Redsand Canyon If you must pay money, better to a doctor than an undertaker.

Ruenna knew this soldier by sight, but not by name or character. He could have been carved from ice: there was no flame of life apparent inside him, no warmth behind his eyes. He appeared to exist solely to soldier, which might have been just fine by Germanicus, but Ruenna wanted more for the young men of Mereo. Becoming a solider should not mean that a wolf must sacrifice his own personhood. 

"Hello, auxilia," Ruenna's voice lilted softly. "We haven't been introduced. I am the Lady Ruenna Caeso-Redsand, Matrona of Mereo and wife to Germanicus." Ruenna tilted her muzzle toward her companion. "This is Aquene." Ruenna neglected to provide any commentary on the soldier's verbalized assumption. As a civilian, she was ranked in a hierarchy entirely separate from the auxilia, and the soldiers did not hold direct command over her. She was not required to answer their questions or follow their orders, if she did not wish to do so. 

She would wait for the soldier to give his own name, if he so wished, before she continued. "Thank you for checking in with us, auxilia, but Aquene and I have some business in the canyon to which we need to attend. Unless I can assist you with anything..?" The needs of the soldiers came first, of course, even if that meant she would have to set aside her important work with Aquene.