The mushrooms in Ren's hair pulsed revealing his concern. Professor Zhao wouldn't be easy to fool.
'I need a better story,' he thought while storing the last specimens. 'Something that explains all this without revealing I ventured beyond the limits.'
In the distance, the Shadow Stalker males' roars began to diminish, their battle reaching its inevitable conclusion.
Soon, one would establish dominance and claim the territory.
Ren had no more tricks ready to escape the losing male if it found him, his earlier gambit had used up all his prepared contingencies.
It was time to return.
But as he headed toward the camp, Ren couldn't suppress a smile.
Explaining his bounty would be complicated, but the value of what he carried in his bag would make any interrogation worthwhile.
'After all,' he thought while the mushrooms pulsed softly, 'the best stories are always the hardest to believe.'
♢♢♢♢
