As the pair approached the border, the collie began to tremble in the slightest; though whether out of nervousness or excitement was not exactly apparent. She didn't quite trust herself to speak when Murdock spoke, howling for what she assumed with the leader - the alpha - of his pack. Plopping onto her hindquarters, she stiffened her spine and tried to suppress her slight trembles and wagging tail. Glancing every so often to Murdock for assurance. Licking her lips, she hoped dearly that she looked as a good member of a pack might, able to hunt and help and do whatever else it was, exactly, that pack wolves did.

She blinked, leaning backwards a bit as a small black blur, about her own size, rocketed towards Murdock. The male met the blur gleefully, leaving her own proud "wolf" stance to deflate a bit as she surveyed the encounter with wariness turned interested as she realized the blur had a name and was, in fact, a pup. Her attention turned quickly, however, to the next wolf to approach; and by her gender and stance, this must be Murdock's alpha. Immediately the rigid stance returned, awe at this newcomer obvious in the girl's gaze. She was silent as Murdock explained her to the woman - Valette - pipping up only after he'd finished. "I can hunt squirrels and gophers and rabbits real well, ma'am. And it's true, I don't need much food." Unsure of what qualities would raise her worth, she added, after a moment, "and I'm very fast." She was agile and quick, part of what made her such a good herder. She neglected to add the later, having noted that there seemed to be little needing herding out here.

The woman seemed to doubt her words, and Poppy's ears fluttered downward a little anxiously. "yes, miss I-" But she trailed off, for already Valette was listing the terms of her stay to Murdock. She'd have to catch all her own food, something she didn't mind all that much; she'd done that so far. But she couldn't help but feel but the woman didn't like her much, especially as the leader continued. Don't get attached - what did that mean? And the latter had her eyes round with fear and worry, her stomach drop like a stone. not food? Did wolves truly eat dogs? Her mother had said the wretched creatures ate anything that moved, but she hadn't really believed it. 

She was shocked into silence, able only to blink at the woman while her perfect fantasy of her life here cracked. Even the pup eyed her in a way that said she most definitely was not fond of her, and the sheepdog's ears flicked back uncertainly. Good gods, she was going to be eaten. Her fear lifted when Murdock spoke for her, and gratitude flushed through her, stance uncertain still. He spoke next to the pup that eyed her still, and Poppy tried for a nervous little smile, skin prickling.

It was settled, then. She was a part of the pack, but her introduction to Easthollow had been shakier than expected. The girl seemed displeased, surly, and as she and Valette took their leave, Murdock stared after her forlornly. The sheepdog was silent, stomach in knots, as she waited for Murdock to turn back to her and begin the tour of her new pack. Still, as realization sunk in and the pair became more distant, a little glimmer of happiness settled somewhere in the midst of the doubt and nerves. She'd done it - she was a member of Easthollow, now, and despite herself, a little ghost of a smile settled on her maw.