The Heartwood I'm a cold soul, I roll solo

He could hear nothing after the initial rustling, and the wind was not in his favor. But Athan quickly got the sense that something was in the dark. Or someone.

He was no creature of the night; the daytime was as much his home as the darkness. Either provided acceptable hunting for the strigoi. But he could not help but feel uncomfortable with the knowledge that he was near someone's territory and they had the homefield advantage, even though the dark shrouded them both.

So Athan paused, content on standing his ground rather than blustering into the dark, possibly into the hands of a wolf intent on chasing him out. If you're looking for me, I'm here, he said to the dark.