Grouse Thicket out of the mist

Ulrich pulled up short at the man's response to him--the narrowed eyes, the lash of the tail, the short chuff. None of it was necessarily threatening, but it wasn't exactly welcoming, either.

He sat down, still some distance away, ears forward, body upright, but his tail thumped behind him. He was unafraid, but not combative, and he thought sitting down might make him seem less threatening. He could not be readying for an attack if he was sitting. He was not annoyed at the man's caution; it reminded him of himself, in fact. It paid to be cautious out here in the wild, away from home, when meeting someone you did not know.

I didn't mean to startle you, Ulrich said, calmly. I will leave you be, if you wish. Only, you are close to my home, and... And what? The stranger should therefore clear off? Or be welcomed? Or what? Ulrich didn't know. So he simply fell silent.