The night was black against the flickering flames of the bonfire warming the ramshackle shelter. The snow fluttering past the open cracks between the slabs and blocks of concrete sparkled in the orange light before darting away out of sight. The room was warm, from both the fire and the condensed heat of the gathered packs. The Shadow Pack had more or less openly welcomed the Lunar wolves into their midst. Haruka's saving of the Flower Maiden and her wolves had made it far easier for the Lunar Pack to trust the strangers whose lands they'd entered. As the night had drawn on, the Shadows had begun returning in small groups to their den. Haruka and Dusky had been the lasts to return, and Dusky had quickly read her sister's face and usurped her position to extend an invitation to the Lunar Wolves to join them for however long the pack remained in the Shadows' territory. Wary at first, the Lunars had looked to Kiba and Cheza, waiting for a verdict. Kiba's face was cold and unyielding as always, but a soft word of thanks from Cheza had changed his mind and he quickly accepted.