She lingered on the outskirts of the Inlet, doing her best to avoid both of the herd's leaders. As much as she adored her adopted father, his distracted distance over the past year had allowed her more free reign than she had any idea what to do with. Coupled with the absence of any maternal figure at all, and she was half-feral by now, a mere wraith that tip-toed across Tinuvel like a pale-coated ghost.

Her once copper-colored coat had finally begun to fade, coating her whole body in a rosey shade of silver. In some ways, it made her feel more connected to Ironclad, although it had become more and more apparent as she aged that they were not father and daughter. Without the awkward features of extreme youth, the thin elegance imparted by her nameless biological father had begun to override the more coarse features of her mother, and even the way she carried herself had changed. The subtle inward-tilt of her pinkish ears was more pronounced than it had ever been, and she lacked the rugged hardiness that allowed Ironclad and his family to survive and flourish here.

More often than not, she considered herself the ugly duckling of the group.

Today was no different than most days, in truth. Except that it was fall, which meant that the grasses nearest the beach were the sweetest, rather than the ones at the outskirts of the territory. She had checked for her father yesterday and found him absent, and figured that he had probably taken a few days away. Maybe even to look for Kvothe, after she had gone missing again.

Lakota had given up counting on any sort of maternal figure. One by one they had all left her behind, but she had figured things out. Where the best grass was, and what plants were bad for her. Places where the wind was broken up by other forms of shelter, and places where she could run freely without worry of varmint holes. So while Kvothe's original absence had left her bereft and unsure, this latest one seemed to be only par for course. It made sense that Kvothe would leave. That's just what mother's did.

Sneakily, Lakota raced along the beach until she found her favorite spot, only to slide to an indignant halt the moment she spotted Pike eating on all of the best grass. "Hey!" She shouted, her voice full to the brim of her best big sister imperiousness. "You know that's my spot, Pike."

Tossing her head, Lakota danced closer as if to chase her away, only to drop the bossy act as she got closer with a small huff. "Aren't you living in the Cove now or something? I don't even see you around anymore."

In truth, Lakota was glad to see her. Pike wouldn't get her into trouble and she offered the sort of familiarity that the paling chestnut sorely lacked. She was certain the herd would welcome her back, but she was far too busy stubbornly refusing to heed Medusa's well-meaning advice to come back on her own. Sidling alongside her heart-sister, Lakota waited for an answer as she dropped her head to graze.