There were things to take care of and egos to heal, as well as decisions to be made. Some had caught his eye, at one point or another, and though only a few remained yet he had plans. The ghost wandered through the woods, head held high, though his joints screamed in protest; now more than ever he could not allow his body to betray him, there were too many counting on him. And when he heard his name slice through the forest, he slowed, giving his limbs a moment to ease into the motion before his direction was altered and he soon stood face-to-face with Koume. He did not know the girl well at all, having really only ever seen her in passing. With a nod of acknowledgment, he slowed to a stop, his silence granting her the opportunity he assumed she needed to speak.

The silence was not made to last long, her statement breaking it. That she wished to leave the woods was not so much unusual as it was surprising—then again, it really wasn’t. Although she was a Melonii by name, that did not tie her indefinitely to the shadows. Yes, those of her family would always be welcome there, but they were not expected to join or even stay—there were ones before her that had come and gone, so it was easy to not react to her decision. He did not even expect an explanation, yet he did not stop her, either, when she offered one.

As she shared her thoughts, he listened; he half expected her to say she wished to relocate to the pack that had lured away Potema before, but he quickly realised that was not the case. “Then go,” he said after she’d finished. “If you feel you need to leave in order to grow, then go out into the world. Just be careful—the world can be dangerous without a pack there to support you.” He was lucky, his youthful travels having never driven him into dangerous situations, but he knew not all were fortunate enough to have such luck.