Blacktail Deer Plateau HOW TO NOT BE SEEN

Grayday made a noncommital sound at the back of his throat, perhaps in agreement but more probably in mild contrition and slightly less mild embarassment. He didn't know why he was so moody lately. Maybe not being able to see faces clearly contributed to that.

The male padded further from the spot where they'd met, gesturing Aliac along with a tip of his muzzle. Cirumnavigating the herd, he crouched low in the brush and pointed his nose into the wind.

"She's gravid," he said in a hoarse, whispery voice. "That's... six, I think. Doe season is over. We'll hunt only the bucks and the yearlings until they drop their whelps."