OOC: She's stumbled across a goanna.

The sound wasn't new but it had been increasing in frequency enough that it had the leader concerned. The machine gun clacking, prehistoric growls that froze her marrow... It wasn't like the crocodiles that sometimes wandered into the estuary, it was something else.

With the weather warming, birds were coming back to the wetlands, the cacophony of quacking ducks and geese, the trumpeting of swans, they didn't seem shaken by the noises like she was. Picking her path carefully, an ear turned to a rustling to her right. When she stopped, it did too, but she couldn't see anything obvious. She began to walk again and the rustling increased, it was then she caught a pebbled, banded flank, long flicking tongue scenting the air... and then it pivoted and disappeared from sight. The next thing she heard was the sound of shattering eggshells.

"speech"

Why Lyra was here? Same reason per usual, having decided to take a break from her training she would be found not so discreetly following her mothers when able to. Today it would be the avian estuary, a place she had yet to fully explore. The first thing she noticed was how loud this place was. The cacophony of different birds all calling, claiming their little bit of land. It was a little annoying at first.

Something seemed to have caught her mother on edge. Taking a moment to examine she would hear a rustle to the side of Modesty which made her pause as well. Then a sick crunching noise which made Lyra hustle to Modesty's side after a moment.

"Mom!" she would call out. Lyra had grown, yes, but nowhere near to the amount some of her siblings had. She tried to sniff but it was nearly impossible to identify a single creature beneath the many layers of others.

"Mom what is that?"

"SPEECH"

CODE BY SIN

The wet sound of eggs being consumed by reptilian lips had Modesty pulling a face by the time Lyra reached her. "It's a lizard of some sort," She took a few steps forward to get a view of the pebbled skin with it's banding through the underbrush. "Look, there." It was a large lizard with sharp claws and a pointed head, not quite so large as some of the dragons that were around, but not exactly small enough that Modesty would want to tangle with it without reason.

Yolk and saliva dripped from its maw in long sticky trails. It turned a beady eye on them, clearly aware of the wolves' presence but unphased by it. "They have a very nasty bite, that will become infected if they get you. Their claws are sharper than a cats too. One isn't so much a problem, they take some eggs and mostly live off carrion, but if she becomes problematic, we may have to look at trapping her." She explained to her daughter, a critter to be respected, but one to be watched as well.

"speech"

Lyra's gaze, sharp and unflinching despite her youthful clumsiness, followed her mother’s gesture as she identified the large lizard. Her nose twitched at the pungent smell of yolk and saliva, but her expression remained stoic. With her legs still adjusting to her rapidly growing frame, she took a careful step forward, her white-socked paws making a soft, cautious sound against the underbrush.

It seemed the lizard could not care less about the wolves observing it. Its carefree stance was noted, Lyra's mind was already analyzing the potential risks. From what she had learned, things that were not scared of wolves had good reason to be and should be considered dangerous. Her eyes tracked the creature’s movements with a focused intensity. Her eyes darted to the claws and deadly drool as her thoughts turned to her mother’s warning about infection and the need for caution.

While she might not fully grasp the intricacies of her mother’s knowledge just yet, the young wolf was quick to learn the ways of survival and order. Her natural inclination to keep things in check and her fierce loyalty meant that she was already mentally preparing for any steps that might be necessary to protect her family. Besides, this lizard was nowhere near the size of the crocodile she faced with Scald. However, Gilgamesh's lesson echoed in her head, a reminder to always observe your enemy.

Lyra knew that this lizard, like many things in life, required respect and careful management. The clumsiness of her youth did not hinder her resolve; instead, it fueled her desire to learn and adapt. Lyra acknowledged her mother’s words and nodded. She was not one to voice her thoughts readily. For now, she watched and learned.

"Should we check for eggs mama? Or do we leave her be?" The girl needed guidance, for what if she found herself in a similar situation in the future? Part of her wanted to ensure the safety of her family by culling off the next generation of this specific lizard.

"SPEECH"

CODE BY SIN

Modesty considered Lyra's question. "Her nest would likely be underground, somewhere safe from others of her own kind. If we were to remove her from the estuary, who would eat the eggs and baby crocodiles? When they are fully grown, who poses the bigger threat? There are birds that live here that will depend on her babies hatching to feed them before they migrate in the fall. Even if they aren't good for us, everything has its place." She gestured with her head that they should keep moving forward.

"Not all threats need to be eliminated, sometimes we just have to live around each other for the greater good. Can you see any other animals around here that are important to the survival or control of another?" Turtles sunned themselves on branches that poked out of the water, storks and ducks and other avians a plenty spotted the landscape around them. The distant rumble of a crocodile calling for a mate, that strange beak clacking persisted, even cobwebs strung between the trees spoke of the richness of this little wet pocket they had claimed for themselves.

"speech"

Lyra's gaze moved from the lizard to the birds in the trees and then to the turtles sunning themselves. Her mind worked quickly, processing her mother's words. Normally, she would be silent, content to absorb the lesson in quiet contemplation, but something about this moment drew more out of her. To just leave a potential threat be? For what she could only call the greater good?

But wouldn't the greater good be protecting those you love?

"The lizard's poison could be a threat to us," she began, her voice low but thoughtful. "But... if we remove her, we disrupt the whole system. The birds wouldn’t have enough food, and the crocodiles..." Her words trailed off as she considered the balance Modesty had spoken of. The interconnectedness of everything. Perhaps speaking it out loud helped her process it more thoroughly.

"It’s weird," Lyra mused, tilting her head slightly as her eyes followed the distant rumbling of a crocodile. "That something so dangerous can also be so necessary. I don't really understand it, but I kind of do..." She paused, catching her mother’s eye. Still, she got an idea of what Modesty was getting at...

"Maybe we just need to know when to act and when to let things be," Lyra added, a rare hint of curiosity creeping into her tone. It wasn’t often she entertained open thoughts like this. However here, in the estuary, with the pulse of life surrounding them and her mother's patient guidance, it seemed appropriate.

She looked back to the lizard and nodded, almost to herself. "It’s all connected? But how do you know when to get involved?"


"SPEECH"

CODE BY SIN

Modesty gave her daughter a patient smile as she sorted through the information laid out before her. "We don't need to be mindless killers putting down every threat. Most won't bother to take us on because it isn't in their interests to be eeking out their existence with an injury. Sometimes, conflict is unavoidable, but it won't always be life or death either." It was perhaps, a bigger lesson than they should go over on a stroll, but she supposed shifting the angle wouldn't hurt.

"When we raid, we don't go in with intent to harm our adversaries, only to gather resources. If they respond poorly, sometimes, you will need to respond in kind for the sake of a lesson to be taught or to protect yourself, but I try to consider not only the bigger picture, but they, just like us, are just trying to survive. They might have children to feed, a family waiting for them at home. We need to eat, and so do they. You also need to consider that winning is not guaranteed. If the benefit outweighs the potential cost, it can be an easy decision, but it may not always be that way." It was a lot to process, but if it ever made her child stop and think before throwing herself in harms way, it was worth it.

"speech"