Neverwinter Forest a distant land caused me to linger

It did not take her long to realize she was being followed. Had he attempted to hide that intent, he would have been met with aggression—after all, one seeking to mask their presence could not mean well. Her mother and father had taught her that, and Hydra took their lessons to heart. With one ear cupped backward to listen for him, Hydra again altered her course if only to confirm her suspicions.

Hydra could not be discreet herself in appearance with the way the snow was now beginning to fall. Her dark hide would give her away eventually, even if nothing else would, while she moved. But she was not attempting to remain hidden from his line of sight. The yearling only wanted to know for certain what it was this stranger was doing—moving on from this territory, or following.

She slowed before pausing near a tree, sniffing at it. But her attention was not at all on the tree, though it looked it. One ear remained attentive to the world around her, even as the other flicked off a snowflake in reflex, one that had landed on the tip of her ear but had melted before the action could do anything about it.