Snowforest Taiga and, oh, that heart; it loves as harshly as the sun burns

Toxochelys had slipped away, sauntering the slopes and winding a somewhat unpredictable path through the overgrowth of the valley. Even from there he could see the slow recovery at the base of Nova Peak, whose trees had once been devastated by an engulfing forest fire. He did not necessarily appear as though he was there in connection with Heda, but he never roamed far enough to lose sight of the formidable female. It was only a very keen onlooker who would notice the flick of burnished copper ears and the fiery sidelong looks he cast in her direction.
 
He watched with heightened interest only from afar as another fairly large female called to the Commander and made to approach. She was coloured in sable and raw umber, but from his distance he could not discern that her scent belonged to Larksong Grotto. It didn’t matter; she was an unknown and had his rapt attention despite seeming to pay her no notice at all. He continued to prowl languidly and observe their exchange, primed like a lion hunting a pair of stray antelope.