Chapter 41

The conversation was a little waylaid as the pair of girl's were a little worried. He shakes his head a little, moving on to take the lead towards the clearing. But stops a moment later, realizing, he only knew from the killer bush, while close, it would still take more time. He turns back around a little sheepish, "I don't know the way there. Mind taking the lead?" He asks his mother looking at her, a little bit amused at the fact that he hadn't realized he didn't really know.

Syren was quick to take the lead, bring the 4 behind her. Tortuga not having any want to join them, more just a brief curiosity before going into dreamland. They had no real idea as to whether the tortoise dreamt, but it seemed to enjoy it's sleep. The wolfess was moving a bit quicker then previously, her cub amazed as he follows close enough to bite it.

The vixens were close to his own tail, just a length behind, though, it didn't feel safe. It seemed like a pair of teeth were getting ready to chomp on his tail. His head turns back a little to look at Azure and Lapis, their head had turned looking to the sides, only barely following for a moment, bowing out to the sides. Nadia was just looking ahead, like she didn't mind what they were doing, as long as they weren't causing her a problem.

It was almost like something had put a signal in the back of his head, or maybe a pair of eyes had grown there, letting him feel two sets of eyes were resting on the back of him. He knew that the eyes weren't going to really hurt him, just causing him some mischief instead. "Now, don't even think about biting me. Or I'll bite you." He lets the trio know. Not sure if their mother might be encouraging them.

The pair that he was worried about seemed put out, "What? We were planning to." Sending all sorts of denials they could think of. Their mother just watching on with amusement. The path wasn't hard to travel, but it was easy to get distracted, there are a few brightly colored plants that he had previously obtained.

Syren seems to also be amused by the pair, she knows what they are like, and they probably will still try to bite. Whether they do it now or later was the true guess. Her head doesn't really move, having gone down the path before, she didn't feel the need to see and take in scents again. Nothing big, or at least, nothing that appeared to be large was near, and that was all that really mattered to her.

It was a few minutes, by his guess before they were relatively close to Bob's campsite, the smell of smoke was just a faint little memory on the air. There is, however, the oppressive feeling of something strong resting, but every time he raises a paw in thought to flee, the pressure vanishes, as if it was just his mind playing tricks. The only thing that makes it obvious, was there was whimpering behind him. Almost begging to have the chance to escape.

Though they were just as confused when they plan to run, their instincts almost make them turn, not wanting to disturb the supposed beast ahead. Syren, however, is unaffected by whatever was happening. The mental tricks not strong enough to affect something that constantly uses their own mental will. When she shows the memory of the stones, does it make more sense, they weren't just for an easy campsite, they also set up an array to protect them.

This fact made the little wolf even more curious as to what might be possible with the arrays, knowing that there should be others. If Bob could give him ideas, maybe even teach him about them, it could provide some interesting effect to his world. Even though his previous changes haven't let the current inhabitants settle, he didn't want to waste any time without something encouraging them to keep on moving. Even the hedgeboars he enjoyed, mainly the runt, he wanted to make sure they still grew.

Something seems to change suddenly after they get about a dozen lengths away from the campsite, the pressure suddenly vanishes, as if it was never there. He could almost hear the vixen's fluff flipping back and forth as they are trying to discover why it had suddenly stopped. Noise around the clearing was still somewhat muted, but in the center, bird calls were full volume, happily singing their hearts out, even as the smell of smoke thickens. There is another fainter smell now mixing in, the feel of his body starts to slow as it comes in, making him shudder a little and relax.

Soon, the break in the trees opens up, showing a man sitting next to the fire, a pipe in his hands, taking draws of whatever was in, before breathing through his nose. It looked like the flaring nostrils were smokestacks, releasing the scent to the world with each of his breathes. Bob's focus was on the fire, staring into it like it held some secret that only he could discern. His eyes do not move from it, even as the smoke that is released blocks his view of the flames.

Syren doesn't enter the cleared area, just sitting on the edge, starting her own staring. Watching the man smoke, and seem oblivious to the world. Her son sitting next to her, joining in her vigil. The only thing out of place are the three heads looking around them to see what they are staring at.

The vixens were amazed and curious at what they are seeing. Nadia had been the only one to see fire, having had to move away from a forest fire. Forced to live in a river for a week until the flames had abated. Plants and animals had been pressed out, except for those hardy enough, or lucky enough to escape.

What Azure and Lapis were most curious about, was the tent, they had lived in many different dens, but they were amazed at the tent, because it looked, to them, like a breeze might knock it over. The only thing stopping them from trying to knock it over themselves, was their mother, Syren, and the wolf cub.