Neverwinter Forest the slightest touch forced to fold

Mal was coming from the other direction.  Patrols.  Normal things.   Scratch the snow here, pee there, blah blah.  It was a good way for him to clear his head and think about things.  Recruiting floated near the forefront of his mind.  He totally screwed up not inviting Cupid back with him, but it wasn't like he could rewind time and do it.  It wasn't like he was thinking too clearly at the time, for whatever reason, but that wasn't something he thought too hard about.

Apparently he wasn't alone out here -- someone was around the outside.  His steps slowed for a moment, ears tipping forward.  At least at this distance the one coming opposite along the outside wasn't familiar, but as Mal got closer, it did become clear.  Moonspear.  The scent was a reminder too.  This was the... Kinda reasonable guy? Not the one who was reasonable then flipped out later.  And obviously it wasn't that lady who came when he called about the crazy trio.  They hadn't gone and given names, really -- they were just a jerk-amoeba to him.

While he'd been gone, Mal had done a bit of growing -- mentally at least, physically he was much the same aside from being more put-together these days.  Sure, they'd lost some members, but they'd gained others, and all things considered, it wasn't as bad as things could have been.  He didn't bless the guy with a tail wag, but gave him the courtesy of remaining as neutral as possible as Mal got close.  Came back, huh?  Hope it's just a social call.  Any movement in his peripheral vision was gonna draw his attention -- they came in a mob before, this could be no different.