The Threshold was not unfamiliar to an experienced woman like her; a leader, a thief, a secretive ghost in the shadows of the yawning trees. She had plucked many a soul from the tender bosom of the doorway without a single ounce of regret, adding them to her fold and flock with a tender smile that covered the wolf's teeth hidden beneath. Secreting them away to the north, plucking them from the grasping hands of other herd advocates. With Alice off on her own Hotaru sidetracked, Arabic lineage meant for thick sand dunes proving just as adequate in the deep snow - and for once she did not suspect how her twins had ended up so deerlike in appearance and structure. It truly wasn't that abnormal considering their lineage.

This was not her duty, as a Lady. Not really. Her absence could be taken as a sign of weakness in some manners. But if she was to rally her people and call for change...then she must lead by example. Show them that she had zero qualms performing the duties that could in some ways be considered menial. She had not been a Lady forever, after all. She too had climbed through the ranks, displaying her penchant for loyalty and hard work. If they were to find themselves anywhere in the realm of hard work, perhaps they too could find themselves in her shoes.

Alice returned to her, a bloodied hare in her jaws.

Found something.

One brow quirked, but Hotaru obediently followed her hellhound further into the forest, where the bitch had passed by the pair standing silently in the grove. Hotaru whickered softly, clouds of mist hanging around her soft muzzle. No point in startling any newcomers, after all. Though this mare seemed...familiar. And she had a companion at her side.

"Quite a winter this year," she hummed contemplatively as her gaze found the rolling clouds above, sharp eyes then focusing on the beautiful woman opposite. "What brings you to the Threshold?" Alice huffed and barked softly around the rabbit in her mouth, not wanting to draw too much attention but chiding her sister for her lack of manners. Hotaru laughed beatifically, tossing her ice and sunlight mane at the hound, who had been far more distracted by the similar creature near the mare. Black soulless eyes staring curiously, tail high but wagging slowly as voilet smoke rolled off her blood-smattered chest. "My apologies. I'm Hotaru, Lady of the Basin." She didn't ask after the other mare's name, letting her choose to either answer herself or keep her secrets.