Later that day, a dark brown-furred dog went to visit Tora as she was resting. He had short fur and was generally an easy-going type.

"Hi Tora." The dog greeted his clan-mate as he stood in front of her.

Tora glanced up, hoping it wasn't her father or Katsu. Oh… She was surprised to see it wasn't either of them. Tora remembered his name as Ashi. "How are you, Ashi?" She returned the greeting, wondering what could be bothering him that he spoke to her instead of her father or Katsu.

"I'm doing okay. I've just been wondering about you."

Tora cocked her head, unsure of what Ashi meant. Why would he be worried about her? She was doing just fine, forbidden activities aside – but there was no need to mention that. The fewer clan-mates who know right now the better, she thought. Tora hoped to keep it that way.

"I'm alright, Ashi. I've never been better." Mentally, she grimaced, hating how she was lying to her clan-mates. But it was necessary in the long run, she believed.

Ashi sat down and glanced at his friend. "You're not around much. Do your sisters bother you too often?"

Tora merely nodded.

At the centre of camp, Hakutaka was speaking with Katsu. He was becoming more and more worried about what his daughter was doing when she snuck out after her sisters abused her verbally.

"Do you think we should send a tracker after her, sir?" Katsu asked, looking over his shoulder to where the dens were. And where Tora was resting.

Hakutaka looked like he wanted to give confirmation, but knew Tora wouldn't be happy with him if he went down that path. "I would say yes," he began, "but I can't."

"Sir, why?!"

"I don't want to break her heart."

"Miki! Miki, wait, honey!" A frantic female ganin called out to her excitable pup of a daughter.

The female ganin was one of the lower-ranked dogs in the pack hierarchy, but the elders of the pack still respected her. They respected any ganin who showed promise and her daughter, Miki, was one of them.

Aged three-weeks, she wasn't a relative of Hakutaka's. But all in the pack loved her as if she were one of their own offspring. Miki truly was an adorable pup; she revered Hakutaka, seeing him as a role model because of the fur colour they share.

Hakutaka glanced over, a smile crossing his muzzle when he saw Miki. He lowered his head and nuzzled the young pup, his eyes observing the mother. "It's fine, Eri. You should let her visit me more often."

The young mother jumped upon being addressed. "O-Okay. If you wish it, sir."

In the Koga camp, a stocky-bodied ganin stood on a rock above his warriors. He had thick silvery-grey fur and a missing right eye. His name was Ryoha and he was the pack leader and alpha; sharing roles like the Iga was not in his nature.

"Hey! You lot! Attention!"

The Koga crowded around the rock, eager to hear their alpha's instructions.

"I want you and you to start preparing yourselves for the kidnapping." He nodded at two random Koga ganin. "The bitch isn't showing signs yet, but it won't be long before she is. Well done, Raiju. Be proud."

The dark-coloured Koga nodded respectfully to his leader. "Thank you, sir. It was all part of the plan." He didn't understand why his sister wasn't here, though. Where was Kaguya? She never missed a clan meeting. Raiju would have to look into her absence after. The meeting was almost over.