She did not roam far from the reaches of the meadow, almost always stopping at its edge, an invisible barrier kept her within. Etephyr had come to know the meadow well, hunting, sleeping and bathing in it. It provided all she had craved in her traveling months, the safety of the flowers and the certainty of something to nourish herself. Eteph even found a modicum of comfort in the pack that lay southeast, although she did not ponder those emotions much, unwilling to give into the idea she was fond of a pack. 

It was then that an unfamiliar wolf caught her attention, first through smell and then sight. Etephs ears pinned to her skull, brows furrowing, a strange possessiveness coiling in her belly. It diminished as quickly as it formed, a realization the stranger may be from the valley. She needed to remind herself, this was not her land. Hesitantly, Etephyr stood and took the first few tentative steps towards the stranger, still undecided in her intent. It could be chosen on the way.

She loped, flowers caving to her wake as she moved. It wasn't until Etephyr neared the stranger did she chuff, full stopping as soon as it left her maw. An instinctual guarded stature visually stiffening her body as she stood. Her tail tall, as well the fur on her nape, while her muscles tensed, poised for action.

"Are you of Bearclaw decent?" She asked, a near demand. Etephyr took notice of the healing wounds and scars on the female, they reminded her of Ancelin. She wondered if his mate was much like he. 

The woman confirmed who she was, the queen of the valley. Her figure was detailed, she was precise with muscle but still holding a feminine glow. Gold crested her ears, following along her neck and through to her chest before circling back to encompass just behind her shoulders and finishing at the belly. Pastel glaciers for eyes, they encumbered Etephyrs own. Undeniably a queen, she thought daringly. She would respect the title like she had when she was young, with a strong dip of her head and chest. 

"Your mate, Ancelin, told me who you are." Etephyr explained, finally returning from her bow. "The queen of this valley." A nostalgic wave rushed over Etephyr. She could feel it snaking its way up her chest, wrapping tightly around her throat. The grief constricting her airway, wanting to squeeze every ounce of air from her chest. It burned her eyes but Etephyr quickly blinked it away, swallowing hard against the constrictor. 

"I am Etephyr," A quiver in her voice, quickly disputed with a nimble cough. "I am the huntress your mate has temporarily recruited. I leave when the first snow sticks." She informed plainly, finding a seat where she stood. 

The strong lisp caught Eteph off guard but it was quickly deemed inconsequential to conversation and she moved on to finding her words. How could she express the fear pack life placed in her, the near constant anxiety of being enough. The terror of being betrayed. Solitude was her only way of safeguarding from those inevitabilities. Etephyr wasn't dull, she saw all the benefits of pack life, they tempted her every hunt, every unguarded night and every encounter with an unknown. 

Etephyr shrugged, "I suppose it is not rational of someone to venture out on their own in the winter." She looked away, out in the great expanse, searching the last familiar land she laid eyes upon. The glacier, with Omnium. Her teeth clenched, a subtle burst of anger burning her heart for her own stupidity. Running from a good thing, like she always had. Eteph forced him from her thoughts, dragging her eyes back to the queen. Clearing her throat before continuing.

"But I have grown accustomed to fending for myself. I have made it this far, who is to say I won't make it farther? I accepted Ancelins offer due to my condition, it was a harsh winter. I have yet to recover. I will live up to being a huntress, I assure you that." Etephyr wanted to quash any doubts, she would not be a burden on their lands.

Etephyr thought the woman spoke as if unknowing of the deal made with Ancelin, she thought it curious the man did not inform his wife of a stranger inhabiting their lands. Although Etephyr was hardly impartial to forgetting things, so she largely let it go. Favoring the queens next words to truly contemplate. It caught Eteph off guard, her features reflected her internal dialogue. Brows knitting together with her gaze averting to the horizon, a brief quiet contemplation occupying her head before returning to catch up with the queen. What did she mean?

Etephyr followed, gathering her words for a moment before speaking. "I have never been one to favor packs, they did not provide me that which I could not provide myself." As soon as the words left her mouth she saw their irony, her lanky appearance was testimony against her reasoning. Of course, Eteph knew outliers were always given the exception but she doubted the queen was one to accept that. 

Etephyr quickly followed with a question. "Is your home threatened by some sort of disease? Be it famine, illness, or conflict?" She asked. Eteph thought no other reasoning for the queen to bring up helping others, than for her own persuasive gain.