Lex smiled at Maya's innocent fear. He thought about explaining that all three of those animals, bears, basilisks, and wolves, were very territorial. They were all out here somewhere, but they didn't much like each other. They also didn't accept others of their own kind within their territory. A single basilisk for instance, was known to claim fifty square miles. They were solitary creatures, though they could sometimes be found in pairs during mating season. Larger groups, called colonies, consisted of three to six lizards, were rare, and mostly found in mountainous regions. The scarce few found in the forests were imported from their native deserts. They preferred hot and dry environs. Knowing about animals in the area was part of what made Lex the master of the wood.
"We are very unlikely to see any predatory animals," Lex explained, "we'll likely see some adorable squirrels and rabbits though." He smiled at Maya warmly. There was no need to worry her needlessly, by telling her they were more likely to see bandits and rogues than wild animals. If by some strange happening, they came across such villains, they would likely retreat at knowing he was Lex of the Wood. If not, he could easily handle most situations.
Lex led Maya further along the path, pointing out the more colorful fauna. Some blue-tailed spotted deer, a rare breed magically created long ago, crossed the path not twenty meters ahead of them, a truly lucky encounter. A Red Breasted Robin and Blue Jay, both not native to the area, were two more lucky sights.
Along their walk, Lex shifted from holding Maya's hand to a more intimate guiding hand at the small of her back. He'd occasionally shift it around to her hip, drawing her in close as he pointed at some especially beautiful bird or flower. Then he slide it down her arm and interlace his fingers with hers again, drawing her on or off the path, to look at something more closely.
When they finally arrived at the pond, Lex led Maya close toward the water. He stopped at a point where the grass was being overtaken by thick moss. He set the basket down, as well as the table cloth they had been provided when they made the large purchase. He spread it flat, after checking for rocks and twigs, and bade Maya sit.
"This is my favorite spot," Lex told the young noblewoman, "the sun hits this pond perfectly as it sets over the hills."