Emberwood Vilipending Loneliness

Spook nodded, but Taikon was unconvinced that he had understood fully what he had said. He didn't blame the boy. Why would anyone trust his word? He had failed to relay that he had spoken with a member of the dreaded Ursus quite recently. 
A sister. Of course: that explained the boy's girlish demeanor in Taikon's eyes. Lovely, he said. It came out sarcastically, but he hadn't meant it that way, and sought immediately to rectify it. Honestly, that sounds good. He clarified. I should tell you; I ran into a person from Ursus a couple days ago. He said something about being an Ironclad or some such. Served the Bruin-witch. Taikon parroted what he remembered from the conversation. So, is who is "top dog" in your pack, then? He waited.