She had dropped the safe word, almost unintentionally at first but as they had distanced themselves from the meeting she had stopped, trembling visibly and eyes still as wide as saucers. What had they gotten themselves into the middle of? "Talon, what is war?" She had to ask, had to know. From the context the word had been pulled from it made her think it was bad, but what exactly was it? Would it effect them? Roman had said that no one was required to join the war but what if that changed? And why was the pale king here? Kangi remembered him vividly, how he had crooned words into Talon's friends ear as if he cared even though every word that dripped from his lips was poison. He had been so mean to Talon in the short time she had lived there. And the pale king had gone and called Roman his daughter... What did that mean?

After a short time hind legs would give out and haunches would fall to the ground. Her breath was coming in short rapid bursts now. She had agreed to this pack because they had watched them for so long. "Was what we saw... That curse... Was it a poison?" She asked because some part of her still believed it to be an omen from the gods, a plague brought down from the gods by raven to curse all these wolves. But what if it was something else. But more then anything there were so many words that had been said at the meeting that she didn't understand, yes her English was fluent but these tea had never been part of her life until now, did she even want to know what these words meant?

Speech!

Talon had felt panic flood through his own body -- his reaction had been mirrored by Kangi's terrified stammering of their safe word, kaga. Why had Isardis come? Why were they talking about war and poison? Roman had been so warm and inviting toward them; was she a liar? Had she pretended to be kind, to reel them in and throw them into a war? But he remembered she had not demanded anyone fight, and had said nobody needed to if they didn't want to. His breath came in quick, rapid bursts as he and Kangi rushed away. He was certain they looked like quite the idiots, but he didn't care. "I think war is when wolves try to hurt each other," he explained quickly, though his voice wavered with uncertainty. "Usually over stupid things. Nothing good can ever come from fighting." The three-legged wolf would shake his head, confusion brimming in the form of tears that threatened to spill as they came to rest together near the lake. They were a safe distance away now, able to talk without being overhead, able to relax and think alone. The world was so big, and yet somehow they had ended up here, in a pack with the Glaciem King's daughter. They had watched this pack for so long. Had they missed something? He found a whine escaping his throat as he lowered himself beside Kangi, a bit more carefully, coming to rest close at her side. His tail would curl around her back, nose pressing into the scruff of her neck, wanting to comfort her as much as he wanted to be comforted. "I don't know," he answered honestly, his voice still quivering uncontrollably. He was grateful that the ground was solid and still, and he felt the gentle thrumming of Kangi's heart against his side. "She said we don't have to be involved. Whatever happens, we can stay here. And if it all goes wrong, we can leave too. Anytime you want." It didn't seem like they were in immediate danger, but if they were, he would not risk their safety.