In an effort to avoid making a boulder (or a pancake) of himself, Merlin had taken a longer, but less dangerous way down the mountain, finally finding himself in the Vale. The journey, in general, had been long and difficult. Merlin wasn't used to depending solely upon himself for anything, being raised in a pack. But he wasn't stupid or sheltered. Of course not. He knew of the gods that whispered into the ears of those worthy, that had eyes that could see everything and had the choice to save a wolf from demise. He'd been raised with them, though had never actively worshipped them. In times of hardship, he was unlikely to turn on some invisible being to light his way, to save his neck. However, he would respect them, whoever they were that whispered and saw. If they desired to interfere, then so be it. And perhaps they had led his paws to this place now, to the east.

It wasn't exactly what he'd thought it was, though. From high up, he could see the trees and the red rocks that seemed to keep creatures in or out. But now that his paws were on true earth once more, he felt...Well, it wasn't what he'd expected. His weight caused him to sink slightly in the marshy ground, and the brown green muck oozed between his toes. Quad-winged, shiny dragonflies flitted around his head, living jewels in the eyes of the man, and he could hear the croaks of amphibians around him. But certainly the whole east wasn't filthy marsh and slimy frogs, just as the west hadn't been an entire forest, not that he'd seen much other than woods, the route he'd taken. Snaking his mass uncomfortably through the thin, dying trees, Merlin moved himself northward again, where he'd intended to go from the beginning. <b style="color:#a59f32">

Despite the trees, the water seemed to conspire with the heat, causing an excessive layer of humidity to sit just at wolf-level. Merlin quickly began to pant, frustrated with the soaking lands and would be more than glad to be done with it all, getting back north where it would be less...disgusting. He paused in his effort with sloshing to take a break from the heat, if just for a moment. The marshy land was gross, but the water was cool when he stopped mucking through it. But in his pausing he heard more sloshing from around him, not left over from his own movements. Ears perked up and he turned around, spotted a natural color body a distance away from him, a pair of bright green eyes just noticeable among the dank colored trees.

<b style="color:#a59f32">"I do hope you have no ill will for me!" Merlin called to the shape. The marsh around them made it hard for him to identify any outstanding information about the wolf, like scent or alliance. It worried him slightly, but he kept his voice lighthearted until he could find out more. His toes curled into the muck beneath him, and his tail swayed, its tip dampening in the liquid. He could easily say he wasn't a fan of being followed, though unfortunately he didn't treat others the way he wanted to be treated. It made him uncomfortable, as though there was some bounty out upon his head, even though there wasn't. But for all he knew, someone he'd wronged in White Cove took advantage of his departure and thought to harm him now that he no longer had the Leaders on his side. <b style="color:#a59f32">