now she must guide his way. Phares did not know much of these lands, and he did admit that he felt safer travelling with another by his side, especially one at least a little bit familiar with the territory.

"Then the Valley and Taiga we shall stay," he said with a decisive nod. The area seemed to stretch on for miles, anyway. Surely they would find somewhere promising. If they didn't, then they would simply go to the mountains. "Pick a direction," he commanded suddenly, looking straight at the dark-faced woman. His eyes were warm, however, knowing that wherever they headed, Raas would not let them stray far from His light.

Whenever you want! :3

Nova was confident in both the way she treated him and the area around them, and though he seemed surprised at either one or the other, the golden woman didn't question it. Phares put his trust in her, and perhaps he was glad to not have to wander blindly anymore. The red man claimed that they would stay where she knew, and happiness spiked at her heart when he left the final decision to her on where to go. There was nowhere in mind, but the first place she looked was towards the burnt up Redtail Rise. Beyond that was Larksong Grotto, which in her thoughts she assured herself that they wouldn't get close to the borders or be a bother there, unless Phares decided so. 
            "This is as good a way as ever. A pack up there we're probably going to have to avoid but, that shouldn't be a problem."
She waited for him to take the lead, resigned to follow at his flank with a happy sway of her tail and a smile wrought permanantly across her jaws.

Last post from me!

She followed his command earnestly, looking to the distant rise beyond them. Phares pricked his ears as he followed her gaze, staring studiously at the landscape. He had no strong opinions on the matter, trusting in his new found acolyte that this direction would bring them to wherever He saw fit. The mention of a pack caused a single ear to quirk, though he wasn't worried. As Nova said, they wouldn't be much a problem if they avoided the pack lands.

Dark eyes settled on the woman before he waved his tail back at her, beginning to walk forwards with determined steps, quietly pleased that they would be leaving the marshlands behind. He didn't trust them. "Come," he said gently, nodding to Nova, allowing her to follow at his side as they travelled.