We Will Break Away Together.

Caedes absorbed Mariah's words, his intense gaze never leaving her face. As she kissed his paw, a rare tenderness filled his heart, a softness that was reserved only for her. A low rumble of appreciation grew in his throat, eyes flashing contentment.

When she shifted the topic to her family's traits, Caedes continued to listen carefully, committing each detail to memory. The description of her relatives painted a vivid picture in his mind, which was a steel trap for fast paced learning. He nodded thoughtfully as she spoke, calculation plain on his features as he memorized her words. If he could remember the countless herbs and toxins he’d come across, he could memorize a few physical descriptions.

“Your markings are quite beautiful,” The dire brute murmured, his voice a low, rumbling affirmation. “I will remember them.” He assured, before closing his eyes – taking a moment to process the information, picturing each member of her family as she described them. “Your mother, a bright night sky, left eye marking. Your father, black and striped with red. Avacyn, the matriarch, with the marking over her right eye. Saracyn, her mate and brother, with red and black patches,” He repeated, making sure he had it right. Though he did smirk almost playfully at the mate and brother thing, again comparing it to his own family. Some didn’t take too kindly to that sort of thing, but he didn't particularly care and continued on. “Fia, dark red with brighter striping, and Malico, purple and black with a red marking. All leagues taller than you.” He paused, opening his emerald eyes and refocusing on her face in mirth; intensity resting there as he wondered how soon the possibility of running into one or the other might come.

But a concern for another time. Cocking his skull slightly, he offered her a bit of medical advice. To recover her energy, you understand. “If that is all for now, think about a nap. I will go hunt something down for when you wake.” The massive brute stood with a long stretch, musculature rippling beneath an obsidian pelt. His lips found her cheek in a longing kiss, teeth grazing the tender flesh there before he pulled himself away and waited for her response to his not quite plea.