Hammer time (Per Tea's demands)

Between the fog and his ghastly appearance, Mikko quietly hoped that his and Shiba's search for her family came up fruitless. He knew he likely wouldn't leave the best first impression on anyone, and the last thing he wanted was to leave a bad taste in the mouths of this woman's kin--especially after she'd been the one who chose to center her life around his recovery. After all, he was having enough of a time catching up on wrapping his head around everything that had led him into her care; to say the least, he wasn't very keen on adding another disaster to that lengthy list....

Fortunately, he was feeling better after a few days of rest and continued to improve with every day after that. Today was no exception; while he wasn't about to complain about Shiba's slow pace, he actually almost felt like he didn't need it. His skin still strained where it was most heavily scarred, protesting any need to stretch and move with him, but beyond that, he could feel his joints and muscles loosening again, his body beginning to remember how things...used to be. Whatever discomfort did plague him, though, he kept it well hidden, intent on standing by his suggestion that Shiba turn her focus to her family. And on ensuring that it looked like her efforts hadn't been in vain. Because they hadn't been. But the others hadn't been there, which meant they had no way of knowing--until she explained herself--all the things she'd had to do just to help him reach this point.

As the fates would have it, his wishes to avoid an encounter were received and answered with the perfume of another wafting past his nostrils. It was as familiar as it was unfamiliar, which could only mean one thing: one of Shiba's was nearby. For now, he said nothing, keeping his speculation to himself as he rolled his shoulders back and clenched his jaw, subtly skimming their surroundings through a single stoic eye. She appeared, then, a pale wolf off in the distance whose silhouette could have easily disappeared in the mist, and he slowed to a halt just behind and to the side of a waiting Shiba, waiting to see if the other would acknowledge her company.

"