10-17-2012, 03:38 PM
Einarr didn’t laugh anymore, he hadn’t laughed for a very long time in fact. For so long it had been dangerous to give away your thoughts that he had buried them deep down, masking them with brutal efficiency, so Temeraire couldn’t have known how amused the grizzled male was by his statement that he would rather hunt than chase women. Einarr’s lips parted briefly in a smile, perhaps the most emotion he had shown in…well a long while, but the emotion disappeared as quickly as it had come, and the mask once more fell over his features.
”My pack is Anathema.”
He fell silent, peering into the distance. This was perhaps the longest conversation he’d had with another creature since arriving here. He faced the boy again, his arms crossed.
”Pack is important.”
He said stonily, one ear twitching, clearly keeping himself alert, even when in conversation.
”But if you don’t chase females, you will not find a mate, and while pack is important, family make life worth living.”
He fell silent again, completely shocked at himself for saying what he had, it was as though his mind had dis-engaged form his mouth and his heart had taken over, it was utterly shocking, but he made sure that none of it registered on his face. He snorted another breath, realising that he was sounding like some grandfather.
”But you won’t listen to a stranger, because you know best and don’t need to listen to anyone. That’s your decision, it is your life of course.”
”My pack is Anathema.”
He fell silent, peering into the distance. This was perhaps the longest conversation he’d had with another creature since arriving here. He faced the boy again, his arms crossed.
”Pack is important.”
He said stonily, one ear twitching, clearly keeping himself alert, even when in conversation.
”But if you don’t chase females, you will not find a mate, and while pack is important, family make life worth living.”
He fell silent again, completely shocked at himself for saying what he had, it was as though his mind had dis-engaged form his mouth and his heart had taken over, it was utterly shocking, but he made sure that none of it registered on his face. He snorted another breath, realising that he was sounding like some grandfather.
”But you won’t listen to a stranger, because you know best and don’t need to listen to anyone. That’s your decision, it is your life of course.”