Like all Raptors, Blue viewed the world through a series of lenses: prey vs. not-prey, danger vs. not-danger, interesting playthings vs. things beneath her notice, and family vs. not-family. Blue’s littermates were all dead, and she had no mate and no chicks, which would have left her adrift, for Raptors are social animals — but Blue’s mother was still alive, so all her allegience and pack instinct were focused there.

Blue did not like her mother’s chosen mate (weak thighs, no claws, no teeth to speak of, and she called Blue’s mother “Owen” in a weak little croak like a sick chick), but pack was pack, for weak or for strong.