The Sentinels "ye young fellows that follows the sea"

The beast's attention was ensnared by the ominous look of the trees and he felt a great sadness as he passed through each grove. Some areas were worse off than others; the old growth must have been tinder-dry when the fire started. He wondered how long it had been since the event in question, but he was no naturalist — the creature was more attuned to the ways of water and the various corridors of river, sprawling puddles of lake, and now the gargantuan big water he had found. Still, he could appreciate the horror of the forest. Perhaps it was once a beautiful and harmonious place?

He was broken from his thoughts when a sound penetrated the still air. Until now, Clarence hadn't realized how quiet the world had been. There was nothing here - or if there were, they were solemn things that had settled like spirits in among the trees. But this call was aggressive and repetitive, echoing between the withered boughs and blackened trunks. Clarence whipped his head up and around, his limp ears trying to stand tall, but he did not see a bird. Rather, he saw a pale silhouette trying to hide in the dimly overcast light that penetrated the forest.

With a small boof signifying his interest, Clarence sought to close the gap and investigate this creature. Whatever apprehensions Dune had were lost to the hybrid; he merely cut through the tangle of blackened paths and made swift work with his limber limbs. He slowed only when he came close enough to really observe the ghostly thing; something suspended from his neck, and at once Clarence was intensely interested.

He called out again - a more affirmative boom of a bark - and watched for a response from the stranger. Was this another hybrid? Had he somehow escaped from humans? This was not the first collar the creature had seen - but it had been a while, and he was keen to discern some understanding.