Duskfire Glacier [Quest] through fangorn forest

The lynx lets loose another challenging yowl that lingers on the air. Malachi drops lower and holds his breath as the lynx scans the forest's trunks. He can see the cat's earthy fur through the cluttered leaves, and his heart skips a beat when its wild eyes dart close to the portion of the forest where he lays low.

But the panic fades when the lynx rises to its paws and begins its trek onward. Malachi follows with a fleeting hesitation. He moves as the lynx moves, but feels his concentration interrupted by the conflicting thoughts that now dance through his mind. He is confident he still holds advantage over the cat, but the trees are thinning now. Soon the terrain would stand treeless, and then what? He would be left to face the lynx alone. He knows what a wise wolf would do in his situation: a wise wolf would turn and leave.

But Malachi furrows his brow. He can't bring himself to leave, not when he is so close. He does not notice his slight acceleration or the sloppiness of his few steps that follow as his concentration begins to slip.