the devil never sleeps alone.
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</style>Backdated to the 8th. Private. c: Kinda powerplay, let me know if you want it changed o_x;

Autumn turned out to be overwhelmingly busy. Stable construction, last minute harvests, and end of year maintenance kept him shackled to the confines of Halifax throughout most of September and late October. The first week of November was consumed by subsequent recovery and celebration. Although he was exhausted, Hilsburn was bigger and better than ever. His stockpiles were substantial enough to get him and his current customers through winter three times over. And come next spring, he would be in a great place for further expansion. In no small way, his successes were owed to Axle and Grit; Barry was sure to pay them generously for their services. The trio had grown closer through toil and time, and ultimately, the watchdogs afforded Barrett one remarkable luxury: freedom.


Without their vigilance, leaving the property for more than a day at a time would be nerve-racking. This didn't suit his ramblin' spirit well. Though he was content to get stoned, shoot the shit, and fuck around on his guitar for awhile, days upon days of no visitors and no work left him restless. It was a relief having them to fall back on. This far in the game, there was too much to lose — ambitious marauders could cripple him for a year or more. The garage was most secure and he stored most of his products inside, but he supposed a determined individual could infiltrate it all the same. More worryingly, the building used to house the still and whatever equipment couldn't fit inside the garage wasn't locked. Even if he found the key, someone could easily shatter the windows.


Fortunately, he needn't concern himself with such thoughts. He popped in to let the Rottweiler and Presa Canario know he would be out of town for a few days, gathered up some choice supplies (including a bottle of vodka fresh off the still), and struck out east. It was late by the time he reached Anathema's borders, but the near-full moon cast the mountainside in a pale white light. Suddenly, he wasn't sure what to do — it stood to reason the kids were already asleep. Hell, their mother might be, too. The biped sniffed quietly at the cool night air. Her scent permeated the whole of the borders, but one trail seemed fresher than most. Maybe he could track her without making a ruckus.

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#2
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No worries at all :3 I'm back from IL now (Didn't realize they had no internet and that in rural IL I would have no phone service..) and can post to this thread regularly now <333


The children were getting older now, something that both worried and relieved her. Naniko was glad that she was able to have a little time away from them, a bit of personal time that she didn't have to share with anybody. Her walks along the border had even been infiltrated by the pups, as they had roamed far and wide; one or two would normally catch up with her and walk alongside her as she went, chattering away. Tonight the moonlit terrain was blissfully silent, save the sound of the few singing insects of the season that had survived the last chilly November night. Twigs and leaves beneath her feet crunched with every step that she took, frosted surfaces glittering and reflecting the moonlight back into the Angela's eyes. It truly was a beautiful sight to behold. They had come to Anathema in the dead of winter nearly a year prior, so she had never gotten to see the mountainous territory relinquish its hold and give itself to the chill of winter. The little changes were noticeable and beautiful.


She was on her way down to the ocean, going over already-scented land as she made her way toward the beachline. Since Matteo and Gemma's disappearance Naniko had been extra-vigilant, trekking the borders as often as she could and doing a very thorough job of it. Tonight was no different, but she was finished with her scenting and was hoping to get to the ocean before she got too tired. She wanted to look out over it and rest a bit before heading back to main cave system to go to sleep for the night. She had considered sleeping out on the borders at times so that she could keep a nearly constant watch on it...but had ultimately decided that the action would be too dangerous. If she was sleeping, she was vulnerable...and she would not leave Anathema without an Angela to guard it. She sighed as she continued walking. Hopefully she'd reach the waters soon; her paws ached and a short dip on the cold water would wake her up before the run back home.


Table by Jenny!
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#3
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Sorry about the stupid long wait. ._. My muse went on strike ;~; I may have managed to bribe it back temporarily with caffeine >_>

Tracking on two legs was downright inconvenient compared to tracking on four. Scent trails persisted much longer on solid earth than they did in the transient mountain air, and with his snout over a metre higher than it was in the Natural form, he kept drifting off course. The combined effects of the nightly mountain and land breezes complicated things further — they carried Naniko's scent away from her pursuer down into the valley and out to sea. His gait slowed to a crawl as he frequently paused to stoop down and sniff at the ground. Fortunately as he continued southward, her trail grew enough in potency that he was able to pick up the pace.


