This was the farthest east she’d ever been, and she was in half a mind to just keep on going. Or at least she would have, if the landscape hadn’t changed so suddenly, blocking her path. Red rock jutted suddenly from the earth breaking up the trees, which had otherwise grown so densely. Soon enough, they completely gave way, and the fiery wolf was faced with a matching, russet wall of stone.

She tilted her head back, and back, and back, staring at the rugged barrier blocking her escape, barring her teeth in a silent snarl. A few outcrops jutted out here and there, but it was far too steep to climb in any case, and looking around, she found the cliff continuing as far as she could see in both directions; Fucking fantastic!

She did notice some dark hollows in the stone and seeing as there was no other apparent way to pass this barricade, she went to investigate. The first couple of holes were shallow, each one ramping up her irritation, until, finally, she came upon what appeared to be a proper cavern, extending beyond what she could see. Sticking her head further inside, she heard water dripping from the ceiling as well as a feint rustling that she couldn’t identify; Absolutely marvelous! If she wanted to keep going, it seemed this was the only way.

His nostrils flared, taking in the musty stink of cave as she tried to identify the unusual element. It stank sharply, not too different from rodent droppings, but still distinct. Curious, she raised one paw to move deeper into the darkness, when a sudden voice reached her from outside.

Quick as a fox, Flair pulled out of the cave opening, spinning to face the stranger who had snuck up on her. Instinctively, her ears were back, hackles raised from the shock, but the voice had seemed polite enough and as her eyes fell on the pale figure, it was clear he was no threat. Small in stature and lean in build, with a posture clearly portraying no ill intentions, Flair felt safe enough, though her voice was still a little gruff as she answered: “What’a’ y’ want?”

Despite seeming initially alarmed, the blond youth was quick to follow up. In a lot of words – Way more than necessary – he explained that he was lost, gesturing at the rock wall with a jerk of his head. Flair’s eyes narrowed, trying to get a closer look at his neck without moving from where she stood; What is that? Meanwhile, the lad continued to talk, his apology just feeling like more fluff to the fiery girl, who hadn’t even noticed his half-swear. But the more he moved his head around, the more chance she got to look closer at the object seemingly stuck to his neck, obnoxiously orange against his pale coat, and definitely not natural.

Such transfixed, it took Flair awhile to realize that he had actually stopped talking, apparently hoping for her help. She finally tore her eyes away, shaking her head to try and focus on the question, though in truth she hadn’t really heard it. “I’ve no idea where this dam rock ends,” She grumbled, voice getting louder as she blurted: “What is that around your neck?” If he had some kind of freaky illness, she wasn’t about to let him any closer, no matter if he needed help or not.

Well, that wasn’t very enlightening. Flair watched with suspicious, narrowed eyes as the blond wolf squirmed, clearly trying to hide the thing from her view, as if it didn’t stand out like antlers on a stag. She sneered, remaining silent, staring him down until he continued, though his explanation didn’t make her any less wary.

Brows rising high, Flair looked at the younger wolf with blatant disbelief, an al most pitying expression on her face. “Strange creatures, huh?” She asked, voice laced with sarcasm; “Let me guess, two-leggers?” Her head tilted at the question, brows lifting, if possibly, even higher; Why’s that always the go-to story? These humans sure were a popular bogy-story – the number of wolves who’d mentioned them since she returned to the Lore was staggering.

Then again, the thing was real at least, there was no denying that. If it wasn’t some kind of growth, someone had to have put it there; The bogyman…!