Scouting Ahead (Part One)

As the day progressed and the group made their way to the Azure Flow, Xiong Dahuo and Yu Jinqi continued to scout the way, often staying ahead of the rest of the group by as much as two li. 

"Look there," Yu Jinqi said, raising a hand and calling his companion's attention to a strangely moving mound of earth. "What do you make of that?"

"You're getting good at this Brother Jinqi," Xiong Dahuo said as he channeled a thread of energy into the talisman Wu Ling had given him, sharpening his eyes and looking where the young alchemist had pointed. 

Once he did, it became much easier to recognize that it wasn't the ground itself that was moving, rather, a swarm of furry creatures had descended onto a carcass and were stripping flesh from its bones. Each of the creatures was larger than a housecat and there were easily more than a dozen of them.