Redsand Canyon Out of Sync

She's interesting. 

Ruenna let Aquene's comment hang in the air, nodding absently as she watched the girl disappear. 

"I used to lead in a pack called Redhawk Caldera," she revealed. "If this had been Redhawk Caldera and not Mereo, I would have taken her in without any hesitation." Ruenna sighed. She swallowed heavily before she continued. "Redhawk Caldera collapsed this winter. We were a pack full of children-- many of them parentless--" Like Malila. "--And disabled wolves. In the end, we did not have enough able-bodied wolves to put together a capable hunting party." There would be pain evident behind Ruenna's expression, when she next met Aquene's gaze. 

She listened to Aquene's words, as the medic gently stated the case for keeping Malila. Aquene wanted another fulltime healer. Rue gave another sigh. 

"But she's not a fulltime healer. She's a fulltime teenager, with no developed skills. We can train scouts to find herbs for us when they go into the field. And as for a backup caregiver to treat our wolves when you are away.. well, that would be me," Ruenna reminded Aquene. She appreciated the spin that Aquene was trying to put on the situation-- indeed, this was the same optimistic line of thinking that Ruenna would have employed when she was Sovereign of Redhawk Caldera-- but no matter how much potential she possessed, Malila did not have a way of filling a current need for Mereo. 

"Aquene.." Ruenna spoke again, her voice softer this time. "She will be okay. I meant what I said about finding her a place in a different pack. I know several wolves who would take her in, as a favor to me. Truly, don't you think she will be happier someplace else..?" Mereo was no place for a teenage girl, surely Aquene must see that.