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Jove never usually got this far. He was content to hang around his usual haunts, the old giant logs, the little creeks where the waterbugs skimmed around in the eddies, the mossy hollows where the sound of birdsong couldn't rival the hum of insects in the underbrush... But he had gone just a bit further today, following the trail of something he didn't recognize. And although he was no nearer to figuring out what it had been, he did come to a new conclusion.

The horsemen clan was nearer to Amityville than he thought.

It had him scared in a childish, excited manner, peeking out from the bushes like a scareling on a dare. Horsemen could be frightening, but they could also be gentle. He wanted to watch a little, maybe see if there were any familiar faces that had escaped the explosion of the island...

The little foxfire was unaware that as he creeped closer to the encampment, his glowing eyes might be easier to spot in the dark bushes than he had anticipated.

Jove froze in his tracks, eyes wide. It was only when he slowly turned his head towards the sound of the voice that he realized there was a horseman there. One of the tall, imperial-looking ones, like Invictus. He had never visited that island prior to it's destruction, so his only experience with them was what he could recall of the Heir. And that was a frightening thought.

The little ghost hunkered down in the dry leaves, hoping the horseman would give up and go away.

If only Jove could just burrow right into the leaves... But if he ran now, the horseman would surely see him and catch him or shoot an arrow at him or throw a... piece of furniture or something at him. And then the next thing he knew, the horseman was looking right at him. And all he could do was stare right back, frozen with indecision.

Finally he decided to play his most valuable card.

"BARK."

Minipet subterfuge.

Wide-eyed, Jove was not about to give away his position by speaking a single word. Either this horseman was very shrewd, or he had not seen a foxfire minipet before. Maybe the little ghost had to up the stakes...

"BARK." Then he let his tongue hang out of his mouth at a stupid angle, much like Fruitloup always did.

The tongue disappeared.

He was not odd looking! Really, this horseman had no tact and no sense. Famine and War hadn't been nearly so messed up! Did this fancy-haired, robe-wearing horseman even know what a minipet was?

Jove puffed up a little, but resisted showing off the true extent of his irritation.

Jove's head tilted, as best as was possible while being held up by the scruff of his neck. He was nobody's pet, but... Maybe...

He remembered Ren giving him spookies. And petting his hair. And going out on walks with him. And...

The pup's nose wrinkled like he was about to sneeze. No, he wasn't the gryphon's pet! Definitely not! But he could say he was Ren's companion, wasn't that more accurate? Brothers could be companions too, that had to be it.

Jove tried to give the horseman his most blank and unintelligent stare. Did he think a minipet would simply open it's mouth and give an eloquent and concise description of who he belonged to or where he came from? Fruitloup had never been that smart, so the little pup tried to play the same game.

He stared past the horseman, and awkwardly reached one little leg up to scratch at his side. That must have been stupid enough to get rid of some suspicion.