Deepwood Weald i never know how long i’ll be, it depends who’s asking

Valentine didn’t linger much longer after he spoke to Cascadia. He’d return soon enough to get a more thorough look himself, but for now he left the plateau’s exploration to the marauder. There’s little point in them focusing on the same task. The land beyond needed scouting, so south he’d go.
Soft sand gave way to sharp nettle. The stowaway shook his paw each time one managed to prick the padding. He wasn’t used to the harsher inland earth as much as the older Seasmen, nor did he particularly enjoy walking upon it. He’d grow accustomed to it, he hoped.

unlike the seafarer, alphus was well accustomed to the subtle, uncomfortable jabs of pain the tougher, unfriendly inland terrain would cause as pebbles and twigs would cut and become stuck between toes. all but a minor inconvenience to the youthful mountaineer who, despite being perhaps the dullest tool in the shed, was as well traversed as they come at his age.

the wayward yearling marched on through the weald, one step after another, nose low to the ground beneath shrubbery and brush, only stopping when the sharp, unfamiliar scent of sea brine reached his nostrils. the odor was off putting, and he took a few clumsy steps backwards as honey eyes glared ahead for the suspect behind the unfavorable stench. 

He was not alone in these woods. For a moment he wondered if the reinforcements had came. It’s much too soon, thought Valentine, though he would’ve appreciated early arrivals. This scent lacked any sort of familiarity anyhow, and he could just barely distinguish it from the foreign scent of this gnarled forest.
Curiosity drew him closer, and he eventually came across the traveler. Ahoy there, he greeted with a gentle smile. Out on a stroll?

eventually the source revealed itself in the familiar form of yet another wandering soul in the thicket. "heya", he babbled out as he took in and observed the physical attributes of the newly found stranger. wherever it may be the passerby had come from, alphus had not yet been there. "supposed a stroll is one word for it, though those usually mean you have an end destination in mind."

he had no waypoint in his mind nor care in the world on where he might end up on his impromptu journey. perhaps inquiring about the foreign scent that clung to the stranger was a good place to start? "don't mean any offense, but you smell like you just took a bath in a puddle of dead fish." ah, he has such a way with words, doesn't he?

Ah, I see. The man seemed to live a similar life his father had told him about. A life of travel with no end. One he found himself wondering about, but one he’d never live.
Valentine expected an introduction to follow, or perhaps an inquiry about the Seasman’s identity. Certainly not such a blunt observation. He couldn’t help but laugh.
Really? He made a note to mask the smell whenever it was time to leave the coast. Not to spare the inland wolves noses, but to hide any trace of his whereabouts.
I’ve been exploring the coast for so long. I suppose I haven’t noticed!

thankfully, it appeared he'd run into someone who was not so easily offended. the other's laugh relieved alphus of any tension that might have built up during the moment between words. at least he didn't have to worry about hurting someone's feelings.

"the coast huh?" he questioned with a tilt of his head. "never been there, only heard the stories." he'd been told the sea was most beautiful during the sunrises or sunsets, and that plenty of treasures could be found there washed upon the shore. but if the ocean looked anything like it smelled, he wanted to steer clear of it for the time being.

The shore is a magnificent place, so long as you can get past its smell. he chuckled. It’s a quiet place to clear the mind. Most times that is. Pretty too. And there’s many hidden treasures to find.
Valentine gestured eastward with the bridge of his nose. There’s a beach not too far from here, if you’re inclined to see for yourself.

he listened as the other spoke, offering only a few twitches of his ears to indicated he had been paying attention to the stranger's words. the man revealed the sea's biggest downside was the smell of it, and alphus wondered if the sight could make up for the foul odor. "is the view worth it?", he questioned at the other's offer to tag along with him down to the coast.

he didn't mind the walk seeing as how he'd been wandering for months now. his concern was if the view would live up to the expectations set in his mind. better his imagination be let to run wild than to face the disappointment the world would surely show him.