Phoenix Maplewood I never knew such reforming zeal

"Hmmm," mused Saena, unsure of the answer herself. The trail had been almost cold to begin with. Now as they wound their way further into the forest, the smell of badger was even harder to locate. The alpha swore it was still there, very faint beneath the stink of rotting leaves, fungi and wet loam, but it was difficult to track. If there was a badger in the woods, it hadn't come this way in some time, but there was no indication that the trail was any more fruitful in the other direction.

"I think we lost it," the gamekeeper conceded. The disappointment was hard to hide. She prided herself in being a fairly good tracker and a good hunter, so losing a scent trail was always disheartening. She wasn't about to give up though. No sir. "Tell you what," she said, lifting her head to survey Citali's reaction, "I'll keep looking and if I find a better trail, I'll call for you. Sound good?" That way, Citali could go back to wandering or could find something else to do and Saena wouldn't have to bear failing at her own trade in the eyes of another.