There might be some sense to your knocking if we had a door between us

The koi wolf's tired paws carried him over the rugged terrain, each step heavy with the weight of time spent in the search of something that almost felt like a dream. The familiar scent of the bamboo grew stronger, the towering stalks weaving a labyrinthine wall that shielded his home from the outside world. The sight of it brought a mix of relief and anxiety; he had been gone for so long that even the comforting scents of Tojo-Kai no longer clung to his fur.

He paused at the border, where the land transitioned from the wild expanse of Auster into the carefully cultivated chaos of the bamboo maze. The intricate pattern of the towering stalks twisted in ways that only those born within could navigate with any confidence. Keito had once known the paths like the back of his paw, but time had dulled the memory, and he now faced the daunting challenge of returning to it.

Keito took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the scent of his home; he could smell them on the stalks. His search had taken him far and wide, leaving him exhausted in body and spirit. Yet, as the familiar sight of the bamboo maze filled all of his vision, a relief began to wash over him and the flame of his spirit found a way to ignite once again.

Lifting his head to the skies, Keito released a howl - a clear, resonant call that echoed through the bamboo to announce that he was home.. and maybe a little lost. The sound carried his longing, his strength, and his return. Though he no longer bore the scent of the Tojo-Kai, his voice was unmistakable, and would call to those who might still remember him and welcome him back into the fold.

The howl faded, leaving a pregnant silence in its wake. Keito waited, ears pricked, hoping to hear the response that would guide him back in the direction of his home.

"Speech"