Their numbers had been strong, keeping steadily balanced and appearing as if they would never dwindle. It made her proud, to say the least, though she knew she had many to thank for for such an accomplishment having been made. It was not her alone who had done all of the work, but the entirety of the tribe—both those who presently called it home and those who had taken their leave. It felt wonderful, to her, and helped her ease up a bit with her duties before she'd been given the opportunity to run herself right into the ground. Of course, the recent trespassing incidents were never far from her mind, but even still she had managed to calm down some and revert back to her usual, easygoing self. Life was peaceful, just as she had always wished for it to be.

Asterr had not been along the border when the stranger had announced her presence, but the song's tone was enough to have her working to reach it quickly. It was sorrowful, she'd noted, lonely and weak. It made the chieftess wonder what type of sight would reveal itself to her once she'd reached the unknown female, concerned already for her well-being. And when she had finally reached the entrance, it became apparent that her concern had not been improperly placed. For there outside Ryūjin's claim was a crumpled heap of a wolf, her lack of nutrients obvious. She took notice to Leo's presence as well, offering him a small smile in greeting as she drew close to his side. Thereafter, her pale gaze had moved back to the female on the ground, the only thing she felt herself capable of saying being, "What has happened to you?"

Seeing Leo had been similar to the feeling one gets once they've finally reached the highest peak of a mountain. She had missed spending so much time with him, and regretted not seeking him out more often. So, of course, she had been expecting him to hang around for a while longer, perhaps even weigh in on what he thought of the stranger at their borders—but such had not been what was meant to happen. Instead, a whimper had sounded from the younger wolf, causing worry to overtake the chieftess' expression immediately. Had he been injured? Before she could ask, he'd taken off, leaving her alone and unable to follow after him. It troubled her greatly, but she tried to push it to the back of her mind for the time being. The sooner she spoke with the outsider, the sooner she might be able to track down the boy.

Rather than directly answering her question, the stranger had gone off with the start of a speech. It was stopped by the fact that they'd not yet exchanged named, prompting the yearling to voice her own. "Asterr Draconid." It slipped from her tongue with ease, as perusal, and was followed up quickly by, "May I learn of your own?" Asterr could appreciate the politeness of the other, especially given her condition, but it was clear a piece of her mind lingered elsewhere even still.

It was uncertain whether or not the stranger was truly alone, or if she had others waiting on her. She'd spoken of being sent away, but didn't seem to view herself as a lone wolf. It was a peculiar situation, a type the young chieftess had never before encountered. "You have stated that you were chosen to leave your pack," the girl began, careful with her own wording. "Yet it seems as if you do not consider yourself a lone wolf. May you please elaborate upon that?" If Eve was of another pack, then her reasoning for drawing so near to the tribe's borders was unclear. Had she come to act as an ambassador? To deliver a formal declaration of war? Asterr's mind could concoct and work through various scenarios simultaneously, though none of them mattered if the outsider's intentions remained unclear.

"What caused you to call out to my tribe?" the dragoness asked, unable to keep the question at bay for any longer. "Is it a place to rejuvenate your weakened self that you seek? For if so, I will be forced to ask that you leave immediately." It was true that she had taken to mending a broken outsider before, but they had been away from her tribe's land and the herbs used to do so were not from the lair. They'd been picked up along the way, plucked from unclaimed lands, leaving her unable to feel guilty for using them. The mere thought of letting an outsider suckle from Ryūjin was appalling, and by no means something she would ever take part in allowing.

The stranger insisted she was not a loner, but Asterr could see her as nothing more than just that. The situation as a whole was one she found herself growing uncertain of, but even still, her expression and overall demeanor remained neutral. Even when the other had spoken of enforcing the chieftess' reign and bringing to her members a healer—statements she had taken offense in, mind you, for her tribe was well enough as it was—not a flicker of contempt could be detected in her features. It took little restraint, too, for it was the type of encounter she'd been taught to manage. Draco, however, had attempted to push back. In the recesses of the girl's mind, she could feel his presence, his emotions, and she knew she would have to be careful with her words so as not to get a rise out of the loner.

"What if I were to inform you of the fact that my tribe houses several medics already?" the yearling presented. "One of which is currently standing before you." Of course, Asterr knew there were few downsides to having several herbalists within the lair, but that did not prevent her from questioning Eve further. She found it especially necessary considering the other girl's mindset, for the dragoness would never allow someone uncommitted to the tribe to live amongst them. If an offer of one's loyalty, rather than just their services, could not be made, then she saw no real reason to grant them access.

Asterr could do nothing with a wolf that only wished to live near to them, but someone who was willing to pledge their loyalty? That was a field she felt most comfortable in, for it was the basis of her tribe's mentality. "If you will pledge to us your allegiance, then I will be able to accept you into my ranks," the yearling concluded, her words sincere. Any wolf willing to offer themselves to the tribe was someone she could work with with, as well as someone she wouldn't mind sharing a home with. After all, it was her goal to keep her home as tightly knit as possible, even if, in the future, that meant turning others away. Such a time had yet to truly come, however, and so she knew only of the good.

"Before your word is given, please understand that we do not take kindly to such promises being broken," the girl stated, the previous occurrence lingering in the recesses of her mind. "If you give to us your loyalty, you will be expected to live up to such claims." No matter what roads they might veer towards in the future, Asterr would never lose sight of her wish for the tribe. Due to that, she would always feel the need to ensure her followers understood that joining the tribe meant joining a family, and doing that meant offering up the chance at a bond not meant to be broken.

The words had been agreed to, revealing to the young leader that they shared an opinion in regards to loyalty. She could praise the girl's truthful nature, as well as use it in the bettering of her home—no, their home, for the Draconid possessed no valid reason to turn her away. The other was respectful when necessary, as well as possessed a decent set of morals that related to one's devotion to a set place. She was the very type of wolf the dragoness sought when it came to potential members, and for that Asterr could not deny the other a chance at a new life within her home in the Teekon Wilds. Even after her decision had been set, the female gave another demonstration of her willingness to offer herself, kneeling and bowing her head. It was a rare sight to see, which made it all the more effective. The yearling felt pride swell within her chest, but it was soon brushed away and her focus returned to where it was needed.

"I was skeptical at first, for your original proposition had been one I could never accept," the chieftess began. "Now, however, I believe I can welcome you into our ranks, and have chosen to do so." She paused, her legs moving forward as she neared the other female's side. With the very same gentleness she'd used time and time again, her muzzle was touched to the other's shoulder; it was a meaningful symbol within the tribe, having been brought along with the leader from her place of birth. "I welcome you, Eve, to Ryūjin. Know that you will never have to bow to anyone here, for within those borders we are all equals." A smile settled itself across her lips as she gave the newest member a final glance. Then, the dragoness turned, motioning for Eve to follow. It was now the girl's home, and would remain just that until fate deemed otherwise.