Bramblepoint red-hawk for dinner

They stood peacefully, this far, and Aureli told himself to relax. Made an effort to appear relaxed, but looked perhaps just a little more weary.

The stranger named one of the packs that he'd already scented, and another he had little idea about. The one North of here, it seemed, as a mystery to them both. They were not so close as to share a border, of course — but it still seemed odd that this woman did not know the name of the nearest pack to her own. Ruben thought that she must be new to Redhawk Caldera, or else that she came from a particularly reclusive people.

She didn't seem reclusive. Aureli ought to know; he spent each and every day fighting his own reclusive nature.

"And they are friendly?" he asked her, though part of him doubted the supposed supposition. Truly, he was waiting to be corrected.

And, though it did not occur to him, he sure had some nerve judging packs on their friendliness. He'd exchanged no pleasantries. Had not offered or asked a single name. Only pressed for information.