A/N: So… plot? I'm sure a lot of you would like more awkwardness with Lupus and her slowly sliding into learning and adapting to human habits, but… it wouldn't be too 'realistic' for the rest of the world to be at a standstill while Lupus does something like having a bottle of Silky's saliva and pouring it onto her bowl of fruit during dinner… or something.

Canon name = Nickname: Corrin = Lupus. Velouria = Vella. Keaton = Keaty. Setsuna = Seta. Hinoka = Hina. Sakura = Saku. Subaki = Superman. Ryoma = Red. Selkie = Silky. Kaden = Ka-da. Orochi = Viper. Lastly, only Selkie/Silky refers to Corrin/Lupus as Lu-pu.

…

And Takumi is now Tako. Completely genius, he just turned Mexican on us. Now I just gotta imagine him with a stereotypical Mexican mustache and a sombrero.

Consort: Nohr has been rather silent, hasn't they? Must be planning something.

I haven't even thought about Valla this entire fic. Whoops…

The Fire Tribe's aligned more with Hoshido, so unless they decided to assault Nohr...

Oh, gods… Vella learning to read and write? I dunno, if a Wolfskin walked up to me, handed me a, probably bloodstained, letter and told me to deliver it to someone, I'm pretty sure I'd haul ass, too.

Gotta be dem Nohrian Scum®…

Yup, Corrin isn't the catalyst this time. She wasn't available to grow up and bring the Plot Sword to Mikoto this time. No(h)r will she decide between the two royal families.

On that, I was being subtle about this, but… the only part of Nohr that could get a good ending are the Wolfskin… or maybe if some 'Conquest' units surrendered to Hoshido, but other than that…?

If I had to describe things in term of the paths… 'Birthright' would be fighting alongside Hoshidan Royal Family/Kitsunes she would also probably end up marrying Seta and/or mating with Ka-da, Lupus would risk losing all of the pack, either through them actually dying or they would end up refusing to accept her back into the pack. 'Conquest' would returning to the Wolfskin and defending them, Lupus would risk losing her blood-family by not helping them out in the war, she would also probably have to fight the Kitsunes, she could potentially become a mate with Keaty. 'Revelations' would be uniting the Hoshidan Royal Family, Kitsunes, and Wolfskin, also potentially marrying Seta and/or mating with Ka-da.

Curse of Whimsy: Shh… be vewy vewy quiet, Nohr be hunting dem pesky Wolfskin...

Joe (Guest): Oof… you got me.

Good eye, there. Excluding the nickname list, A/N, and Shout-outs, Keaton hasn't had his full name show since Chapter 2. I was hoping y'all would see the 'Keat'- part of it and assume it was Keaty. So, if silence is consent, then you're the only one to have noticed.

As for why Orochi knows? Well… the honest answer is: I was hoping it'd be overlooked. Something to slip by undetected. She has no right to know. While I do take some liberties with Diviner fortunes, I don't allow that much knowledge. In short… she broke the fourth wall, I gave her knowledge of things she would otherwise wouldn't know at all…

As much as I'm hoping that's a satisfactory answer... I have the feeling it won't be, right?

I do hope you're enjoying this fic, though!

Sausage1: Has the Orochi from this fic stepped out of the confines of this story to give you unauthorized fortunes? Maybe I am giving her a bit too much leeway...

With her ears perked, Lupus kept a fair distance from this 'messenger'. She can't help but have this feeling that she needs to hear what he's gotta say…

It's obviously thing a 'human' thing, so she shouldn't bother.

But… she's also a very curious half-dragon.

Shaking her head, she continues to follow him, though it wasn't long until he ended up at a room that she hasn't been to yet. "...sure? What could they hope to accomplish?" A man, but not the messenger.

"It is magic-based, after all." Mother? "In theory it could work, but the man-power required to overcome it is… gods."

"In theory, yes… but we have our own conduits for a reason." The not-messenger says.

"Is there anything else?" Mother asked.

This time it is the messenger, "The scouts couldn't assume the purpose, but…" Lupus can practically feel him fidgeting. "Nohr has also been sending groups out into the mountains."

Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump. "The mountains?" The not-messenger echoes, "The barrier has no secret passage, if they're looking to find an unprotected spot. Queen Mikoto, do you have any assumptions?" A pause, "My Queen?" Mother replies with something so low, that Lupus can't even pick it up, "I… understood. Sir, you are dismissed. Rest for the day." Shortly after, the messenger opens the door and leaves.

Lupus hesitates, suddenly much more curious. She needs to know, she needs to know… what about the mountains? "Oh, hello my dear daughter." Mikoto exits next, with that not-messenger beside her. "I don't believe I have formally introduced you yet…" She gently clears her throat, "Daughter, this is my adviser, Yukimaru. Yukimaru, this is one of my daughters, Corrin."

"It's a pleasure to see you alive and well, Lady Corrin." He smiles.

She most certainly does not return the smile, "What about the mountains near Nohr?" The other two startle, perhaps not expecting she was listening in.

"I assure you, Lady…" Yukimaru starts.

"Don't lie to me, h…" Again! She almost did it again! 'Human'.

"No, I'm not going to keep it from her." Mother interrupts, "Come inside." She directs Lupus back inside of the room they were in. There is a huge table in the center, and a large 'map' on it. "There have been reports of Nohrian movement."

"Which is frankly absurd." The advisor scoffs, "I'm aware you don't remember, but… Queen Mikoto is upholding a barrier which completely negates the will to fight from any Nohrian."

"Abs...urd? Neg...ates?" Lupus echoes.

"Crazy to even consider the idea. And to stop." Mother supplies. "Don't worry dear daughter, I'll get you caught up on…"

"I'm not going to learn all of those words!" She quickly bites back.

Mother holds back a sigh, "As I said, the barrier is still magic-based. If they apply enough force, it can still break down." She repeated her point from earlier. "But this isn't what she asked for." She gestures towards the map, the mountains dividing Nohr and Hoshido. "The scouts reported that the Nohrians are scouring the mountains." A short pause, "They are starting from the main road and expanding outward…"

No…

"Which I can't fathom the reasoning…" The man starts. "Um, Lady Corrin?"

"I… I…" The pack, the pack!

"Shh, take a breath." Mother coos. "Are these the spots where…?"

Lupus nods, if a bit frantically, "The alpha had the strongest pack… and we… we were closest to the main road." She then looks right at her, "You're gonna help, right? I can't… I came so… but now I'm not there…"

"Daughter… reports from the border are at least one two days old, though I can guess one day if he rushed here so quickly and that's nothing to say if this was an extended observation." Mother frowns.

Yukimaru remains silent, as if knowing he can't really contribute, "Then…" She grips her bag and fumbles in her bag, retrieving that one piece Keaty gave her before she left. Though, just like it has been, his scent is completely gone. She rubs the fur, regardless. "K-Keaty…" She sniffs.

"Corrin?" Mother approaches, "I…"

"My name is Lupus!" She shouts back, tears rolling down, her Dragonstone glowing. "And… the… pack." She chokes out.

"They won't get killed, Lupus." Mother calmly states. "Especially Keaty and Vella. If they saw they can't win, I think they would rather live another day, right? You can't strive to be the strongest if you get killed from an excess of pride."

Her words 'click', she's… right. If the pack was faced with a force they couldn't best, they'd leave. As hard as it would be to find a new den, it would be more reasonable than continuing to fight, but… "No. Not all of them." She shakes her head, "The alpha and a few others would probably end up staying behind." Which means, and Keaty… he just got…

"Well, I would also think Keaty would leave with the others, then."

"Viper said he just got a 'new form', that would mean he's a Wolfsegger… so he's at least as strong as the alpha. The alpha and him probably stood their ground together, so the rest could leave!"

"Viper…?" Mother softly echoes, but shakes her head, "Daughter, my point is that, even if none of the others did make it, Keaty and Vella would."

