Otatso Wetlands night shadow

It wasn't easy, running at top speed with a head tilted in confusion- but Ridgeback managed well, maintaining his surprised expression for several strides when a word was shouted that he didn't recognize. He thought at first maybe it was several words slammed together- until he remembered that Sun Eater had a different mother tongue. He clamped his parted lips shut and turned his head forward, at first only noticing the broader path through the woodlands. 

The herd split, with some veering down a more subtle, narrow path. It might force them to fall into single line, and cause those at the rear to slow down so that they did not charge blindly side-by-side through branches that would snap and tear at their flesh. Puffs of breath blasted up into the tree limbs in a mist that might later turn to frost. There was hesitation, confusion- and amid the swarming mass of beige fur there was a rake of dark red on the shoulder of a bull who lunged to the right. Ridgeback heaved a breath, and cast a side-eye to Sun Eater, watching for the next direction.