[tendrils and trails of reek he found, deepening toward the heart of the thickest foliage thrown round with thorns. neatly he circumvented the more cutting of these, sacrificing tufts of fur to slink amid the briars as did his quarry. discovering fresher tracks, the wolf pressed on into the core of the matter, freezing statuelike at that unearthly sound. but lestan knew a beast without canine nature. he had been pursued over a glacier by a cougar, once, once, and her french claws had struck the rot of fever into lestan and forever changed him. his gut clenched. his hackles leapt. but he could do no more than stand as he was, ears trembling for more breath hanging in the sticky air, trying to quiet his own until his throat burned for air and his eyes to blink. muscles began to protest and still lestan froze, perfectly inviting to the mosquitoes which had started to gather among the spikes and vine-choked brush.]

tendrils and trails of reek he found, deepening toward the heart of the thickest foliage thrown round with thorns. neatly he circumvented the more cutting of these, sacrificing tufts of fur to slink amid the briars as did his quarry. discovering fresher tracks, the wolf pressed on into the core of the matter, freezing statuelike at that unearthly sound.
but lestan knew a beast without canine nature. he had been pursued over a glacier by a cougar, once, once, and her french claws had struck the rot of fever into lestan and forever changed him.
his gut clenched. his hackles leapt. but he could do no more than stand as he was, ears trembling for more breath hanging in the sticky air, trying to quiet his own until his throat burned for air and his eyes to blink.
muscles began to protest and still lestan froze, perfectly inviting to the mosquitoes which had started to gather among the spikes and vine-choked brush.