Lake Rodney Rushing waves stand so tall

Silence stretched between them, and Andalusia drew her paws closer together. In all her years she had never quite grown used to the quiet. Her brothers and sisters were always making one noise or another, and though the noise had been overbearing at times, she almost wished their endless chatter would sound in her ears again. Thankfully, the youth did not hold her silence long.

Her proposal to join the Caldera was not an unreasonable offer, but from what Andalusia had gleaned of the pack, she imagined she would fit in like a porcupine in a birthing den. But the Ostrega held her tongue, noticing a deflation in the youth, and she felt emotion stir in her chest. Not pity or compassion, but empathy for the youth. Andalusia had been in the girl's position before, a long time ago, but the memories of her training, of worry and uncertainty, remained vivid in her mind. "I can't promise anything," she said with a steady voice, careful not to raise the youth's hopes, "But I'm interested to hear more. What do your leaders value? What do you look for in recruits?" She didn't think she was the type of recruit they would value, but she was willing and ready to listen.