Akari knew that if Asuka was going to get back to her old self, she would need a safe and consistent environment to do so, and the only way to find that would be to join a pack. This land was new to them both, and so there was no real easy way to find out about all the packs at once, so the best way she could think of would be to sniff out a border and call for the alpha. They’d ask some questions, and if it seemed like a good fit, that would be that. If the situation were different, she might try to spend more time finding information to make a better decision, but now was not the time for it. She needed her friend back, and quickly. Even beyond that, though, the weather seemed to be taking a harsh turn, and even though spring had arrived, the snow and cold air didn’t get the memo. Somehow, it seemed even colder than before, and it didn’t seem like things would be getting better any time soon.

She stopped as the pair reached the border, standing back a respectable distance. Her gaze flickered to the woman at her side before turning her attention back to the land before her and calling out. For Asuka’s sake, she hoped the wolves here would be friendly, and that this could be a good home for them both. Once upon a time, the possibility of meeting any hostile strangers wasn’t a concern for either of the girls, but now she worried about how fragile the other koi girl was.

"Speech."

Even with puppies on the ground everywhere she managed to keep up with patrols, although it certainly made it difficult. She couldn't stop thinking about Poem and the little ones - and Soul! Poor, sweet Soul. Only a monster of a mother would abandon her child. With abandoned children on the brain, Theory was quick to answer the call at the borders. Others might call on Abaven for help during this relentless winter and she was happy to oblige.

Upon arrival to the scene she was met with two young adults - they had striking markings the likes of which she'd never seen. Theory gave them both a warm smile and sat slowly back on her haunches on the Abaven side of the border. "What can I do for you?"

Asuka Omori It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop Asuka was glad she had found her dear friend, but the disappointment that Akari had in her eyes when they were reunited was heavy on her. Every once in a while, she could catch the same look in Akari's eyes, and it weighed on her. Asuka didn't want to be how she was - she didn't want to be scared, but her nerves controlled her more than her will could at the moment no matter how hard she tried. Her companion had mentioned needing to find a safe place for them both, but Asuka knew the real reason. She agreed to her plan and followed her north, through the unusual weather. Asuka didn't much mind the snow, but it did make hunting more difficult. The more she thought about their heading, the more she became to realize how good of a plan it really was. A pack would help with food and shelter, and she might finally be able to rest without feeling like a shadow was creeping upon her. When they reached the border, Akari glanced her way. Asuka returned the look, but said nothing. She wasn't familiar with any of the packs in this land except Valhalla, so when a figure began to approach them, her anxiety began to kick in yet again. However, Akari was the rock at her side now, and gave her a small boost to her confidence. As the stranger approached, the woman realized how small that boost was, and could not help herself from taking a few steps back. Eyes glanced over the dark woman, expecting a gruff greeting, but was instead surprised to hear a calm question. Her gaze swept to her friend, letting her speak for the both of them. English Thinking Japanese

She could practically feel the anxiety rolling off of Asuka and she wished she knew what to say to comfort the woman, but her friend's mental state seemed to be bad enough that words alone were unlikely to do much for her. She would be better once they found a safe place where she could begin to feel more comfortable and secure. Then the real work would begin, and Akari wouldn’t let up until the feisty woman she had once known was back.

Luckily it didn’t take long for her call to be answered, and even luckier, the alpha seemed to be the more gentle sort. That would be good for Asuka. Akari returned the woman’s smile, dipping her head in greeting. "Hello, I’m Akari, and this is Asuka. We’re looking for a pack, and were wondering if you might be willing to tell us a bit about yours."

"Speech."

"Yes! Of course. Hm, no one's asked about us like that in quite some time. Abaven has been around for quite a few generations now, so I'm not used to those kinds of questions," she paused and thought for a moment, staring up at the grey winter sky for some clarity. Their reputation had always preceded them, but these two women looked like strangers to these lands. More or less. Maybe not newly arrived, but they just hadn't seemed to have gotten their bearing yet. Truly, this was Abaven's specialty. "We've always been a safe haven. I'm not sure the many roles we played before I was born, but I've tried to lead Abaven with a kind and welcoming heart. Many have come here to heal and leave again, but others have dug their dens and stayed on after they looked around and realized they were home. I'm happy for Abaven to play any role that suits you, if you think you'd like to stay." That was good enough, she thought. Maybe not exceptionally thorough, but this pack was what you made of it.

"We have skilled healers, hunters, and craftsmen if you'd like to study alongside them. We're lucky to call three places home - these rapids, the nearby plains, and thicket. More than some packs have, to say the least." In that regard they were exceptionally lucky. "Why don't you share a bit about yourselves?' One of the women was clearly a bit troubled, but Theo had seen worse. There was plenty of hope for her, especially if she had the time and space she may need to heal whatever burdened her. Her own mother had been harried by past trauma and while she was too young to save Tana, there was plenty she could do for other wolves. Theo was committed to that much.

Luckily, her friend answered the dark woman as her own eyes flickered between the two. The leader of the pack here seemed very friendly, which was a plus. She took a moment to think on how to best describe her home, and Asuka took the silence to touch Akari gently, showing her appreciation. Ears came forward when the dark woman spoke again, though her gaze still flickered between her and Akari. She wondered what her companion thought of the answer. To Asuka, Theory seemed extremely welcoming and did not seem to want any sort of blood oath or even a promise to remain a permanent resident once inside the borders. And speaking of borders - they held quite a bit of land. It would be nice to feel protected, but not claustrophobic. Dual-colored eyes snapped back to the alpha when she spoke of craftsmen, suddenly much more interested in the pack; were any of them as skilled as the man she had met not long ago? Could she learn anything from them, or even teach them some things she knew?

The woman turned the conversation back to them, wanting to know more about them. Natural question, of course, but Asuka remained silent, hoping Akari would come to bat for her yet again.

Akari listened quietly as the woman began to speak. A pack with a reputation like this one could be a good thing or a bad thing. If everyone knew the packs name and what it stood for, it was reasonable to assume everyone had an opinion, as well. While the koi woman was not one to shy away from a fight, the last thing she wanted was to draw Asuka into some conflict that they had nothing to do with. Luckily, as the alpha continued to speak, she did a good job at answering any questions that might have come to mind. Strangely enough, it sounded like Abaven was exactly what she had been looking for. A place for the broken to heal.

The question was turned on them, and as expected, Asuka looked to Akari to answer for both of them. "We are both skilled warriors, and I’ve trained in healing as well. As you may have guessed from our lack of knowledge of you or these lands, we’re new here, and looking for a place for Asuka to recover. She’s not exactly been herself..." She glanced to her friend briefly, meeting her gaze before returning her attention to the other woman. She hated to be so blunt about Asuka and her issues, but nothing good would come out of lying about it. Not many were willing to take on a wolf in their pack that needed healing, and while the woman said this was just the place for that, Akari wanted to lay everything out now before making any commitments. "If what you've said is true, it seems this is exactly the place I had hoped to find."

"Speech."