Sleepy Fox Hollow dreamers, they never learn

It had been bittersweet to leave the forest behind; it felt wrong in some way, although he did it willingly and would not look back after. He followed Maegi's lead. Even if she did not believe herself to be strong enough, good enough, or wise enough—he would follow her anywhere. And, away they went together.

As they came upon the claim Titmouse could not help but feel uneasy. He did not know these people and he felt dread sneaking in between the cracks of his silent veneer. More than that, the scent of the mountain made his fur bristle; he remembered these scents from when he'd been accosted by the Moonspear wolves, and while that had been a long-ago event, the smallest things triggered his memory of the ordeal. He was, therefore, quite nervous.

And then a dark shape materialized and all that Titmouse could think of was Hydra, so out of concern for his beloved the ghost moved swiftly from her side to her shoulder, cutting across her path defensively until there came a second body, and words were spoken. With a little bit of urging from his partner, Titmouse relented and fell away to Maegi's side, watching the two others carefully with one eye and pivoting ears, thoroughly wary of a double-cross.