Stone Circle Inchoate

By the rise of his spine, she could tell her words provoked him. Good. Just as they ought to have. She waited for his answer, and he appeared to gather himself. When he finally met her, his eyes held none of the good-nature he'd closed them with, and she steeled herself against the hard look that slowly entered his gaze.

Nanook knew the eyes of disappointment; they stared down at her now. Belittling her, raking her, and the Beta set her jaw and held her head a little higher, still matching his gaze. She would not be snuffed by what this stranger believed. Perhaps there were times altercations could be solved by words, but for Nanook, those instances were few. The world was not some kind and civil haven of diplomacy and pleasant exchange. It was unpredictable as the weather, and unforgiving as the cold jaws of winter. She had learned to fight, and no one won or saved a life by passive sacrifice. Giving your life for your packmate was only worthwhile if you fought enough to survive and kill the wolf who dared seek the life of you and your own. How was there honour in letting a dangerous wolf run free, to harm how many other innocents in the process? Their blood would be on you.

Nanook would do what it took to survive, and she would do what it took to ensure everyone she loved did, too.

But her sister seemed more receptive, and Nanook watched the exchange soften when he turned to face her. Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. The appearance of this man was not lost on her. Tall, dark, and striking, he was everything her sister sought in a potential mate, and the woman wondered how much that swayed her judgement now.

She reserved her thoughts when Desna turned to her. Her eyes remained fixed on the man. The decision landed square in her courts, and she knew, then, that she could easily say something to force him away. Frankly, she didn't want any of his pacifism rubbing off of her nieces and nephew, and she didn't trust him anywhere near them. Yet at the same time, his usefulness remained too apparent to ignore. He could educate and teach subjects other than fighting, and he could obviously survive. He looked healthy and strong, capable of pulling his weight.

At least, until conflict came. She stared at him a moment longer, eyes narrowed and ears turned despite the good nature in his eyes. She spoke with obvious reserve, "You may enter here, but you will not teach this oath of yours to the pups, or to anyone here." The children needed to know how to fight and to be ready to spill blood if necessary to their survival, and she would not have some idealistic outsider get in the way of that.