Noctisardor Bypass petrichor

"Shit," Grayday muttered, his ears flickering uneasily as he heard a sudden clatter of rocks and the fur along the back of his neck bristling as he caught the scent of a stranger. Not just any stranger, either - one of the wolves that made up the group settling just over the incline.

The worried father picked up his pace and finally caught sight of Dawn, her small frame dwarfed by the stranger that stood so near. Though it would have been more polite to keep his distance, Grayday advanced toward the pair until Dawn stood in his shadow, speaking all the while to try and distract the woman from this action: "We're on our way out. My daughter wanted to see the top - we didn't realize it was settled on the other side."

None of this was true, of course, but Grayday had no worries that the woman would see through his lies. It was inconsequential, either way. They'd be out of the woman's hair soon enough if she knew what was good for her. And if she didn't - well, Grayday had tangled with worse. Keeping his eyes on the stranger, Grayday spoke to Dawn.

"C'mon, princess. Let's get going."

For the moment, all thoughts of her transgressions had left his mind.