from white sand to muddy mess

After the moonlit paradise that Silver Island had been, Maverick was very much looking forward to enjoying some alone time with Venom on another island. This time the pair had chosen another island just off the western coast of Boreas, just slightly north to the tropical paradise they had enjoyed not too long ago. However, as the wolves began the swim across the water toward the distant island, Mav could already tell there was something different about this place. Different... and wrong. The landmass was much more uneven and craggy, and when they hit the shore, they were not greeted by soft sands like before. This time, thick paw pads squished down through gritty mud and silt, the dire wolf's displeasure apparent on his grimacing features. There was no vegetation, no life anywhere to speak of. The island was desolate and barren, without any shelter from the whipping winds of the salty spray. This was definitely not anything like Silver Island had been.

Grumbling to himself while he trudged up the quagmire of mud and rock to join Venom on the shores, he lifted one white paw to look at the dark mud dripping from his digits. Maverick wasn't one to care particularly about getting dirty, having gotten used to it from his previous lifestyle, but that didn't mean he enjoyed the thick, sticky mud clinging and clumping on his fur. Venom chuckled and made a comment about the state of the island, being tactful in her phrasing, as the Empress was prone to doing. Mav, however, did nothing to filter his thoughts.

"This place sucks," he muttered, flinging some mud from his toes, only to gather it back when he set his foot down on the shore again. "I guess this isn't your first pick for a romantic honeymoon spot in the future then, hmm? Don't wanna spend all your time rolling around in the mud with your vagabond?" He shot his partner a teasing grin and playful wink, moving further up the rocky island with a playful smack of his muddy tail against her hip to leave a mark of dirt on her.

"Venom & Maverick"