Ocean's Breath Plateau john barleycorn was dead

He said he did not know, and Brook shuddered to think of something so strange that her father would not know of it. Her attention was diverted (and her nerves pushed further) by the sensation that somebody was watching. Aditya caught on to it as well, and soon, a fox leapt forward to show himself, as directed.

At least it was only a fox. If it had been another wolf, Brook likely would have gone into shutdown mode, but a fox she could handle. They were small. They were often food. And they certainly could not do her (or Aditya) any major damage.