Bearclaw Valley the beautiful know they have power

the man did not look back, which was a curiosity to merrick, but he trailed nunataq faithfully all the same. perhaps stigmata had not heard them, though some inkling told the boy that was impossible. of course the fierce creature knew they were there. but why had he not turned around? no matter. his attention belonged to his older friend.
he joined her in the thicker foliage; when nuna telegraphed what their next move should be, the coywolf's eyes lit with a grin of pure mischief. of course! the dark child slunk from cover and began to cut through the underbrush toward stigmata's left, looking to nunataq more than once for reassurance that he was going the right way.