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The woman asked who his father was, and Jackson wondered briefly if his father had ever met her before. As far as he knew, his father didn't make a habit out of going about and familiarizing himself with many of the newer members to the cave-dwelling pack. The small family had a tendency to stick together, mainly, though the boy supposed his father did enjoy the company of the white-furred leader. Jackson couldn't begin to grasp the slightest idea why that was--the boy wasn't exactly fond of the cool and abrasive Angela. "His name's Ravesque. Ravesque Acidic," he said, blue eyes on the lookout for any sign of recognition on his new acquaintance's features. Perhaps Panda was more of a social butterfly around the pack than the Acidic family and had had the opportunity to introduce herself.
Panda then shared with him some details of her own first time changing forms. "10 months?" he parroted in disbelief. "Wow..." The youth's eyes widened a fraction and his ears pulled farther back. That seemed like such a long time to the boy. If he was already feeling this anxious, he couldn't imagine how he would feel if he had to wait that long. To Jackson, who was only too eager to grow up, waiting another few months would feel like torture. His father had said it might take time, but he thought that he was only saying that. It seemed that there was truth to those words, much to the hybrid boy's dismay.
He remained silent as the woman continued on, eager to hear what else she might have to share with him on the subject. She mentioned calm, peace, and harmony, things that had lately been avoiding the over-eager boy. He had been so anxious about the prospect of taking so long to shift, that he never had considered the benefits of a calm state of mind. It was always focus, focus, focus, trying to force himself into something with little understanding of it. She told him not to worry, but for the boy, that was easier said than done. Then, she asked him if he had ever meditated. "No..." he answered, uncertain. "What is it?" Jackson knew nothing of meditation, but he was willing to hear her out if it was something that could help him get closer to his goal of shifting, if only a little bit.