Sequoia Coast Next destination: New East facility 23

The ocean was like the desert in many ways. Blinding under the midday sun, unending as it stretched towards the blue crested horizon, and parching as a mirage.

Aelius backpedaled from the briny waters, hunched over and scraping salt from his tongue. Uck! Some place this turned out to be.

Finding anyone here would be like finding anyone in the desert. Possible - but surely only claimed by wolves of questionable sanity. His thoughts were reclaimed by the nameless girl he'd met by the river, and wondered again where she had drifted to after she circled him like a vulture, but left him alive.

She perhaps had been a ghost. A spectre of his darkening mind. Insane. He took one last swipe at his tongue before settling down with a squint to the endless waters. This place is making me lose my mind.

But it wasn't like there was much better a place to go. Not for wolves like him.

All welcome! But maybe @Noxir, or someone else pledged to Murkwood?

meredith perched atop a ridge of bleached stone, the sea breeze whipping at her wiry coat. her sharp eyes scanned the expanse below, catching the faint, hunched figure of a wolf near the brine. it was a sight, alright—poor lad looked half-starved and half-mad, though weren’t they all?

yer lookin’ a bit lost, mate, she called down, her mummers accent twisting the words into a melodic taunt. she didn’t descend just yet, letting her voice carry on the salty wind.

ain’t much sanity t’ be found ‘round these parts, so if that’s what yer after, reckon you’ve sailed up the wrong creek. a low chuckle followed, her tail giving a lazy sway as she leaned against the wind, watching him like a hawk sizing up prey.

what’s brought ya t’ the edge, eh? treasure, ghosts, or just plain bad luck?

pls skip!

Voices in the distance drew the phantom from the shadows as always. Meredith, he knew, but the other he did not. A man turned mad with thirst; he had seen it all before. 

A sly smile as he settled on the same ridge nearby in a way that revealed himself to her but not to him - not yet. The captain would not interfere this time, no. The pressure was all on the girl and Noxir would be there to observe. A test, if you will. Though he did not doubt her loyalty, this was a way to cement it.

Aelius squinted against the sun to where a woman stood, his own lip curled up in question.

You lot read minds or something, came a murmur to himself, hardly cresting the crash of the sea. He set his paw down and watched the seawolf's sandy fur dance in the wind. There was something different about this one. Wild. It dripped from her voice like in brine. Hadn't father said it? Those lands are filled with heathens.

Aelius gave a careless shrug.

A little bit of everything, but mostly bad luck. Must be something round here worth a wolf's time, if something's brought you here, too. It was flawed reasoning, he knew, and he doubled back with a defeated laugh. unless bad luck's two for two today.

<3 Thanks for joining! :D I already love them both!

she tilted her head, a sly grin tugging at her lips as she stepped closer, the salty wind tousling her sandy fur. ain’t nothin’ like jinx here, she quipped, her lilt curling around each word. ’less yer the one bringin’ it along, yeah?

she flicked her tail, her pale eyes gleaming with playful mischief as she studied him. still, reckon there’s somethin’ round here worth yer time. but if it’s luck you’re after, she paused, letting the grin grow wider, might wanna toss that coin again.

her voice carried a teasing warmth, though there was a glint of challenge in her gaze, daring him to believe otherwise. don't give away m'secrets that easy.