Today was on the chilly side in the lower continent, the wind ruffled her metallic-looking fur in all different directions. Even though it was midday, Atreyu still clutched a rarity in her jaws. A white jackrabbit dangled lifelessly between her teeth as she made a trek to the most amazing sight she had ever seen. Coming upon the runestones, Atreyu paused to marvel at the etched-in symbols on the faces of the upright rocks.

It was almost as if she could feel her deities and ancestors here with her in this place, and for the first time since her homeland was set upon, she almost felt safe. Atreyu was not one to let down her guard in strange places, however, but she did set her catch down at the foot of the largest stone. Opening her dalmation-print satchel, Atreyu draws out her knife, the galaxial blade sharpened to a razor's edge. Pointing the tip down, Atreyu made to open the belly of the white rabbit, the contents of which she dug a small hole for. Burying these, she said a small chant under her breath and waited.

The wind stilled, then suddenly blew toward the west, bringing a huge grin to her exceptionally beautiful face. To her, it meant her ancestors heard her call for help. "If any of Judila has survived, please send them to me!" She says aloud to the wind, hoping her words were carried to the heavens. There was no embarrassment to be had for her ways, though she did grab up the jackrabbit and move on from the spot rather quickly. Not too far away, she lay herself down and began to eat the rest of the rabbit she had caught.

Open your wings, Evil Angel!
'Thinking.' || "Talking." || 'Hearing.'

Hmmm... These stones seemed... stranger than strange. Familiar and yet very foreign. They reminded him of the stone circle of his old home. And even some of the marks sparked echoes of familiarity with the important marks of his sect. But these were quite different. What was here, made little sense to him.

He notices a presence approaching and quickly slips behind a large stone to peer at the newcomer. A brilliant rose pink coat with markings rare offers the organs of her catch to the gods nestled in the winds and stones. His ears perked as he noticed the wind, he hadn't seen that done in quite some time, he had nearly forgotten how to do it himself. Curioser and curiosor he heard her call to the winds a message of Judila. It sounded familiar, where had he heard that name before? Judila... One of the packs of his homeland... He had to be aware of every pack within the old kingdom, prince, and priest that he was.

He watched as she settled a little ways away to enjoy her freshly caught meal. He tends to accidentally sneak up on others so he chooses his approach carefully. He attempted to take a wide path on the broadside of her, where she could easily see him walking away from the stones and towards her with a curious set to his stride and expression.

"I'm not from Judila... But I've heard of it." He says, stepping within conversation range. Hiding neither his eavesdropping nor curiosity.

"I'm Eltrys. What happened, if I may ask? The seasons here are different, I haven't been able to measure how long I've been gone." Would she share her story? Had he intruded far too harshly?

"Speech!"

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She was no beast, she had manners when she ate. Atreyu kept the squelching of her meal to a minimum, choosing to strip long bits of meat off of her kills rather than simply chew them off like some sort of heathen. Keeping her retractable claws firmly in the flesh of the rabbit so it wouldn't slip, Atreyu consumed it until there was only the hide left. The spotted woman hadn't realized how hungry she actually was until the rabbit was gone. That was when she saw an earthen shadow heading her way. Holographic silver-to-lavender eyes shift to the approaching male, her own features nearly cold and impassive. There was no reason to be overly warm, Atreyu couldn't recognize him from Judila or any of the nicer wolves she met.

He started their conversation with a fact, "I'm not from Judila...But, I've heard of it." Atreyu knew then that he had seen her ritual, which on its own was no issue, but Atreyu was a deeply private wolf. He introduced himself as Eltrys, an interesting name, much like her own. "I am Atreyu, prin-" She stopped, quickly correcting herself, "Now, queen of Judila...if I can find what's left of it." He asked for their story, going on to say he wasn't sure how long he had been gone from the homelands. Vaguely, from some distant puphood memory, she could remember his name. Not much else about him though, could he be working for the wicked wolf who had destroyed her home?

Suspicion tickled the outer edges of her mind, sharpening her features and throwing a guarded look at the other. Her face remained a bit cold, though the story of Judila needed to be told. "My father trusted the wrong wolf, that's what happened. An alpha from another pack, we didn't know he was bent on genocide and destruction...So many of Judila are gone now, I just want to find what's left...If there are any left..." Depression was written in her usually warm tones, grief and so much more leaking into her voice. There was a lump in her throat that made it hard to swallow and hard to speak, but through wavering vocals, she told their unhappy tale. "Maybe Kiska sent you to me to help me in this...Finding Judila..." There was actually a hint of youthful hope in her wavering, teary voice. Would he help her?

Open your wings, Evil Angel!
'Thinking.' || "Talking." || 'Hearing.'

A look of concern washed over his stern features. A princess, now queen of Judila sat before him. He remembered the only time he had been permitted to leave the caves of his home was on a caravan to visit each kingdom of the homeland. He had been just a yearling at the time and the leaders there had no children... He was three now and she seemed rather young. He didn't recall any news of any of the kingdoms birthing their heirs... He had been too secluded.

