[Action]

[biteoffherhead]

[So, Moro's calmed down significantly since the arrival of the Kin'Corans. There was a bit of tension at first, with the arrival of new Lucetians, but she soon recognized their arrival pattern and left them be.

As their arrivals slowed down, Moro began to interact again. Namely, by dragging fallen wood from deep in the forest and leaving it by the village edge - something that she's done before. She's also bringing out branches of trees that have acorns and seeds still growing on them - hint hint, so to speak. She's got several other small things, such as various wild fruits and a few plants she recognized as edible thanks to San's diet before.

Moro herself will be approachable, not snarling or growling at all, and almost (aaaalmost) looking apologetic for her extreme behavior. Almost.]

Comments

[tsuntrader]

[That's it. He ducks his head down so his hair can make some attempt at covering his face, as if that will magically make everything else about this situation go away.

And he stands there. The fear and helplessness and general feel of being small overwhelms him.

He doesn't want to see her hurt. He doesn't want to see her in pain. He doesn't want to see her killed, of all things. Ever. Just let her leave before he has to see that. He doesn't want to see anything like that.

Especially not because of him.]

[biteoffherhead]

...You forget, that I am meant to be dead, regardless. That the Malnosso defied the Forest Spirit's will, and forced me back to life.

[tsuntrader]

That doesn't mean that I'm gonna kill you. [His voice cracks. He tries to pretend that it didn't.]

[biteoffherhead]

Gentle boy.

[tsuntrader]

Fine, I'm gentle. [Whatever. He'd still never kill her. It's just not going to happen.]

[biteoffherhead]

That is not what I taught you to be, child. You are more than that. You could be a mighty predator, that can use his fangs.

It will be the right thing to do, when those fangs are turned against me.

[tsuntrader]

[...No. He doesn't want to hear it. He wouldn't hurt someone he cared about, let alone kill them.

But he won't argue. What he says won't change Moro's mind. What he says won't lessen the impact or gravity of her words.

He just has to accept it.]

[biteoffherhead]

You are submitting to me, for once. You always challenged me.

[tsuntrader]

What's the point? I won't change your mind. [...No. It's an absolute. It's too black and white. It's naive thinking. One day he'll have to hurt his own family. He has no room to delude himself into believing that.

But why Moro? Why is she so fixated on it?]

[biteoffherhead]

I was rather content with you fighting back. It showed me good pack behavior, on your part.

The residents here, they all cow to me immediately, bowing in reverence or begging forgiveness or to be spared my fangs. You are both stupid and brave to challenge me as any wolf cub would do.

[tsuntrader]

...I have respect. I don't have fear. [Right now, he has fear. Not of her, but of what could happen.

But is she comparing him to...?]

[biteoffherhead]

[To a fellow wolf god, yes.]

Your respect comes from understanding. There were once several humans that had that same respect! Their time has come and gone, in this place. Where once I had many who looked upon me and could understand my wills, I have only one, who stands before me now.

[tsuntrader]

[That... Wait. That can't be right.]

I always question you about your [beliefs-] "truths". How am I the only one? How aren't there people that show that respect better than I do?

[...] What were those other people like?

[biteoffherhead]

Most were humble and uninteresting. There was once a man, who called himself Ginko. He let a spirit live in his body, holding no fear or anger or resentment hold over his fate. Because of that, he knew the forest and its spirits better than any human I have ever known. And he sought the route of understanding and peace, even if he was not incapable of resorting to the necessary measures.

He would have been good to learn from, for you.

1/2

[tsuntrader]

[holding no fear or anger or resentment hold over his fate.]

[tsuntrader]

How? [Not the spirit part. That's... Well, he doesn't understand the kind of spirit that resided within him. He doesn't know anything about him.

But- that's- no. It's different. He shouldn't compare himself to anyone.

He knew the forest and its spirits. He wanted understanding and peace, even if he wasn't...

Fate.]

[biteoffherhead]

I can teach you violence and upholding things with resolution and absolution.

He could teach you the way of spirits, in a way that any human can understand.

[tsuntrader]

You've taught me more than just that. [But he gets the picture. Ginko. He'll have to remember that name.]

[biteoffherhead]

Of course I did, but my lessons would not have overlapped his.

I can only hope you meet men and spirits such as him. So that you waste little time with the pathetic kine.

[tsuntrader]

[...You really have the nicest things to say about people, Moro. But he nods.]

[biteoffherhead]

[Only the nicest things!]

...Now go back, child. I have much to do.

[tsuntrader]

[...Silver pauses for a moment before nodding. Before he goes anywhere, however, he gets down on a knee and bows his head. He stays like that for a few seconds before letting Murkrow out and flying off.]