The girl knew her plants... It made the most elated of smiles curl about his muzzle. Good, he silently praised her in his head. "Aha," he merely sounded, the name of the uncommon flower finally matching with its scent, even though the fragrance of it was shrouded with death and the promise of its blossom in the impending arrival of summer's warmest days on Mount Dire's rocky ledges. She further commented that the coyote had possibly been infected before she had come to Relic Lore and Mapplethorpe merely nodded his head in concurrence. "You might be right," he said quietly, first looking to the corpse before glancing back to the silver-pelted woman.

Mapplethorpe let out a soft sigh, contemplating what had to be done. "Be wary... on your guard," he gently cautioned, his tone insinuating that he was genuinely concerned for her safety beyond the Pass and the territory they called home. "I'm going to make a round along the tree line just in case there are others about. Investigate a little before I head back." He stepped alongside the dead canine's tracks, lowering his nose to them one last time before following them further. One last glance over his shoulder showed that his smile had gone, the teacher within him had vanished and in its stead the scout and sentinel had risen. "You may come along if you'd like; I want to be sure that she was alone... that the edges of the Pass are safe and clear before I tell Rhysis and Naira anything."

(EXIGO.)