He hadn’t really questioned Aaryona as what she truly was until it came out. He was taken back slightly in learning that she had some racial traits belonging to the undead children of the night. The fact that she was out here in the wee hours of the morning suggested that she didn’t possess too much of her father’s traits though, and it made him a bit more at ease. Vampires were alluring creatures and something he was taught to watch with a keen eye, lest he be watching them suck out his blood. “Sometimes, force is the only way. It's a language that is understood by most, no matter who they are or where they come from. However, there is a limit towards that, and if left unchecked, you will get a far worse result than what you were hoping.” Eirik and his people were far from saints; they had pillaged and raided others, but to a point. There were no slaves taken and deaths were as few as possible. They needed not to be hunted down and drawn into a senseless war when they only did what was necessary for them to survive. What she had done though was necessary to justify her rule though.
“Death pales in comparison when one’s honor is at stake in my clan. Being killed is actually somewhat of a blessing; it is when one of us faces dishonor is when we are truly damned.” It was quite strange for his people that lived for combat, to understand those that needed to be threaten with death to gain their obedience. Then again, many customs that he had learned from one around here didn’t many too much sense. Hearing that she was related to a lycan, Eirik looked at her for a moment before stroking beneath his chin with a thumb. “You have…interesting relatives.” He suppose at this point there was reason why she hadn’t been surprised by his transformation after all. He was also taken back a bit by how a wolf had taken in a mate that wasn’t a wolf herself. But he had heard of stranger tales before and from what she spoke of, the couple were happy. “At least they are good mates for one another”, he returned. “Something that shouldn’t be taken for granted- Loyalty.”
Aaryona’s tale of her lost love stirred some remorse in the wolf. His eyes fell to the ground in deep thought. “Had you thought that he might have perished somewhere when the wait was starting agonize you?’ His mouth begun to dry up the more he thought about it. His own memories was still fresh in his mind; of what happened when he had disobeyed the command and the consequences that followed afterwards. Eirik had yet to come to terms with his folly and this was starting to bring up old wounds. He took to meat silently, listening to her plans should things don’t come into fruition like she wanted. [
b]“Perhaps. Then again, if men truly desire you in such a way, age will not stop them. They’d probably prefer a woman over a girl.” Another weird custom that she spoke of made no sense to him. Aaryona was a pretty little woman, and he had a hard time believing that she was go on long without an offer. When the conversation shifted to him, he could feel the wounds opening even more. Throwing some more wood into the blaze, he sat straight up and stared into the flames with hard eyes as he begun. “I was cast out from them many moons ago. It was because I failed to follow my command and ended up having many of people killed. One of which was the woman I was bethroned to. I was careless and paid for it. The leader, my own father, had no choice but to exile me from the rest of the pack. That is why I am here, to put as much distance from myself to the others as possible as to not stain them any further with my dishonor.” With a great sigh, he bit and tore at the meat, allowing for some time to pass before he started to ease himself. “From the time you are born into our clan, you are prepared at an earlier age for the shifting. When the time arrives, the first change is the most painful. I believe I was coming to my fourth summer when that came to be. It took some time, but I was successful. Afterwards, it just got easier and easier until the pain was gone completely. Once that occurs, the children are taught to survive on their own, to hunt and protect themselves against the elements and other predators, including man. When they are coming of age, they are to go out until the next full moon into the wild to see if they can survive. Those that do are considered worthy of hunting along with the pack and are considered mature wolves. Sometime later, they are pick the one that is destined to become their mate and within years later, they are linked together, bound by an unbreakable tie that only death can separate. Mates as seen as equals, rather than men ruling over women like much of these people look at it. ” In his case, he had lost the one that had picked him, and now he was without a mate or pups of his own. “It’s hard to explain to one that can not shift naturally. It’s like a different side of you, one more in tune with nature. It feels like one’s true self and not a facade at all.”
If Aaryona had been a wolf, she likely would have been as fetching as she was in her current form. He wasn’t sure why that came to his mind just now, perhaps because he was getting comfortable around her. The fact that she had moved close to his side without paying much mind was proof of such. He leaned in to carve another piece of the deer when her question made him halt for a moment. Turning to face her, he blinked at the woman as he sought for an answer. “I had promised you that I would assist you until they were found. If they are not, that doesn’t void my word of helping you, I suppose.”
