The male, Bane, spoke of his intention to leave, hardly any surprise. Katja allowed her lip to curl in derision. A dying pack? Nothing there that he and his mate could not teach them? Had Bane magically become a healer then, or Tahlia? Did he know so little of his children to assume they would all wish to be warriors or hunters? And was he to provide for them, protect them, with his deteriorating body until they knew enough to provide for themselves and their younger siblings? For that matter, he'd been too old to continue as a warrior in the pack, so how was he even fit enough to teach them? "You are an old fool, Bane," she spoke icily, her head and tail raising in regal dominance. She remained where she was, though, showing no overt aggression toward him. "You, who would be patriarch to your family, yet have no true care for them, and would drag them into darkness and uncertainty for weak, selfish reasonings. I can no blame your mate and children for following you there to protect you from your own impulsive idiocy, for family is important, but you?" She gave a single sharp shake of her head, dismissing him and turning her attention to his family in one motion. "You are any of you welcomed to stay in Ebony if it be your wish. I will neither hold you responsible for his deficiencies nor allow harassment for you choosing such." Her eyes lingered on the gathered family, allowing the opportunity for Bane's mate or pups to choose to stay in Ebony rather than follow him into self-imposed exile.
"
|
