Broken Boulder and he will drag the whole universe into war

apparently i wrote you a novel, lol. no need to match the length! :-)

vilkas' conclusion is corrected and lily is patient in explaining that 'caregiver' was more of the body than the mind. he doesn't really get the difference but he's accustomed to believing that caring for mental health is just as much a 'caregiver' as a healer. these words were common, not the dragon-tongue which in comparison seemed so much easier ( as it naturally would if only because it's his native tongue ). vilkas' brow furrows but it is closely accompanied by a curt nod and a brief dip of his head that is almost apologetic for mistaking the trades, offering no further comment; readily embracing the silence that befalls the pair as they move towards the cave's exit.

at first the tunnel is a yawning mouth, plenty wide for them to walk side by side, but the closer to the exit they move it narrows, pressing in on them until vilkas' shoulder steadily brushes alongside the rugged wall as he moved. as lily seeks to move past him to resume the lead the close quarters causes a brush of their fur as she re-claims her position as tour guide. the touch, bare as it was, wasn't intentional but the he gives her a brief hooded look all the same. by the time vilkas follows her into daylight he is composed ...at least until she informs him that he's 'one of a kind' here.

he blinks slowly at her, unsure he heard her right at first. a pack with no guardians? it was a disaster waiting to happen. there was nothing to stop someone from coming in and taking the pack by force. borders, of course, but they have a rather flexible, open border policy. "i understand that the sanctuary has a rather open border policy," as a beast that is largely territorial he cannot help the brief cringe he makes. "but from a tactical standpoint no guardians or warriors is a usurp waiting to happen." in fact, it would probably be easy. alarian might wield the respect of his wolves but he was no intimidating figure, at least by the firebrand's standards ( there he goes again with the whole judging a book by it's cover ). the only thing the governor had going for him that might give someone pause were the scars that mar his face. in fact, it's a bit impressive that they haven't already had to deal with a power-play.

he's tries to figure out how he would tend to his trade duties while respecting the open border policy alarian has set up. it would certainly be a challenge as it more or less goes against every instinct vilkas has. it would be hard to protect wolves when strangers were allowed to wander freely through the territory so long as they didn't cause trouble. yet, he is drawn from his thoughts as lily mentions about hoping if he could help her learn how to fight better. she casts her gaze demurely away. he studies her for a moment, going back to what he told her earlier; and while he's not accustomed to teaching adults he does not think the transition would be that hard. if anything, teaching an adult should prove to be easier than training cubs whom had the attention spans of squirrels ( if he was lucky ).

"i'll teach you." vilkas agrees; because it would be beneficial to the sanctuary and because it gives him an excuse to spend more time with her.