@Iopah

There was no denying her past at this point. Even if she had tried to play it off and play dumb, Enoki knew the truth and knew who Iopah was. Her last name was like a flag draped around her frame that stuck out like a sore thumb to the eyes of an Ashrelle. Before her was kin to those who fought her own kin, but despite that Enoki knew nothing of this woman before her. She knew not of what role she may have played in the onslaught that day, if at all. Hell, for all Enoki knew Iopah could have no part what so ever.

"Yes, those Black Hills. You don't have to pretend, I'm sure our paths crossed." The phrase floated across her mind repetitively as the space between them became silent and the drizzling rain began to wash the remaining stains of cherries from her pelt, ridding any evidence of what had gone on just minutes before. Had their paths really crossed, though? Yes there was a feud between the packs over land and food, but Enoki was a mere pup at the time. 6 months old to be exact. There was no way that Iopah and Enoki had ever met prior to this encounter. Enoki would have been tucked away safely within the den among her brother and sisters while outside guards remained stationed to defend the pack heirs with their lives.

With a small bow of her head, she broke the lingering silence that was starting to lean more on the awkward side. "I do not know you, per say, but I do know of your family." Her words had came out rougher and more curt than she meant, but at this moment she couldn't help that her emotions laced her words with bits of animosity. She went to sleep that night confused to not find her older brother Kele among them, his fluffy tail making the perfect sized pillow for her to lay her head upon. The two were basically twins of the opposite sort. If he was here today, one would see the unique coloration of the Ashrelle family. Unlike Enoki who held black as a more dominate color with white patches adorned just like her father, Kele was the opposite. His fur was almost a solid white if it wasn't for the patches of black that settled here and there, much like their mothers pelt had been.

Her tail swung in a tentative manor behind her once before settling back to a deathly still, amber colored eyes taking in the newly acquired stance Iopah had taken while her mind had become busy with triggered memories. She didn't take a position of defense, but more of a 'get the hell out of dodge' type stance. A single ear swiveled to the side before standing alert again. Perhaps Enoki had this wolf all wrong. Maybe she wasn't the blood thirsty savage that old tales from home portrayed her family to be. Her family was, but not Iopah. She seemed different.

"Speech" "Thoughts"

Khalliysgraphy @DA & CathleenTarawhiti @DA - Table by PuppyThief

The bi-colored woman listened carefully as Iopah spoke of the famine and hardship that wracked her homeland, knowing all too well the situation herself while Enoki's amber eyes glanced over the older female's frame before giving a small nod of her head to answer her question. The same famine that she spoke of had plagued her own homeland, though luckily enough not as bad as it appeared it had with the Black Hill wolves. Many of the older Ashrelle wolves fell victim to the famine, unable to meet the demand for food and died.

Sympathy could faintly begin to be seen on her darkened face as Enoki sat in silence a moment longer, ignoring the pellets of rain beading down her guard hairs and falling from the minuscule lashes that lined her eyes. Her appearance softened and along with it the fiery burn of animosity from her gaze that seemed to be washed away steadily by the rain. "It has been some time since I last saw the lands of our homelands, but I can offer you a small piece of information from my memories, though it isn't pleasant." Death was all Enoki thought of when she remembered both the lands of the Black Hills and Calarosa. Strange two legged creatures began to encroach upon the area and settle, raising little ones while knocking down the once beautiful pines that stood majestically towards the heavens to make their dens. Sulfur clogged the air as metal object emitted loud thunderous booms through the hours. It was all strange to Enoki, but she had nearly fallen victim to said glittering object on her disembarked journey from the pack.

"The black hills hold true to their name, black with the soot of fire. When I traveled through the lands there was nothing there but the wooden structures inhabited by strange two legged creatures that stunk of sulfur and death. No wolves call that place home anymore. Hadn't for awhile if memory serves me well." An unwelcome twist in Enoki's stomach paused her tale. Was it the memory of the stench, or had the cherries finally disagreed with her stomach?

Khalliysgraphy @DA & CathleenTarawhiti @DA - Table by PuppyThief

"No!" the older wolf shouted as she stumbled back, causing Enoki's stomach to cease its temper tantrum which actually was quite a relief. Lifting her slender frame from the ground, she defensively backed from Iopah with ears laid back flatly against her skull, unknowing what exactly was running through the wolf's mind or any intentions she may have. If it was a fight she sought from hearing the truth, then she was in for one hell of a showdown, or if she tucked tail and ran Enoki would chase after her. There was so many questions that fleeted across her mind and this female was the only one who held the key to answering them. No way was she gonna let her get away that easily.

Kele. This wolf knew of her brother and though Enoki never got to meet him, she wanted to learn what she could about him. He was an Ashrelle by blood and that alone made him important enough to her. What was he like? Did he even know where he came from? These were questions she wanted to ask Iopah, but she wondered if she was even in the correct state to answer anything Enoki asked.

"Speech"

Khalliysgraphy @DA & CathleenTarawhiti @DA - Table by PuppyThief