She'd taken her leave from the woods, marking her scent as she left to ensure the pack that she had every intention of returning soon; and as a sign to Wintersbane that she would be back.
 'Dumbass.'
 First, she traveled back in the direction she'd followed Maegi, but more northwards. She'd followed the scent of the herds, marking the direction they'd come from. It was good to know where they wouldn't go when they decided to move again.

It was a deer herd she was following, their numerous tracks and crossing the lands on their westbound track. Soon, she'd have to stop. She couldn't go too far for she didn't want to travel far enough to run into trouble, knowing her personality. Soon, she came across a lake, partially frozen where the shadows ran. It smelt slightly of elk and seemed a good enough place to stop and refresh quickly. She'd continue on, maybe until she reached the mountain range she seemed to be nearing.

She also smelt wolf, specifically a pack, carried along to her across the winds. If she could be bothered, she would've deciphered @Llewellyn's scent. But she did not but recognised it was very vaguely familiar.

Absorbed as she was in her own task, she did not notice she had a shadow that had emerged from the woods along with her own path, for the wind blew into her face and, well, the one following her was a good stalker. Dipping her head, Flicker sipped at the lake, completely oblivious to @Astara; and whatever she may be plotting.

Quiet rustlings were head nearby, causing her attention to turn to them but before she could even react, a small, devil-shadow sprung at her and hit her square in the face, along with other hits that reigned down upon the rest of her face. Reeling backward and snapping wildly at her attacker with a bark of alarm and the swift sting of pain, she opened her eyes to find the shadow streaking away again.

She gave chase with a guttural snarl of anguish.
There was no way in hell she would let the hellion assault her so brazenly without warning. She charged after her quarry, her long limbs carrying her like some antelope over the slightly uneven ground until she was upon the demon. Extending a paw, she attempted to flip the assailant and then fall upon then with teeth. But, should she succeed, her eyes would find the child's and stop her immediately for she recognised her from when she came face-to-face with the trespassers.

Realising the situation, the woman's tone changed instantly; despite the ferocity she was met with from the girl. Feeling paws punch into her gut, it hurt a bit and indeed allowed the woman to half feign her reaction. She rolled off the pup with an anguished grunt, to play her part, and lay on her own back.

Now, the woman knew little about pups. She knew not how to entertain or how to train, but she knew how to fight softly, and the shadow-girl certainly had the ferocity to indulge in it. Flicker could take a battering, she didn't mind. If it meant boosting the girl's confidence and helping her develop. 

She hid the false ploy -- well, half false -- and attempted to anticipate the shadow-child's next move.

She let out a whine before a soft yelp as her paws were assaulted by sharp teeth; to encourage her of course. Flicker tilted an ear, listening. Always listening. She softly batted the girl's muzzle in retaliation and bared her teeth.

Soon, when she was bored of letting her paws take the brunt of the attack, she let her own jaws snap together by the child, feigning an attack; for science of course.
She started to push up, grumbling softly and pushing her face closer to the girl but dared not snap her jaws again. Not until she was certain of what the adolescent would do.

The girl fought fiercely and would certainly grow into a powerful protector of the woods. Her head snapped back as she was pushed upon again. Grunting softly.
The woman certainly didn't want to be a pushover for the girl, but also tried to keep the balance of being a challenge.

She stood with a warning grumble, starting to mirror the shadow. Her golden gaze flitted over the form, assessing the next move. The next attack. Why did she not pursue a mercenary trade, she didn't know. She landed herself in enough troubles as it was. Bore the scars of it. She lifted her head slightly as if she could feel those teeth at her throat, tightening, ripping. She swallowed and only then realized her distraction had been an opening.

That is why she was not a trained warrior; too easily distracted.

Sharp needles met her thick throat. The woman quickly advanced and bawled the shadow over with a  sweep. Surely she'd be unbalanced from the reach.
She flasher her own teeth down to the girl, letting them just brush the fur of the shadow.

She took a dancing step back and took a shuddering breath, ridding herself of those thoughts of past. It was done. This was now; now was what mattered. She circled the shadow, readying for the next assault to besiege her body.

She kept steady eyes on the girl, watching for the next move. Setting her next trap. Yet it was the shadow-spirit that had lain the trap. She dove for a paw -- an easy target the woman supposed -- and moved to intercept with her jaws, and yet needle-sharp teeth latched onto the base of her neck.

Slightly stunned by the girl's agility and wit, Flicker took a step back before deciding to rear up, like Siqsa had done -- albeit not as dramatically. Saving the girl's teeth. She half rose before diving down onto a back leg, letting herself fall down to complete the dive. The woman rolled onto her back, yet now with the black back leg clasped in her jaws. Touch firm yet not painful -- the care of a mother influencing her actions.

The woman took the girl's defeat, releasing her leg. She moved to stand, a small smile playing on her lips, her tail swaying softly, "You're talented. Say, what's your name?" Her eyes trained on the girl as she stood, shaking the dust from her fur. There was a small amount of pain from where the girl had made her marks but decided it was good that she had no quarrels about fighting. It would prove her a talented warrior. With training, of course. 

Her head tilted slightly, studying the girl and making sure no harm had come to her. She expected an answer to come quickly, yet wondered if she'd get one at all for she didn't utter words in the woods. No question had come from her; a red ear flicked in contemplation.