Two Feet Standing on a Principle

Kassander's ears pricked up in surprise and interest when she said she was Drashiel's daughter, but almost immediately flopped down to the sides in horror as he realized what the only thing "rule a kingdom in the sky so we have to look after ourselves" could mean. He couldn't, for the moment, comprehend what she went on to say, the excitement of the moment drained from him. "Integra," he said gently, but insistently. He had to know. "Your father... and your mother, are they... dead?" He tried to keep his voice at an even keel, but it threatened to waver until he forced himself to straighten, to sit tall and project the aura of competence Drashiel had held and had taught him to hold in those brief moments Kass had actually spent with him. How odd to think that the wolf he had looked up to most he had only known for such a short time, and that he'd died so young. How? And why? But what a turn of fate, that he would have the daughter of the wolf who'd had the greatest influence on him here before him, looking eagerly for instruction from him. Would he make as big an impact on her life as her father had on his?

He rallied, and his voice was stronger as he spoke on what their lesson would be. "I could teach you to begin to recognize certain of the basic herbs and their uses."