The skies had finally started getting back to normal. Thank fuck. Xina looked up at the harsh cliffs rising before them as they made landfall. The misadventures with worms in the shimmering shore were behind her. But the ordeal and losing their brother, Indica, had pressed a need to protect her family above all else. They had to survive and if they wanted to survive, it was easier together.

The harsh wind bit into her ebony and red coat. It smelled of snow and winter coming in fast. She looked back to see if her sister had made it safely to the shore before she turned her attention back to the terrain. She carefully picked her way along an ancient and possibly well-used path. Leading them inward to the towering mountain where she was sure they could find some cool things for Seri to find and make use of.

She crested the hill, stopping at the top of the path to look down beyond the wall of cliffs. Inside a lush forest spread out before them.

"If there's any monster worms in here - you know the drill. Distract it while I take it down and don't go near its mouth." Since coming back with stories of the worms and then hearing of more arriving in places closer to home she was on high alert. There was no way she was going to let anything happen to her sister. No teasing tones in her voice either.

Speech // thought

Sericea's acidic green eyes sparkled with excitement as she bounded up the path after her sister, her sleek red and black fur rippling in the wind. She tilted her head, studying the towering cliffs with a keen, observant gaze. "Monster worms, really?" Sericea said, her tone playfully skeptical. "I'll believe it when I see it." She pranced ahead of Xina, her movements graceful yet restless, unable to contain her eagerness to explore this new land.

As they entered the lush forest towards the island’s center, Sericea's nose twitched, taking in the earthy scents of moss, bark, and damp soil. Her eyes darted from one plant to another, her mind already whirring with the possibilities of what she could collect and make.

As she passed a particularly gnarled tree, she couldn’t help but notice some rather interesting vines. She paused, silently debating what she would do with them if she gathered some. With an outstretched paw, she ran her nails through the twisted, ropy tendril. The texture was unlike anything she had encountered before - smooth yet slightly tacky to the touch. Sericea's curiosity was piqued by the unusual vines. She circled the tree, examining them from every angle with a fascinated tilt of her head. She had to have some.

"Sericea Praetor-Inferos"

Xina rolled her eyes skyward as Seri expressed her skepticism.
"I fucking hope you don't ever get to see one," Xina remarked sharply as she watched her sister prance on ahead. Golden eyes lingered on the way Seri's hips swayed before her. A funny feeling sank into her fur again. But she had a job to do and that was to scout the area for any dangers.

Keeping an eye on her sister she strolled down the path behind her. Bird song sang around them in fits and starts overhead. The songs were a different type than she had heard from before, it wouldn't be too much of a jump to say that the island probably had a rare population of birds. Circling around Seri, Xina came across a lush abundance of berries and plants she was sure she had seen a healer use a time or two. Among the plants, scattered over the ground were clusters of black shiny rocks she knew to be obsidian! The mountainside seemed to be rich with the delicate and sharp stones.

Xina strode a little closer to her sister and eyed what she was making. Seri was definitely the creative type and had made several interesting things already. "What you making?" Xina asked bluntly.

Speech // thought