As the distant drone of the crashing waves grew into a rhythmic clamour, he knew she was running out of ground. True, she could hug the coast and head up to investigate Anathema's northeastern border — or even divert southwest to visit Halifax — but these concerns became moot once he spotted her ghastly figure across the rocky plain of the beach. Barry barked questioningly to get her attention (although with the wind in her favour, he wouldn't be surprised if she'd smelt him already); it was a sound quiet enough not to disturb the peace of the sleepy mountain, but sufficiently loud to be heard over the raging ocean tides that desperately grasped for the Moon.


One darkly gloved arm rose to wave overhead and his tail swished behind him; then he jogged along to close the distance between them. Evenin', he greeted once they were in conversational distance. Sorry 'bout the late night visit; meant to swing by earlier but I got outta the city a little later than intended, he explained. Even in the pale light of the moon, the question on his face was obvious: was she down for some company, or did she just want to deal with him in the morning? Brought some ganja along if you wanna chill for a bit, he added, just in case that might sway her in his favour.

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#4
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FINALS WEEK, FML XD


She'd finally reached the shoreline. This was the area of Anathema were rock met water, stone jutting out into the crashing waves. It looked as if the cliffside had become somewhat eroded over time, little pockmarks littering the sides of the green-tinged stone. Naniko often came to this area to think and relax, and intended to enjoy an hour or so of solitude before she would head back to the chaos of the den. She didn't even want to think about what her pups would be up to right now; probably getting into some sort of trouble or finding a new way to embarrass her. Severus had done a good job of that at the last pack meeting with the new vocabulary word he had picked up.


A rustling behind her made her refocus, her nose immediately beginning to sift through the various scents of the area. The smell of salt and sea permeated everything else, along with the regular pack scents...but amidst it all was something very familiar. "Barrett" She said quietly, still facing the sea until he made himself known with a bark. The male came by often enough to visit the pups, but it was unusual for him to come so late into the evening. The children tended to go to bed pretty early and rise early as well.


She turned to face him as he approached, explaining why he had come so late. "It's fine"She nodded. It was fine with her, as he hadn't taken her away from anything truly important...but the question puzzled her slightly. Their relationship to one another had never been a very formal one, but they also didn't spend much time (if any) together without the pups present. "Where should we go?" She asked in response. She was open to the idea of sitting with him, at least; her stock had run low recently, and with winter coming the plant was harder to come by.


Table by Jenny!
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#5
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As much as I miss some things about college, I really do *not* miss finals week. I'd inevitably get sick (probably from stress) every. damn. time. x__x Glad to see you not only made it out alive, but knocked 'em into next week :o

At first he avoided her. If pressed, he would be unable to articulate why. It wasn't that he expected her to suddenly latch onto him; she'd already proven herself to be a strong, independent woman. Despite that, she didn't intimidate him. True, the Alpha thing was a little daunting at first, but she always seemed down to earth and laid back. Guilt seemed like a prime suspect, but he rationalised everything away a long time ago. What was it then? Quite simply, the abstract nature of their relationship was beyond his comprehension and initially, that made him uncomfortable.


Growing up, marriage was a pretty big deal. His parents were still together — as were his paternal grandparents. Everyone made a great spectacle of any mateship ceremony. Adulterers were shunned. For a long time, he very well thought it was the only way to do things. Enter Anselm. It took a Wild Dog to finally tame his copper grandfather's wild spirit, but the hybrid still had a thousand stories left over from his crazy days as a bachelor. Not only did they come at a particularly impressionable time — when going against the flow of the established order seemed more appealing than ever — they came right in the midst of some major drama with his first and only girlfriend. It seemed obvious Anselm had it right.


