Arthur flicked his hand, summoning Lupin from a swirling portal of dark energy. The lone wolf emerged with a low growl, its lithe form crouched close to the ground.
Lupin's sharp nose twitched, sniffing the air, while its eyes scanned the dense forest around them, alert to any movement.
Arthur's gaze shifted upward. "Hank," he muttered, his voice steady, "scouting duty. Let me know if there's trouble up ahead."
With a soft cry, the hawk launched into the air, its wings slicing through the filtered beams of sunlight streaming between the trees.
For a moment, Arthur watched as Hank disappeared above the canopy, his talons glinting faintly before vanishing from sight.
Arthur adjusted his grip on the dagger resting in his hand. The faint crunch of his boots against the leaf-strewn ground seemed almost too loud in the otherwise silent forest.
