and strike the nail against the flint

A paw brushed over a trail of rot, covering it with another layer of dirt and concealing it beneath his own scent. He did not wish for anything foul to come this was so every effort at removing traces were taken to their fullest extent. It was the lingering scent that was of some concern and his mind spun through the possibilities. Fox was a knee jerk assumption, but it could just have easily been badger or weasel or some other forest carnivore they may have forgotten.

She was quick to pick up the trail and quicker to follow it upon the notion that they might discover the culprit. With a nod of agreement, Kero too lowered his nose and sifted through the scents on the ground. She followed the more direct course of the scent and Kero lingered behind her, fanning at her back to search for any patterns of deviation, accomplices, or additional visual cues that may be of value.