Morningside Cuesta this common blood iii

Aaaaand, ah, there was her cousin. One of her dark ears twisted back in his direction, honing in on the familiar sound of his voice. His presence bolstered her — not that she needed it — and she straightened with a still-wagging tail as the stranger sped toward her. She was comfortable enough with this until the stranger seemed to startle. That, in turn, drew her posture just a little tauter.

"I'm from right here, actually," she replied, not quite cross, but not at all appreciative of the stranger's manners.

She studied the man carefully, looking for signs of illness. She didn't want any ravening or wasting wolves around her sons, or around her cousin, for that matter. The only thing that stuck out to her, however, were his eyes.

"My name is Ishara," she told the younger wolf, still holding herself rather stiffly. "Were you expecting someone else?"