Phoenix Maplewood stoned at the nail salon

She didn't know why she gave her real name, which she had literally never used before. She supposed it was a reflex borne out of her desire to get some separation from her family. But Meerkat immediately felt bad about it. She didn't want to disown them. The yearling bit at her lip, her tooth really digging in at Rye's continued agitation.

To compensate for her sort of fib, she revealed, "I'm from Redhawk Caldera, which is on the other side of those mountains." She tilted her head in that direction without moving her eyes from Rye. "But I don't live there anymore. I'm," Meerkat said, hesitating for a split second before admitting, "actually on the market for a new place."

And she might've pressed him about his pack, a possible prospect. What was it called? And where exactly was it located? Meerkat had seriously missed any signs. In any case, Rye's standoffish demeanor did not particularly invite her to ask questions or seek information. If she was going to throw in her lot with strangers, she at least wanted them to be friendly.