The first question, Talia supposes, was whether the snake has been following the scent of the goblin or that of the severed arm. If the former, then, with luck it can continue to track it, and they can simply continue onwards. After all, whilst the rockfall looks impassable, clearly the goblin managed to do so, or found some other route around it.
If the snake was following the arm, on the other hand, then by hopeful look and gesture, Talia will attempt to entice it to follow the goblin's scent from now onwards, since it must have been mingled with that of the arm in any case.
And if the snake proves less than helpful? First she will suggest that they look round the area, to see if they can see for themselves where the goblin may have gone. Are there any caves here, or anything that might suggest a trail?
If not, then she supposes that she has the choice of either communicating directly with the snake to ask it to follow the right scent this time, or with the birds circling above to ask if they have seen the goblins passing. The birds would ostensibly seem the better choice, but then again, Talia considers, they only emerged from their nests with the dawn, and the goblin would have passed this way during the night. In which case, if neither of her companions have any better suggestions, and they have not otherwise managed to find the trail or show the snake what is wanted, she speaks with it directly once more, promising it cool water and rest this evening should they prove successful in tracking the goblin.
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