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The appearance of the lands was slowly turning into the flushed green of spring, though the season had yet to reach its full potential. Itachi remained mostly indifferent to the signs of change around him, for the constant cycle of seasons was always changing and mostly predictable. The raspy call of his companion crow sounded from somewhere above, but he couldn’t interpret if it was a sound of significance or not. The creatures he kept had been given no names to grow attached to, but he was starting to wonder if he should make an effort to pick out names to easier put them apart from each other.

The borders of Salsola were vast and empty looking, as they should be. Although the hybrid had been very young the day he had been banished from Inferni, he could recall hearing about incidents every now and then. There were few run-ins with loners here. Perhaps Salsola’s reputation had spread far and wide. It was a good thing if it had, because it kept other canines at bay. Most of the time anyway. Itachi had not been here when the group of canines had attacked the pack, but nothing similar had happened before or after, as far as he was aware.

Although he had not always thought he was suited to live in a pack, but this place seemed strangely fitting. Salsola preferred to remain excluded and out of the way for other packs, and he preferred it this way. The family only needed each other and what they had here, and after his change of mind and a dose of motivation, he would work to keep things the way they were.

However, after hours trailing the lengthy borders, sunset eyes suddenly narrowed to pursuit the sight of movement in the distance. His pace halted as he crouched slightly, senses awake and alert. It was not uncommon to spot prey and lesser predators while travelling through wild lands, but he was sure of what he had spotted. A pale blonde palm reached to touch the hard packed ground for light support as he remained still for what eventually would turn into minutes. Scarlet hues never faltered; just watched and waited for another glimpse of the other.

Again, he could see movement, and he suspected he too had been noticed. But now another's presence had been confirmed, the male slowly started to make his way towards the other. The distance made it difficult to make out any characteristics, and the other remained a stranger. Movement, now faster and slightly hurried, and forced the Salsolan to step up his own pace. It was certain that the other was aware of his presence, and was retreating. Itachi followed, but didn’t manage to catch more than a vague, unrecognizable scent in the end. How peculiar. Possibly nothing, but definitely worth noting in his book.