Venom made her way through the battlefield so she could avoid the other packs on her way back to Ashen. She was quite tempted to go and visit Avalon, but at this point she was tired, her heart hurt, and she missed her family far too much to dally any longer. Seeing Iki had refreshed her, but leaving had been hard. Thankfully they had a date when she would see her again, but for now the solitude was deafening. White gloved paws carried her onward, bringing her to the plateau.

This place was quite unique compared to much of Boreas, though not so much if she was comparing to the Hallow’s castle. Ancient artifacts of the creatures that ruled the world before wolves were scattered everywhere and the Empress was forced to watch her step lest she trip or cut her toe on rusty metal. Her attention was easily taken from her heavy heart as she curiously inspected the items as she went by.

"Venom"

Big cats were travelers. They liked to walk and wander. Taiga was no different. The lioness allowed her giant, snowshoe paws to carry her to parts unknown from time to time and today they did just that.

There was old blood here. She could smell it in the very soil. Ruby eyes drifted from this relic to that and Taiga wondered just what had happened here. Some of the ancient pieces were small, but others were much larger. Time hadn't fully eaten them away just yet. Big or small though, the feline had no idea what they were or where they had come from.

As the cat meandered leisurely across this unknown space, her gaze landed upon a wolf. A speckled female that seemed to be inspecting this strange place just as Taiga was. "Interesting place," the black, grey and white lioness rumbled conversationally. Would the wolf run upon seeing the giantess as some did or would she stand her ground and speak?

"Taiga"

Venom’s sunset eyes were forced upon the decrepit objects that scattered the plains here. They were interesting and mysterious, and she couldn’t settle on one purpose or another they were for or from. Mostly, she was being careful not to cut her paws as she walked through the deserted battlefield. However cautious she needed to be about the landscape itself, there were other dangers that lingered in a place like this.

Her attention was quickly captured by the sound of heavy footfalls to her side. Her eyes were brought up to find the massive form of a giant cat, whose markings were similar to her own. An odd thing to compare when faced with what should have been a mortal enemy. The feline’s voice was deep, but non threatening as she gently made comments about their surroundings.

Venom had grown up in a diplomatic lifestyle, and the lioness had not attacked at first sight so Venom would extend the same courtesy. "Indeed, there isn’t a place like it that I’ve seen.” She returned cautiously.

"Venom"

Surprisingly the wolf didn't flee. She didn't even react much with her expression. That won her points in Taiga's eyes. Granted, the giantess' posture was loose and easy. Her gaze was one of casual interest. It was good that the wolf had picked up on that.

Rounded ears swiveled as the woman spoke, stating that she'd never seen such a place. "Nor I," the feline replied. "Seems like a decent place to cut yourself, but little more." With so many sharp bits poking out of the ground, one had to move warily through. Who wanted to deal with that? She would likely never return to this place once she left it.

"I am Taiga," she introduced herself before scanning the ground beneath her with ruby eyes. Once she was sure that there were no stabbies sticking up beneath her, the big cat seated herself, then slid down to lay on her belly. Giant paws spread wide and curved claws dug into the earth for a moment as her body tensed in a little stretch. A slight rest before she returned to her herd.

"Taiga"

The Empress had never been one to run from a challenge, and if this massive feline couldn’t be called that she wasn’t sure what she would. Venom was good at reading situations, if she wasn’t she wouldn’t be where she was today. The lioness seemed anything but outright aggressive, she was sure that would be easy to decipher.

The cat was well spoken, not that Venom should have been surprised. Sometimes it seemed like there were feral animals that didn’t have a lick of sense in them, and then there were those who could talk and feel just as the wolves of Ashen could. Like many of the pack’s strange companions that stuck to their master’s sides. Venom nodded in agreement, this was somewhere she would hate to bring some wobbling puppies.

Taiga, as she was called, went on to introduce herself simply with a name. Venom returned her gaze and gave a small nod of acknowledgement as the lioness carefully let herself lay down in the field. Care free as a cat of her size could or would be. "My name is Venom,” she started easily. "I am the rule of one of the wolf packs to the West.” She added for small talk’s sake. Plus it seemed as though this cat might be a collector of knowledge.

"Venom"