Her feet itched. How still was she supposed to stay? Tsume watched with fascination as chakra lines silvered together once more, and for the first time in weeks she could feel Kuromaru. He was alive.

Her gaze flew up, meeting his single bright gold eye. He rocked back on his haunches, forefeet lifting up in excitement--though his hind remained right where they were. His bark boomed through the room, deep and sharp, filled with energetic glee.

Chakra pulsed down the new pathway, rocking from one to the other of them as it had done, as it was meant to do--

The sharp scent of pain filled the air, and Tsume clamped down hard on the lines, remembering Kuromaru writhing in agony as he changed human. Remembering rot pouring down their pathways and watching decay spread on his face--

Except it wasn't his scent.

Chakra nearly quivered in the new link, ready to streak down and back again, tasting Kuromaru on the other end. The Hyuuga didn't look happy. Tsume crouched, as if that would help her hold her energy back, and watched him with equal parts concern and frustration. Kuromaru was there, right there, and she couldn't touch him. At least not until she knew what was wrong with the Hyuuga.