The morning left the forest quiet, never silent though, leaves whispered overhead as a breeze moved through the branches and a woodpecker in the distance tapped against old bark. Nokomis fluttered down from a pine branch overhead, landing on a low boulder with an indignant chirp before puffing out her feathers. Sheauga smiled softly at the sight of her, the blue jay had been another constant in her ever changing world. You think too much she hummed, to which the Jay answered with another sharp chirp, Fair enough, she said tail sweeping through the grass as she continued forward.

Walosi had offered her not only safety, but a sense of community and home, something she had never felt in the years she spent in Northfall. And now the question came — where exactly she belonged among them. She had spent many nights considering it, learning what she could about the clans and the wolves who called them home. She knew she could not remain standing between paths forever. So she sought the one who could help her choose; Nate

Nokomis launched from her perch and settled briefly upon her shoulders before taking flight once more, circling ahead as though determined to scout the way, pulling a small laugh from her Always in such a hurry, we're going, we're going she said this though she followed at a slower pace as she searched for the Walosi Chief.

Nate was found with a pile of yarrow beside him, covered in dirt up to his forearms and splattered across his face as he attempted to excavate another. Ko-Ga's call alerted him to the approaching company, and the chief lifted his head to see Sheauga and her jay friend making their approach. Distant enough he could shake the mud off himself without splattering her.

Vaguely lighter-brown in color, Nate loped up to greet her, Morning, Miss. A second nod to her jay, grinning, And you as well.

Had she wandered here, or sought him out? Had a kind of stance about her that made him wonder if this was more than a social call.