Thunder Dome plan a pretty picnic

Sun and stars, Apple had had quite the life! Rue grinned in amusement at the "bitey sharks" comment, recalling the sharp-toothed, predatory fish that occasionally starred in her relatives' stories. Sharks had always been portrayed as quite aggressive and single-minded, and Rue could certainly see how a pup could seem similar. Just thinking about it made Rue twitch her tail, recalling the near-constant pain of piercing puppy-teeth that had plagued her last summer.

"I never considered that," Rue responded with a laugh. She could not imagine anyone in Blacktail Deer Plateau being told off for "unwanted advice," but then again mothers could be funny about their pups. Rue had seen women go through entire personality changes after bearing young, starting from the time they went into heat. Rue knew that she would soon experience whatever it was that drove adults crazy during the winter, and she couldn't say she was much looking forward to it. 

"It's lovely," Rue answered the question, more than happy to extol her new pack. "There's plenty to eat,  strong warriors to protect the territory... an emphasis on learning and developing a unique skillset.. and although we are a diverse group, we think of one another as family." These were the things that Rue both appreciated most and had learned very quickly. She had yet to come to see the flaws of the pack or experience how the pack dealt with setback... if she had been having this conversation with Apple several months later, she might have been providing a slightly different description.