Ouroboros Spine Fun Time's Over, Kiddies

"A... blood partner?" The English meaning she struggled with. "We battle together. Battle-buddy," she thinks, sifting through words. Echelon was her obvious opposite; she was small, lean, quick like a whip. Tonravik was large, bulky, slow but powerful. His interest in Tartok was all that she needed to know that he was one of them, that he was adapting, changing. Her nose moved to press against his own.

Anything that he wished to know, she would teach him.

Tonravik was impatient, but he at least was a quick learner.

"Those that lie, we must remove their tongue. Those that abandon us, when found, lose their tongue, too. Sometimes their life." It was a great trespass, to leave without a word. Ah. It occurred to her then to tell him, "Though some are permitted to drift to another branch. Create their own. Or leave, for a mission. I sent Sitri on one, to test his loyalty. If he returns, he is loyal. If not, he has been told and taught nothing. A wolf named Cara led before me and left wolves here... only one remains." One she would test. Loreley seemed soft, gentle. Was she? Truly?