It did not take him long to adjust to living in the Mire, but the man would not let the borders rest easy. He was making his second trip around the markers that made up the territory, pausing to make note of any strange smells or footprints. So far things seemed to be in the clear, and the ebony male moved along the foilage around him helped conceal him better. Amber eyes were slitted while he walked through, the evening air was nice and cool on his pelt. He paused seeing some strange ruts in the ground and moved to sniff at them cautiously. Then unsure he lifted his head to chuff for Alaric, he wanted his mentors opinion of this before he proceeded.



"talk"

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

@Alaric

Alaric was not terribly fond of winter, but he had to admit there were some pros to the cold. Within the Mire the mud was much more manageable, after all, sticking less to his paws and his fur. It hardened with the chill, and he was able to wander his pride without worrying terribly about what path he might take.

Losing his allies at the Cove had been a travesty, but he was pleased to have at least found @Livyatan, providing safe haven to the boy. "You called?" He hadn't taken too long to reach him, curious as to what the summons was about.

_CODE

It was not long before his mentor was beside him, and Livyatan had only moved a few steps forward in the meantime. Lifting brush out of the way to uncover more tracks. Amber-yellow eyes narrowed at the sight before he spoke without looking to Alaric, "You know of these tracks? They come and go from here..." he then turned to look at Alaric almost seeking approval, but more like seeking a confirmation on his suspicions. "My bet is a rogue hyena... Though it must be desperate to come here to steal..." he added with a snort of disbelief, the weather was really doing a number on the animals here. and he hoped it wouldn't uproot them...


"talk"

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

@Alaric

Almost immediately his gaze is drawn down to the tracks, surprise coloring his features. "It must be recent -- we would have scented them if they had been coming regularly" There was no excuse for a thief to have been missed and so he had to believe that it had been only once or twice.

Lowering his head for a closer look, he gaze a short nod to confirm what @Livyatan had suspected. "Hyena most certainly; skinny and possibly sick." The tracks were shallower than he would have expected; desperate was a certainty.

"So, what do we do?" Curious how the boy would answer, clearly testing him to see what kind of mind he had.

_CODE

A ear flicked to listen to Alaric explain, yes that was true. It must have been either really brave, or really desperate to sneak through a prides territory A lip peeled back in disgust at the idea of it being sick. He didn't want to get sick too...Then Alaric's words made his gaze snap up to the king and he gave a low thoughtful hum.

This was not a lion, but a hyena they were dealing with. Their natural enemy. Glancing down at the track then back to Alaric, "we find it and dispose of it..." his tone was even like this was just part of his duties (which it was) and that he had no emotional tie to this (which he didn't). Looking to the direction the tracks led he waited for Alaric to confirm if he had answered correctly or not.


"talk"

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

@Alaric

"That is one way, yes," and definitely the most preferable. "If it is sick, though, you must be cautious." A bite from a rabid hyena was not something that they needed to be dealing with.

"If it acts erratically, like it is infected, then what?" More questions for the young male, pressing him to learn and grow, to become a protector like the Starke King himself. One day @Livyatan might be a King, and he would need to know how to handle situations just like this. It was all a part of keeping the pride safe, and if he became sick himself then he would hardly be able to do that.

_CODE