Private In Pursuit of Pursuit

Unlike Bastet, Alby had a deficiency of air serpents to move the brush out from under him, so just as he was getting close to seeing what the man was inspecting, a very loud and obvious twig snapping could be heard directly below him. His eyes widened and he quickly dropped down to hide behind a rotting log, but his location wasn't an amazing hiding place and he was a lot closer to the man than he would've liked when this happened. Several meters away.

The man froze, keeping quiet with his ear raised up while he was still bent over. He stayed like that for a few seconds before standing up completely and looking towards Alby's general whereabouts with squinting eyes. After scanning the area and failing to identify anyone, he called out. "I know... I know you're here! I know you've been following me! Come out right this instant!"

Alby never answered, instead staying put while trying to see where exactly Bastet was.

The man recoiled at the hissing, making it all the more obvious that he was more afraid than threatening them. He shouted again. “Please! I mean you no harm, if I’ve trespassed on your habitat somehow then just come out and talk to me!” The serpent caused him to fall forward onto his hands, looking up trying to identify anything.

It was right about the that Alby finally popped up out of the brush. “State your purpose in these woods!” He shouted while still wearing his leaf mask.

The man called back. “I’m just out here examining the plant life and taking samples, that’s all I promise.”

Alby had a moment of confusion at Bastet being referred to as sis by the serpent, but it wasn’t important for now so he let it go. Instead he was concerned with the mysterious man’s answer to her question.

The man just sighed. “I’m a scientist working with the MC government. There are concerns that the bear trap plants are becoming more common in the forest. I’m just here to collect samples and see if that is the case and why.”

The man didn’t give any real reason not to believe him, so Alby began to feel a little dumb for following him all the way out here. “Ah.”