Opening post by Lord Gawen Hunter · #1
i read broken branches as a trail only after checking the break itself... fresh wood is pale and sharp, while an old snap is grey and soft. kneel before moving on, and look for the matching scuff in mud or leaves. if there is no second sign within a few paces, stop and test the wind instead of guessing.
when a trail crosses brush, i follow the line of bent stems rather than the biggest break. creatures push low branches forward and leave their undersides scraped; people usually catch higher twigs and face them back. keep your last certain mark in sight while you search, and you will not wander off chasing a false turn...
mark the last good sign with a small stone turned flat, never by breaking more branches. circle from there in widening steps, checking damp ground, crushed grass, and fresh droppings. if the signs fade, return to that stone and wait for a better angle... Brindlemark taught me not to spend a whole day on a barren guess.