Mudminnow River we are the greatest pretenders

Somewhere about midway, Mordecai watched as the other pushed off to close off the distance between them and adjusted his approach accordingly. As they came within earshot of one another that pace slowed to a gradual stop, though about the only thing that did not stop was the wave in Mordecai's tail. His gesture that he was friendly had been met well so far, and he had no inclination to cease it just yet.

In lieu of a proper greeting — which was fine and well by him — and a quick test of that air between them told Mordecai much of what he wanted to know. In turn, it was the perfect supplicant to an answer: "I could say the same. But in my case, you're fine as long as you don't trek too far south of the river." An easy, thin-lipped smile followed his words. He wondered where the wolf could have come from, though he was well aware of a pack that lingered somewhere off to the north of them. Where exactly it was, he hadn't yet found, but the evidence was plainly there in the collective air between them.