Lion Head Mesa [ap] I'd rather have the right man, than the right wedding.

"You would forgo love for what you desire."

It was a heavy conclusion Germanicus had drawn, and it was not one that rang particularly true for Ruenna. Love does not disappear when challenged with a little distance.. at least not the kind of love that Ruenna shared with the Redhawks. Ruenna saw this as an opportunity to expand her family, not forsake it. Besides, the way things were currently going in the Redhawk Caldera, it was entirely possible that Rue would be bringing a few Redhawks with her if she ended up moving back to the Sunspires.

Germanicus touched on the ruggedness of his intended post, and Ruenna's eyes closed momentarily. Within the confines of her own mind, she argued silently, I've known hardship before. Few hadn't, and fewer still who had reached Ruenna's age. Ruenna's eyes opened when Germanicus spoke again, deferring his decision. That was acceptable; she had expected as much. What she had not expected was the intended location that Germanicus voiced. 

The canyon?  That certainly was a rugged location. Why not instead settle the vale? 

Understanding dawned quickly. The vale would be Ruenna's choice, of course, because her goal was to raise a healthy family. Germanicus's objective was to mold hardened soldiers, and so his choice of location would reflect that. The canyon was also a better choice in terms of routing through the Sunspires, if the aim was to keep an eye on the majority of the canine activity passing through the mountains. 

"It is currently not a place for children or mothers."

"Then it is fortunate that currently, I am neither." Perhaps it had been Germanicus's intention to imply, "It is currently not a place for children, mothers, or cripples."  Ruenna was acutely aware of her overt limp, signaling her weakness and inadequacy with every lurching step. Germanicus was kind to frame it otherwise, but Ruenna couldn't help but think that her disability was the true sticking point. 

Germanicus made his final argument, and Ruenna did understand. He was uncomfortable encouraging Ruenna to upend her own life, especially when he was uncertain of his own ability to actualize her dreams. It was Germanicus who did not understand. 

After the distant, raucous laughter died down, Ruenna spoke up with an admission. "The sun is setting on the Redhawk Caldera," Rue divulged. "We don't have the numbers to make it to winter, let alone through it." If Germanicus thought he had nothing to offer, he was very wrong. 

"Germanicus..." Rue began, inhaling deeply. She hated lending advice when it had not been outright requested, and so as she spoke, she watched his features for any sign that she should discontinue. "You say that you wish to be a force for justice, but there are so many varieties of injustice. Each kind requires a different intervention, but you intend to offer only one." Ruenna shifted a bit nervously. Despite her long history of advising leaders, the process of offering feedback was still uncomfortable.

"What if, in the course of balancing the scales, you find that you have need of a refuge for women or children? If your outpost cannot function as a sanctuary and a barracks, then you are fooling yourself to think it stands for anything other than warmongering." Ruenna's eyes were soft despite the criticism she delivered. 

"If it's not yet a home, let me help you make it one." Her volume dwindled as she concluded, and she turned away from him to signal that she was not expecting any immediate answer. He had already stated that he needed time to think it over, and Ruenna would respect that. Truly, she knew he was not capable of making such a decision now, when Crowfeather's condition was so uncertain.