She saw movement through the bent-over trees. It was distinctive and familiar. It was the path of a wolf through their forest, and one of brown and russet as well. After hours now of vainly trying to catch such a sight, Iopah sprang to her feet. It seemed to good to be true, but that didn't slow her pace. What if this was Camio? The woman hurried after the Lieris, ferns dragging against pale legs as her eyes stayed fixed on the distant figure. She had not mentioned anything of her worries to Nova (although certainly the woman shared them). And, anyways, what would come up in the discussion that wasn't glaring obvious.

But that didn't mean she wasn't looking. It seemed that Koda was searching as well. The Reinier patriarch was notably absent today and Iopah remembered the fears she had whispered to him the night before. What if something had happened to Camio? What if Secret Woodlands had reneged and Camio was the brunt of their anger?

She pushed forward, hopeful that it was the Zamora male, and came to a quick halt when the other wolf came into clear sight. Her ears pinned back in immediate understanding. This was not Camio, this female yearling was far from it. The ferns continued swaying against her limbs with the sudden stop. Iopah studied Taslima for a brief minute, then her vibrant eyes dropped away. "I thought you were somebody else. I didn't mean to startle you." She gave a heavy sigh and her eyes scanned the scenery, already searching for more movement. An ear curved forward hopefully, then another. "Have you seen another wolf in this forest?"

The wolves in this forest were either surprisingly polite or frustrating rude. Luckily Taslima seemed to be the former. The body language was glaringly easy to read. She gave an idle twitch of her tail, letting it swirl in an unconcerned manner behind her. Despite a growing reputation, she was only savage when given reason to be. Gold eyes watched the yearling apologize and softened. Certainly there was no reason here.

"No need to apology. You've done no wrong." She looked above the girl, following the path she'd taken through the forest until the trees obscured it. Three days travel in that direction with no signs of another wolf. Taslima was a stranger and her word was unproven, but it was enough to drop the area to the bottom of her list. There were plenty enough more likely places. Briefly she wondered if perhaps Taslima was looking for something as well.

Her attention was drawn back down at the question. She gave an inquiring look, wondering at the sort of wolf that would offer to look for a stranger. One that would look on behalf of a stranger, no less. "His name is @Camio. He is the same shade as you, but larger and with brown eyes." The words fell away, but the worry continued. She had nothing else to offer, nothing no other leads to go on. She refused to believe he would just leave, but that insistence was all she had.

Attention bounced from one visitor to the other. This was her land; the Pines' borders just beyond and out of sight. Her expression was still relaxed. At the attempt of a tail wag dark lips even curved into a faint smile, but there were willing teeth under those lips. The peace could either be kept or taken by force if either wolf threatened it. She nodded, both at Taslima's offer to help and her assurances. "Iopah," she quickly supplied her name. It was enough that @Valeria sometimes called her "ma'am". On a complete strangers lips it sounded even more stuffy and politically proper... two things she certainly was not. Iopah's past -wayward daughter turned homewrecker- clashed with the term.

"Thank you," Not many strangers would, and she was very grateful for the offer to help search. The question had been rolling around in her head, even before Taslima admitted to being alone. Iopah's gaze went back in time to see Shinyuu huffed at herself. An ear curved forward in curiosity for a moment before glancing back at the yearling. The question had become a worry and it was no less persistent. "Are you looking for a home?" It was hard not to ask, Iopah remembered being that young and being on her own.

She also remembered being very resistant to the suggestions of the local alphas she encountered. To give the girl a chance to decide and answer, Iopah turned back to Shinyuu. In all that time not one word had come from the ivory-coated woman and it was unusual, though not the reason for the narrowing of the alpha's eyes. Body language was just as fluent as spoken word, and all the more crucial for those who choose not to speak. It took insolence to raise themselves in the presence of an alpha mere minutes from her borders. Iopah cast herself high as well, sweeping a tail over her charcoal-streaked back and staring brazenly for a reaction. She took a step forward, hoping to see the wolf at least submit, if not more.