Days had passed. The hollow pits once pressed against Koyuki's haggard body grew full. Skin remained pressed against the contours of her bones, speaking of starvation, of famine, of her neglect—yet, the crippling agony of her stomach churning in ravenous hunger was gone. Again, she was calm. Body and mind at peace with each other—a sensation she'd forgotten about.

As grateful as she was for Fable's hospitality, she was no less reticent than before. Koyuki wandered the contours of the territory, basking in the chilling gales that blew from the northern Vale. Charcoal and silver stood out like a sore thumb as the snow thawed. Never had the snowed dame noticed the crimson hue of the foliage below. Cerulean eyes intrigued, she dipped her head and observed the frost-laden turf.

Small incisors snipped against the grass, lifting aromatic herbs of all types. Without a second thought, her tail slowly swept against her hocks. The trivialities of gathering medicine... how it filled her with nostalgia.

Finally calm—and then she heard footfalls. Koyuki's head rose. Her lips pursed, brows beginning to furrow. This was not... her land. This was the land of Avon—of Fable and her family. She merely laid within their comforting hospitality harboring no responsibility over the lands. Yet...

Vigilance puppeteered the saturnine she-wolf towards the border. Tail held stiff against her haunches, sharp ears pointed forward. The coat of vibrant russet was nearly identical to the grass's shade of muted red—yet, his presence was not missed by the keen set of eyes. Koyuki halted, head held high yet eyes glancing low.

You, she spoke with a voice soft from lack of use, rumbling against her throat like a large cat's purr. You are tresspassing. A twitch of her ear, and her head canted aside. Where do you hail from?

Koyuki listened to his words with a scowl gracing her delicate features. 'Yeah, just like that. And it's not the first time it has happened to me either. Kind of a long story. But not that excited, I assure you' Lips thinned into a frown, eyes narrowed in confusion. I hadn't heard of such a thing, she muttered to herself, taking a few pensive steps forward over the blush grass.

Her tail swept over her hocks. So, you'd... gone? And returned once again? How curious. Was he of the right mind? A part of her wondered—yet she did not dare ask. Instead, she shifted her ice-blue eyes from the ginger sire towards the brittle foliage underfoot, though not without occasionally glancing at the stranger as though in avid refusal to trust him.

'Well in any case, you don't have to worry about me. I'll be on my way if you so wish.' In truth, she had no preference. Koyuki had yet to see this strip of land as her own—she merely lingered here, lest she starve to death as she'd nearly done so many times before. And, really...

What was important wasn't Yuki's input, was it? It was Fable's. She turned to look at the sire, lapping her tongue over her nose, lowering her brows yet again. I don't care, if you stay or you go, she said simply, but if you stay, you'd best first discuss with the Matriarch. How she wished to turn away and allow the conversation to end—alas. Distrust kept her gaze glued to him.

Koyuki let out a soft breath, twitching her ear. If you stay, she mused, ...you may as well assist me with these herbs. That was one way to keep him close by.

Koyuki closed her eyes for a moment. The pack. It's known as Avon, she simply stated, I know not of their origins. Only that they have welcomed me. The least I could do in return is help them with trivial tasks. It wasn't as though it was asked of her. In fact, a part of her held doubt that they needed any of her help at all; yet, she remained with the feeling of obligation. Kindness in return for kindness was simply the bare minimum.

The snowy woman turned her head towards the heart of the land, where she assumed that many of them were now. The leader is named Fable. she stated simply.

She whisked her tail against her hind limbs. I've gathered small piles of herbs here and there. I was going to bring them back in a few trips, but it shouldn't take as long if you're here, she paused, blue eyes shifting from the center of the territory towards the stranger yet again. Then, you may meet the matriarch. If you so wish. Long limbs carried her over the blush-hued grass. A part of her felt deep discontentment with bringing a stranger into their lands... yet, that was what Fable did with her, was it not?

Besides, if he decided to misbehave, Koyuki would be happy to put him in his place.