Live and Learn

Well, he had a point. Ræ could certainly be a bit short from time to time. It wasn't intentional, only sometimes she just felt like someone else's comment was enough. She never felt a need to explain her thoughts or actions to anyone, and had found herself often in favor of comfortable silences. When he said he would not mind her company, she began digging at once. "I prefer to think before I act, when at all possible. The cat nags me if I don't," she said, gesturing with a nod of her head to Bo. Bodolf, her close friend and clouded leopard hovered just over her shoulder. He gave the stranger a suspicious look, but he was more than used to Ræsa getting in over her head so he refrained from commenting.

It took her a long while to get a comfortable space excavated, and she angled the excess dirt to create a wall of sorts between her in the wind. In the end, with the large tree's assistance, she found her and Bodolf curled up quite comfortable in the stranger's company. He seemed eager to end any awkward silence before it began and asked her of any mentors or inspirations. She frowned minutely, more expressing an effort to concentrate than any manner of negative emotion. He was awfully curious, wasn't he? She inherited her mother's stoicism and so regarded him carefully before responding. "All those in my home pack, Yfir, are worthy of respect. I've learned a lot from them," she replied, someone noncommittal. Because really, she wasn't about to spill her life story to someone she'd just met, right? All things considered, it was shaping up to be a long night.