Hybrid grunted in reply, but didn’t elaborate. Sure, she was young, but she wasn’t that young. She had to be a yearling now, which meant she was more or less an adult. She was pretty much fully grown, so Hybrid didn’t feel like he should treat her like a child if she wasn’t one anymore. She wasn’t a few months old: she could be naïve, but that didn’t grant her ignorance. He didn’t believe in granting exceptions where they weren’t due. Hybrid couldn’t really remember what he had been like at her age, but it didn’t help to compare – they were very different creatures, after all.
He glanced back at Gabriel when he posed a question. He coughed and then replied: “north.” He coughed once more as his voice was still coming out cracked and hoarse. “Toward the peak. I’ll do a loop ‘round the territory borders.” He wasn’t sure if Gabriel would accompany him, but he almost felt like he would welcome the company. It was a strange thought, but he supposed Gabriel was one of the creatures for whom he could make exceptions. He didn’t mind the other canine’s presence as long as he wasn’t sticking his nose in his business. Hybrid could appreciate a quick scent check, but sniffing for disease? That was just preposterous. Either way, if Gabriel wanted to follow him along on his night patrol, he wouldn’t object.