Firestone Hot Springs bade bade deshon mein

the hot springs was not a part of morningside's territory, but it was close enough that any intruder not smelling of the plateau gave aditya the tiniest bit of alarm. here was a male, by his scent and shape aging but sturdy, and one that adi had definitely never seen before.

the stranger had audibly announced his presence, at least, and with a soft chuff in return, he made his way over to the white-pelted male, guard hairs prickling slightly in wariness.

"it's nice, isn't it?" he asked casually, hoping to break the ice. if he were to know this man, and his intentions coming here, he must start off on the right foot. "the steam. the heat."

all the while, his nose was engaged in fact-finding, nostrils flaring as he read this man from ears to tail-tip. he did not have the scent of the caldera wolves, nor the pack from moonspear, nor still the scattered denizens of northstar vale.

instead, something putrid, yet sickly-sweet, rose from him, surrounding his pelt like a dark aura. holding back the base urge to wrinkle his nose at the stench, aditya surveyed the male with a neutral expression. that smell. . .  was this a wolf from that foul pack to the south? had they come this far, without notice?