For a moment, he'd felt himself calm. The presence of a stranger was oddly comforting - it let him know that he wasn't alone, even if he felt like he was. Despite the rage that ebbed inside, for a moment he had softened, even sharing his name with the other boy. And for a moment he expected an introduction, not realizing his words would elicit such a strong emotional reaction -- but he watched as Naoise's demeanor shifted suddenly.
He began to speak, his words growing passionate and fierce, and Steel snorted in response. "Whatever," he'd huff, a bit despondently. "My father told me there were no gods. And there certainly isn't a god with me now." And how could his father be wrong? He had tried to believe, Bronze had told him; but his life had been met with great misfortune. He'd lost his son - one of Steel's brothers - when he'd been but a child. He'd been kept in captivity for a season during a war. If there were gods, why would they let him suffer? Why had they never shown themselves to him?
His paws quivered slightly. His own voice wasn't nearly as wrathful as before, simply tired. "I don't know why you care so much what I believe, anyway," he spat finally, his nose wrinkling in distaste at this entire topic. "Why did you even come to talk to me? To try to reassure me with talk of things I don't even believe in? You don't even know who I am." His voice, once full of malice, was now more calm, though irritated still.
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