Broken Antler Fen tracers

If you want to chuck in one last reply to get this up to 10 posts, I can start a new thread at Big Salmon Lake? :D enjoys being difficult

The other's stony expression didn't budge at his light-hearted comment, and Atreyu felt his own face fall a little as he stared back at the stranger's vivid eyes. He withdrew his stub of a leg back to his chest, holding it there awkwardly as he was reprimanded for the state of his coat. He looked down at it, brow furrowing in confusion. Granted, it was a little grubbier than usual, but it wasn't like he had been rolling in mud and carcasses. He looked back up to Tatsuya with a flicker of defiance. "I..." he went to rebut, though was interrupted as the two-toned wolf gave a command, turned and then ran deeper into the territory. Atreyu watched him go, perplexed but obeying his order — it wasn't like he could go anywhere fast anyway.

He waited, tail tip flicking impatiently as he stared in the direction the wolf had disappeared.

He reappeared quickly, a bunch of herbs tucked in his jaws. The boy eyed them suspiciously, remembering when Aesop had shown him his own collection of herbs — only they had been for a very different purpose. He didn't recognise any that Tatsuya held, however, so that was a good sign...even if plants all looked the same to him anyway. He stared at the bundle of greenery that was dropped at his feet before looking up at the male, curious as to why he seemed so eager to help him. As he gestured to this lake with a swing of his large muzzle, Atreyu followed his gaze, before giving a chuff of laughter at his assumption. "'Course," he said in a matter-of-fact way. How else did Tatsuya think he had gotten all the way out here?

Heaving himself onto all...threes, the boy steadied himself as his legs protested against any further walking. His right foreleg and shoulder seared with pain from the heavy, uncoordinated gait, but he was determined to walk as normally as possible in front of the healer. He gave him a quick glance as if to say you coming? before taking a step...and falling flat onto his face. It was going to be a long trip.