No, she doesn't understand! Why would she? "Can't have a pack with two Wolfskin and a half-dragon, mother!" She rounds on her, if a bit less aggressively than earlier. They're… dead. As strong as they are, there's no way they could hold off several well-armed squads, especially if Nohr's King is with them… the alpha never had such a vicious wound before, not until he was struck with the King's axe. Wolfskin don't have these 'Festals' and 'Concoctions', it can take weeks for one to properly recover… if Silky and Ka-da weren't treated at the clinic here after Lupus lost control, if they even did survive, it would have been months before they could do anything intense… instead of a single day.

Lupus holds the fur close to her as she falls to her rear-end. "Is there anything I can do for you?" Mother asks.

Lupus wanted to go and see them… Lupus wanted to be left alone… but, she doesn't really know what she wants now. "I'm gonna go sleep." She ups and walks out.

"We're here for you, daughter. All of us. We're family, after all." Mother calls out.

Lupus didn't exactly tell her mother the truth, she wasn't about to go to sleep, but… she doesn't know what to do. She hasn't been so conflicted in her life. She felt something she hasn't felt in such a high degree for a while now…

Lupus felt fear.

Fear that is gnawing away at her already delicate mentality. The crack that formed back when Hina asked 'Who would you really side with?' Since then, it seems life just came at her all at once, more and more hits without proper time to rest.

She's going to bounce back and snap if this keeps up.

Thump, thump, thump. "I want to be alone!" She rounds on what seems like nothing but air… but she knows better.

Kaze appears… Lupus has adapted to some of their tricks. Constantly being stalked as she is, she can easily tell when one of them is following her. "I'm making sure you're safe, Lady Cor…"

"My. Name. Is. Lupus!" She cuts him off.

"My apologies. I'm making sure you're safe, Lady…"

"Stop adding 'Lady'!" She growls.

"Of course. I'm making sure you're safe, Lupus."

"Why?" She asks.

Thump, thump, thump, "With all due respect, regardless of whether you think yourself royalty… you are still to have retainers. So…"

"You've been stalking me so you can ask that?!"

"I'm concerned for your health, Lupus. It pains me to see you in such distress, but… I'll admit. I'm at a loss. I don't know how the Wolfskin comforted you, and I'm worried that I'd cross a threshold that…"

"Thre...sh...old?" She slowly echoes.

"Boundary that…"

"Bound...ary?"

"Line."

"Then why did you say that in the first place! Are… are you purposely doing that?! Using these 'big' words that Wolfskin don't know? That they have no use for?!" She growls again, the danger within her eyes being close, so close… "Is the pack not smart enough for you humans?"

…

A third time. She's done it a third time within, what? A day? "It was never my intention to anger you or de…" He stops himself, "Make myself seem better than the pack. But, this is exactly what I meant. I don't know how to comfort you, and…"

"Ask Seta. She knows… she's literally the only one who gets me." But… Lupus doesn't want to see her right now.

"Thank you for your recommendation, Lupus." Kaze smiles, "I'll go do just that."

…

Stupid human words. Lupus hesitates before resuming her walk. There it is again, 'human'. She's… half-dragon and half-human! She needs to stop separating herself from humans and… Lupus groans, she needs something simple and something easy. Something that will provide a decent distraction and…

Saku.

Following the scent trail of flowery sweet, Lupus ends up… not at the clinic, actually. Instead, she arrives at a door. Saku's room, she assumes. Lupus knocks on the door, a short squeak follows and, "O-O-One m-moment!" Yep, that's her, alright. The door slowly opens up and Saku pokes her head out, her face instantly lighting up when she sees her big sister, "Big s-s-sister!" She opens the door, "D-d-did you need anything?"

Taking a breath, she nods, "I need something to distract me and… well, do you have anything simple and relaxing to do?"

"Can I do your h-h-hair?" Is the first question that comes out of her mouth.

"'Do'... my hair?" She echoes. "Do what?"

Saku gasps, "You've never had someone put your hair up in a ponytail or anything?"

Ponytail? Oh right, "Like what Tako has?" Lupus tilts her head, surprised at the fact she just gave Takumi a nickname without thinking about it. "Tako… Tako… I like that."

