Blacktail Deer Plateau chicken noodle soup

The pack shouldn't have exiled you, they should have exiled him.

Rue's mouth opened and closed a few times in wordless protest. Half of her wanted to agree with Elixir's assessment of the situation, but the other half knew that it was more complicated than that. Behavior like Sjorn's was certainly frowned upon in Red Fern Glade, but Sjorn had never been her packmate. He was a high-ranking wolf in Black Fern Forest, a pack allied to the Glade. So even if he had broken every law in the book the Glade wolves wouldn't have been able to sanction him. 

Further complicating matters was the fact that the Forest alliance was very important to the Glade-- so much so that it was unlikely the pack would survive without it. That meant that to the Glade leaders, keeping Black Fern Forest wolves placated was more important than standing up for Rue, who had been barely more than a yearling at the time and had yet to prove her worth as an adult packmate. It wasn't as if Rue had actually been hurt, after all.

It was a small comfort, knowing that Rue was unlikely to experience a similar incident in Blacktail Deer Plateau. At least if she did, she would have Elixir on her side. "Thanks," Rue said, relief evident in her voice. Perhaps the other woman was right, and Liri and Kavk would sympathize with Rue... but Rue still wanted her secret kept for now. 

"He won't come here, except for in my dreams," Rue assured Elixir with a shake of her head. Sjorn had no reason to leave his home; he had everything he could want in Black Fern Forest. Well, everything except Rue, but he had probably already replaced Rue with some other poor, naive young woman-- probably one with less fight in her than Rue, if he had learned from his mistakes. The thought of it turned Rue's stomach. "..But people should know about these creeps. People, females, they should.. should know.. what can happen out there."

A spark of hope was evident in Rue's gaze. The thought of actually doing something to prevent the victimization of other women made her feel lighter somehow. Maybe this was how she could overcome her past and move on from her pain and guilt.