In one word Zane was dirty, he had tried his best to get the lingering mud from his pelt and had even bathed twice but it seemed like that muddy swamp that was a river had left traces on him that were reluctant to fade.
Traveling south alongside the lake, Zane had found himself in a peculiar place. Tall dark trees that whispered to him softly as he padded beneath their branches. It was strange forest on its own but to have the plants whisper to him? That was the strangest. Most of the time normal plants, and these trees weren't normal, wouldn't even try to speak with him. But these trees? They spoke to him telling him of the dangers that hid in the shadows. When it was safe to move forward and when doing so would speak of danger.
It was why when they hissed at him to freeze he did so, ears straining to pick up whatever was out there. The only movement that came from him was the rise and fall of his ribs as he breathed and the twitching of his ears and nose. A dark statue if only for a moment hidden among the dark trees.
The trees talk - AW