How to cover your tracks in the forest? help!

[sarrowsmith10]

Wow. So its been a long time since I've been totally stumped how to draw out a scene. Mostly because I spend zero time out in the wild. I hate camping (I really like my bed and my bug free house) and I do hike, but I hike in the desert (I live in Arizona) and there isn't many trees or anything besides dirt and rocks and cactus haha.

Anyways, there is an upcoming scene I'm working on, for Goblins of Razard. The main characters are traveling through the forest, trying to be sneaky. I want to show that the characters are being extra careful to cover their tracks. But I'm having a hard time visualizing that. What would you even do to cover your tracks?

They are traveling in the late fall, so they probably wouldn't want to track through a stream (cold water would not be good for them). There isn't any snow, so they wouldn't have foot prints... I don't know. Nature loving people heeellppp meee.

[KateGrove]

I would use a branch with leaves to sweep the forest floor behind me, so it would cover my tracks. And they need to be extra careful not to break off small branches/leaves/etc. when going through the forest. Other than that, I have no idea, but I hope this helps!!!

[Mr_B]

The branch sweep was the first thing that came to mind as well. However, the best solution that I can think of is just being very cautious, as @KateGrove said. They would need to be completely tuned to their surroundings and try to disrupt as little in their path as possible. This being fall, there would probably be plenty of fallen leaves to aid them, and it wouldn't be all that difficult (unless the world they're in has no autumn leaves on the ground.)

What you need to consider as well is: who would want to track them? Do they have dogs at their disposal? If it is a magical world, do their potential pursuers have other ways of tracking them down? I did some quick snooping on Google and it turns out tracking dogs (or beasts) are very difficult to lose (and even the good ol' crossing-the-stream seems to not aid at all, much to my surprise!), and your best bet is simply to move quickly and through inhospitable terrain, which will tire the dogs out. If there is magic at play, perhaps you can work that in the character's favour somehow, in a way that is congruent with the world you built.

Hope you overcome this roadblock quickly!

[joe_galindez]

Walk on rocks where possible. Don't hack your way through vegetation.

[DeformedSunflower]

The branch-sweeping method is definitely the first that came to my mind!
But whenever possible, try not to walk through soft grounds or muddy places as your footprints are more likely to be indented there, and you'll leave trails of dirt behind. If it's snowing, then the footprints will naturally be covered by the fresh snow, so there isn't a need to worry about it.

Unless the one hunting you has a pack of dogs or is a beast with very keen smelling.
Hunters usually lather themselves with mud to cover their smell and camouflage with the surroundings. You have a higher chance of being caught if you wear some kind of perfumery, so don't do that! Also throw away anything that can give away your position, like smartphones (if it even works in the forest), or pungent smelling foods like smoked meat or durian.
Running in a confusing pattern (like zig-zagging or looping around the area) can also help confuse your enemies!

This is starting to sound like a survival guide, so I'll stop here. Good luck with your comic!

[IdiotWithPencil]

brach sweep but if theirs a grassy path leave some foot prints that lead there and then continue the other way, ps worry about breaking branches easy to track by the things you break and leave bahind un checked, reference I watch too many isekai and fantasy forest novel so take my word with a grain of salt =P

[Croik]

I think it would definitely depend on who or what is chasing them. If it's just people, you could make a show of the characters tucking in clothing and hair to keep anything from being caught or tangled in branches. If it's dogs or something that will go by smell, they could try to use mud or animal skin/a carcass to cover their scent?

If it's the fall, they can sweep leaves to cover their tracks, but to be honest if the ground is soft enough to be leaving footprints at all there's not much they can do to cover that up. Unless they're really sneaky and have those cool shoes that have animal tracks in the soles .

I've only ever hiked on a path in the northern US, so the ground is generally packed enough that there's not much in the way of footprints unless it's muddy. If this is more like a montage you could show them climbing on downed tree trunks to avoid the path, or even have one of them get snagged on a branch, lose a bit of cloth, and then go back to remove it. That would demonstrate they're being careful without having to say it outright.

[Masterman]

Interesting problem; not so much how to actually hide your tracks, but how to show it in a comic in a way that instantly communicates the intent to the reader (not necessarily the same thing at all).

My solution would be a 1-2 effect: first, some really obvious avoidance of leaves and branches. Soft, gentle hands, extreme torso contortions to get through carefully, and intense focus on the branches themselves. Think of the guy in a movie who's trying to weave between laser tripwires (maybe even photo-reference that). If it's over the top, you can always dial it back, but I think it needs to be pretty overt to communicate. The "2" in the one two punch is the last person in the group, sweeping the ground, maybe fluffing a bush lie it's a pillow. Those are my thoughts anyway.

IMPORTANT: no matter how you choose to depict it, there is an easy test to see if you succeeded: show it to someone who doesn't know what's happening, and have them describe it. Don't ask them "what's happening here", that's too leading, just say "describe this scene for me, so I can see what you are seeing." If they then say the the people are covering their tracks in the woods, you nailed it.

[sarrowsmith10]

what's happening here", that's too leading, just say "describe this scene for me, so I can see what you are seeing." If they then say the the people are covering their tracks in the woods, you nailed it.

That is brilliant, thank you! I'm definitely going to try that.

[indagold]

Oh that's easy, keep off the main paths. I've hiked through forests dozens of times and your footprint doesn't show up as easily on leaves and plants then dirt ground. Unless the person chasing them is brilliant at spotting this or has some sort of tracker, running crazy all over un-walked ground is hard to spot.

[sarrowsmith10]

Okay, so here is the finished page (it goes live tomorrow morning).

I tried to incorporate the idea that the woman is using magic to remove her foot prints, and to "unsnap" any twigs and such they broke. What do you guys think?

[serenitysquirrel]

The branch option might disturb the leaves and debris natural to the forest floor, and depending on how done, could leave an even more prominent path.

If there's no tracking dogs, and depending on the traffic of the forest, you would want to stay away from any well beaten path. Stagger your steps and footing as best as possible and don't move in a straight line. Watch your step but move quickly, keeping an eye out for snakes as well. Stick to harder, dryer dirt as much as possible so that you're boots don't leave impressions in the soft dirt. Deer paths can also be useful, as long as you watch your step. (Deer make natural little narrow paths in the forest that aren't highly warn, but quite noticeable if you find one)

[serenitysquirrel]

Magic works too!

Nice page