Chimera Fields black smoke

Any of his doubts washed out of him after the stranger spoke. They talked of seeds. What sort of creature went hunting for seeds at this time of the year? Everything was either dying from the growing cold or hibernating for spring. Lu was no seer. Those that he knew of were often hunting for similar vittles. The rare encounters he had with the resident Sage of his home territory had not left much of a mark on Luchtaine. He did have some fondness for the old man, and this sense of understanding is what put his doubts to rest. No, this creature was not one of his own kind. They were not suitable as a gwas either (should the roamer ever re-encounter his vanguard and make it home again).

Aye! Doubtful to be findin' anything now-a-days, what with the frosts. Luchtaine commented. He began to close the distance between the two of them next. The easy swagger of his gait belied a friendliness that wasn't present earlier. The closer he got the more his tail began to sway, like a pendulum, until he was searching the green areas beyond where the dark beast stood - helping, or appearing to help. The roamer had no real way of knowing how strong the cold days would get but he assumed it would be the same here as it was on his island home - shortening days and deep, intensely cold nights.

It was easy to presume things as well. Chiefly that his vanguard had not come this way. The wolf smelled of others (he noticed as he was closer) but none of the scents were familiar. None carried the weight of the sea or the mark of the king's guard, which was disheartening. To some degree Luchtaine was pleased in this discovery. He could double-back along his route and choose a different avenue to hunt for them - or for the brigands and their victim.