It’s all Greek to me

After meeting with Sparrow again, Theo had felt compelled to visit the Auster packs once more. Just to check in. Make sure no one else got unceremoniously raided, punked, or otherwise had. The journey this time was quick and to the point, no dallying along the coast like her last. Just stopping long enough to hunt, sleep, and move on. It helped develop what little muscle she had left to build after the sickness. No longer was she skin and bones - finally, her coat had filled out again with lean muscle underneath and thick, glossy fur on top. Back to normal, she'd thought when she caught sight of herself passing by a still pool of water inland. Whatever normal passed for nowadays, anyway.

Theory had passed around the castle upon arriving, saving The Hallows for her last stop before she turned back towards home. Hopefully Artorias would be understanding once she explained that, truly, despite their familial connection, she was as little Sparrow's keeper as a fly on the breeze. Nothing could hold her cousin back when she set her mind to wreaking havoc. Theo would just politely sweep away the wreckage left in her wake in the sake of keeping of appearances for the school.

Taking the long way around the island had been a treat. She hadn't stopped much to enjoy the scenery before. The glitter waters of Lazuli Falls, the hulking grapevine thicket where silence hung heavy between the vines. A contemplative sort of quiet, deep and true. Theo had just emerged from the vines to find she'd lost much of the daylight. A bloody sunset streaked across the sky, casting a warm glow across the land. Even here, the stones seemed to echo the sun's last rays of warmth. They glimmered. She slowed her step, and as she did, a familiar scent met her nose. Oh, good. Just in time to embarrass herself again. Pushing their last meeting out of her mind, Theory peered around a pillar of stone to see Hattori. "Hello, Kaicho," she called, hoping she'd pronounced his title correctly. It tumbled out of her mouth strangely, a language she didn't understand or speak.