Leaving the den was not out of want, but of necessity. As the foreign call stirred her from her idle state, she made toward it not in haste, but a purposeful stride none the less. The events of the days past were still fresh upon her mind, as were the consequences of it. The barren womb carried a weight all its own that slumped the woman’s otherwise confident posture. Her only saving grace that retained some remnant of care to her person were the neatly woven cords that descended the length of her back, some spilling off shoulder whilst others rested along her spine. It was all she could think of to distance her mind from her failure, as vain attempt it was. It had been more of a task to busy her mind when nothing else, not even her own duties were enough.
Aside from her neatly kept mane, she looked the part of a haggard soul void of its life. Sullen eyes had lost their glimmer, the ever present delicate smile upon her lips was not to be seen… not even a silhouette of its beauty was to be found. The whole of her winter hide was unkempt and matted due to lack of care and constant movement. Save for the brief moments she had stolen away to care for Sarian, she had no time to herself to take her appearance under consideration. And truth be told to the ancestors, she did not feel worth the care even to herself. She was a failure in her eyes… a diseased unfortunate soul damned by life’s most cruelest dealt hand. And she was ashamed… so very ashamed.
As she crossed the lands to heed this stranger’s call, she kept her cloak wound loosely around her towering frame, seeking to keep her deflating abdomen from view and spare herself a painful explanation. She needn’t others know, other than her mate and Nayru and her pup. She did not want to hear the false words of care or understanding, knowing that the only one that could fathom her psychological turmoil was the lady Jace; and even then she had been reluctant to speak with her about it. She wanted nothing more than for it to slip into obscurity… and be done with it.
“Wolf…” the soft call of her companion lifted the depressed head from the snow to his nearing talons as they sought her shoulder. Her lips refused to form a smile for his presence but her eyes offered a flicker of light on his behalf, earning a gentle hoot in return before his report. “The white female,” was all he needed to say to know whom he referred to. Obviously the injured girl was well enough to walk on her own if she would be the one to greet their impatient guest. The woman took care to keep her strides measured, taking no special care to hurry toward the nearing scene. Even from her closing distance, she could hear their guest before smelling him. The twisted charming tongue set her hackles to wary points, placing a little more emphasis to her steps as she neared forcing the snow to sound as she pressed harder with her already heavy steps.
She made no sound other than those of her steps as she come upon the scene; an unfamiliar face making himself a little too comfortable with her packmate and friend. Growling softly, the she-wolf cleared her throat, stretching her lengthy limbs to cross the distance an stand by the arctic female. “Good day to you stranger,” she greeted with a haunting whisper of a voice. Subtly she dipped her muzzle in a show of good will yet kept her gaze fixed upon the coywolf. “I do apologize for my tardiness to greet your call. What brings you to Ichika’s borders?” Patiently, she let her arms wrap themselves across her torso and rest comfortably as she awaited reply.