he had little to offer in the face of her own and powerful pack, but the shadowpriest was not unaware of his own strengths, nor the compromises he was willing to make for his own ideals. however, asking takiyok for aid to do something he himself had not been able to accomplish chafed the man, and he passed rosy tongue-tip across his lips before continuing.
"are you familiar with the pack in the maplewood, frau?" he inquired, turning to tilt his muzzle in that direction. "their continued presence there keeps away herds that might othervise settle, though they are too veak to hunt them. i did not kill their boy king when i had him; that fault is mine." his lilac eyes rested upon the ground now; mahler cleared his throat. "alone, i cannot drive them off. with some small aid, it might be done, and the wood would belong to you as extended hunting grounds."
"but your duties are to your pack, and i vould understand if you vill not offer help, as it is a problem that does not concern you." exhausted by the long-winded nature of his explanation, the man lapsed into a silence, awaiting the negative reply he was sure would come.

takiyok's reaction to his news of the maplewood pack broke her usual stoic impassivity; the annoyance that flashed across her features charmed mahler, as did the rage that built behind the click of her teeth. the man wished to ask what the weakened wolves had done, perhaps in a stronger time, to engender such a response in the woman, but did not inquire for now. duty vied with instinct, but the former won; his request was denied.
and yet mahler was not disappointed. takiyok had granted him a reason for such; she could not leave her pack, not in a time of trouble such as this. however, her intrigue was unabated, and an amused expression shone thereafter in his lavender stare. "i promised the boy that i vould be back. he is vounded, and a second attack might mean his life. i doubt he vill risk it, however."
the child was a fool, but returning with open gashes to his pack would undermine his position as leader, if not worry the maplewood wolves about his ability to protect them. mahler's own lacerations had been given gladly in sacrifice. "for now, frau, i vill vait, and if the opportunity presents itself, i vill strike a second time. another member of the pack, perhaps."
pleased that they seemed to share a common annoyance in the continued presence of the stubborn pack, the musiker fell silent. the ire and interest that limned her features had begun to cause a stir in some coiled part of him that was not truly understood, and he wanted to leave, but propriety suggested he stay until takiyok had dismissed him.