Blacktail Deer Plateau Praying for Love, and Paying in Naivety

"It was a recent promotion," Rue replied simply, expression carefully unreadable. In light of her conversation with Elixir, Rue imagined that there were probably others who questioned Liri's decision to promote Rue. She would not allow herself to be drawn into defending herself or her qualifications, now or in the future. Packmates who took issue with her rank or their own could bring it up with Liri. 

"Do you have a trade, Corvus?" Rue asked in an effort to change the subject. There were several things about Corvus that interested her more than his potential trade, but she figured that was the safest course of conversation presently.

Rue's gaze fell to the still-unconscious Siqsa, and concern broke through her facade of carefully-crafted neutrality. Rue dipped her nose toward the ground and nudged the youth's paw, stifling a whine of concern. It would not take a genius to deduce that her reason for lingering had less to do with Corvus or trust issues and more to do with her feelings for the afflicted.