Phantom Hollow miles outside of the eye of the storm

As he neared the waterway, a sound directed his attention. Already besieged by adrenaline, his hypervigilance was amped up more than usual, and he saw — well, first he thought it was a fox — a girl on the other side.

His speedy gait transitioned to heavy punches at the forest floor as he made himself stop, and then he paced on the spot, unsure of what to do; she did not look like a threat, and she had come from within the forest - not the direction of the plains which he had bolted from.

Still, even if she meant well, she was a stranger and he was hurt. Drusk flashed his front teeth as a quick warning to not come too close, and moved to sniff at the earth as if a scent might lead him to safety. The bite marks on his lower back were hours old if that.