Mature Content Warning

He hadn't gotten enough of the small female named Iris (@Themis). He had originally intended to leave these lands, and return home to Vex, but... his hunger was... insatiable. Vorilye had followed her scent. Here, he called for her. "Oh Iris... I've returned."

Iris' scent was thick in the air, and the massive Cruor male breathed it deeply. Slowly moving through the trees, he called again, louder this time, "Iris... I couldn't stop thinking about you. About whether anything came from our night together..." He was not actually certain whether this was a lie or not - the thought of children had always been on his mind; Jaganatha had paired him with Vex, after all, with the intent of producing pure Cruor children. The perfect children. Vorilye scoffed softly, brushing this thought away.

"And in truth... I am a deserter, and when my sister finds out I've left our family pack... she will look to kill me." Perhaps, at some point, he had loved Vex - hell, he felt guilty even thinking about her. But he couldn't stand living below his father anymore. He had tainted Vex... poisoned her mind with his self-serving ideals. No... Vex was not who she used to be. He did not love who she had become.

What if he started over? When he next spoke, there was a trace of desperation, along with frustration. "Please. I've travelled hundreds upon hundreds of miles, just to be here."

A response came, Vorilye's ears straining to decipher the direction of the sound. He answered quickly, his heart drumming a rather unsteady beat in his chest. "No. But... If you gave me a chance, you'd see how useful I can be." He had served Vex well as a beta - he knew how to fight, how to protect. "You'll want me here, if you are pregnant." He would not see his potential children raised fatherless. He couldn't. "I can help you. And you can help me."

There was silence for a short time, and eventually he saw Iris' piercing blue eyes emerging from the shadows. He relaxed somewhat, a small smile taking over his features as she fully revealed herself. "I will pledge myself to you... Themis." The Cruor man bowed low, swallowing hard. "This will be my new start." Part of Vorilye debating changing his own name - he had deserted the Cruors, after all. But, another part of him still took pride in his lineage - it still meant something to him. He sighed, then put these thoughts aside for now. Quietly, he asked, "How many do you have, and what is your purpose?"

Vorilye followed - it felt like that was the only thing he knew how to do, and part of him resented that. As Themis spoke of the pack, Vorilye found himself more intrigued. The Hidden Ones... He grimaced to himself. He was hiding. He'd travelled so far to be free of Vex, and even so, he was still... uncertain. He left these thoughts as Themis spoke again, and he smirked softly.

"I was given power - I acted as a beta of sorts for my sister, Vex. But she and our father constantly reminded me that I was still powerless in other ways." Vorilye's tone turned bitter. "I don't yet know what it is I seek. Perhaps, just the chance to lead my life the way I want it." He frowned, the scars pulling at his muzzle. He looked down to Themis. "I can fight. That's what I was bred for." Built to take things by force, shaped by Vex and Jaganatha to be something their enemies feared. And now he was here, helping to build a new pack. How things had changed.

For the first time in his life, Vorilye felt uncertain. He felt as if somehow Themis had stripped him bare, and now all of his flaws could be seen. He wondered what she saw, when she looked at him. He had half a mind to ask, though he pushed this aside, too. "I know that I want to defend my children, and the mother of them. I know I want the chance to raise my children better than my father raised me." His icy eyes met her bluer gaze, and there was a hard, determined look in his. He did not expect romance with Themis - he had not originally intended to see anything through - but now, at least, he intended to be a true father, if she would let him.