Lake Rodney A journey (a decision)

there was a complexity to the boy's scent that satsu had ignored while she had tried to dry and warm him, but now she noticed it, as the sun baked in to his dark coat. the boy no longer traveled alone. it was curious to her but not something she would ask about, as it wasn't her business.

his question was met with a sigh. he has returned. i sensed him before i left of my own accord. i wanted to get a lay of the land, see if we had neighbors.

that's what satsu told herself.

our hope is that akashingo will be a han for us to thrive on. ah, a pack, yes. and so far satsu could argue they had done that, succeeded in drawing others to their home, but, she did not consider coyote to be anything more than vermin. they did not count as far as satsu was concerned.

protected to the north by the saints, if need be. but... i am glad for the distance from them. their people are loyal to their lord, but his desire for blood makes me very... nervous. which explained why she had been so eager to leave them behind.