We Will Break Away Together.

Caedes listened intently, his intense gaze never leaving Mariah’s face. The weight of her words pressed heavily upon him, the air between them thick with tension. He could not ignore the plea in her voice. As the silence stretched, Caedes sighed deeply, feeling the gravity of the moment. She was very worried, and he would do anything to ease her anxiety. His rugged features softened slightly as he settled back into a more relaxed posture. “Mariah,” he began, his voice a deep rumble that resonated through the cave,“I understand. I will meet whoever I must. Perhaps you can give me descriptions of them in case I run into them alone?” He knew the importance of her kin to her, just as his own kin were vital to him. It was long overdue, and the circumstances could only get worse the longer they prolonged the inevitable.

He paused, his eyes darkening as he considered what her family had really taken offense to. She wished to know what occurred at Norad. “Norad,” he began, his tone detached like he was diagnosing an ailment or prescribing a remedy. “Fell because of a child. Kaino coaxed the boy from their lands, showered him with goods and treats, and asked him to return to Norad followed by our warriors – myself included. We arrived, called on their alpha, and gave him a choice. His pack, or his son, who had never realized the danger he was in. Beauregard set his armor and weapons down and fled with the rest of his ilk. Not one drop of blood was spilt, while we were fully prepared to make them surrender by any means.” He watched her, searching for any hint of fear or rejection. This was normal to him, a fact of life. But perhaps it was not to her and her family? Were there certain.. Taboos widely known throughout these lands? He couldn’t fathom there being a lack of like-minded individuals in boreas or auster, considering how much non-saxe blood was currently flowing into the sound. Reality was meant to be harsh, unforgiving. Death and tragedy affected everyone, strength was paramount to protecting your own from the controllable variables -- was that not so?

Caedes' grip tightened slightly on her paw, a silent plea for her understanding and support. “I can see that this way of domination is not thought of very highly. I am glad the boy did not get hurt, but my kin were not raised to be charitable. The Syndicate needed to become a pack, to have lands to protect our own. Artorias was a foe to us long before Norad, and if his death threats and meddling were to continue, it was a necessary step. One I am quite pleased with for being painless.” The cave seemed to hold its breath once more, the flickering fire casting long shadows on the walls. Caedes waited, the tension between them almost unbearable. He was doing his best to share the details with her as they happened, his loyalty to his family coming in heavy with his last words.

He leaned in closer, his gaze searching hers for any sign of her thoughts. It was difficult to explain without sounding like an unfeeling beast. He knew she was not a warrior, but if her family occasionally culled children born out of wedlock, he couldn’t imagine they were all that different, especially in that regard. He truly sought the answers from her, trying to balance his own logic, his lessons from childhood, and respect her beliefs at the same time.