Yep, this thread would be two days after, since Skoll started the other thread on June 7. :]
"It's better to feel like an old man than a useless man, which is what you'll be if you strain yourself too much, Lubomir. We all have our limits- part of being strong is recognizing when you must accept your fall. Sit down, Lubomir," she said firmly. She did not want him to argue with her- not when she could see his legs shaking and his resilience wavering. She did not want to have to carry him all the way back to Shadowed Sun. Although she was a little larger than most females, even arctic wolves who were naturally larger, she did not fancy having to carry a fully grown male all the way back the the pack lands. He would have to do away with his foolish pride if he hoped to recover from his wounds. Midnight escapades were certainly not one way to do this.
She smirked. She had never seen this side of the male before- the foolish one. The ego, perhaps? She felt the bite of his words, that he regretted not being able to move as well as he could days before. But that was what happened when you involved yourself in a fight and saved the life of your pack mate. Skoll had told her how he had jumped in despite having less experience than that fearsome SteelRose. She frowned at the thought, annoyed that some coyote had disrupted the peace of their pack. And for what? Tayui had begun questioning Skoll right after the battle even though she had known he had been injured. She knew it was not the kindest thing to do, that she was being indifferent to his own feelings, but had decided it was for the better of the pack. If a few minutes of mental exhaustion would give her closure, so be it. If pushing Skoll just a bit more, just a bit to ensure the safety of the pack, so be it. She had to make sacrifices.
So did Lubomir. She shook her head, a little exasperated with herself. She was not sure what to think, now. Meeting Lubomir only two days after the fight. She closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply, trying to centre herself for a moment. She reopened her eyes as Lubomir began to speak once more, watching his own eyes as he spoke. He was determined; she was glad. "What else do you know? Why did the war start? With Inferni, it's hard to decide if they're the antagonist, or just the victim. You must be careful. Gather your sources. If you want to help, understand the conflict, but do not choose sides. Shadowed Sun cannot afford to have you ally us with anyone. Even one member's opinion reflects on the pack as a whole. I can only ask you to be careful; be discreet." She wanted to tell him not to blame Inferni automatically, to weight the evidence, but she did not want to impose her own personal bias on him. While she would encourage anyone in the pursuit of knowledge, these sorts of conflicts could prove dangerous...