Of course, fantasies are often idealisations. Anselm's tales didn't capture the risk of unplanned pregnancy or jealous courtiers. Barry could handle one night stands, and — despite recent history — he could do the whole boyfriend thing (supposing the circumstances were right); it was grey areas that gave him trouble. Still, over time he came to accept their peculiar gig for what it was. There wasn't a name for it, and some people might judge them for it, but it didn't really matter. Fact was once he stopped stressing over it, he genuinely enjoyed her company.


Thus, when she turned to greet him and accepted his proposition, he gently bumped the underside of her muzzle and wagged his tail. It was a courteous, submissive gesture, but it was also fuelled by some undefined kind of affection. Well, I'm sure you know of some better lookout spots than I do, he prompted, glancing around with a shrug. If it was up to him, he'd plop down right there and just watch the waves roll in. But maybe somewhere else, the view was even better.

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#6
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XD I did really well 8D


She did not seek to label their friendship as anything more than it was; Ravesque had recently left with no word and she had been angry at the male gender in general lately. Keeping Barrett as a friend was most valuable to her, anyway, with the business arrangements that they'd had in the past. Now that the pack was more established, she could offer him items that were of more worth and did not have to barter with anything else. But...yes. Friendship. She wouldn't risk that by imposing her personal wants or needs upon him when they were unwanted. She had learned over the years that if a male was interested in a female, they would show it with their actions. Barrett was nice to her, but she assumed that the thought behind those niceties involved his desire to visit the children. Even if she didn't have her friendship with him, she'd still allow the pups to decide for themselves if they wanted to see him.


There was one place that she thought of in particular when he mentioned a better spot for them, and she nodded quickly. "I do know of a place that is...quite breathtaking." She said. It wasn't very far from their current location, either. The female bumped her shoulder into his at the nudge, returning the motion as she circled around him to pad a little farther up the hill. "This way" She called when she paused, turning to continue up the mountainside. When she stopped nearly fifteen minutes later, it was obvious that they had reached the right area. Here, the ridge was much higher and one could see quite a bit of both the sea and the sky. Stars glittered above, peeking out from behind a few passing clouds, as waves splashed in response below. She sat down quietly, motioning at the spot next to her.


Table by Jenny!
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#7
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Forgive my incoherence, plz XD

Silence ensued as the pair wound their way up the mountain, but it was not uncomfortable. He trailed after her at a leisurely pace, letting his attention drift between the changing scenery and his own random thoughts. Although he wasn't familiar with this particular stretch of territory, he was feeling less out of place on Anathema's soil these days. It was no home away from home, but the terrain seemed more familiar each time — and with Ravesque out of the picture, he never felt unwelcome.


It seemed her loss was his gain. He could no better divine this (or any other) source of her malcontent than he could the next year's weather, but at length, it dawned on him that her spirit seemed heavy. She carried the grace and poise of a leader, yes, and showed the warmth and compassion of an old friend... yet she seemed lost in thought, and not in the sense that he was. Ezekiel was often the same way. Perhaps this was the Alpha's burden — to carry an invisible boulder weighted with their members' drama, conflicts, and strife. Toss in the everyday bullshit and it was a miracle they kept it together at all. Border patrols ate up hours alone; dealing with ignorant trespassers was exhausting.


By the time they reached their destination, he was more mindful of his energy. If she had as much on her plate as he imagined, he figured the last thing she needed was his dumb ass babbling on about inane nonsense. Nevertheless, it wasn't hard to muster a genuine smile as he gazed out across the panorama. Wow, he breathed, quite some view. He settled down beside her at a distance befitting two closer friends. Steadily and deliberately, he began to unpack his belongings and prepare a joint. So how is everything? he began carefully. Boys aren't givin' you too much trouble, I hope? He spoke slower than usual, subconsciously emphasising that he was there to really listen, not just making idle small-talk. Just the same, that omnipresent, light-hearted tone kept him from sounding nosy — she obviously didn't have to talk about it if she didn't want to.

