Phoenix Maplewood dancing to the beat of a midnight raga

he shook his head, not familiar with the place. he knew it was a shortcoming, as a scout, not to be completely up-to-date with the land around his home--but the truth was in discovery, and discovery often meant asking questions, no matter how clueless one might sound. "is that to the south?" he asked, noting that she'd come from that general direction. "anywhere near easthollow?"

his head-shake also worked for her question, for truly, he hadn't considered that this place had a proper name. there were wolf-scents here, true, but only scattered; any abundance had faded over time. it had been some seasons since a pack had called these woods their own.

"we've just been calling it the maplewood," aditya explained, eyes straying back to the edge of the trees. his gaze snapped back to hers with sudden realization, and a half-smile curved his lips as he finally understood. "but you know its name. you've been here before. is that why you've come back?"