and i sang you an old tune

The moonlight reflected off the calm waters of low tide like silver thread, its glow reaching deep into the jungle that crowned Dove Island. Ellara moved quietly, her chocolate covered strawberry colored fur soft against the shadows. Her pink eyes, glowing faintly in the moonlight, scanned the ground for a particular herb. The salty aroma of the sea mingled with the earthy musk of the jungle, filling her senses as her lithe paws avoided snapping twigs. She was looking for Ahioli, a flowering plant said to soothe respiratory ailments; her owls moving from branch to branch in the trees above enjoying the night. One owl came to perch on her shoulder and give a soft hoot, its presence a quiet comfort as she moved further from the shoreline.

She paused at a patch of sand near a line of rocks, kneeling to examine a cluster of unfamiliar leaves. The scent wasn't quite right - it was not the herb she sought - but she pocketed a mental note of its location for later study. Her ears twitched at the soft sound of movement, the rustle of leaves just ahead.

Curiosity piqued, Ellara cautiously stepped forward, her soft and sweet voice carrying into the stillness. "Hello? Is someone there?"

As she pushed through the underbrush, she would soon find herself face to face with another wolf, one so dark she almost missed her. This one's fur gleamed sleek under the moon, her amber eyes sharp and commanding. Ellara took a step back, startled but not hostile, her gaze falling briefly to the rocks where the other had climbed over just moments ago.

"I did not mean to intrude," Ellara said, dipping her head in a gesture of peace. "I am Ellara, a physician from The Hallows. I am just looking for herbs, Ahioli to be exact. Have you seen it?" Her voice held a mixture of curiosity and cautious respect, her posture non-threatening but not submissive. She studied the stranger, intrigued by the strength she could see beyond her amber gaze.