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#8
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She had never outright told Barrett that her ex-lover was gone, but assumed that he knew; the male's scent had faded from the territory now, a tell-tale sign of his absence. She wasn't upset by it, couldn't be. Well..perhaps just a little. She'd tried not to hold any feelings for the dark, red-eyed male...but had not been able to resist him in the end, and now he was gone. It was her punishment for being so stupidly trusting. She'd try to learn and not become so close to someone again.


The Angela snapped out of her reverie when he spoke. She stood up and shook her entire body for a few seconds, letting the dust out of her fur before sitting down once more. She needed to focus on what was here, in front of her, instead of on things that had happened in the past. "It's a place I often go to if I need to think about things; it's got a calming effect, don't you think?" She asked, turning her gaze to the loner.


He asked a question about their children, one that she wasn't sure how to answer appropriately. They were hellions, to say the least..but she didn't know if it was something that she had done or simply the way that some puppies were. It was odd that all three of them were disobedient, what with her strict discipline...and in the past she'd had good, well-behaved pups...hm. "They always are. It never really stops; they seem to be getting into bigger trouble as they get bigger themselves. I try to reprimand them, but Judas especially..there's just something off with that boy."Insanity certainly ran in her family...but did it run in his as well?


Table by Jenny!
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#9
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Hmm, she's not shifted, I think? Should he shotgun it for her? XD

It wasn't the first time de le Poer and D'Angelo blood reacted poorly together. Like milk and lemon juice, it seemed they soured on contact. Damian and Misery's litter was a thing of nightmares. Perhaps as the blood diluted through successive generations, the mixture became less volatile. Across the ocean, Matinee and Ahren's progeny lived on. Maybe it was something about this place, then... something in the water that made the combination particularly noxious. But Barrett was unaware of this historic trend — and even if he knew, he wouldn't invest much faith in the theory.


Apart from Anselm's sometimes questionable paranoia, his immediate family was the model of stability. Maybe Naniko alone wasn't a good sample size, but he saw nothing wrong with her. Be it ignorance or pride, he refused to chalk up Judas' issues to poor genetics or parental care. As far as he was concerned, these were just Things That Happened. Yeah, he muttered in agreement, sounding mildly perplexed. Although their interactions were limited, it was obvious he noticed his look-alike's burgeoning madness, too. Hopefully he'll snap out of it, he reflected, laughing suddenly. Knew this one kid growing up, Jensen. Guy used to eat rocks, he snorted. Turned out ok, though, makes a good scout.


That probably wasn't as helpful as he hoped. He wished he had better input, but child development was so far beyond him he couldn't even guess. Humour was his usual fall back, but he wasn't sure she'd appreciate him making light of the situation; unfortunately, it was the best he could do. He fumbled awkwardly with the lighter and sparked their treat, then took a slow hit. He exhaled a cloud of smoke in a sigh. I can try to take 'em out more so you can catch a break, he suggested at length. Looks like they haven't torn Anathema down yet at least, eh? He didn't realise the pack might just be crazy enough to bring itself down.

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#10
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Word Count :: 000Big Grin

WC:803Nope, Optime :3 She's always in this form unless otherwise stated; I should note that somewhere! Also, she maybe has just a TINY crush on him. >,> 'cause he's way too awesome to NOT feel SOMETHING for, whether it's inappropriate or not Big Grin


Naniko had thought that taking care of the pups would grow easier with time as they became more independent, but as they got bigger they were only getting into even larger amounts of trouble. She had a lot of experience parenting and had thought that this particular method would work well. It had done the job as far as Scorpius had been concerned. The boy was a perfect little drone, following her every wish. He seemed to want to move up in the pack, but hadn’t shown that he had the incentive to reach for the things that he wanted. She expected her children to follow her lead and become great leaders in their tiers. But perhaps her expectations were too high with this litter. Judas in particular was unlike any pup she had ever encountered. His mind was twisted.


