that thieving bastard

Vanta listened to Lia's laughter, a beautiful sound that seemed to hold so much - surprise, perhaps a touch of cynicism, and something else, something deeper. She watched Lia cover her mouth, the laughter giving way to a more solemn moment of reflection. Before the woman could punish herself for the perceived slight, Vanta once more covered her free paw with her own. "No need to apologize." Vanta reassured, her voice gentle, an understanding smile touching her lips. "Maybe I'm wrong, I admittedly have no experience in the matter. Just dreams."

The question Lia posed next made Vanta pause, her crystalline eyes searching Lia's. "Ashamed? No, not at all!" She answered, firm in her conviction. "You've wielded what you had to survive, and there's no shame in that. It's a brutal reality for too many, and one I hope to change." She paused, her gaze drifting to the fire, watching the flames dance and flicker. Remembering her mother's face, the horns that crested her skull.  Turning back to Lia with renewed purpose, she smiled.

"In fact, that's part of why I'm here, on this path. I seek to create a pack, a force for change, a collective of individuals who seek out darkness not just to shelter from it but to actively dispel it." She let the words hang for a moment, allowing the gravity of her words to settle between them. "We'll stand against the atrocities that have become far too common, like those you've endured. It's about reclaiming power, not just for ourselves but for all those who have been wronged. It's about fighting back, making sure that what you've suffered doesn't continue to be the fate of others."

Her gaze intensified, the crystalline facets of her eyes shimmering with passionate fire. "I want to gather wolves who are tired of turning a blind eye, who yearn to make a difference. Wolves who have known pain, yes, but who also know the strength and resilience that comes from surviving it. Together, we can be a beacon of hope, a force of retribution and justice."

Vanta's eyes held Lia's, pleading. "I don't know if our paths were meant to converge for a night, for a season, or for a lifetime - but I would be honored if you considered traveling with me, even if just for a little while. Help me build a sanctuary for those weary of fighting alone, for those looking for a place where they're valued  - and not for what they can give, or what's been taken from them."