Blackfeather Woods step or stone, breath or bone

It was my pleasure!

So absorbed in his efforts to get past the forest was he that Aesop did not even notice that he had company until the puppy spoke.  The youthful voice came seemingly from thin air, causing Aesop to start and curse under his breath.  He was jumpy, having hoped that he would be able to skirt the territory undetected.  It was not meant to be, though, so Aesop sighed and turned to face the child.

He was skinny, the thin lines of his ribs clear through his mottled fur.  Most noticeable were his eyes, mismatched orange and silver.  Together with his patchwork of white and black fur, he gave the impression of a wolf composed of leftover parts, extra pieces patched together so as not to waste them.  Aesop opened his mouth to reply, then shut it as the child dropped his gaze and muttered to himself.

Rather than stop and converse, he decided to keep walking.  "Just passin' through," he muttered, turning back around.  If the child really wanted something from him, he would have to do more to catch Aesop's attention.