His family for the longest time he had thought that they were gone. He didn’t think that he would ever again be able to see his family and during his captivity had assured himself that this was for the best. Because if he didn’t have to see his family again then he couldn’t be hurt by them and he couldn’t hurt them by showing the state of his body now. Even though he had come to accept and even like the way that he looked because his master liked it, it was still an odd thing to get used to. But then once he got out he came across a family member that he honestly didn’t expect to ever see again. And not only that but the family member he had come across had pups of his own. It was mind-blowing the way that had happened and he had left there feeling slightly better about his situation. His family was happy and the Russos were prospering even if he himself didn’t participate much in that. It was good, the gypsy born male finding that it was a lovely sort of feeling to know that his family was doing well even though he had not seem them in years it seemed. But after he had met him, he hadn’t seen anymore about his family, hadn’t even so much as caught a whiff of one, but that appeared to change today, and he was going to be able to find a new family member today, an unexpected treat for him.

As he was walking, perhaps prowling would be a better word to describe what he was doing, he caught the scent of someone that he didn’t recognize. The hair on the nape of his neck bristled and he approached the scent. Once he came closer though, he realized two things. One, the scent was of a Salsolan female and two, she smelled suspicious, not in a bad way but in a way that tantalized him, letting him know that she was a persons of interest and it would be in his best interest to check in on things. The arbiter gave a low sound in his throat, almost a growl, letting her know that there was someone there. His stance proclaimed him one that was of high rank, his scent definitely that of Salsola. Hardened eyes of glacier color peered out from his life-hardened expression. There was something about him, something distinctly sad and almost reserved about him. He had led a long life after all, one that was filled with misery and woe but it seemed as though this female was not so different from him. The male was covered in scars, from his head down to his feet but the worst were covered up by the clothing that he wore, albeit tattered as his pieces were. Mismatched ears were trained upon her, one ear firm and holding its shape while the other was tattered and broken, looking like something off of a patchwork doll.

He approached the other, not realizing that she was related to him, even distantly. Giving a little sound as he walked into where she was, he didn’t really care that this female didn’t want his presence because he was there and now it was a bit too late to try to get him to go away other than listening to him and doing her best to respond to him positively. And they were in the Salsola lands, why wouldn’t the Arbiter be interested in her and what she was doing, especially if he hadn’t seen her before? She wheeled around to see him and prostrated herself, not completely submissive but good enough. He wasn’t the leaders after all, so this much would be plenty for him. He continued to approach her until he was standing relatively in front of her. Giving a nod of his head in acquiescence and to say that he had accepted her submissive nature, he gave a little tilt of his head as she spoke. Her voice seemed to have an edge of Russian to it, no more than an edge. It was as if someone had dipped her words in the Russian accent and had allowed it to simply roll off of her tongue. But he kept his thoughts to himself for now. He showed no signs of hostility; she hadn’t earned his ire and so would not have to face the sharp ends of his claws just yet. Not unless she screwed up later and would need to be put in her place.

He felt the eyes on him and he looked over at her, giving a little sigh as he watched her cringe and could imagine why she would do so. He didn’t smell bad after all so it had to be his horrifyingly disfiguring scars. He was a mess, and the only one that knew him through and through was his master who wasn’t here right now so he was left to her silent perusing in silence, at least for the moment until she seemed to regain herself enough to speak to him. Her first name didn’t mean anything to him but she didn’t seem to want to offer the last name to him. As she finished speaking, he gave a little bow to her again. ”Nice to meet you too. I am Janos Russo the arbiter,” he introduced himself, not realizing the magnitude of what he just said. His words were laced with the same Russian but it was softer, having begun losing it since his time in captivity. ”I have not seen you before. Are you new here?” He asked her, wanting to be able to recognize everyone. Not because he would necessarily be able to see them again but if he did he would at least like to know that the one he was talking to was one of the older members. He could tell that she was a Salsolan member. If she wasn’t, then she wouldn’t have the scent that she had on her on her and she wouldn’t have gotten this far without either him or one of the other two arbiters interrupting her.