a different stink

Fable tried not to flinch as he leaned forward to touch her claws with his fearsome, pointy-things. She wasn't used to anyone other than family members touching her. "Oh well, that makes sense," she conceded, shifting from paw to paw as she suddenly became aware of the claws. Her ears flicked as she took in the same smell that had his nostrils flaring. The young hunter's tail wagged a few times quickly in succession, excited to embark on a new adventure. "Yeah, yeah! I smell it," she added, giving him a toothy grin. His offer made her feel a bit better - maybe she could make it up to him if she cooked up something tasty with the result of their hunt. "Okay, halfsies, yes," Fable murmured, slipping into a hunter's crouch and putting her nose to the ground as he led the way towards the source of the smell.

Luckily they were still skirting the edges of Abaven territory. Theory would be disappointed if she led someone into the territory without asking first and Fable couldn't handle her aunt being upset with her. She'd just keep an eye on him, make sure he didn't place a paw on the other side of the border. As they trudged through the woods bordering the rapids, a branch cracked up ahead. Resisting the urge to gasp in delight, she crept up so that she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kuroki. They came upon a small clearing about a hundred yards away from the river. "If you creep around to the other side, I'll funnel it right to you," Fable plotted. The doe was young, just barely out of her white spots, but still a good size. Winter was still new. No one had had time to go hungry - yet.