The energetic puppy seemed to completely shrug off Soma’s worried words. If the girl got caught up in all the times their mother had scolded her for wandering away she may have listened at least once. As it was, Masque was so used to getting in trouble and Taika so used to scolding the girl that both had given up. In fact, Masque’s tail wagged in preparation for this discussion. She was getting very good at creating a mask of innocence and attention while she paid more attention to the noises in the surrounding forests

She shifted to face Aiden fully, head tilting to the side in curiosity. A grin spread across her lips and she began to dance around him. So you’re a hero! You have come to protect us! Masque looked eagerly between them all, her tongue panting out of her mouth, tail swaying happily through the air. Are you a knight, sent to us from the trees? A spirit of the stars? She looked him over and poked him with her nose. Suddenly she brightened and yipped! It was so clear, how could she not have seen it before! Masque ran another lap around her sister. No! I was wrong! You are clearly a creature of the snow! She sat beside Soma. You found a snow spirit! Yes! Let’s show him to mother! She would be so happy! She may even forget that both of her children wandered away from the pack, met a stranger, brought him home, and completely disregarded everything she had told them about ‘stranger danger’.