11-05-2011, 11:31 AM
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[/html] After Tayui spoke, she surveyed the room to gauge the reactions. Zalen seemed to be quite stoic, if a bit put off, while Drizzt appeared to be fairly pleased. When Drizzt spoke up, Tayui found herself wondering if she should have tried to communicate her dislike of slaves in a less violent manner. She didn't want to voice these doubts, since she thought it might make her lose all legitimacy -- if she ever had any -- as the introductant of this group. But even then, maybe she had never thought of that solution because she didn't think it would ever be possible. When she'd expressed her distaste of Eris owning a cat as a pet and a slave, Eris had laughed her off. One had to have a rather rotten soul to believe taking slaves was humane or just.
As Tayui pondered this, she saw the newcomer step closer and introduce himself. He did this all the while resting his hand on his hip, presumably where he had a weapon attached. Tayui couldn't make it out, but as he stepped forward, she recognized it as a knife. Quickly, she felt the fur on the back of her neck bristle and she changed her stance from one of confidence to one of suspicion. One does not enter a foreign dwelling, eavesdrop in a conversation, and then walk in displaying their weapons for all to see.
Tayui clenched the sword as he questioned the "implications" of this meeting. She bared her teeth and stepped forward, glancing to Drizzt as she held out his sword for him to take. She had no skills in the use of this weapon and hoped that if Jaden decided to draw his knife on her, Drizzt would be more skilled of handling that than she.
When Vesper spoke up, Tayui flashed her an appreciative look. Yes, she did not intend to murder every inhabitant: only those complicit in their guilt.
"My comrade is correct," she stated, gesticulating to Vesper with her one hand. "Not all are guilty and not all need justice. The children are young and can be taught otherwise. The old, who harbour these slaves, are the ones who we seek. Murder is not a necessity: we are not without morals. They perpetuate structural inequality by denying other canines, their blood relatives, rights of freedom or mobility. Within each pack, there is a law, but the law within Salsola is loose and vicious. They cut the tongues out of the insubordinate and let their children watch. I judge these actions as an equal, as a fellow canine, and not as a holier-than-thou decree. Do not pass your judgement on us until you understand." She let her voice go cold at the end. Although she realized that she was judging the culture of another, and that this was a horribly human thing to do, she had experienced these things as a member of the cursed pack. She did not need murder when a riot would express her dissatisfaction with the pack. But this wasn't a choice hers alone to make: it would be whatever the group decided. And so, she decided to give the man no name. If the group decided he would be best knowing her, then she would be content to see one of them give him her name. Until then, she did not trust this stranger with their secrets -- even a fake one.[html][/html]