Sleeping Dragon Blood in the cut

Had she had a sudden aha! moment? Probably, though Wildfire couldn't recall at the moment. The details didn't matter now. She was with Thuringwethil, formally, and everybody knew. They could build themselves as a pairing in the eyes of their pack. And though Wildfire supposed Portia was right, the opinions and support of their little community mattered a lot to her. She knew it mattered to the Heda too.

"We care about our pack mates' thoughts, though, on this matter and others," the Bandrona replied thoughtfully. "Of course, we hope everyone will be as accepting as you," she continued, offering Portia another genuine smile, "but we understand if that isn't the case." Others might feel differently about breaking away from Drageda's traditions. In a phrase, she and the commander were hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

Further conversation was momentarily postponed when a scent suddenly filled Wildfire's nose. She exchanged a meaningful look with Portia and stopped to read it. A raccoon had passed by this way within the last half an hour. The trapper deliberated. Was she up for the challenge of a smaller predator? Was Portia? She looked speculatively at her pack mate again.