Whether or not the Cairn liked having a bodyguard, Tetsubo was loyal to the ideals of his true master. If Smokestep knew what was best, he would accept the situation as an inflexible certainty. He was an agent of order - a dog sent from the captain's father - and Tetsubo did not consider that such an action would be met with any resistance.

He kept busy watching the boy. He monitored the scents on the wind, investigated the territory when given leave to do so, but was all business all the time. The beast was certain in his own convictions; he was here to protect and serve, and until Smokestep gave him direct orders (or the elder master arrived) he was left to his own solitary devices. Currently he was lurching along the beach with his broad skull lowered to mere inches over the sand - following scents, prowling, until he found a collection of markings that spoke to him.

Then, like a sea lion sun bathing, he dropped to his belly and rolled about. The sand shifted beneath his mighty weight and excessive activity, and when he rose up from the grains he was dust-streaked, but carried the Cairn scent.
​

He shook the majority of the sand from his coat with a few motions of his head, the bulk of his coat shifting like the mane of a mighty lion. Bits of seaweed layered and tangled in the fur of his back but he did not appear mindful of this, and likely wouldn't have cared to any vain degree anyways. At this point, he was oblivious to the onlooker — although the same could be said for her. Unless she were to confront him (or magically become a member of the family he was bound to serve) there was no reason why the creature would take notice.

He began to stride along the beach within moments. The sea's raucous edge swept along the beach and out again, and the wind pulsed, buffering him with cold spring air; then, turning to regard the sea, he observed it until the quiet of the moment was broken by the shriek of a bird. Gulls were swooping at something in the water but he could not tell what it was, and soon lost interest.

It seemed like a peaceful day—and here he was, itching for something to happen so that he would have a purpose again. Things were supposed to change once he'd found the Cairn boy. He had expected orders, some form of command, but so far Tetsubo had been left to his own devices and that, in the long run, would be detrimental for everyone.
​

Hey! The voice cut through the wind, caused him to stop and to turn, and his lethargic gaze landed upon the woman as she advanced upon his position. She did not look terribly pleased to see him. The questions falling from her lips seemed redundant to the warrior but he would oblige her some answers—if only to pass the time.

Tetsubo, he introduced in a deadpan manner. To have to repeat himself was frustrating—he thought himself to be quite clear before; perhaps this woman lacked enough intelligence to understand him, but more than likely he was not being clear with his own purpose. He watched her a moment longer, but ended up stating: I am bushido, servant to the Cairn— there it was again, that same line. It hadn't explained anything before. A different approach was necessary, so he cut himself off and rephrased, Skellige Cairn is my lord, and he sent me to find his children. I am to serve them.

Was that enough? Speaking was a chore.
​

It bothered him to be harassed by these questions - interrogated, in a sense - but if it kept her off of his back in the future then he would have to put up with it. It also seemed as if this woman was being specifically defensive of the Cairn in his charge; not just the land, which she had failed miserably to defend a mere day ago, but the important beings living off of it. In a sense, he felt they were on the same side.

To her inundation of queries, he looked at her with that empty expression and uttered a slovenly, Yes.

Was he a babysitter? Hopefully not, but if given the order, yes.
Was he a spy? Probably not a very good one (he was more of a blunt instrument and lacked finesse), but if necessary, yes.
A guard? Was that really a question? Certainly. And he'd be a better one than her, no questions asked.

Afterwards Tetsubo was silent. He was patient, and accomodating. If she had further questions he would entertain them but it was clear he wasn't exactly a vocal creature; although he did turn the conversation back at her with a drawled, In what capacity do you serve my lord?
​

Tetsubo was not knowledgable in the ways of the world outside of his basic training, but he had learned some of what he required through Skellige and the pale woman that tended to Skellige's needs; he knew that the lord held his family to certain standards and that he followed certain traditions that would forever confuse the beast. He wondered if perhaps the role of First Mate was an honorific—but the woman explained the purpose of her role and the gargoyle slowly nodded as if he understood.

Then, he stated: You are not equipped for such a role, which was an opinion based solely on their previous interaction, and her failure to deterr him. It was spoken of as an observation but was rather pointed, and likely would cause offense that Tetsubo neither meant nor considered. It was not a debate to him. Now that the warrior was here, he was ready to assume such a role and keep Smokestep safe for as long as either of them drew breath—and failing that, Tetsubo would take his own life in accordance to his training.

But he wasn't finished. The term she had used made him think of the pale woman that serviced Skellige, and that was where Tetsubo's bestial mind went next. He took a stride closer to the dark woman but not to antagonize (although he tended to do that regardless), and looked her over as if he were appraising every inch—If the young master has taken you as a mate, I will have to inform my lord. You are weak. Your children would only cause ruin to the Cairn line. He sniffed, he observed, and appeared satisfied to some degree. You are heavy, but do not carry the scent..

He sank back to a neutral pose and gave her the space she (probably desperately) wanted.
​