While Eros had learned a touch more about certain plants, he still did not have a satisfactory answer for what had occurred at that part of the stream. He'd returned to the site the next day and found the entire herd dead, and spent hours dragging every corpse out of the water so that they did not choke and pollute it. The pack was warned to avoid them, and he hoped the rest of the local wildlife were smart enough to do the same.

Every now and then he had nightmares about the event, fresh horrors sprinkled amidst the worst of his memories that haunted him much more regularly. Most often in them, he'd wake alone, and follow the pack's scent to find them all standing in the current of the same bend. @Ally always passed last, despite every frantic attempt of his to snap her out of the trance and save her.

Isidore returning was another reminder, but still; it was a largely positive occurrence. Eros had worried that the other man would return to that scene and something awful would happen to him because of it. When he spotted the sterling wolf a mellow smile appeared on his muzzle, and his tail waved slowly at his hocks.

"Iss. Good to see you again."

Had he found his perfect leaf? At least he didn't seem any worse for wear from first glance.

Eros' intentions with the little quest had really been to give Isidore the easiest way of earning immediate approval as possible. He'd honestly expected his new acquaintance to pick up any old leaf then and there, the forests positively littered with hundreds of thousands of them which could be called roughly heart-shaped. When he'd gone his own way once more instead, Eros had known that it was not just possible, but likely, that they'd never cross paths again.

Yet here he was, and again he had taken that which Eros had started and improved upon it. His citrus eyes followed Iss's direction to not just a heart, but a framed one. He blinked down at it, so simple in its parts but by the whole... well, it said quite a bit about the wolf before him, didn't it? Eros stepped closer, properly taking the little piece of artwork in.

A small voice inside whispered that Isidore needed to run, now. That he was too good for these woods.

"... you weren't exaggerating," he finally said, little smile recovering from his surprise, "the Backwater would be honored to host a treasure hunter as fine as yourself."

A paw slipped forward to gingerly, carefully pull it to him.

Eros' smile deepened just a little bit at the recruit's sunny response, appreciative of his warmth. Who knew, maybe Iss could actually end up doing some good for some of the wolves around here. His family needed some kind of light, they deserved better than the darkness they'd been subjected to for so long now. Why not in the form of a charming young man who went so far out of his way to make things better?

"I have complete faith in you," he answered, almost playful. The request for a tour also received affirmation easily.

"Of course. We'll hit the pack den first."

After all, he needed to properly store this unique offering. His focus returned to it wholly for a moment, eyes fixed on that leaf even as his teeth gently gripped the very edge of the bark backing to ensure that it remained unbothered as he lifted it into the air and slowly turned to lead. Isidore must have brought it here from somewhere without it getting ruffled, and still Eros felt as though he might break it. The other wolf's little trick held wonderfully, though, and he gained confidence as they went.