Raven's Watch birds of a feather

"Why west?" Kirain inquired, her voice a blend of curiosity and lingering caution. "What's out there?" Her gaze remained fixed on the she-wolf before her, studying Mictec with a mixture of interest and subtle wariness.

A pause, then another question, softer still: "Tlalticpac... What does it mean?"

As the words left her lips, Kirain felt a twinge of anxiety. She hoped her queries wouldn't irritate Mictec, whose offer had been remarkably kind. Yet, the uncertainty that had been her constant companion for so long gnawed at her, an unwelcome edge of unease coloring her perception of this unknown future.

Frustration welled up within her. Kirain recognized the creeping tendrils of paranoia that had begun to infiltrate her mind, a byproduct of her prolonged isolation. She chided herself silently, struggling against the instinct to mistrust.

The world isn't out to get you, she reminded herself. It's okay to trust. Connection is better than isolation.

With a sharp snort, as if trying to physically expel the negativity, Kirain shook her head. The huff of air seemed to carry with it some of the tension that had built up in her chest, a small act of defiance against her own doubts.