The two alphas waited in a tense silence as the room emptied, Reigh taking the moment to study his daughter. When Sut and Jag had first returned without Anra he had been terrified that something dreadful had happened her. Once he had found out what actually happened he had wanted to blame them for allowing her to join such a dangerous quest, but he understood it was not truly their fault, they would have been unable to stop her if she did not want to be stopped. Reigh knew in his heart of hearts that Anra had made the right decision in joining the fellowship. It was an incredible important journey and it was good for the Nightstalkers to have a say in what was happening.

But that didn't mean he had to like it.

Once they were the only two left in the room Reigh embraced his daughter and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Welcome home pup," he murmured.

Anra happily returned the embrace, allowing his familiar sent to wash over her. "I've missed you Papa," she replied.

Reigh drew back from her with a warm smile on his face, the relief of having his only child back was overwhelming, even if it was only to be for a short time, knowing she was safe meant everything. He cleared his voice and discretely wiped his eyes before speaking. "Tell me of your journey."

Anra nodded having expected this, she began her story with the council in Riverdale. She told him about how amazing it was seeing all the races come together over a common goal, of how she had difficulties trying to make peace with all of her companions at first, but how in the end they were all friends. She told him of the snow covered mountains and the goblin filled mines. She spoke of the pain of losing Gandalf and the wonders of Lothlorien. Her voice cracked when she got to the part about Boromir's death and the abduction of the hobbits, but she pushed on and told him about finding Gandalf and learning that Merry and Pippin were okay.

As she told him her story she was careful to edit some parts of it, not telling him about the terrible things she saw in the mirror or of what had happened before the death of Boromir or of her blossoming feelings for a certain ranger. No, those parts she kept to herself. She also did not mention that they were hoping for the Nightstalkers to align themselves with men for the coming battles. The she-wolf believed that it would be best to leave that for tomorrow when the rest of her companions would be there to back her up.

Reigh listened in silence with a blank face, leaving Anra to wonder what exactly he thought of her adventures. She finished her story with them entering the Nightstalkers borders in search of a patrol.

"You have quite the tale daughter, your name shall be known by all Nightstalkers for many generations to come. Though I wish you had never had to endure such hardships and pain, I could not be more proud of you." Anra felt her heart swell with pride at her father's praise.

"I believe though, that here is something you are not telling me," he continued, his voice lowering. Anra felt her stomach drop, she was not sure which thing that she had left out that he was picking up on, nor could she decide which would be the worst. "You have had a long journey, go to your companions and take some rest, food will be brought to you shortly. I'm sure that you will have more to tell me tomorrow."

Relief sung through her when Reigh did not press the issue, she hugged him once more before turning and heading out in search of her companions.

The Nightstalker had shown Aragorn and the others to a ground level room at the edge of the hoop shaped building. It had five cots inside, already made up for the travelers, as well as a large door that the Nightstalker left open to the clearing when he left them. It would be nice to sleep in a bed instead of on the floor for once, Aragorn mused.

Just when the companions started to wonder what they were to do while they waited for the fifth member of their group, a motherly she-wolf came to them and announced that she would draw them baths and mend their clothes before supper.

Bathed and dressed in a new tunic and trousers given to him from the Nightstalkers, Aragorn felt better than he had in a long time. He asked the she-wolf if she knew if Anra would be joining them soon.

The she-wolf had been laying out food for them stopped what she was doing and looked Aragorn up and down with a critical eye before softening slightly. "The King and his daughter have much to discuss, but I'm sure she will be back soon. I have known that pup her whole life, if there is food to be eaten then she will surely appear," the older she-wolf finished with a soft chuckle.

Aragorn relaxed at her friendly tone, but did not wish to eat until Anra was with them. It appeared that the others felt the same, as not even Gimli made a move to eat the hearty smelling stew. They did not have to wait long, Aragorn perked up when he saw the white she-wolf trotting down the ramp, heading towards where they were staying.

Anra was a little over halfway across the clearing when a slightly smaller silver wolf barreled into her, knocking her down with a loud bark. Aragorn immediately reached for his sword when he saw the other wolf pin her, but his fingers grasped at nothing but air. Glancing down he realized that he had not put his sword back on after he had bathed, it was laying on his cot across the room.

