Colibri inhaled deeply, enjoying the rich scent of the pine needles carpeting the forest floor. She had not ventured across Vinátta's border in some time, not since her excursion to the southern territories where she met Cassia. That trip had yielded many prizes, beautiful flowers she collected for her home garden, and the precious apple seedlings she continued to nurse. Several of them had already withered and died in their new home, which she had expected but still found disappointing. Now her focus was on tending the herb garden for all her packmates to enjoy, particularly since Saul was scarce of late, presumably held up by his duties as their leader. Coli didn't mind shouldering the responsibility; she loved the soil, and found gardening to be a rewarding duty that she actually had a talent for. Her trip today would be to locate new plants for them, ones she had not found within their own land. Marigold and echinacea, perhaps the feverfew she had promised Saul.
The lean Optime crossed into the neutral territory, setting her ears back apprehensively as the scent markers of her packmates and friends began to fade behind her. She had lived as a loner long enough to know that these lawless areas could be very dangerous, and she was not one to let down her guard. She rubbed the thin scars around her wrists, a dark reminder of what she had escaped to come here. Still, she was close to home, and she had not missed the telltale signs of another pack in close vicinity, another sign that she should be fairly safe. Coli did not know if they were friendly yet, but at least they were neutral.
She emerged from the pine trees, blinking back the bright sunlight that washed over her. She could see the glimmering of the lake nearby, and instinctively moved toward it, knowing that vegetation was richer near a water source. All she carried with her was a small leather saddlebag to store her findings, and the pendant she always wore about her throat -- no trowel or spade to dig with, for she had her claws, and no weapon to protect herself with, as she had left her pouch of poison at home. She needed to replenish the supply since it had expired, so there was no point in carrying it. She would not be traveling far today, and one howl would have the Stormbringer brothers running to her aid. She would be all right on her own.