Gone from the lair once more, home to her back. She was still adjusting; Kaori left her mother and family behind in order to return to the lair, to seek out the one place that always called to her. But a beast landed on their doorstep, a visitor she refused any meetings with, for a fighter, she was not—and a fighter she would not be, nor would the others fall to injury, the decision to move on made instead. She found herself wondering if the right decision was made: should she have followed them? It was far too late to turn back now, however, as they had all since arrived and been welcomed in. But still, she couldn’t help but wonder…

Kaori quieted her wandering thoughts and stole away to the stream; a distraction might prove beneficial to her mental health, she decided. And so she found herself weaving through the wintry trees, following the sound of tails as they beat the water’s surface; a warning to those that invaded the waters, predators introduced to prey.

The nearer she got to the water’s edge, the quieter the beavers’ beatings seemed to become; perhaps the threat of wolves was greater than any they could muster themselves. No matter, she continued—she sought to lay her gaze upon them, to see the stream’s guardians for herself. Someday, perhaps she may even make a meal out of them when their numbers grew great enough to support her plucking one from the water. But despite her desire to see them, it was another wolf that she spied instead—a vaguely familiar male, seen during their departure from the lair and the travel that followed.

Kaori slowed, her trot turning into a steady walk, whilst her eyes remained trained on him as he drank. She wondered if approaching might disturb him and considered taking an alternative path, only to be stilled by his chuff. Taking it as a welcome to approach, the dragoness continued towards him, greeting him by way of words as the distance was lost between them: “You came from the lair as well, yes?” She felt sure he had—and then wondered if he, too, missed it just as she did.

The assumption made was correct, which came as little surprise; Kaori was not one to forget a face, even if seen only in passing—and to forget a face such as his was no easy feat, anyway. Before she could ask more, he was sharing his worries, thus silencing her. The word for the disease that he spoke of was one of many but no less recognisable; a maddening plague, driving wolves to commit atrocious acts before claiming their lives. Even the mere thought of it and a chill was running down her spine, a small tremor shaking her as the girl shivered.

“Does the woman who welcomed us here know why we left?” she asked, equally curious as she was suspicious. Were those foolish enough to engage in battle seeking to ruin them? “Is she aware of the illness?” And if she was, what did she plan to do, should one of their own be overtaken by it?

He knew no better than she did whether the leader was aware. And as he continued to speak, she could not help but frown. “Even if they are close, she should be told,” she responded, finding that they were in agreement on the matter. When it came to how the information should reach her, however… well, he made a good point. It was bound to be awkward—and who knows if she would even believe them—but the alternative, to let it go on without them being made aware, seemed wrong.

“It does,” she agreed. “But if no one makes her aware, and someone here is carrying it, would we not be at fault?” Withholding such valuable information—doing so could lead to events far worse than any emotions or confusion that may stem from being hit with the news.