The only consistent evidence of it raining was the purr of raindrops drizzling on the thick canopy overhead. That, and the occasional droplet that managed to filter its way through the treetops. The overcast skies made it especially dreary, but in the cover of the wood, it was a lot darker than one would think. Whatever dim light made it to the forest floor, was just enough to keep the shadows at bay. It was a far cry from the desert she had been wandering just days before, and she was quite grateful for the shroud. Spring was a lot easier felt in the abundance of greenery. In the open grasslands, the wind roared uninterrupted. Tucked back here in the cover, an occasional breeze would filter through. But for the most part, everything was still.

Cassiela’s emerald green gaze roved her surroundings, noting the thick undergrowth that surrounded the game trail she traversed- careful to avoid the brambles that suck out to take hold in her coat. The tree trunks that supported the natural roof were sturdy. Not the largest she had seen, but mature enough to catch most of the wandering rays of sunlight. It was safe to assume that this was an old wood. One that stood against its fair share of time, and one that would not easily kneel to those invading its sanctum. It had its own secrets to keep, and would not surrender them lightly.

However, as she traced her winding path, a sudden 90-degree turn manifested at the edge of her eyeshot. It wasn’t until she closed the distance that she realized why. There was a sudden drop-off into what seemed like an enormous ravine. Leaning over the edge, it brought chills to her spine. That would certainly be a nasty fall.

Ryzen poked his head up from the cliff side his paws struggling for a moment as his splotched form slowly pulled onto the cliff side. The small wolf having taken his time to move up the cliff side. Curiously exploring each nook and cranny of the cliff. He was still seeking a place where he could make his home. The daily climb however would be a bit too arduous for him.

As he settled a moment he would notice the paws of a different wolf close to his muzzle. His brown eyes examining the charcoal fur color. His tail swishing back and forth before he stepped away from the other and laid flat panting. When she peered over she might not have seen him right away cuz he was quite high up the cliff side. His blonde ears would perk and wiggle before he stretched and looked up.

"My appologies I hope I haven't startled you," he said as he looked around curiously. His tail flicking back and forth as he was rather small for a wolf standing just shy of 2 feet in height. His brown eyes looked up to examine the charcoal female. His body wiggling out to clear his fur of any debris.

It was easy to lose herself in thought as she took in the ambience of the temperate abyss before her. The humidity hung thick in the air with a heaviness that settled in her lungs at each inhale- generally making it seem warmer than it actually was. It condensed and glistened on the surface of the leaves that collected it. Droplets will roll off just to be caught by another leaf inches below. And from her vantage point, she was actually looking down on treetops that were rooted in the valley below. While she was quiet in her observations, the forest was not. However, she did not expect it to speak back to her.

The voice- while trying not to startle her- did, in fact, startle her. Cassiela pushed herself away from the edge in retreat at the sudden surprise. Though, when nothing pursued her, she tentatively made her way back to the edge. The charcoal fae looked straight down this time and was met with the small frame of a wolf that was patchwork in pattern, containing an array of colors. Colors that she had since been desensitized to from the accommodations made for her at Valhalla. “What on earth are you doing down there?” Cassiela’s astonishment and disbelief ever present in the tone of her voice. “Do you need help?” She asked, quickly following up her first question in case he truly was stuck. Surely he did not mean to be scaling the cliffside of a drop as steep as that one.

He struggled for a moment before pulling himself upon the ledge next to her. His patchwork body panting as he laid for a few moments next to her. The soft dirt a temporary comfort as he did in fact scale the cliff side. He was use to these types of travel and well. His options were a narrow path or the rocky cliffside. He was admittedly not patient enough to slowly tread the tiny path leading upward. So he dug his claws and hiked up.

Admittedly not being a feline meant it wasn't the claws intended purpose and therefore a little bit more tricky. However not impossible his tail flicking slowly as he let out a light pant. Tired from the climb he took a moment to regain his stance before standing up shakily.

Adjusting back to normal walking would take a good bit especially with how long he was doing this. However his shaky legs soon settled as he smiled, "My name is Ryzen" He stood up shifting himself away from the wolf as to keep a healthy distance and not unnerve her any more then he already had.

While she had offered assistance- though she wasn’t sure what exactly she could have done anyways- he answered her in action. She watched as the colorful male hauled himself up on the topmost ledge next to her with some effort. Cassiela shuffled backward a couple of steps to give him plenty of room, though her emerald gaze held steady on him where he lay panting. After he had a moment to collect himself, the charcoal fae was met with a very infectious smirk and an introduction. She couldn’t help but mirror a grin of her own. “Well, Ryzen, I have to say, you are way better at that than I ever would be.” She said lightly, tone rooted in amusement over anything else. The thought of heights gave her a twist in the pit of her stomach. Shaking the sensation, she continued.  “I’m Cassi.” She finished, offering a nickname rather than her full name. This encounter seemed too … out of the ordinary to come close to anything formal.

