Thoughts telling me I'm lost getting too loud

“The ooze?” Aster tilted her head to the right. Perhaps Idunn hadn’t encountered it before–if she stayed close to the coast, that was certainly a possibility. “Hmmmm, it’s a disease that has distinct physical characteristics. Affects all species, I think—even birds, even reptiles, even deer! How odd, right?”

“Hmm, well, if you have a scouting request, better ask it soon! I’ll have to move on soon if I don’t want to waste the meal you gave me.” Was that why the wolf looked at her so… intensely? Thinking about a particular spot Aster’s tiny bird body could squeeze in where wolves couldn’t?

“I left my family’s band a month ago, actually! But all blue jays stick together, you know? If I hear the call to mob a hawk, I’ll join! And if I make a call, they’ll help!” This was a true statement; Aster traveled alone, but corvids tended to support each other against other threats. “I guess wolves are different, huh? I’ve seen wolves fight, tear each other apart… for, what, exactly? A meal worth a few day’s energy? It’s not very sensible. Though I suppose hawks and owls act the same, so maybe it’s a quirk of the predator species….”