Yara listened to Wilder's explanation, noting his western accent and the way it colored his words. It was a stark contrast to what she was used to, but she focused on understanding him. His mention of the land north being ice and snow made sense, explaining the perpetual dampness of the soil here. She appreciated his clarification about the light, realizing that her initial observation might not be as useful in this dense forest.
Her gaze followed Wilder's muzzle as he pointed up towards the canopy. The thick branches and tightly knit leaves indeed made it difficult for light to penetrate fully. As she looked closer, she noticed something peculiar. The leaves that had seemed yellow from a distance were now revealing black and grey speckles upon closer inspection. Her heart quickened, a sense of unease settling in her stomach. What could cause such discoloration in the foliage?
Driven by curiosity and a bit of dread, Yara cautiously moved closer to one of the trees to inspect the leaves. As she approached, a stronger, foul smell hit her nostrils. Peering around the tree, her eyes widened in horror as she saw the source of the stench: a deer, lying lifeless on the forest floor, its body partially decomposed. The sight of the decaying animal made her take a step back, her ears flattening in distress. She turned to Wilder, her voice barely a whisper. "There... there's a dead deer over here. Nothing attacked it, and it still looks too young to die from old age. Something's definitely not right."
