Shy Deer Steppes in the junkyard, it's every dog for himself.

from the fog a great shape appeared, ruddy and transient until arsenio came into full focus. 

a powerful man, stronger than shoko. it was not just his physique that unsettled the wanderer, but that cold grin that shed no warmth. 

he turned to satsu as she offered him not one, but two hunting companions. both were capable, clearly - but who was this woman? and how many more at her helm?

these questions lingered unspoken. shoko returned that sunny ray of a smile with a dip of his head. obliged. 

he was admittedly unwilling to part with satsu and go with these strangers. for all the cold of her mercury pelt, she was much preferred to the grim silence of her guard. he waited for arsenio to speak or move, wondering if this wasn’t some elaborate trap to get him off his guard and killed.