Live, little spotlight

The Bay's failed hunts had forced the Epsilon to scout further into the heart of the Wilds — pushing his way through a forest, around a mountain and then into the open flatlands, his stomach growling hungrily all the way. Although the shoreline and the forest that bordered it provided small critters that were relatively easy to catch, they were mere scraps that could only hold hunger at bay for so long. Atreyu, while not starving, didn't like the feeling of running on empty and so decided to wander further inland to see if he could track down a herd of deer. Or something. Anything.

His course changed, though, when a curious whiff hit his nose — a mixture of rock, water and wolf. Quickly, he veered to the right and began to follow the scent. Eventually, he came across the slim form of a female loping through the territory, seemingly intent on getting somewhere. Although he couldn't see any signs of prey here, he half-hoped that she, too, was scouting for herds. Maybe she wouldn't mind if he followed her. Warily, — remembering his encounter with the testy dark-furred female that had nearly ended with him being chewed on — Atreyu trailed the stranger at length, ears pricked forward curiously.