The small she-wolf moved across the barren land like a shadow. Amidst the rocky ground she seemed almost shade-like, half real and exotic (which would have made her laugh, no doubt). Dark fur like a cloak over her back, an unusually large tail trailed out behind her as her fox-like head, set with piericing blue eyes snaked its way along the unforgiving land. Harsh. That was the word for the environment. And however strange, Orica was used to that word going hand in hand with home. She'd seen plenty of strange sights and foreign places over the years. Come to find comfort in lands she wouldn't have dreamed of. Course no one was going to be dreaming of a place like this. Or finding comfort in it for that matter. Orica picked her way carefully over rock and rumble. A sharp snort from the healer's black nose produced a puff of dust at her feet. Blue eyes stared quizzically at the ground like it was a puzzle she had to solve. There'd been paw prints leading in - she didn't know how old - and she'd followed them on the off chance it was someone who could tell her something - anything. But now she was begining to wonder. Perhaps she was safest turning round? But she hadn't explored these Eastern lands yet! Who knew what could be waiting here? Did she dare risk missing out on her pack - on any clue, any sign? She halted in the shade of a large, red-striped rock. She was undecided.

Salias made his way into the rocky area, he had yet to be here before. The area didn’t seem as if it had much to offer for him. He looked around the vicinity to spot a female, it seemed the area did have something to offer him after all. He hadn’t had much luck with the two previous females he had met but he just might with this one. As he got closer to the female he started to see sets of foot prints on the ground. One set seemed to lead to where she was but he didn’t see where the other one led. Was there another wolf in the area, he didn’t smell one. He would have to be on his guard it might be another male who could jump out and attack him for putting moves on his woman.  The white wolf would come up alongside the female “What’s a gem like you doing out here in such a desolate place?” he would walk around her so that he was about five feet away facing her.

~*~ Apparently, she'd been so focused on the tracks in front of her that she hadn't been keep an eye to her south. It wasn't until she halted at the boulder that her large ears swiveled to pick up the steps of an approaching wolf. It could easily be the one she was tracking, if it had swung round. Or just another traveler like herself. The step was solid and confident, but quick enough to show purpose or youth. She couldn't say she was thrilled about either. Nor did she like being snuck up on, but she swished her big brush of a tail as if dismissing the thoughts. She was a little tired, a little cranky with her inability to find anything. She'd put more miles under her paws in the past year than plenty of wolves did in their whole lives. But she resolved to behave politely and wisely in the face of a stranger. The male, and oh, it most definitely was a male, wasted no time in sidling up to where she stood, his gaze appreciative and curious and perhaps just a touch hungry. Orica could almost be flattered. She was old enough to be this one's mother. Grandmother even. She huffed a little snort at his choice of endearment, ducking her head prettily enough in greeting. It was rare for her to be confronted with eyes as bright set and blue as her own. Looking -up- at them was no new experience though. She was small in stature, though long and quick footed for it. The male was nearly a head taller, and his white fur glinting in the sun made him seem all the larger. Still he was a young one. Her healer's eye could tell by his frame. Two perhaps, but no older. He had walked round to face her, and Orica made herself comfortable, coiling her tail around her forepaws. "Tracking," she replied, her high voice still clear and bird-like despite years of using it for song and perscriptions. "I seek any rumor of a northern-hailing pack I once used to know. One with wolves of the Ancora bloodline.-"  she sighed at herself, at the rocks around her. "-but I fear I've strayed off their trail. Not that I mind wandering on most days." ~*~

The female responded that she had been tracking something a pack it seemed, with wolves of a certain bloodline. She must have done a lot of traveling if she had lost their trail, the female looked to be quite a bit older than himself. There was no reason she should be so relentless in searching after this pack with these so-called Ancora wolves, wolves in this land were certainly bizarre they were nothing like the ones back home. They talked to foxes, had personal slaves, were seemingly so stubborn, what had he gotten himself into trying to conquer these lands. “I am afraid I cannot help you as I am fairly new to these lands whatever they are called, my name is Salias Tooth ex-prince of Zatia” he dipped his head towards the female in a matter of politeness. “What might yours be madame?”

~*~ The pale pelted stranger answered easily enough - but in the negative. Nothing for her to find just here then. She didn't let any disappointment show. Wasn't polite. And really, she hadn't expected much from this dusty corner. All in good time. She'd searched a hundred lands and she'd search a hundred more. Ah, but she was forgetting herself. She wasn't usually this preoccupied. Is this what getting old feels like? the thought brought a sparkle to her eye, that could only be described as young. "Forgive me my rudeness," said Orica with a blink of her moon-bathed blues. "Of course. My name is Orica." Did she dare tack on anything else? She was tempted. The wolf before her gave his title out freely, "ex" though it might be. She didn't like to brag. She didn't care much for pride or rank or her placement among others. She'd never thought of herself as anything like a "princess", even if she had been the daughter of a Chief. The Alpha of a great and powerful pack. It's not as though she was heir. There were a dozen other siblings and cousins that could have proven themselves more capable of being chosen. Not to mention stronger. You wouldn't know it from looking at her but she came from a bloodline of hulking warriors. Well, now the memories were coming back. "And gods above, I haven't thought about rank in a long time, but once, somewhere back there, I was the daughter of a king. A leader of many families and ruler of many lives. Not that I was ever dubbed something like prince or princess," she added, insistently. She smiled. Oh it was most definitely teasing, but gentle and good natured all the same. "But consider me honored, Prince Salias, if such I may call you. I hadn't expected royalty in such a... 'desolate' place, as you put it." ~*~