Redhawk Caldera متشدد mutashadid

The coyote accepted these tasks with a brief reply, all the while melting away into the underbrush. "Thank you," Ruenna spoke, although by the time she had the words out she couldn't even tell if her errand-runner was still present to hear them. 

A small shiver ran down her spine; coyotes really were such unnatural-seeming creatures! After a long moment, Ruenna turned to rejoin Aliana and Azon. 

"You both did well," she reassured them. "You are absolutely right," she added, speaking towards Aliana, "Coyotes have no business sniffing around pack territory." She hesitated, knowing that she would need to provide some explanation of her behavior, lest she become the subject of pack gossip. It was a fate she was probably already too late to avoid. "My business with the coyote was personal, not pack-related. He should not be coming near the Caldera again." 

Ruenna had heard some whispers of packs within the Teekons that were sympathetic towards coyotes, even going so far as to accept coywolves as members. Under her leadership, the Caldera would never be such a pack. Ruenna was open minded to a great many things, but there was a line, and this was where she drew it. 

With a nod of finality, Ruenna shuffled off. She probably should have lingered a little longer to answer any further questions her guardians might have had for her, but honestly, she just didn't have the bandwidth for questions. Shame was already creeping into her heart around the edges-- shame that she had stooped to request help from such a distasteful source, but also shame that her requests had revealed her struggle with the mental and physical scars of her past. They were her burdens, and she should be able to carry them on her own. What a unfortunate moment of weakness!