Broken Boulder and he will drag the whole universe into war

lily throws a lot of words at the fiery nord who offers her a sage nod, attempting to piece together the ranks and their meanings. he's worked out that governor is the alpha and is left to presume that chancellor is beta. her explanation that the senate advises the leadership helps to smooth his uncertainty on that word ...but these words are certainly no 'kiraan' which was of a language his people called dragon-tongue for variations of 'warrior'. it would take some time getting used to but vilkas is intelligent and surmises that he would pick up on it in no time.

as vilkas rejects the second den — though it is not so tight a fit as the first had been — he offers lily his rapt attention even as he idly moves onto the third den hoping that the third time's the charm. she explains that she's in charge of the well-being of the pack ...like some sort of hybrid between peacekeeper and caretaker. he disappears inside the third den and satisfied that he fits comfortably with space to stretch vilkas exits it and settles his seaweed green gaze upon lily. it's easier to make her silhouette out now — unsure whether his eyes have adjusted to the darkness of the cave or if his mind fills in the gaps, tracing where he should know her shape should be.

"so you're kind of like the pack's caregiver?" vilkas concludes in a partial inquiry and partial statement. he hasn't ever given thought to trades beyond his own but he could see how her role was just as important as say, a guardian's. it makes sense that wolves develop grievances ...with one another and sometimes leadership and going to leadership was a directness that not everyone possessed. not to mention, the leadership couldn't always be expected to deal with every single teeny, tiny blip that caused a wrinkle in a pack member's well being. vilkas favored a more direct approach personally. "that's interesting." the firebrand muses sincerely, thinking that it fits her. he pauses in his next round of questions to glimpse over his shoulder. "i've found a suitable den." so that they could continue with their tour if there was more she had to show him.

"any current or aspiring mercenaries i should know about and make a point to meet?" he inquires of her next. though it made sense to get to know the rest of the pack it was more pressing for him to meet those with similar interests to him as he'd be working with fellow mercenaries closely.