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The commotion about a scent had Tahir’s ears perked. He lifted his nose to the air and scented. Indeed, there was something odd about. How unfortunate that he had not been the one to discover it. At least it was another canine. He trusted their noses far more than those of lions. Not that he would voice this. He needed his companions. Even his little jackal friend had caught scent of something. What a keen fellow. Tahir offered Haki a kind, but toothy, smile for his findings.

Tahir did not want to be near the front, or caught up in the rear where he would be easy pickings for the murderer, so he hurried along as the group moved. The pace was slow for his long legs, but for once he kept his trivial complaints to himself. When the ground became slick he winced, growing low under his breath. His claws were terribly overgrown, giving him poor traction and forcing him to place his paws down at an awkward angle. Slick stone did nothing to help his balance. He was forced to slow and keep his eyes low, squinting through the fog for good places to put his feet.

With his focus on his paws, he noticed the appearance of the red substance almost immediately. He halted, rearing his head back and sneering. Not blood, no, it smelled wrong for that. But then what…? Tahir lifted a paw and gave it one good lick. Ugh, sour.

Perhaps not the best idea. He had no idea what this substance was, or what it could do if ingested.

Mura followed the group, not wanting to be left behind. As they traveled down the path she could smell the acid smell. "What is that?" She asked out loud hoping she wasn't the only one who smelt it. The smell irritated her nose. "I don't like this area." She didn't mean to complain, she just felt uncomfortable.

It was becoming difficult to walk, she noticed. Her paws kept slipping and there were moments when she thought she was going to fall. When she finally noticed the red substance. She was relieved that it wasn't blood, however she still did not want it on her paws. "I do hope there is a creek near by so I can watch my paws off. This stuff is making it difficult to walk properly."

Ndege nodded her thanks to Margulis, gaining heart from the other's kind words. She headed down the slope, watching where she placed each foot and trying not to gag on the smell. It was strange how the ground was red - but it wasn't blood, old or new. She lifted a paw and shook it, trying to get rid of the sticky substance. Nasty, horrid, rotten! But what on earth could it be?

Bluu hissed as her feet slipped on the wet ground before darting back up the slope. Surely they weren't all going to go down there? She waited a moment, watching the other animals go down, before making up her mind and starting a slow, careful descent. "This is not a good place," she muttered, hackles raised. It wasn't the blood like substance that was getting to her though - it was how difficult it would be to run away if things went bad.

Lani wasn’t particularly calmed by Ndege’s words, but she had no choice now but to press on and stay close. The group was moving, and to head back would mean to be alone. Lani didn’t want to be so deep in the wood all by her lonesome. Not here. Not with the shadows and skulls and monsters about. She kept close behind Ndege, not quite touching but staying no more than a few inches from contact.

The sour smell of something abnormal invaded her nostrils and she grimaced as her feet squelched into the unnatural red substance,” What isthis?” Not blood, clearly, but why so much of it? She’d never seen such a thing before in her life.

She flicked an ear in Marguilis’ direction and shrank back, shivering,” I wouldn’t like to be around mad people.” It seemed the green lioness was also going to stay close. Not Lani’s favorite choice of companions, but she refused to leave Ndege. At least this lion was big and strong. And probably slower than Lani, too. She hoped. Never-the-less, she offered the stranger a quick nod in greeting.

Ndege was about to answer Lani when the monkey came down and slapped Veru across the face. Even if she didn't show it, Ndege had been as tense as a loaded spring since her first step in the forest. She'd been waiting for something like this. Snarling like a mad beast, she turned and leaped at the horrible little monkey, ready to tear the little thing from limb, but forgot how slippery the ground was, slipped, and was rewarded with a slap across the rump as she hit the ground face first.

For her part, Bluu wanted nothing to do with the monkey, but that didn't mean the monkey wanted nothing to do with her. Rather than risk breaking a leg while trying to run from the tiny beast, she closed her eyes as the monkey slapped her across the face. Why that stupid little - !

Tahir was still smacking the last remnants of sour-red whatever from his lips when Haki slammed into his legs once again. He let out a gruff yelp and shot forward through the slime, hindlegs buckling. Down he went, getting streaks of the stuff all over his coat and face. Tahir snarled and whipped his head around to Haki,” Watch yourself, jackal. That’s twice now.”

He had just barely pushed himself back to his feet, dripping red, when a blasted monkey appeared out of nowhere, screeching and hollering up a storm.

“I knew it! Babo-” he managed, right before he felt he sharp sting of a slap across his face. He reeled back in surprise, gaping.

Shari was caught off guard as she was slapped in the face by a crazy monkey. She cringed as the smell of the red stuff was now on her face extremely close to her nose. "Oh nasty!" She snarled then she watched as Amali managed to pin the monkey down. "Ha! That's what you get!"