His panicked thoughts were interrupted by the older Nightstalker woman's laughter as she watched the two wolves tussle in the clearing. Confused by the woman's jovial reaction he looked back out at Anra and the other wolf. He realized that both of their tails were wagging and they were not breaking skin with their playful nips.

The two broke apart and the silver wolf delicately sniffed along Anra's side, its tail cautiously wagging. When it got back to her head it gave a quick lick to her muzzle before they started walking side by side towards the Fellowship. They shifted just before reaching the room, revealing the silver wolf to be a tall Nightstalker woman who looked to be the same age as Anra.

With huge smiles stretched across their face Anra introduced them, "Isla, this is Aragorn, Legolas, Gandalf, and Gimli," she gestured to each in turn. "Everyone, this is my friend Isla."

Before any of them could offer any greetings the Nightstalker who had been attending to them march up to the two younger she-wolves. "Anra, you are absolutely filthy! You must wash at once, look at your hair! Your curls are almost dreadlocks," the woman scolded.

"Hello Patia," Anra greeted while ducking her head in an attempt to hide her blush.

Isla looked as if she were trying not to laugh when the woman, Patia, rounded on her. "And you, Isla, you are not much better after tackling her like that. What must our guest think of us? Hmm?"

Patia turned back to Anra and started herding her towards the room with the bath, "We can at least try to salvage some of your hair. How on earth did you manage to let it get this bad? Then again, with only men as company what more could one expect?" she seemed to mutter the last part to herself.

Anra threw a glance over her shoulder towards her friends and mouthed "Save me!" but Isla only laughed and shook her head.

"Patia was Anra's nurse maid when she was a pup," Isla explained. Her eyes swept over their group once more. Aragorn wondered why her eyes seemed to lingered on him more than the others, but he quickly dismissed it as nothing. "You guys should eat while the food is still warm, do not worry, it is very good." With that she turned on heel and walked out of the room off into the camp.

"Why don't we eat?" Gandalf said in a soft voice. Though Aragorn still wished to wait for Anra he nodded his head anyways. There was no telling how long she would be with Patia.

Isla was right, the stew was delicious, spicy and hearty; the companions happily ate their fill of something that was not lembas bread. While they dinned they told Gandalf about everything that had happened since he had been gone, and he discussed what he feared was happening to the king of Rohan. And though it was wonderful to be able to converse with the wizard again, Aragorn found himself distract, wondering when Anra was to return.

When she did get back the sun had already set. Like the rest of them she wore new clothes and her hair was damp and detangled. Gimli offered her some of the left over stew, but she declined, saying that she had already eaten with Patia.

Anra headed over to the last open cot feeling exhausted. She could not believe that it was the same day that they had met the Riders of Rohan, it seemed so long ago. As she settled down on the cot she realized that the room was silent, the rest of the Fellowship was staring at her.

Feeling self-conscious, she tucked some of her curls behind her ear before asking, "What?"

"What did your father have to say?" Legolas asked.

"He just wanted to know about our journey thus far," Anra replied. "I believe he will be receptive of our proposal tomorrow," 'I hope,' she silently added to herself.

"In the forest today," Aragorn started, "the Nightstalkers relaxed when they realized it was you, all except one that is. Why did he not?" The others looked at her curiously.

Anra looked away from him and down at her lap for a moment. "It was nothing, I was bringing foreigners into our territory it was just protocol." Her voice was flat when she spoke, uninviting for questions.

But Aragorn continued to probe anyways, unsettled by how aggressive the black wolf had acted towards her. "The other wolves though, they did not attack."

She pressed her lips together, "He was patrol leader, he had to act how he thought was in the best interest on the pack." With that she laid down on the cot and rolled on her side away from the rest of them, showing that she was done talking for the night.

Anra had a feeling that she knew exactly why he had attacked her. It was the same reason her father knew she was not telling him her whole story, and why Patia had not been very warm to her until after she had washed, though even then she had seemed unsettled.

As happy as she was to be back with her pack, she was afraid of how they would receive her. She had known for a while that not everyone would be happy with the choices she had made, but she could not believe that out of everyone it had been him who had attacked her. Anra wasn't sure if she wanted to cry or throw up, both impulses were quite strong.

Then after a moment, her angst turned to anger. What right did he have to be angry with her? What right did any of them have to judge her for her choices? They were not there with her on the Fellowship, they did not understand what her life was anymore. And even if any of them did, it was still her life, and her choices to make. Not anyone else's.