animal smells and porcupine quills

“You're welcome,” he said with a crooked smile. And while he had never met the wrong end of a porcupine himself, he didn't want to. It was clear that Sitri was still in pain, but had steadily gone back to their work where most probably would have waited until later to resume. All the same, Mordecai followed his lead without question to the matter. But before he did, the tawny Ostrega kicked the pulled barbs beneath the earth. He didn't know if someone could meet some misfortune by stepping on them, and wasn't about to find out himself.

“Maybe we should focus on the large game for now.” Small game, while good for a meal, wasn't what he was entirely interested in at the moment. It wouldn't sustain their pack, which surprisingly Mordecai did not notice he was putting their needs ahead of his own. “Should we backtrack now to where the trail was, or try and pick it up further out?” He was unopposed to either suggestion, but left the decision up to his superior. After all, Sitri had been the one to find the tracks to begin with.