"Tako?" Saku echoes.

Lupus nods, smiling, "Takumi is Tako." A short pause, "But, sure… you can, uh 'do' my hair."

Another gasp, "Al-alright, uh… t-take a seat in fr-front of the mirror and I'll g-g-g-get the supplies." Following her sister's advice, Lupus walks in and sits in front of a large mirror…

Then gags. "Too many scents."

"O-Oh… sorry." Saku quickly starts gathering all of these small glass containers. "I-I kn-know you have s-s-sensitive senses… so i-i-if I'd known y-y-y-you were coming…" As she was putting things away, something slips from her grasp, not that she noticed.

But Lupus did. And being the curious being she is, picks it up. It's… soft, some kind of cloth. "What's this?" It has an extremely thick scent to it…

Saku's scent. It's so heavy, like it's some sort of washcloth.

"Ah!" Saku nearly screams, "O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh gods…" Her face lights up a brilliant red, "U-u-u-u-uh… you d-d-d-d-d-d-don't know wh-wh-wh-what that i-i-i-i-is?" Lupus shakes her head… if she did know, then she wouldn't have asked… but she keeps that gripe to herself. "Th-th-then how d-d-d-do you d-d-deal with… 'it'?" She snatches the cloth from Lupus, before bagging it and putting it in a shelf thing.

"It'?" Lupus echoes.

"The monthly 'f-f-female' thing."

Lupus tilts her head, "Hina mentioned something similar when I walked into the training ground without putting on those 'undergarments' that were laid out."

"I-i-i-i-it's where y-y-y-y-y-you start, uh, bl-bl-bl-bleeding… 'down there'." She flicks her eyes downward.

"...I'm supposed to bleed from my core?" Lupus asks, shamelessly looking under her own shorts. "Never done that… neither have any of the bitches in the pack." She looks back at... "Besides, even… Saku?" Did… did she really just pass out? "Sakuuuu?" Lupus gets out of the chair and pokes her little sister's cheek.

Yep, out cold.

Shrugging, she picks her up with almost no effort, then lies her in her bed and… actually, maybe Lupus is tired? Well, surely snuggling family members is normal, right? They do have those tight hugs, after all. Nodding to herself, Lupus gets into Saku's bed and brings the covers over them, she then snuggles up next to her little sister. "Good night, Saku…" Is it even nighttime? Well, there's only one thing for certain…

It's getting hot in here.

A/N: Looks like Lupus is undergoing a crisis here, as the 'you human' problem hasn't gotten any better.

Oh dear, it seems like Saku got overwhelmed there... and that last line… so, whose guessing that Saku is going to wake up to her big sister snuggling her while Lupus is naked? Think she'll end up passing out again if she does?

So, Nohr is magically banging on the barrier? It makes sense to me. For one, I doubt Mikoto holds that barrier up completely on her own… it does cover all of Hoshido, after all, and it isn't just a shell, it has to cover the interior as well. So, it's my headcanon that she has 'magical conduits' of sorts scattered around Hoshido, things that amplify the magic coming from her to make the barrier, thus reducing the stress of the spell.

Second, magical barriers are made with… magic. And as far as I'm concerned, all spells can be overcome with brute force, just like a reinforced castle wall. If Garon rounded up enough magi, and built magical conduits, then he could get enough stress on the barrier that Mikoto would be forced to drop it, or else she would risk collapsing from magical exhaustion.

So, since Garon obviously couldn't use Corrin and the Plot Sword to kill Mikoto, he instead pools his resources and attempts to bring the barrier down with force…

But that isn't enough.

Let's not forget that Garon swore he would hunt down and kill the Wolfskin that took Corrin from his own kidnapping attempt. So, now Garon has his magic-based troops assaulting the barrier, while he and a number of others are scouring the mountains, hunting down Wolfskin.

That leads to the next set of obvious questions: Will Lupus truly be able to stay still? Will her concern for the pack become great enough for her to risk going over to the mountains? Will the pack stand their ground until the very end? Or will they turn tail and run?