Hearing that those lands kept their leaders and their cultures nearly makes Ellana laugh, because that certainly isn't the way things have happened here in Thedas. Believe her; a Dalish elf knows about cultural erasure. But she doesn't make mention of it now. This is a party, and she won't bring down the mood. Instead she touches the ear of her mask, pleased he's asked.

"I'm a fennec fox. They're smaller than normal foxes and their coats turn white in winter. They're very sweet and harmless." Which is why it makes for a cunning shapeshift form. She could spy on the enemy by just meandering around their camp with all the other fennecs.