Ecallaw caught up with Oro just outside of Cyrrillest, where Oro was pacing back and forth in the shallow edge of a large riverbed. Oro’s massive paws left indents in the dirt where he had paced over and over again, with heavy footfalls and no attempt to hide his presence. This alone told Ecallaw that something was wrong, deep in his heart, before Oro even spoke to him.
I lost the scent, Oro said, his voice full of distress. His tail twitched as King Ecallaw approached, his head bowing subconsciously. Oro let out a low whimper as the King approached, an involuntary noise of submission that wolves always made to their King.
Ecallaw began sniffing the ground, paying no mind to Oro’s pleasantries of behavior. Ecallaw was used to them, simply a quirk of being King that any and all would bow
