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Zombie didn't hide the disappointment that Pied's response engendered and, once again, it left the piebald wolf feeling rather discomfited. She still wanted to make up for her blunder, yet she also wanted to get out of Zombie's space. Pied didn't enjoy feeling like her mere presence was agitating her comrade.

Pied didn't really understand the remark about her appearance, so she said nothing. When Zombie mentioned Jinx, though, her eyes sharpened. She pursed her lips and replied softly but firmly, "We'll rally together and figure something out." She sounded more confident than she really felt. Even as she spoke, her innards twisted with anxiety, which only deepened when she looked at Zombie.

"Look, I'm going to get out of your way. I promise that we'll do something about it if Jinx is gone. I plan to call the others soon, most likely in the morning. And I'll make it up to you sometime," she said again, gesturing in the direction the fox had gone. "Sorry, Zombie," were her words of parting before she faced forward and trotted off into the deep, dark forest.