It sounded like this event had happened recently, perhaps even after he had left.
"Hmm... I don't know if any of the gods have sent me. I wish I could help your endeavors, but... you're the first I've come across from the homeland. And I was..." He paused, there weren't many who knew of his previous status, and this woman... would probably know him for sure.

"I was the Next Oracle of Hireath. Before my uncle, the High Oracle Aryn sent assassins after me, putting his son Ultyre on the seat. My brother, King Tarys... did... Do you have news of him?" His beloved brother, they were supposed to rule together. Did Aryn try to kill him too? Was this plot so beyond the gods that the High Oracle became as corrupt as that?

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

The words of Eltrys hit her like a ton of bricks. Her hope deflated just a little, but she would never give up on finding her family or pack members. She had seen some of them get away from the demonic king's warriors, so she knew they survived somewhere. Most likely they were hiding, too hurt or maybe even too afraid to come out. Atreyu let out a sigh, listening to the rest of what the earthen male had to say.

She hadn't heard anything about a King Tarys, but the other name he gave - Aryn - that name she knew. "That's who my father trusted - this Aryn...They just wanted our land and resources, and for us to convert to their religion, but my father refused..." She would not have backed down either, their spirits and ancestors were everything to them. Judila was a proud pack, ancient and powerful, but this time they were not powerful enough. "I didn't hear of anyone called Tarys, though...I'm sorry, I wish I could have been more help..." By this point, Atreyu was ready to curl up and sleep on what she had learned, and some new suspicion of Eltrys arose. What if he was tricking her and he actually worked for the demonic king?

Open your wings, Evil Angel!
'Thinking.' || "Talking." || 'Hearing.'

Somehow Eltrys could almost hear her words just before she said them. His face grew solemn and still, as his gaze fell to the grass between them. A single white clover swayed in the wind as she relayed that Aryn had been the one to decimate and dismantle her home.

He almost didn't have to hear her tell him how she didn't know of Tarys. Something within him told him he was gone.

"You have been much help Atreyu, thank you. I am..." He sighed, looking away, closing his eyes to breathe the gentle wind, and turned back to her, his arctic eyes seeking hers in sincerity, "I am devastated to know my family has affected yours so... deeply. My sincerest apology can not wipe away the transgressions set upon you and yours. Please know, you have an ally in me and if I come across any from Judila, I will do what I can to reunite them with you." He dipped his head, a solemn vow he would take seriously.

"Speech!"

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As Eltrys said she was a big help to him and thanked her, Atreyu shook her head slightly. His next words hit her heart and she could feel the sincerity in them as if they physically stroked over her back. "Thank you, Eltrys, that means a lot to me." It was a simple reply, but there were tears in her voice. She held them back, unwilling to cry in front of a wolf she didn't know, no matter who he said he was. "It was not your fault, you have nothing to apologize for." Allegedly, he had nothing to do with the decimation of her pack.

She didn't want to grow suspicious of him, but he claimed to be family with the wolves who did their worst to her family and pack. They were almost wiped out completely, if she had stayed they would have been. Maybe her siblings survived the genocide, maybe they made it out. Somehow the sincerity in Eltrys' voice was enough to trust that he would keep his word. She dipped her head in return, "Thank you, again. I'll hold you to that." She said with a sad smile, looking at the single white clover flower blowing in the wind.

Open your wings, Evil Angel!
'Thinking.' || "Talking." || 'Hearing.'

Table by Bird - Art by Shelby

He nodded his head solemnly and received her measured response with tact. He drew in a slow breath as she absolved him of his family's sins. He accepted it but knew it would weigh heavily enough on him until he could absolve himself. He felt there could have been a way for him to step it all. But he had been woefully naive as he ran at the behest of his mother.
"Thank you" he replied simply.

He measured his breath again as she replied that she would hold his promise to him, "Please do." He responded then bowed his head to the Queen of Judila, "I will leave you, so we can both come to know the news. You may find me in Polaris. To the northeast of here, under the great Lazuli Falls and along Cattail Creek." He pointed his nose in the direction. Bowed his head farewell and started his journey back to chew on the fall of his family.

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

-exit Eltrys-

Atreyu gave a smile and dipped her head in return to Eltrys, listening intently as he described how to get to his home in Polaris. She thought she had smelled a pack on him, though the dominant smell didn't come from a wolf. "I will come knocking, I find myself in need of teaching. Today, however, I will spend in remembrance of my fallen family and friends. Thank you again, it is good to have an ally." He bowed again and took his leave, bidding her farewell. She hoped he didn't bear the yoke of his relative too hard, after all Eltrys had not been there.

She sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the wind howl. Perhaps Kiska would bless her soon, maybe there was hope to run into her family and pack once more. She was no where near ready to actually lead, having much to learn about life and keeping a crown. Atreyu decided then that she would learn all she could. If she could convince Eltrys to help teach her what she needed to learn, she would be good to go. She knew he would probably be busy, he was a pack wolf, after all. She wrestled with the idea of actually enlisting the male's help, that was something for another day. Giving a sigh, Atreyu decided she would rest here for the night and move on in the morning.

-exit Atreyu via sleep-

Open your wings, Evil Angel!
'Thinking.' || "Talking." || 'Hearing.'

Table by Bird - Art by Shelby