Valla continued to chow down happily, enjoying the growing buzz in the tavern. Others were arriving to the hall for breakfast or to meet their parties.

Then, at her shoulder, a rustle in her furs. Dilly, small as a mouse, peeked out a sleek white head. The Rodill scampered, quick as could be, to the end of the Lupin's snout, deftly swiping a bite of egg from the wolf's lips before scampering back. It took no more than a moment, and Valla barely reacted. She didn't like when the rat did this, but it was better to avoid a scene. Valla huffed with slight frustration.

"Sooo," she said, leaning back from the table, "What are the sorts of problems we could expect between here and Herenia? Know anything, RC?"

Oleander lapped up the last crumbs that remained on her own plate before turning her head down so that she could gaze at everyone from underneath her hood, but they couldn't quite see her own eyes and the way they flickered back and forth nervously. The cold was a powerful foe, as she had learned when she had left the warm rays of the Grove. It had shocked her, how much the chill could seep underneath layers of fur and flesh to sink its teeth into bone. That was an enemy that was difficult to fight- and she didn't quite have the coin to bundle herself up more than she already was.

The next obstacle that was voiced, the ability to fight through and survive the tumultuous mountains in the face of enemies, almost made her shudder. The declaration that Doom was a wolf with prowess in the art of combat made her clack her teeth together nervously- she had seen the way a Bracchus could tear apart an enemy and had been labeled as one, too. Her paranoia reminded her again that it was the other wolves she saw around her that would be her worst enemy, perhaps.

"No use dilly dallying," she said in a warbling voice. Any more discussion over the tribulations would only make her more paranoid. "We should set out fast." She turned to their supposed navigator, Astra. "Lead us out of here."

Astra yawns one last time, before getting up and moving to be slightly closer to the tavern door- although not right next to it.

"Alright. Is everybody else ready?"

Valla licked her chops and nodded to the group. "Yes, let's head out!" The cold didn't worry Valla too much and she felt confident that with help she could take down any foe. Working in groups was her preference. She felt Dilly nesting in one of the pockets of her cloak. At least they would both be warm enough. Things were looking good.

Doom stood, stretching his lanky legs. “Right then. Let’s be off. Astra, Azurity, lead the way.” He allowed the others to funnel out, scooping Heo and Ness into a pouch. When the last wolf had exited, he followed behind, the inn door swinging shut. Azurity bounded to the front, not bothering to look at the map- he knew this area well enough to begin without it. It was a clear, crisp day, the sun shining pale and bright above head, making the snow sparkle. The group began their trek out of town, hopes and spirits high.

As RC bounded ahead, Valla took a second to stretch her legs and back, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face. The air was brisk, but the clear skies were a good omen in her opinion. The other wolves walked ahead of her and she found herself comfortably in the rear, though she stayed close to the other Lupin on the team. Oleander seemed shy. Val wasn't going to let that last for long!

She padded up next to Oleander. "Excited?" she asked, then, before Oleander could even respond, Val added: "What are you after? Riches? Glory? I could do with more funds myself!"

Oleander bowed her head and followed shortly behind Astra-- the other wolf seemed to be knowledgeable about the reason, if a little flippant about the dangers that lay ahead. Old hope would have told her that perhaps this was from a sense of confidence, that the wolf knew enough of the landscape that nothing really caused her concern. Her cynicism had grown in size and strength, and her worry now was that perhaps Astra knew the way through maps and the stars she recited, but perhaps not from walking the path with her own paws.

Valla nodded sympathetically to Oleander about funds, thinking that Oleander's nerves were a reflection of her dwindling pebbles, not the journey ahead. At the other Lupin's question, Valla shrugged and smirked, "This ol' thing? Weeeell, I'll tell ya! Don't trust any shopkeep trying to give you a good deal!" She barked out laughter.

The cloaked wolf paused and performed a full body shake. The fur and metal and leather of her gear clashed together in a cacophony of noise, with a crescendo of angry squeaking rising to the forefront. Dilly the tiny Rodill appeared suddenly at the neck of her cloak, chattering angrily in Valla's ear. Then the rodent disappeared in a flash.

"I'm merely borrowing this cloak from the previous owner," Val explained with a wry smile. "That rat lives in these furs and was raiding the seller's other wares. That sneaky Jocol gave me a great deal when I asked about the cloak. I didn't find the rodent until the next day."

She shook her head and rolled her eyes at the memory. "Then I went back, and he said no refunds!"