Blacktail Deer Plateau the meaning of life

Raid tries to return Shale's smile but she's pretty sure it came out more like a grimace. She tells herself it's okay - she hasn't quite figured out why she feels so uncomfortable around males but she has a hunch. A hunch which she refuses to dwell in - refuses to acknowledge. It..just isn't possible. Snap out of it, Raiden. "Yeah," she says instead, troubling thoughts unable to breach past her facade. "Got it, boss," Raid meets his gaze and nods, then looks down and shuffles her paws.

Then, all of a sudden, someone else joins them. Raid tenses, muscles taut beneath her coat as she scans the newcomer with wary eyes, teeth wearing into her lip - an unconscious habit of hers when she is nervous. The boy is apparently Shale's nephew, and from the looks of it, around her age. Grayday's son. He's kinda cute..I guess...for a boy. Oh, nevermind, ruined it.

"Don't call me ma'am, it makes me sound old and I'm the same age as you." Raid mutters, swinging her head away from the herd to look at Sunny. "I'm Raiden. But everyone calls me Raid." There is something like a mixture of apprehension and exasperation on her face as she cants her head and appraises him. "But yeah, the more wolves the better, right?" she smiles ruefully as the last sentence slips from her lips. A brief memory, nothing more than a few images and snatches of words flits through her mind but she shakes it away and nods at Shale. She'll move at his cue.