continued from Gambit Briar

The resounding words from the stallion leave Gem smiling just a little. She was as honest as they came and though she feared what would have happened if she had been wrong, she doesn't dwell on it. Instead, she hurries after the horse down the rocky path. Laid out ahead of them, just on the other side of a small stream, the black sandy beach stretched for miles. Glittering beneath the afternoon sun, she is excited to explore it. Knowing the horse could easily keep up with her small strides, Gem picks up her pace and races ahead with Hematite on her heels. Leaping effortlessly over the stream and onto the small dunes of the beach, she spins in a quick circle to see how loose the sand was. After a recent rain and the tide rolling out, the sand seemed to stand firm beneath her petite weight. "A pack has not resided here in quite some time," Gem questions as she turns to glance back at the looming presence of the stallion if he were still following. Gem Klein

His ghostly white hooves crunch against the black sand as he steps onto the beach behind the wolf, his white eyes scanning the vast stretch before him. The obsidian beneath him glimmers in the sunlight, creating a striking contrast against his storm-gray coat. He watches as Gem leaps ahead, sensing her excitement. Her observation about a pack earns a low snort from him.

"Too soft a place for a pack, it would be a trap not a home," he rumbles, his voice carrying that same edge of disdain. "I am sure this land has many secrets to tell, however," he states as he strides forward, the loose sand shifting slightly under his weight but holding firm. He narrows his eyes as he surveys the beach, looking out for any danger that might be waiting. The beach was beautiful, but eerie with its stillness; it intrigued him.

Without another word, he continued down the shoreline, eager to explore what this beach had to offer.

[ 1/3 Explored a new land (Obsidian Beach) ]

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Though the stallion appears thoroughly displeased, his words lure Gem in. "Secrets? Such as?" She looks to him before directing her attention back to the beach. Staying within conversating distance, but not too close, she pauses every so often to inspect the objects around her. Every once in awhile, an interesting shell would catch her attention, half-sticking up from the sand, glittering in the sun. As she pulls a particularly flat and wide shell from the sand, shaking it loose and handing it to Hem, the call of some gulls turn her gaze upward. Too soft a place for a pack? She looks around again to notice the dunes that separate grass from obsidian sand. The looming figure of the caverns nearby. Would it not be safer to hold possession over the beach for easy access to water, food, and safety? Alas, she won't question the stallion, it wasn't in her to do such a thing. Gem Klein

Uruk snorts softly, his discomfort barely hidden as he scans the beach. The open plains and prairies were what he was used to, with their endless horizons and exits on every side. Here, the ocean blocked one side and the looming caverns only offered tight, confining spaces that he despised. His horned head swung as he considered Gem's question.

"Secrets such as who has been here before us, the sand tells," he growls, lowering his head to inspect the sand. His sharp eyes catch faint hoof prints and paw marks leading toward the water, partially obscured by the shifting tides. "Look here," he says, gesturing with his horn. "Recent tracks - deer and wolf. Someone has been here recently, may still be hiding in those caves. Whoever they are, we know they were here now because of this sand," He steps back, his hooves digging into the sand then, just curiously digging for any other secrets. "Beaches are never as empty as they seem."

[ 2/3 Explored a new land (Obsidian Beach) ]

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Hem takes another shell from Gem's grasp when the stallion begins a growling statement. She stops, turning on her paws to look at where he pawed at the black sand. Her gaze turns toward to where the soft imprints of deer track and wolf paws lead toward the water. Following them from the water's edge back toward the mainland, she wonders where they had appeared from. Gem lets her eyes linger on the cavern and a shiver runs down her spine. If another wolf were hiding in there, she did not want to go find out. Strangers were dangerous. "I figured beaches only ever really hid small creatures," she replies earnestly, turning back to the horse before looking around at the sand. When she spots a small hole that begins to burble and bubble with water, she quickly jumps toward it and digs her paw in deep. Feeling around in the sand, it takes a moment until she can successfully grab onto the shelled creature. Pulling it from its hidden depth, she quickly cracks the shell open to dispatch the clam before placing it, shell side down, onto the side for him to look at. "See? Food is always just within reach if one knows where to look," Gem smiles softly, hoping the horse is impressed... Well, maybe just a little impressed. He didn't seem the sort of guy to ever really be pleased. Gem Klein

His ghostly white stare stays on the small wolf with a mixture of disbelief and shock as she proudly presents the clam. His glowing eyes narrow as he leans in slightly, inspecting the cracked shell. "Food for you. I don't eat clams," he stated bluntly, his voice laced with a bit of irritation. The very idea was absurd to him, a creature of his size and power reduced to scavenging for shellfish? He snorted, turning his attention back to the sand, clearly unimpressed.

As he digs idly with a heavy hoof, something catches his eye - an odd glint just beneath the surface. He pauses, then pushes the sand aside with his nose, revealing a small, half-buried piece of bone, gnawed at the edges. His gaze sharpens and he nudges it toward Gem. "This is even more telling. Whoever has been here wasn't just passing through, they have been feeding. I would assume this is what is left of the deer. It was a hunt."

Uruk lifted his gaze from the sand, staring out across the vast expanse of the ocean. The sunlight danced on the water's surface casting a path toward the cluster of distant islands on the horizon. His expression softens just slightly as he considers the possibilities those islands might hold - new territories, uneaten sweet grass, or perhaps even more secrets.

After a moment of contemplation, he glances down at Gem. "Have you ever been to those islands out there?" he asked with a rumble, his tone a mix of curiosity and challenge. "If you've got the guts, I can get us across. Those lands might hold a more.. suitable meal. Something more worth our time." He flicks his tail, a rare offer of partnership hanging in the air. "If you're up for it, climb on. Both of you."

Without waiting for a response, Uruk strides toward the water. The waves lap at his legs as he wades into the shallows, the cool water a stark contrast to the sun above. He lowers his head, allowing the water to wash away the blood from their adventure in the brambles. He pauses once the water reaches above his knees and lowers his frame to make him easier to mount, glancing back at the duo with a rare hint of patience.

[ 3/3 Explored a new land (Obsidian Beach) ]

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN