Curiosity

[You are sleeping peacefully, when your senses arouse you. You snap wide awake, as you realise that there are noises in your immediate surroundings.]

Lem was meditating on the visualization diagram of the [Mountain Sitting Technique] when his simulated self was suddenly disturbed from sleep. It sounded like there was scuffling and movement in the bushes.

Lem's simulated self opened his eyes.

Several meters away from him, in the darkness of the forest, he saw indistinct forms on all fours, walking through the brush.

A pair of wolves. 

One of them was sniffing the ground, while the other looked at him, its yellow eyes glowing in the night. Lem's simulated self quickly noticed that the wolf was fixated on the spiritual lily in his hand. 

He had gone to sleep holding it, not wanting to let it out of his sight for fear that he would lose it.

Lem wondered whether this had been a mistake. Should his simulated self have eaten more of the water lily instead of going to sleep?

Clearly, it had attracted the wolves.

Yet, at the same time, he did not see any hostility. The wolves carried themselves with calmness, as though they had walked over just to satisfy their curiosity.

The wolf that was sniffing the ground brought its head up, and the pair of them trotted off through the brush, continuing along their way.

Lem's simulated self watched as they walked away, disappearing into the night. They were traveling in the direction of the harvest tree.

[You see two wolves nearby. They look at you in curiosity, before walking away.]

How strange.

Lem thought about the difference between their attitude and the one that had been shown by wolves when he had been with the martial elder.

At that time, the wolves would not leave them alone.

They kept yipping and rushing forward in mock charges, and would not be deterred even when Master Brightflame had flared his true essence.

The wolves he was encountering now hadn't made a move or even postured at him. It had been the same every other time he had encountered wolves when he was alone at night. They had always been either timid or curious, but never hostile.

Why?

Here, it could be explained that they were calm because they were in the territory of the harvest tree.

But what about the other times?

And when they had been aggressive, had it been because Master Brightflame's powerful aura had provoked them? Was just his presence enough to set them over the edge?

Or was he overthinking the matter?

As Lem and his simulated self were deep in thought, the brush was disturbed again. This time, three wolves emerged from the forest.

Once again, there was no aggression. They only cast curious glances at him, before they continued walking past, following in the footsteps of the last pair of wolves.

Again?

Before the forest could return to quiet, Lem's simulated self heard noises, and another wolf passed by.

Lem's simulated self stood up. Even if it was dangerous, he felt a need to satisfy his curiosity.