Glancing back towards the drop-off of the ravine, she couldn’t help the soft bout of laughter that escaped her lips at the absurdity of the situation. Kind of a reflex as she recovered from the initial shock and surprise. “So, do you often find yourself rock climbing?” Cassiela followed up, not sure quite what to make of the slightly smaller male. Honestly, the thought of what lay at the bottom gave her some sense of Galaxy. While she could see the treetops... who knew what kind of terrain lay below. She momentarily glanced over her shoulder to further investigate the game trail she had been following from her vantage point. It looked clear, but it was so thick, it was hard to tell what was just around the corner.

He sat for a moment and kept his grin as he said, "That's honestly a hit or miss situation. Depends where I end up, can be climbing some days, swimming the next. Some days I find myself jumping into water because I'm in a pickle. " He sits and remembers being chased by a relatively unhappy pack of rabbits. Jumping off a cliff into a lake. "Bunnies are evil" he muttered as he shook himself off. He smiled, "Tell me a bit about yourself. I'm sure there's plenty you can share as well."

The patchwork dog looked to the grey and black wolf admiring her simple colors. Especially since they would be quite effective at hiding and well, his colors meant hiding was relatively hard at times. Deciding to take a simple walk to circle around her and get a full view of her form. His small walk stopping when he reached the other side of her. He sat down. She would get the view of both sides while he walked. He looked down the cliff and chuckled, "I suppose there might have been a better way up."

It was becoming clear that Ryzen was a colorful character- not just in appearance, but equipped with a personality to match. Any inkling of what had initially startled her had completely faded and left her with a soft grin plastered to her features. His pleasant nature was made so easily contagious, that she couldn’t help surrendering herself to it.  “Well, your resourcefulness is certainly an admirable trait to possess, that is for sure.” She quickly added, nodding along to the cadence of her words.  “It sounds as if you’ve had many adventures.” Better he than her. Cliff diving into water was just not something that she wished to have to resort to. Though, a brief flash of being chased out onto a fractured sheet of ice was brought to her forethought- only to be abruptly shaken away. Not now.

Cassiela regained control of her attention just as Ryzen was moving around her. To reposition himself- to get a different view. She was unsure. However, she didn’t feel threatened. He made another quip about a potential alternate path. Though she immediately shrugged it off.  “You made it up here all the same.” She said lightly dismissively, but playful all the same.

What to say about herself, though? She supposed there was no harm in divulging her own recent ventures.  “You could say I washed up here.” It sounded ridiculous, even to her. But it was the truth.  “So I’m still trying to acclimate to this place ... Though I’ve been staying with a pack west of here that was kind enough to put me up while I try and figure things out.” She briefly found Ardyn in her mind, only to allow him to fade away as she kept on.  “I always have enjoyed exploring, so that’s what I’m doing now. Just trying to get a feel for the lay of the land.” Cassi finished, glancing away for a moment to allow a brief silence to instill before continuing on. Her emerald gaze found Ryzen at her side once more.  “Anything that you know of worth seeing around here?” The charcoal fae asked lightly. Perhaps he would have a suggestion on where she should go next.

Ryzen had to think for a moment as he had been traveling mainly in random directions. However as he sat for a moment, he remembered the glowing mushrooms and the sound of the winds blowing through the willows. He would pause a moment to try and remember where he saw them.
"Well the first area that comes to mind if you want something with minimal danger is the Glowshroom Caverns. Just don't try and eat the glowing mushroom. It will not make you glow, it will make you dead." He sat for a moment. Trying to think of where the other locale was, "I think nearby there is a thick willow forest with a cute lily pond. " he remembered floating in the lilly pond and taking one of the lily pads. However his small collection of items was currently stored in an island that was far away from here.

He snickered as he had a lilly pad with a mushroom on it. He was curious if the glow would remain after the mushroom died. However the image of the mushroom standing on the lily pad somehow amused him inside. "Those are a good start for exploring if you don't wish to go far . "

As he sat trying to recall something that was clearly on the tip of his tongue, her attention momentarily wandered. Taking a quick sweeping observation of the immediate area just to ensure she didn’t miss anything. However, as soon as she heard the tones of his voice, she was quick to realign her focus. Cassiela listened as she tried to picture the Glowshroom Caverns based on the name alone. However, her imagination quickly dissipated as his warning struck her ears. Don’t eat the glowing mushrooms … noted. The ashen fae didn’t quite fancy eating any mushrooms. Even still, she would heed the warning no less and would be grateful for it.

When Ryzen went on to describe the second point of interest, it sounded far more pleasant. Or at least, comforting in the sense that perhaps there were fewer opportunities for death. Whether or not that be true, she would prefer to live in ignorance. “Okay, yeah!” She answered, acknowledging the descriptions he had offered her. “I will be sure to check them out,” Cassi assured. Then she thought a moment, perhaps she should relay what the western land had to offer … of course, he didn’t ask. But information was never a bad thing, was it? “It’s not much more than desert out west.” Cassi started. “Granted, there are some cool things to see, but be prepared to melt. It’s brutally hot in some areas. However, if you stick to the coastline, the breeze coming in off the ocean certainly helps.” Cassiela finished, carefully trying to read his expression to see if he was receptive or not.