something new awaits

The girl glanced away but didn't move from where she stood. When she looked back, she frowned. Huh? Avantika was trying to comfort her. Why was she still upset? After a moment of observation, Avantika decided that she seemed better but still scared. That was okay. Being scared was nothing unfamiliar to her, although she didn't know whether the strategies she used to calm herself down would help with this stranger. So she decided just to try not to make things worse.

She could hear the girl swallow as she met her gaze, and she looked down herself. Her eyes were so soft and scared but still so wonderful to look at. She wondered what they'd look like smiling. That was her goal from that moment onward: make her smile from real joy at least once in this conversation. She was obviously anxious, but she stepped forward anyway, and Avantika admired that bravery. Until she realized that stepping forward meant that she was closer to those eyes and that body. Her pelt burned. "It's--it's nice to meet you too," she replied, now fiddling with her paws so she didn't look up so much and start staring. Her voice was such a nice, soft chime. She could listen to it all day.

"You smell like a pack, Audra." Avantika flushed again, wanting to fall through the ground and never climb her way back up. That wasn't awkward at all, she thought sarcastically. "Sorry--I mean... Where are you from?" It wouldn't be on Auster, since there were only two packs, and one Avantika was in and the other one she really, really hoped Audra wasn't a part of. Although it would explain why she was so nervous.

"Speech"