True to his word, Mithrun stays close by, watching Popp from above - though Popp couldn't be blamed for not being sure of that. Mithrun may still be getting used to some of the changes to his body, but they do prove useful for getting from branch to branch, teleportation taking him across larger gaps.

He can't be totally silent, but, with luck, the sound of Mithrun's movement will blend in with those of every other living thing rustling in the trees and crunching through the snow. With caution, the distance he's keeping from Popp will be enough that no lurking brains will tie the two together.

And, in fact-- they don't seem to. Within a few minutes, snow crunches behind Popp - a faint warning of an ID's approach as it creeps toward its seemingly unguarded target.