Without Ravesque there, things had been especially difficult. ”Yet” She growled, shaking her head. ”They’ll be the death of me. Maybe I ought to just let them go out on their own more often and learn those life lessons.” Naniko watched as he lit up, breathing in deeply through her nose to catch the familiar smell of the plant. She hadn’t had any in a while, but had been too preoccupied with the goings-on of the pack to notice it. Rarely did she have time to sit down and think about things or stop for a minute to try and enjoy life. She needed to relax...needed a break from everything for just a little while. ”I’d appreciate that.” The Angela said finally. It would be nice to have some time away from them that wouldn’t be spent worrying. She trusted Barrett to keep his eye on them and not let them get into too much trouble.


She had stared out at the ocean while they were speaking, but now turned her gaze back to the dark male. He was certainly a handsome one, a fact that she had been trying to ignore each time that they met up. She hadn't asked anything of him when the pups had been born and didn't expect it now, knowing that he lived in the city as a loner. He wouldn't want to come to Anathema and play family with her or have anything more than what they did have. That was what their meetings had told her. H'ed been polite, never angry or unhappy to see her when they caught up with one another...he was a good friend. But she couldn't help the way that she felt sometimes when she saw him. Sitting this close to him made her super-aware of everything that she did or say...how often she turned her head to look at him before looking away. She didn't want him to figure anything out; she really wanted to do was to stop feeling this way completely, and him finding out about the feelings wouldn't help things. It would just be awkward for both of them.


There were certain emotions that she just would not let herself feel, at times. They were often inappropriate or improperly timed. That was one fallback of allowing herself to have felt anything at all for the red-eyed male that had abandoned them all; she’d opened back up and had been able to be herself. Now she was more gruff than ever, often speaking with sarcasm or hiding the way that she truly felt about things. She normally tried to just let things go, to “go with the flow”, but sometimes she had a harder time with it. There wasn’t anyone that she could really talk to about things like this, no males around…she wanted to get a male’s perspective on it. She wanted to know whether another of the same gender thought that Ravesque would come back some day or if thoughts of this nature were simply a lost cause. She wasn’t stupid, and would not hang on forever with the hope that he would come back for his children and pack...but she couldn't help wondering about it as well. ”Barrett..can I ask you something?” He had to know that Ravesque had left, but she didn’t know if he would be able to guess what her query would be about.



Image courtesy of Mocodragon@Flickr; Table by the Mentors!

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#11
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Derp! Okay XD And no worries, he digs her too, in some strange, undefinable sorta way XD

The effects of the drug took hold quickly; he was sure to pass over the cigarette after a second puff. Can't herd a hurricane, much less three of 'em, he consoled her. They'll find ya or call for help if they really need it, he clarified, realising a vague metaphor wouldn't convey his message very well. Point was Maserati would've been a wreck if she insisted on staying on top of him constantly. Her second litter proved better behaved, making regular surveillance and guidance more feasible. But for kids who just didn't want it? No sense trying. If he ever found himself in a jam, he would holler for attention; undoubtedly, their kids had enough sense to do the same. Survival was instinctual. In the face of true danger, those instincts trumped fear of retribution over being disobedient or reckless in the first place.


Now that he was older, he understood his mother fretted over him regardless (even to this day). No problemo, he sounded softly. I'll try 'n swing by within a day or two of each full and new moon, he suggested. He was usually too scatterbrained to keep a consistent schedule, but he supposed a particularly dark or bright night might jog his memory. Luckily for her, that same absent-mindedness rendered him oblivious to her conflicted inner feelings. It wasn't a surprise given he could scarcely sort out his own: that whatever sexual attraction from their first meeting remained was a no-brainer, but now there was a deeper element to it, too. In all likelihood, it would be impossible for him not to feel something for the woman who birthed and raised his first litter. This was also instinct, even if he didn't realise it consciously.


Her hesitation confused him, and his brows furrowed as he peered away from the moonlit oceanscape to her face. Shoot, he prompted her to continue, tone casual and inviting as ever. He didn't know where she was going with that segue, but he would always be willing to hear her out, try addressing any concerns, and offer whatever words of wisdom he'd gathered over the course of his short lifetime.

