A creature as smart as they were?
Kuan knew they were intelligent, but she had never before considered that Kirin were that smart. They were powerful beasts, but they were still just beasts. Still just animals. She had always assumed their intelligence was akin to that of a crow or a dog or maybe even a monkey. Bright creatures, creatures capable of using tools and remembering individuals, of working cooperatively, but not human level intelligence.
Was she wrong?
It didn't matter.
"Send scouts ahead to look for traps, then," she said. "We can't risk hesitation. We need to follow the trail while it's still hot." A scowl crossed her face and she sighed at her unintentional pun. She shook it off. "Come. Be ready for a fight."
Her hand rested along the pommel of her sword as she headed into the forest, the path leading off into the darkness.
