Given the murderous Cypress had yet to be found, it was dangerous to go out alone - but something peculiar twinkled in the distance far beyond the safety of the Respite's boundaries, clusters of something tall and colorful and entirely unknown to the region. Whether it be the Five or fate or idle restlessness, Valeska chose to venture out beyond the northeastern border that marked their home and traveled toward the sparkling lights.

She would only be gone for a day or two, she thought to herself. Amaranth was safe, and they now had several Shadowsbane within their ranks to help defend them - it had been a while since she risked adventure.

So it was that the following day, Valeska found herself at the base of a group of high-reaching pines decorated in every manner of colorful lights. She marveled at them from below, head tilted to the side as she tried to get a better visual on just what could be their origin. A trick of the light? Iridescent wads of snow? Insects, perhaps?

Her paw touched something, and she looked down to notice a small pelt, likely from a hare, draped carefully over a small cache of goods.

The little wolf moved it aside -

Coal.

Coal? What was this - some kind of prank? What good was coal for, of all things?

Valeska collected the little hard lumps into a pile on the hare pelt, plucked the bundle up within her jaws, and moved toward the cliff to hurl it over the edge and out toward the sea.

As it flew through the air, she glanced down toward the lapping waves and saw, to her great astonishment, what appeared to be a body.

Sacred Wolf Mother! Valeska cried out, leaning over the edge. Hello! Hello, can you hear me?!

The sack of coal, once briefly forgotten, was now making a beeline directly for the stranger down below.

Oh gods, I am so sorry - she howled, MOVE!