At the mention of slavery, Tenzin turned an ear and shrugged. There was nothing to be done now. He knew his time as 'alpha' wouldn't last long. When Lecter continued, the monk raised a brow. Was the old wolf offering Tenzin an alternative? "Indeed," Tenzin confirmed Lecter's beliefs. "I cannot leave Dawa, she is more or less my charge. I rescued her because I promised her mother I would look after her," a warm smile broken his words as he thought of Yonten. Had he not committed to monkhood, Yonten would have been his mate. But his path led him elsewhere in life.
The monk stretched in the water and looked toward Lecter lazily, relaxed. "I cannot leave with Dawa either. Neither of us will ever leave the Vale alive." As ominous as it sounded, it was true. The Dragon would never let them escape his grasp - especially Tenzin. The monk knew he'd die by the beast's jaws someday. Though his age and injuries numbered his days, he would not die by natural causes. As for Dawa, he feared natural causes were piling up against her. He knew, on some conscious level, that she would likely not last much longer.
Tenzin shrugged again. "I hope our customs do not seem strange or confusing. Where the Warriors make up most of the life-force of our pack, Monks and Clerics are just as important," he paused to frown, "but the Dragon's influence pushes newcomers to be Warriors, I think." He knew other packs did not follow such rankings. "We do not consider words like 'slave' as we do not do those kinds of things. We are bound simply by what path is chosen for us. As a monk, I live to serve others. I do not take mates nor should I really have children," he chuckled again. "Dawa is an exception. While I know I am not her father and she is not my daughter, I love her all the same."
There was a silence as he thought of her. When she passed, which he knew was likely to be before him, what would become of him? During the avalanche, he had become spiritually detached at the thought of losing her, but somewhere in his mind knew she was not lost; when he knows for certain she has left this world, what will become of the monk? He searched his memories for pain and loss, but could not think of an incident where it affected a monk. And by no means should it! Had Tenzin grown too soft to call himself a monk? He frowned at the thought.
"If I may," Tenzin said softly, "Where are you going?" He hoped it would not be far. While the monk considered almost everything to be his friend, he very rarely ever felt so close to one who was not his Brother. Whether it was their age or some other magical divine right, he yearned for a friendship with Lecter. If the wolf moved far, Tenzin may not be able to visit or vice versa. And should they never meet again, the monk was truly blessed by such a bloodied shaman.