Dawnlark Plains I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize

"Aviana," he repeated. "It's a pleasure." Shale grinned at her question--he liked the wording of it; struck him as odd but whimsical--and cast a glance around, giving a shrug and a nod in thoughtful appreciation. "It's taken some getting used to, but it's nice," he commented, looking back at her. "I'm a deer hunter, so I appreciate the open ground."

He flicked an ear, though, remembering how she'd looked when he had approached her. Forlorn, and perhaps a bit lost. Pema had remarked that the plains weren't exactly to her liking, either, and Aditya and a few others had kept to the woods. Did this woman share their concerns?

"I suppose the extra space does make it kind of lonely," Shale added, mouth twisting in something almost resembling a frown. "I don't see my packmates as often as I did on the plateau. Everyone has sort of. . .stretched out here, I guess."