Neverwinter Forest lxvi. never quite close enough to see your disguise

tags for reference

@Foxfur had not returned. Lótë did not know the man well and wasn't entirely sure what he'd gone looking for, yet his lacking presence within the village was enough to send her sweeping outwards in search of an explanation. 

Too many times had evil spirits afflicted those of Moonglow for the dove to remain fretless -- supposing some ill fortune had befallen the vulpine he-wolf as it had the spirit-bear. 

Lótë trekked east upon departing the Spine, combing through the great conifer woodland that lay in the shadow of their village's low ring of mountains. It seemed a likely place that one might shelter before returning home -- for the thick canopy held most of the snow aloft and trapped warmth within the muted world of pine. 

In the heart of the forest, there were half-collapsed signs of life -- old ulaqs crumbling with disuse. A former village, the doe surmised, but one that had been vacant for some time. There was no sign of Foxfur among any of the shattered warrens nor in the shallow cave systems tucked into the hills. 

There was only Lótë, the hintings of several herds that must frequent the territory, and the wind twisting in the pines.