The Raven's Cry

Sephiran can’t deny the gleam of interest flickering in his gaze; pools of amethyst and emerald fixated on Absinth’s pair of ravens, listening to their chatter as they called him the Purple Gold King. Shortly after, they’d take flight, joining their comrades in the trees and spreading the word of the monstrosity who ruled over The Polar Sound and the island. His head cocked slightly, chin tipping back as he continued to watch the birds, flicking an ear in Absinth direction to signal his acknowledgment of her words. A gift. His eyes narrowed into slits, conveying a sense of predatory focus and intensity. What could these birds possibly offer him? A twisted smirk contorts his lips, revealing a hint of malice and amusement. His lingering gaze is penetrating and unsettling, but the ravens continue their chattering anyways, using the sanctuary of the pines as their heaven. He cannot reach them there.

Absinth had moved forward, shifting her gaze between himself and the birds with a spark of mischief gleaming in those acidic orbs. She seemed interested in his proposition. “And you will be providing the purpose and companionship.” It wasn’t just about training the birds to do their bidding. If they truly required more than the ability to stay in his domain, Absinth was expected to meet those needs. Expected to keep them under control. Where Sephiran used dominion and oppression, Absinth used respect and companionship. With her birds, anyway. And if she thought that would bring the result he was looking for, then so be it.

Peeling his gaze away from the birds, he shifts his attention to Absinth. She’s already staring at him and holding his gaze, firm in her resolve and confidence in her ability to deliver. “They will be protected by the pack,” He begins, staring back into her acidic eyes. “If they can perform the task.” If Absinth failed in this endeavor, they’d be nothing more than more scavengers to compete with, and Sephiran would hesitate to order his underlings to start killing them. “Continuous patrols of The Polar Sound, the island, the neighboring territories, and The Wall.” He motions toward the West, East, and South, where other packs and loners would be lurking. As for The Wall, all wolves had to pass through it to reach the North. It would be beneficial to have patrols there too. "Anything out of the ordinary is reported to you, Aresenn, Kaino, or myself." Only the elites of the pack needed to be alerted of danger. The rest would fall in line when he commanded it.

Shifting his weight, his gaze lingers on Absinth for a few seconds longer. Then, it shifts to the canopy of pines, waiting to see if these birds really had a gift for him.  

"Speech"