ILLUME SKYE She was oddly nervous leaving the packlands behind her, even if it was only temporarily. And it was a really strange feeling, being nervous. She had never felt that before, even though her memory on "before" was really vague. Perhaps she was a really nervous creature and she just didn't remember feeling it. Either way, she had left Imperium behind for the moment to venture out into the world. She just hoped she'd be able to find her way back. Not that it was really hard to get here. Just..through a forest, over a river and into...whatever this was. Deep blue eyes looked up and around, staring at the weird white trees that stretched as far as she could see. It was odd. Sure that weird forest was rather dead but these didn't feel dead. What was with it anyways. It wasn't even winter, why were the trees white? Shaking her head slightly, she lowered her gaze to look around the scattered rocks and the weird...pond thing. As pretty as this place was, she couldn't really understand it. But that wasn't all that weird for her anymore now, was it. She couldn't understand anything anymore, she couldn't remember anything and she still hurt. She sat before the pond then, rolling her sore shoulders and just stared at her reflection in the still water. Will she ever remember? Will she ever understand? "Talk"

Ara had been to the Alabastrine Shrine before. She remembered it was being quite a beautiful place. A great place for quiet reflection, and a refuge from the rest of the world. The female was quiet as she made her way to the serene cluster of trees, which stood tall around a small pond. Her pawsteps were careful, though not merely out of caution, but because she felt the calm aura of this place emanate through her. A barely audible sigh of contentment fell from her lips as she caught a glimpse of the pond's surface, glimmering in the afternoon light. Only when she drew closer did she realize that someone was already here - briefly she found herself wondering if she would ever get this place to herself. Another glance showed her that the stranger had a pelt unlike anything she'd ever seen before, a creamy mixture of white and delicate blue. It was so unlike her own, a stark contrast of tan and black, and the colors were almost angelic to her. She was young, and even from a distance her presence was nonthreatening. Slowly she would take a few steps closer, offering a faint smile to the stranger. "Good afternoon," she called out to her with a quick wag of her tail.

ILLUME SKYE Illie stared deep into the pool, tracing her reflection for any sort of memory. Maybe a scar that would bring back a galliant tale of fun and fantasy, or maybe something. No, the only thing were her markings which lead her back to Valentine, and a single mysterious bead caught in her hair, with two little worn feathers. She stared at the accessory in her reflection, watching the bead catch the evening light as she tried to recall where she had gotten it, but the more she thought the more frustrated she got. Teeth grit before, suddenly, she jolted. A voice called out to her and she quickly spun her head around to look at the stranger with large blue eyes. But perhaps..that wasn't the best idea. The quick movement caused her head to spin, her gaze to blur and...woah, dizzy. A whimper slipped from her throat without meaning too as she hung her head, catching herself with her paws to hold herself steady as the waves receeded before she chanced another look up at the stranger. She hoped for some familiarity, something. Something, there had to be something out there! Someone she knew, someone that knew where she came from. But there was just...nothing. Brows knit before she offered a small, sad smile. "Hi," She said softly, before correcting her posture so she wasn't so..bent over. "Who're you?" She asked with a raise of her brow and a tilt of her head. Perhaps manners weren't her forte, but at least she got to the point... "Talk"

The stranger had an unmistakable air of both innocence and confusion about her that was unshakable. She seemed a bit alarmed, spinning around quickly to meet her. Ara's own ears would flatten against her skull, not wanting her to be the one to cause her to feel threatened or bewildered. Her own stance would relax substantially, backing away slightly as Illie seemed to be fighting for a hold on reality.  "I'm sorry," she offered tenderly, her voice holding an air of concern and empathy that was easily audible in her soft tones.  "I didn't mean to scare you." If anything, Ara was far from scary.. and the fact that she had alarmed her made her figure that the stranger had been distracted with someone else. Her blue gaze fell to the pond, lifting back to Illie's face as she nodded slowly in greeting.  "Hi, though," she greeted her with a faint smile, her tail flicking just barely where it lay at her hocks.  "My name is Ara Destruction. I was just coming to sit by the pond. And who are you?" Her explanation was a simple one, and she fell silent as she awaited Illie's response .

ILLUME SKYE "It's okay.." She said in a soft breath when she noticed that this woman was rather harmless. She smiled a soft, sad smile as she turned back to look at the pond, mainly at her reflection. A soft silence settled around her as she did, almost ignoring the other woman before she spoke again. Gently, her head lifted and she looked back at the woman before motioning at the spot near her by the pond. That was why she was here after all, right? "Hi." She said softly, distractedly. Her mind was obviously somewhere else as she flicked her tail to cover her paw. "Its nice. There's fish." She murmured distractedly before that question came up. Who are you? Well, who was she? "Good question." She said softly, reaching out to touch the pond and her reflection, watching as it grew harder to see. "No one really knows. But you can call me Illie Skye." She smiled her little smile and looked back up at the woman. Suddenly something clicked. Ash had called Mercy a Destruction. Was that a common last name? Weird...last name, that's for sure. "A Destruction, huh? Are you a big family or anythin?" She asked. She could easily be wrong, and this woman was the reason Mercy changed her last name. But one couldn't be too sure. "Talk"

Her fragility would not bother her; after all, she was married to Novel, who was timid and fearful at times. Ara herself had never really considered herself brave, and certainly not fearless. She had no intention of startling anyone - and a small smile would appear on her lips when the girl she had approached seemed to relax, upon realizing she was not there by any malicious intent. She took a moment to respond, turning to gaze on the still surface of the pond. Ara would've sworn she was ignoring her, but she motioned for her to sit with her. She wouldn't argue, and loped forward slowly to recline to her haunches at the pond's edge. It was peaceful here, and she knew the serenity of the afternoon would only be accented by the presence of the young girl at her side. Her train of thought seemed.. to float away for a moment, as she mentioned the fish. She reminded her a bit of her younger self, and she'd smile gently as she watched her momentarily before turning to look for the fish she'd mentioned. "I hadn't noticed those yet," she noted gently, her voice taking on a slight air of interest. Perhaps they could even share a snack together here? Or maybe staying hungry and letting the fish swim on would be enjoyable, in a different sense. The stranger's words were quite peculiar. No one knew who she was? She wouldn't probe much further, as it seemed a subject she had difficulty with, as it'd taken her a long moment to respond to. "Well, Illie Skye, it's a pleasure to meet you," Ara would answer with another smile, as she tilted her head to the side and cast a glance at her new acquaintance. "The Destruction family is pretty large. I married into the family; I had no last name before that." She didn't really know why, either. She knew that her father had been raised by wolves that had taken him in, and maybe they simply had not used family names like the wolves did here. She wished, briefly, that he was still here so she could ask him - and a brief pang of sadness touched her heart at the thought.