Lion Head Mesa tenax

The response that was given felt familiar, somehow. The terrain that they were covering was far from familiarity for the dark wolf. Still, the way that Germanicus addressed emotion was expected. He was reverent with his word, but firm and plain. He spoke the way he always had – a man speaking to a boy.

When he had finished speaking and silence hung in the air between them, Crowfeather felt how tired he had grown. All that talking and for what? So that he could learn the feelings he had tried to swallow were mutual, but that it was unlikely they would ever amount to anything. It felt like a heavier burden than he had anticipated it might. Somehow, worse than being outright denied.

Still, a portion of what Germanicus had said still lingered with the shadow. He looked to the older man with a small amount of indignance.

I think you are making excuses. Crowfeather forced his voice to remain solid, to not quaver.

Conflict is not who you are. It is not part of you, no matter how you search for it.

The air felt cold in that room for the first time.

Germanicus, if we are only ever supposed to become what others have planned for us, I would not be here with you. Even then, I am not the same as I was when we journeyed through the hinterlands.

Crowfeather lifted his gaze to the man, daring him.

You are a good man. You are a strong warrior. You are a capable defender. You are dutiful. You are kind and good and warm.

What could conflict compare to these traits?

You are also… not responsible for me or for my actions. I choose to remain with you. You have no say in that matter. Please stop pretending like what happened- like the attack I suffered was somehow your fault. I am capable of making choices. Even wrong ones.