Redsand Canyon welcome to the darkside

Aquene was well loved in Mereo, and it did not surprise Ruenna that there were those who would stick up for her-- particularly the man with whom she had shared quarters last night. Ruenna was surprised that tempers had spun out of control so quickly though. Kallik always seemed so cold and aloof; it was hard to imagine him instigating an impassioned battle. Ruenna had thought it would be fine to wait until the evening to discuss the incident with Germanicus, as that was when they usually debriefed the day's events together. Clearly, she had miscalculated. She had sat on the information, and blood had been spilled.

Aquene bravely recounted the incident to Germanicus, and Ruenna was proud of her for the attention she paid to the details that Germanicus would need, despite the lingering pangs of panic that would clutch at her heart. Ruenna knew the feeling all too well. 

Aquene shot a near-pleading look to Ruenna, and Rue stepped forward to offer a gentle nudge of comfort. "You have not done anything wrong, Aquene," she assured her, not for the first time today. "You listened to your instincts and acted to protect yourself. That is exactly what you are being trained to do." Perhaps it would console her, knowing her training here seemed to be having the desired effect. At least Aquene hadn't frozen, or broken down, or lashed out savagely in the moment. Her action had been swift and decisive, and she had used an appropriate amount of force given the situation. 

"I wish I had passed on the news of this incident as soon as I received it," Ruenna was apologetic when she spoke again, her gaze darting between both Aquene and Germanicus. "Perhaps the violence could have been prevented..." Honestly, she doubted her own words even as she spoke them. Young men of a certain age knew only one way to settle differences of opinion.