Today marked one full week since the attack. Coli's body had healed quickly, the minor abrasions and lacerations no longer visible through her fur. The Norse rune carved into her chest was now shiny pink scar tissue, knitting together healthily without the cover of a bandage. Her headaches had lessened, and she was more steady on her feet, but all was not normal; she felt ill, constantly fatigued and frequently nauseous. Every time she saw the lake, she felt the compulsive need to wash herself, even if she had already done so the same day. Sleep was fitful, as she would wake up sporadically many times during the night, filled with an icy dread she could not explain but was desperate to escape. Something was deeply wrong with her, and she could not figure out what. She was starting to think she needed to see Saul about it, but she was afraid he would ask her questions she was not ready to answer. Instead, she forced herself back into her daily routine, tending to the flowers around her house, the herb garden outside of Jordheim, and the apple seedlings she planted beside the vineyard. All of the walking, carrying wineskins of water, pulling weeds, it was exhausting to her, and that was what kept her mind from dwelling on the black dog's threat.
Saul's summoning howl resounded clearly through the evening air, drawing her attention. Coli touched the wooden Frithr pendant she wore around her throat for comfort, peering in the direction her leader's voice had come from. He did not sound upset or even particularly commanding, which relieved her initial anxiety; there was no threat at their borders tonight, nothing she needed to fear. Curious, she rose to her feet, brushing the soil from her knees out of habit. It was getting too dark for gardening anyway, and she wondered what news he wanted to share with them. She could use some uplifting words, something to look forward to. As she slowly made her way through the quiet village, her questing nose caught the aroma of cooking meat, a rare treat. Was it to be a feast? The thought invoked a flicker of excitement, and her bobtail stirred behind her, quickening her pace. She had not been eating well lately, having felt too sickly to shift down and hunt properly for herself. She hoped there would be enough meat for her to partake in the meal; the pack's population had surged recently, and many of the formerly empty houses she was passing by were now claimed by new residents.
Coli saw the merry light of the bonfire dancing in the shadows, and knew she had reached the gathering. The scent of venison was everywhere, herbs and roasted meat making her mouth water. Whoever had done the cooking must have been at it all day, and they had a wonderful talent for drawing out the natural flavor. Coli had not partaken in deer for many seasons; as a small lone wolf, deer were too dangerous for her to hunt, not to mention her own personal feelings about them. She liked deer more than any other animal, but she was not above joining in this tantalizing feast. As she made her way to the table, she caught a glimpse of their chef, and her face brightened into a wide smile.
"Eclipse!" she called out, waving to her niece as she approached. Conor's daughter had kept her promise and returned to visit! Not only that, but true to her word, she had brought her talent for hunting and cooking to share with them all. It was a relief that she had not been accosted in the neutral territory; had the threat vanished? She fell silent when Saul rose to address them all, bridling with pride when Eclipse was introduced. It seemed she had chosen the Cercatori pack after all; they would have to catch up later, once there were not so many others around. Saul caught her eye sympathetically, and she smiled meekly at him, appreciative that he would think of her even now. She wanted to spend as much time with Eclipse as she could, though, even if the gathering got as noisy as she expected it would. Bran and Niernan would surely enjoy the festivities, loudly and boisterously as was their nature. It was good to just have a break from her own thoughts, the darkness that had been creeping into her daily life. An unexpected reprieve was just what she needed.