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#12
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Word Count :: 000Big Grin

WC:338^_^


Something about his perspective would help her, she believed. Naniko wasn't the sort to put belief into things that she didn't think would work, but she did think that karma existed and that if one tried to do good with their lives and help others (in her case, start a pack to house unwanted canines) then they would eventually be rewarded. This system seemed to have failed her now, though - she did not expect to be "rewarded" all the time, but didn't know why her family members kept disappearing as well as those closer to her. She wanted to know the reason behind it as well as whether she should keep holding onto the idea that he or any of them might someday come back. She knew that Selene would not, for her sister had died in the cave-in that day...but there were others who she could hope would choose Anathema if given the option later on in life.


He offered her some words of consolation and she took them gratefully. The cigarette was passed her way and she puffed on it a few times before replying. "That sounds good - thank you. And you're right...I should stop worrying about things that I have no control over. In fact..that might answer my second question." She passed it back to him. Naniko was curious about his thoughts on the matter of Ravesque because Barrett seemed the type more used to moving around when he needed to. Maybe he would know why a canine would choose to uproot themselves and move away from their family. "I was just wondering if you had any insights on Ravesque. I know you didn't know him very well..but he disappeared a month or so ago. I haven't seen him since. My..our pups were asking about him. From a male point of view..if it makes any difference..do you think he will come back? Or am I just getting my hopes up for nothing?" She looked at him seriously, slight anxiety written across her face.

Image courtesy of Mocodragon@Flickr; Table by the Mentors!

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#13
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Sliiiiight "powerplay" in that I assumed Naniko had told him about knowing Ravesque from before Anathema at some point. x_x Let me know if you want that changed.

Ravesque was a tricky subject for Barry. He respected the scarlet-eyed brute for tending to Naniko throughout her pregnancy and for allowing him visitation rights. Naniko was top dog, but if Ravesque had pulled the mottled loner aside and forbade contact with the children or their mother, Barrett wouldn't have had much choice but to oblige. Given how MIA he was during the kids' first months, it would've been 100% justifiable — after all, he was just some random shmuck who threatened to disrupt whatever sense of stability existed in their lives (while contributing nearly zilch to their upbringing or care).


Fine — but for better or for worse, things had changed. Perhaps it was a consequence of passing the two-year milestone; territoriality and reproductive rights seemed more imperative. Maybe he was just actually invested in the kids' lives now. Whatever the case, Ravesque would always be perceived as something of a threat. No amount of logic or reasoning could dissuade him from feeling this way; it didn't matter that Naniko pulled the strings or that the kids were getting old enough to make their own decisions. So long as the older wolf had a place in her or the kids' hearts, he was a threat.


Unfortunately, that wasn't fair. Naniko wasn't his; the kids barely were. He had no right to feel jealously, possessiveness, or entitlement. He never stepped up to the plate as a man, so how could he expect to be treated like one? Barry wasn't ready to be a family guy yet; hell, so far he'd proven incapable of committing to a pack! She was older than him and deserved more at this stage in life; if he was unable and unwilling to provide it, why did he even care? It was entirely illogical, but emotion always was.


Try as he might, he couldn't prevent some look of disappointment or distaste from gracing his features. His ears flattened somewhat and he sighed quietly under his breath, but his expression was otherwise unreadable. His gaze was distant as he weighed his options, but at length, he came into focus. He took a slow drag on the cigarette before passing it over and replying. I guess... I don't know, he began uselessly. Everyone's different. My grandfather took years before he got to know his children. On the other hand, I know kids in Crimson Dreams — not much older than I am! — who already have mates. But you'd known each other before, right? Can't be coincidence you found each other twice. Nothin' else, he knows where to find you, he offered encouragingly. Would you know where to find him? Maybe you can send a messenger, he suggested.


He doubted it was the answer she was looking for, but he could barely piece together his own intentions, much less a stranger's.

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